Leave Your Troubles at the Water

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 - Tenor & Low Alto

In This House by MaMuse - High Alto

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 - Soprano

We Shall Be Known by MaMuse - Tenor & Baritone

*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 - Alto

Origin:
Words are based on a poem by Wendell Berry
Melody is by Plum Village
This is a recording from NSP's Yom Kippur Community Singing Session in 2019

Words:
And when I rise
Let me rise
Like a bird, joyfully
And when I fall,
Let me fall
Like a leaf, gracefully,
And without regret

Singing Team - YK Melodies

When I Rise

Moses' prayer for his sister Miriam when she is sick -- Ana el na refa na la - "please Gd, heal her." 

Ancient Jewish words from Numbers 12:13. Music written and recorded in 2016 by Aly Halpert for a friend who was in need of healing.

Songs for Healing

Ana El Na

This beautiful chant invoking the elements is the chorus of a song called "Raven" by Marca Cassidy.

Recorded with permission

Lyrics: 

Breathe in the Air

Invoke the water

Honor the earth

Burn with the fire

© Marca Cassidy

all rights reserved

02 - Breathe In The Air

This melody is for liturgy that praises the eternal attribute of lovingkindess. 
This recording shows two different places it can be used, in liturgy that shares this core message. The first is in Hallel (a praise section of liturgy reserved for holidays and new moons) and the second is found in Psukei D'zimra on Shabbat & Festivals (the consistant praise section of liturgy that has special additions on shabbos & holidays, such as this song!)

Hodu Ladonia from Hallel (added section of praise for holidays & new moon)

hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo(leader) 
hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo (congregation responds) 
yomar na yisrael ki l'olam chasdo (leader)
hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo (cong. responds) 
yomar na beit aharon ki l'olam chasdo (leader)
hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo (cong. responds) 
yomru na yirei adonai ki l'olam chasdo (leader)
hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo (cong. responds)

Translation:
LEADER: give gratitude to hashem (spirit/g!d/life force/etc.), because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal 
CONGREGATION: give gratitude to hashem (spirit/g!d/life force/etc.), because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal!
LEADER: let yisrael(our people/g?d wrestlers) please say: their chesed (lovingkindness)is eternal!
CONG: give gratitude to hashem (spirit/g!d/life force/etc.), because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal!
LEADER: Let the house of Aharon (the priests/witches/magic weavers/spirit workers) please say: their chesed (lovingkindness)is eternal!
CONG: give gratitude to hashem (spirit/g!d/life force/etc.), because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal!
LEADER: Let those who are in fear/awe of YHVH (existence/hashem/all time and space)please say: their chesed (lovingkindness)is eternal!
CONGREGATION: give gratitude to hashem (spirit/g!d/life force/etc.), because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal!

Hodu Ladonai from Psukei D'zimra on Shabbat & Yom Tov (festivals)

hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo
hodu lei'lohei ha'elohim ki l'olam chasdo
hodu l'adonai ha'adonim ki l'olam chasdo
l'osai nifla'ot gedolot levado ki l'olam chasdo
l'osai ha'shamayim bi'tvunah ki l'olam chasdo
l'roka ha'aretz al ha'mayim ki l'olam chasdo
l'oseai orim gedolim ki l'olam chasdo
et ha'shemesh l'memshelet bayom ki l'olam chasdo
* [the liturgy continues, but this recording ends with these words, I've included the next line in the liturgy because they are liturgically linked, but there are more verses after that as well]
et ha'yareach v'kochavim l'memsilot ba'laila, ki l'olam chasdo 
(and it continues on...)

Translation: 
offer gratitude to YHVH (existance/g?d/life force...) because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal
offer gratitude to the unifying power that is within all powers, because it's chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal
offer gratitude to the *boss* (in a positive sense of the word) of all bosses, because their chesed is eternal
to the one who is responsible for miracles and wonder, because their chesed is eternal
to the one weaves the heavens with understanding, because their chesed is eternal
to the spreading of earth over waters, because their chesed is eternal
to the former of great light/luminaries/illumination, because their chesed is eternal
the sun that reigns in the day,  because their chesed is eternal
[this song ends with the words above, but I included the next line because liturgically they go together]
the moon and stars that reign at night,  because their chesed is eternal


**** All translations are the way that I understand this liturgy, in which I strive to stay to true to the words, and include my own understanding of them ****

Hodu Ladonai (liturgy from Hallel & Shabbat/Yom Tov)

Origin:
Words from Selichot liturgy
Melody is a Chabad tune
This is a recording that Batya Levine made for NSP in preparation for co-leading High Holiday services with Rabbi Joseph in 2020

Words:
Rachamana d’anei (de’anei) la’ani’ei
oy vey! aneina(n) 

Rachamana d’anei l’tvi’rei lieba, 
oy aneina(n)! oy aneina(n)!

Translation:
Compassionate One, who answers/responds to the oppressed. 
Oy Vey! Answer/respond to us!

Compassionate One, who answers/responds to the brokenhearted. 
Oy! Answer/respond to us! 
Oy! Answer/respond to us!

Rachamana - Chabad Melody

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.

Through That Gate by MaMuse - Alto

TheBirdSings

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