I was once at a meditation retreat where a student raised her hand and said to the teacher, “Whenever I start to meditate, so many worries, fears, and thoughts come up -- my mind tortures me. What should I do?” The teacher paused, then replied, “Begin again.”

I wrote this song when I was searching for the strength and courage to begin again at a time when fear and self-doubt could have derailed me. I was reminded of the words of the great Black theologian and anti-racist activist Howard Thurman, whose book “Jesus and the Disinherited” was one of two books -- the other was the Bible -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. carried with him during the Montgomery bus boycott. Said Dr. Thurman, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that. Because what the world needs is more people who come alive.”

The moment the song came through me, I suddenly found myself able to begin again. Thank you, song, for blessing me with your companionship and your belief in me. 

May it be a blessing for you, too.

For more info: http://singwithmarv.com


begin again by marv zauderer

i sit in silence
beside my bed
with all that we’ve lost
with what went unsaid
worry covers shame
anger chases fear
i go from then
to when -- not here

begin again, begin again
find the light within and then
come alive, come alive
begin again

i ask others what they know
i ask myself where to go
looking East, looking West
seeking wisdom, seeking rest

begin again, begin again
find the light within and then
come alive, come alive
begin again

two steps forward, one step back
stuck in patterns, time to pack
way will open, don’t know how
heart is pounding, listen now

begin again, begin again
find the light within and then
come alive, come alive
begin again

after travels far and wide
i don’t run, i don’t hide
a still, small voice deep inside
sings come alive, come alive
begin again

begin again, begin again
find the light within and then
come alive, come alive
begin again
come alive, come alive
begin again

Begin Again

LOTTA PATHS UP THIS HILL
Nancy Cunningham/Kathy Klopp

Grandpa believed in Sunday drives, he lived by his daily walk
If I steered clear of trouble, I got to tramp along and talk
Saturday before supper, we headed out to Castle Rock
Told me to listen up girl, and he showed me how to walk

Lotta paths up a mountain, lotta paths to the top
Lotta ways to strike out, lotta ways to stop
How you gonna climb this mountain, follow your own will
Gotta find your own way, there’s a lotta paths up this hill

Grandpa ran into some mischief in a ditch on the County Line
Pick-up wasn’t totalled, but sure looked bad at the time
Had a spot of trouble with his eyes, his mind kept working fine
And even after he went blind, he’d still never fall behind
And he’d say

Lotta paths up a mountain, lotta paths to the top
Lotta ways to strike out, lotta ways to stop
How you gonna climb this mountain, follow your own will
Gotta find your own way, there’s a lotta paths up this hill

		I asked to go see Grandpa, Mama said one day you will
		He’s looking down on all of us, he musta made it up that hill
		
When I have grandkids, I’ll tell ‘em what my Grandpa said to me
		There’s a lotta different ways to see things, and that’s just how it’s gotta be
		And we’ll say¬

Lotta paths to climb a mountain, lotta trails lead up top
Pick a way to strike out, don’t ever let ‘em make you stop
And if you stumble in some dark time, lean on your free will
You gotta find your own way, and a lotta paths lead up the hill
Lotta paths lead up the hill
Lotta paths lead up the hill

Lotta Paths Up This Hill - written with Kathy Klopp

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This song is from a larger body of work-in-progress called "This Is Where You Live - Songs Inspired in Spokane, WA, 2022"
Inspiration: Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, Spokane, WA, USA: https://inlandnwland.org/
Recorded & Mixed by Carey Brazil at W3B Studios in Greenacres, WA.
Performed by:
Liz Rognes - lizrognes.com
Patricia Robinson - instagram.com/patrobinsonart/
Heather Montgomery
Olivia Brownlee
Featuring: Song of catharus ustulatus (Swainson's thrush), courtesy of Avian Vocalizations Center (xeno-canto.org)
Artwork: Amy Jennings - spokaloo.net/products
Thanks to Leadership Spokane (leadershipspokane.org), promoting servant leadership and community nurturing.

w: OliviaBrownlee.com
f: Olivia Brownlee Songography
i: @OBsongography
t: @songography

#91 "Inspired by Land Conservancy," from This Is Where You Live

You have the deepest eyes I’ve ever known
I could be lost forever if I stare too long
They’re scared of the future
And haunted by the past
But right here in this moment

Like water racing on my shore
Washing over me like no one could before
Each touch of your lips shatters soul and skin
I’m a river overflowed, overflowed
Overflowed with your love

Your hands cup my face like you’re afraid I’ll disappear
Be blown away by the winds of time and change and all those things
Like your fingers would try to catch me
And I’d just float away

Like water racing on my shore
Washing over me like no one could before
Each touch of your lips shatters soul and skin
I’m a river overflowed, overflowed
Overflowed with your love

And each piece of you that you give to me
I lock in a box of treasured memories
Sunk down to the bottom of the sea

Like water racing on my shore
Washing over me like no one could before…

Overflowed (Bonus Track - Demo)

Vocals and piano by Emily Andreoli

Lyrics:
I’ve been feeling lately
Like someone should come and save me
Give up all my power
And wait high up in some tower

But I’m not ready to define my life
Just by who is at my side

Time has time taught me how to be alone
Losing love has only taught me how to grow
Opening my eyes has taught me how much I don’t know
Every burn is just another lesson learned

I’ve been feeling lately
Like this world has gotten scary
Life puts up a good fight 
And it’s hard to get it right

Some days will knock you out
But they can’t take anymore than you allow

Time has time taught me how to be alone
Losing love has only taught me how to grow
And opening my eyes has taught me how much I don’t know
Every burn is just another lesson learned

No more what could have been
Cause they weren’t
All they are now are lessons learned

Time has time taught me how to be alone
Losing love has only taught me how to grow
Opening up my eyes has taught me how much I don’t know
Time has time taught me how to be alone
And losing love has only taught me how to grow
Opening my eyes has taught me how much I don’t know
And every burn is just another lesson learned
Every burn is just another lesson learned

Lessons Learned - Demo (Ellie Flier, Emily Andreoli)

"KING BENJAMIN'S ROYAL HEART" a New Age pop concept album from 
Ben Caron & The Joy Machine.

The mission of “King Benjamin’s Royal Heart” came to songwriter Ben Caron in a dream...while sleeping over at a friend’s hillside home in LA, Ben was visited by a powerful, matriarchal spirit that confronted him about how he was utilizing his gifts, and spending his time in this life. She commanded him to stop apologizing for his power, to empower his heart to lead him and to wake each day courageously pursuing his purpose.  
Her voice rang out clearly--- 
“ARISE KING BENJAMIN, 
AND BEHOLD YOUR KINGDOM!!!”
He awoke, and as his eyes focused, Ben looked out on the twinkling lights of Los Angeles. From that day forward, he has tirelessly pursued recording this New-Age Pop album, with such messages as leading a heart-centered life (“Heart, Lead The Way”), practicing gratitude (“Grateful for Living”), and remembering one’s inner light amongst the darkness (“The Light Resides In You.”)

King Benjamin's Royal Heart

Love Is On The Rise

I feel like everyone can relate to this song in some way.  We all fight some kind of inner battle, this is a song about mine.  From the ups and downs of being in my head and the fight of trying to stay in the good and clear out the bad.

In My Mind

In My Mind By RedneckRalph (Produced By Daku Beats)

WAKE UP!  Harvey Newman/arrangement by Howie Hersh

Used as the theme song for our Weekly Burning Wheel campaign on Twitch, Tusdays at 6pm MST on twitch.tv/dawnofthedicetv!

Fiberoptimism

johnplaysmusic

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