This beautiful song by Alexa Sunshine Rose was part of Lisa's 2020 The World We are Dreaming Playlist project. It is a tremendously soothing round, singing to the connections we are always weaving, between one another and between our own joy and shadow.

Lyrics and details about this song can be found at: https://thebirdsings.com/weaving-our-lives/

Weaving Our Lives by Alexa Sunshine Shelley-Rose

The most requested song that I teach. For lyrics and more information and an instructional learning track, go to: http://thebirdsings.com/songs/alfred.html

May our singing heal, inspire and connect us all.

Alfred (The Alligator Song) by Nick Thorkelson

This song came as a spell to release the judgments, reactions, attachments and fears that get in the way of open-heartedness. May it woo you into the sanctuary of your already perfect wholeness.

Original song ©Lisa Littlebird. This, like all songs on this website, is a song made for sharing freely in community.  If you perform or record the song for income, contact Lisa for permission.

For more information: https://thebirdsings.com/holy-and-whole/

Holy & Whole by Lisa G. Littlebird - ALL PARTS

Ahlay Blakely is a master of complex rounds, and this is one of her finest.  An anthem of togetherness that will live in your cells long after you stop singing.

This is an original recording produced by the composer Ahlay Blakely.  Please support the artist by purchasing from them on Bandcamp here: https://ahlayblakely.bandcamp.com/track/net-of-remembrance

Spells from the Unknown

Net of Remembrance by Ahlay Blakely

A gorgeous spell of a song by UK artist Olivia Fern.  Arranged for Wholehearted Chorus by Lisa G. Littlebird with permission from the composer.  For individual part audio tracks, lyrics, and more, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/when-we-sing

When We Sing by Olivia Fern - ALL PARTS

This song came through Karisha Longaker in the spring of 2025 while in the home of friend and songleader Maggie Wheeler.  Its an easy one to catch and includes a call and response verse along with the main chorus. I like to think of this song as a sweet invitation into "house rules" - not only in the home where we find ourselves, but here on Planet Earth.  It's arranged here by Lisa Littlebird for Wholehearted Chorus to sing with MaMuse, with permission and oversight from the composer.

Original song by Karisha Longaker of MaMuse. ©Karisha Longaker. Free for singing in community, permission required for recording or performing for profit.

For lyrics, individual voice part tracks and more, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/in-this-house/

In This House by MaMuse - ALL PARTS

An anthem from Karisha Longaker of MaMuse about understanding and inclusion. It's arranged here by Lisa Littlebird for Wholehearted Chorus to sing with MaMuse, with permission and oversight from the composer.

Original song by Karisha Longaker of MaMuse. ©Karisha Longaker. Free for singing in community, permission required for recording or performing for profit.

Song For All of Us by MaMuse - ALL PARTS

Staying in love through conflict... the final frontier!  A song for community singing by Lisa G. Littlebird that was born in conflict and designed to woo us into staying in our wisest, most loving perspective. A spell for our hearts to find our way together, even when we disagree.

Image is of Alexander Milov's  sculplure "LOVE" at Burning Man 2015.

For song details, including lyrics, individual voice part tracks and teaching notes, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/bridging-hearts-song/

Bridging Hearts Song - ALL PARTS

A wonderful song by Chhaya I-chèle of Eugene, Oregon in a fresh arrangement here by Lisa G. Littlebird here for Wholehearted Chorus with guitar.  It features four tight-knit, crossing vocal parts that layer on with each verse.  The song was inspired by a Psalm, and many versions and variations of this song exist. The composer requests the original two verses be sung first, then she welcomes other variations such as the earth elements included in this version.

For song details, including lyrics, individual voice part tracks and teaching notes, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/humble/

Humble (NEW) by Chhaya I-chèle Greentree - ALL PARTS

I credit the artists of my childhood like Crosby, Stills & Nash with teaching me the art of harmony.  This is a true favorite, one of their lesser-known but most beautiful, written by James Raymond. Arranged for Wholehearted Chorus by Lisa G. Littlebird.

For song details, including lyrics, individual voice part tracks and teaching notes, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/lay-me-down

Lay Me Down by James Raymond - ALL PARTS

An easy teach and instant uplift from Karisha Longaker of MaMuse. This song was born from Karisha asking for a song for middle-schoolers, as they look around at each other wondering about how much conformity is required to belong, and how much their authenticity is welcome.

For song details, including lyrics, individual voice part tracks and teaching notes, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/let-it-be-easy

Let it Be Easy by Karisha Longaker - ALL PARTS

Let it Be Easy by Karisha Longaker - Melody

What a gem of a song from MaMuse about welcoming in the shadow with curiosity and wonder. I'm honored they invited me to arrange this song for Wholehearted Chorus and look forward to their book of community singing & choral arrangement scores, coming soon.

For song details, including lyrics, individual voice part tracks and teaching notes, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/wonder

Wonder by MaMuse- ALL PARTS

Wonder by MaMuse- Alto

A brand new song from Sorah Nutting of MaMuse coming on their new album in October, 2025.  Arranged here for Wholehearted Chorus to backup MaMuse in concert.

For song details, including lyrics, individual voice part tracks and teaching notes, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/through-the-night

Through The Night by MaMuse - ALL PARTS

Melanie DeMore and Lisa G. Littlebird commissioned this song from MaMuse for the "Boots on the Ground, Skin on the Line" community singing playlist in 2021.  What a song they delivered! Here, Lisa has arranged their song with permission for Wholehearted Chorus in three voice parts.  

For song details, including lyrics, individual voice part tracks and teaching notes, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/circle-round/

Circle Round by MaMuse - ALL PARTS

Circle Round  by MaMuse - Middle Part

Circle Round by MaMuse - Low Part

This is a combination of two songs arranged for Wholehearted Chorus - an original by Lisa G. Littlebird and the iconic Get Together by the Youngbloods. May we all keep learning to walk the path of their timeless lyrics.

For song details, including lyrics, individual voice part tracks and teaching notes, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/starsong-get-together/

Starsong + Get Together by Lisa G. Littlebird & Chet Powers - ALL PARTS

This is a combination of two songs - an original by Lisa G. Littlebird and the iconic Get Together by the Youngbloods. May we all keep learning to walk the path of their timeless lyrics.

For song details, including lyrics, individual voice part tracks and teaching notes, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/starsong-get-together/

Starsong + Get Together by Lisa G. Littlebird & Chet Powers - Baritone

Starsong + Get Together by Lisa G. Littlebird & Chet Powers - High Alto

Starsong + Get Together by Lisa G. Littlebird & Chet Powers - Low Alto & Tenor

Starsong + Get Together by Lisa G. Littlebird & Chet Powers - Soprano

A an early gem from dynamic and wonderful MaMuse. This river song is an ultra-inviting singalong.

Original song by MaMuse. Free for singing in community, get permission from the composer before recording or performing for profit.

For lyrics, individual part tracks and more, visit https://thebirdsings.com/hallelujah/

Hallelujah by MaMuse - ALL PARTS

A an early gem from dynamic and wonderful MaMuse. This river song is an ultra-inviting singalong.

Original song by MaMuse. Free for singing in community, get permission from the composer before recording or performing for profit.

For lyrics, individual part tracks and more, visit thebirdsings.com/hallelujah/

Hallelujah by MaMuse - High Part

Hallelujah by MaMuse - Low Part

This beautiful original song of peace was written and recorded here by Maddie Hamann for the One Voice Choir and Wholehearted Chorus in San Diego, CA. 

This arrangement contains two different vocal lines that can be sung simultanouesly, with a harmony provided for the section part. 

This is song is for sharing - no permission required to sing with your people.  If recording or performing for profit, please seek permission from and pay a royalty to the composer.

For song details, lyrics and more, visit: https://thebirdsings.com/peace-starts-within-me

Peace Starts Within Me by Maddie Hamann

This is a very old song out of the Yoruban & Santeria traditions - Nigeria, Cuba, & Brazil. I learned recently that it is about those who serve the Orisha Oshun (sometimes Osun) and the brass bracelets they wore that Oshun asked them to rattle. This somehow managed to be mistakenly interpreted and shared by myself and many others as “necklace of love,”  perhaps due to the devotees adoration of the Orisha.  Oshun embodies love and sexuality  and one of her elements is brass, which never rusts. One writer shares "To understand Osun is to know the intelligence, vitality, caring and nourishing abilities of womankind. Long-suffering, cheated, overlooked, and over-worked, but always committed to the survival of humanity. Besides signifying wealth, brass never rusts, it is eternal. In Osun, we have the embodiment of prosperity, love, beauty, elegance, sexuality and sensuality and a divinely sanctioned feminist. 

This is a traditional song in the public domain. Choral arrangement copyright Lisa G. Littlebird, instrumental arrangement and guitar recorded by Aimee Ringle.

Chords, lyrics and more:
http://thebirdsings.com/ide-were-were

Ide Were Were

An awesome song for three voices by Meredith Buck, inspired by a wilderness workshop exercise she participated in where she had to cross a river blindfolded, following only the sound of a drummer on the other bank.

Eel River Song by Meredith Buck (Listen)

A song for our time, written by the beautiful singing duo MaMuse. UPDATE! This recording has been updated here as of June 2025 to more accurately match MaMuse's arrangement, style and tempo.

Original song by Karisha Longaker, 2016. Copyright MaMuse. We Shall Be Known is recorded here with permission for the purposes of oral tradition singing and teaching. If singing this song for performance or recording for profit, get permission from and pay royalties to the composer.
http://mamuse.org

This is a recording used as a practice track for the Wholehearted Chorus of Monterey and Big Sur, CA, under the direction of Lisa G. Littlebird. Details including lyrics and individual part tracks can be found at:
http://thebirdsings.com/we-shall-be-known

We Shall Be Known by MaMuse - Alto (melody)

An anthem for our time, written by the beautiful singing duo MaMuse. UPDATE! This recording has been updated here as of June, 2025 to precisely match MaMuse's arrangement and tempo. 

Original song by Karisha Longaker, 2016. Copyright MaMuse. We Shall Be Known is recorded here with permission for the purposes of oral tradition singing and teaching. If singing this song for performance or recording for profit, get permission from and pay royalties to the composer.
http://mamuse.org

This is a recording used as a practice track for the Wholehearted Chorus of Monterey and Big Sur, CA, under the direction of Lisa G. Littlebird. Details including lyrics and individual part tracks can be found at:
http://thebirdsings.com/we-shall-be-known

We Shall Be Known by MaMuse - ALL PARTS

We Shall Be Known by MaMuse - Tenor & Baritone

This simple and beautiful layer song from Karisha Longaker of MaMuse is an easy, delicious one to teach in community singing groups of all sizes and levels of experience. It is arranged here in 5 parts for Wholehearted Chorus, with one or two audible additional parts that can be added by soloists or additional divisions of the chorus. 

Original song by Karisha Longaker. Oh River is included in this song library with permission for the purposes of oral tradition singing and teaching. If singing this song for performance or recording for profit, you must get permission from and pay royalties to the composer.

Recorded by Lisa G. Littlebird, with base arrangement track from Karisha Longaker.

For details about the song including lyrics and all the individual part tracks, please visit: http://thebirdsings.com/oh-river/

Oh River by Karisha Longaker of MaMuse

A fantastic, infectious and upbeat community singing anthem in Spanish from Glen Phillips. This song is best done with guitar but can be effective without as well.

Original song by Glen Phillips. Recording by Glen Phillips with Lisa G. Littlebird, used with permission.

For lyrics, individual part tracks and more, please visit: http://thebirdsings.com/abre-la-puerta

Abre La Puerta by Glen Phillips

*Track Updated 6/27/25*
Influenced by the Gullah tradition active in composer Sarah Nutting's Carolina homeland, it's part gospel, part hoedown, and major joy. This song is in a mostly 2-3 voice part arrangement that shifts between voicings and has several solo opportunities on the verses.

Original song by Sarah Nutting of MaMuse. ©Sarah Nutting. Please support the artist by purchasing their released version of this song on MaMuse's album Heart Nouveau.  These practice tracks were recorded over the original MaMuse track by Lisa G. Littlebird, up a half step from the original.

For individual part tracks, lyrics and more, visit:
http://thebirdsings.com/through-that-gate/

Through That Gate by MaMuse - ALL PARTS

If had to be stranded on a desert island with one mantra, this song would be it. This gem of music medicine landed in the voice of my dear friend and singing sister Lyndsey Scott, as she biked around the midwest. It's been changing lives and hearts ever since. 

Original song by Lyndsey Scott, recorded here by Lyndsey Scott and Lisa G. Littlebird. Lisa added the two harmony lines with Lyndsey's support and the arrangement is shared here with her blessing.  Melody and 1 and 2 are identical except for a little echo at the end of the song.

Lyrics, teaching notes and individual part tracks can be found at: http://thebirdsings.com/thewayknows/

The Way Knows the Way by Lyndsey Scott

Lisa G is a songcatcher. She holds a vision for a world where singing is once again an integral part of daily community life. May we use this most ancient technology to meet life's challenges and celebrations, open our hearts, and uplift our lives.

Lisa G. Littlebird is the director of the 250-member Wholehearted Chorus in Carmel and San Diego, CA. She has been on the faculty as a community singing facilitator at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA since 2006. She is a singer, composer and teacher with more than 30 years of musical experience, facilitating community singing as medicine for our world.  Learn more at http://thebirdsings.com.

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