MENTORS
This song came through about a year after a grief ritual where several of us were grieving lack of mentorship in our lives, lack of in tact culture - a sense of cultural orphans - wishing we were waking up to 30 pairs of eyes on us in our youth - longing for village and connection. And then a friend told me, we have to become the mentors we are seeking for the next generations. And I was like “Pum!”
  
lyrics:
we must become the mentors that we are seeking
is also dreaming us, what it is that we are dreaming

to hear more community songs by ahlay, visit: https://www.alexandrablakely.com/songlibrary

Mentors

sung by R' Mónica Gomery, Batya Levine, and Ilana Lerman

Achat Shaalti, traditional Ashkenazi tune by S Mernick

Sung with Rachel Chang (guitar + vox)

Lyrics:

I’ve been trying to soften to this life
to let it touch me
'cause I know the fear that braces me is very old
but in my blood I feel the thrum of my ancestors on the run 
and boy sometimes it’s hard to tell it’s not today

But I would like to trust
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let my body lead the way

I’ve been trying to open to this moment,
let it unfold 
cause I know the shame that narrows me is very old
but theres a child in my mind who loved and then got left behind
and boy sometimes it’s hard to tell it’s not today

But I would like to trust 
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let intuition lead the way

May I let the cosmic ocean of love buoy me up
May I let the cosmic ocean of love wash over me
Da da daaaa…. 

Cause I would  like to trust 
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let my body lead the way
I would like to trust 
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let intuition lead the way

I Would Like To Trust

Summons by Ahlay Blakely - ALL PARTS

Original song copyright Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter, Jim Molyneux, Kerry Andrew.

This amazing song of grief and hope was inspired by The Lost Words by Robert McFarlane &amp; Jackie Morris. The book began as a response to the removal of everyday nature words - among them "acorn", "bluebell", "kingfisher" and "wren" - from a widely used children’s dictionary, because those words were not being used enough by children to merit inclusion. But it grew to become a much broader protest at the loss of the natural world around us, as well as a celebration of the creatures and plants with which we share our lives.

Because the original song is so beloved by me and many, I re-imagined a new, quite different arrangement with guitar for Wholehearted Chorus in our 2024 season, Oh Grief, Oh Joy. (Note: this is not a traditional community singing song, as it has loads and loads of words, none of which repeat.)

For more information: https://thebirdsings.com/lost-words-blessing/

The Lost Words Blessing - Alto, Tenor & Baritone

Original song ©Shireen Amini. This is a song created for sharing freely in community.  If you perform or record the song for income,  contact Shireen for permission. Please support the composer's forthcoming studio release of this song!  https://shireenamini.com/

This is a song about taking in support from others in our times of need. Inspired by Resmaa Menakem’s iconic book My Grandmother’s Hands, I first learned this song from Shireen at Song Village in 2022 where I remember my heart opening so wide I just wept in the loving arms of our big, singing community.

Recorded by Lisa Littlebird for Wholehearted Chorus on guitar and vocals with permission from the composer.  Male voice in vocals generated with ConvertKit AI.

For more information: https://thebirdsings.com/gather-your-resilience/

Gather Your Resilience by Shireen Amini - ALL PARTS

VERSE:
Meh asita? Kol demei achicha
tzoakim eylai min ha’adama.

Meh asita? Kol demei achicha
tzoakim eylai min ha’adama.

CHORUS:
Ayeka? Ayei achicha? Ayeka?
Ayeka? Ayei achicha? Ayeka?

BRIDGE 1:
From the ground I  hear them calling, your brother’s blood.
What can grow here?
What have we done? 

From the soil I hear them calling, your sister’s blood.
What can grow here?
What have we done? 

BRIDGE 2:
From the ground I hear them calling, your sibling’s blood.
What can grow here?
What have we done? 

From the soil I hear them calling, our family's blood.
What can grow here? 
What have we done?

Ayeka - Aly Halpert

Multiple melodic phrases with harmonies and inter-locking rhythms carrying the message of generosity and the power of giving.

Abundance

Ufros Aleinu chant

We Shall Sing

This is a chant grounded in the resilience, courage, and hope of our Jewish ancestors, reminding us that when we fight for life and for justice, we are weaving ourselves with all justice-fighters who came before us. No fight is too big for our fierce and courageous hearts. 

As the story goes: In 1939, Nazis surrounded a group of Jews from Lublin, Poland, backed up against barbed wire and ordered them to sing to their own execution. One man began to sing: "Mir veln zey iberlebn, iberlebn, iberlebn” —"We will outlive them.” The song took hold among the entire people, who, as they awaited their deaths, began to dance. They danced with joy, with resilience, with a life that could not be destroyed by fascism, militarism, or genocide. The commander saw this resilience. He recognized their defiance. They continued, even as the SS troops charged at them. Most lost their lives that day. And some lived to tell this story. We are here. We will outlive them. We will join forces and voices with others to fight so we can all outlive them, together (thank you, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice!). 

Vocals: Avra Shapiro
Melody: Avra Shapiro
Arrangement: Avra Shapiro & Nadav Simon 
Bass: Matt Coglianese
Drums: Nadav Simon
Violin: Mallory Linehan
Production and Mixing: Nadav Simon
Mastering: Steve Marek 
Recorded and Mastered at Cybernetic Meadow
Art by Micah Bazant (poster can be bought here: https://www.micahbazant.com/buy-art/we-will-outlive-them).

I Would Like To Trust

Rena Branson

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