Category Archives: Music for the Soul

Contemplative Samhain Music

Samhain, Samhain, let the ritual begin,
We call upon our sacred ancestors to come in
Samhain, Samhain, we call upon our kin,
We call upon our dear departed loved ones to come in

The Veil between the worlds is thin
Our hearts reach cross the sea of time
To bring our loved ones in
Samhain, Samhain we honor all our kin
We honor those who’ve gone before
As the Great Wheel turns again

By Lisa Thiel

9/11 Again – 2019

Every year on 9/11 my services always include this song – played, sung or spoken. “If I Give Your Name” by Pat Humphries and Sandy O of Emma’s Revolution. As well as some version of Judy Chicago’s Merger Poem as prayer, as meditation, as wish and as dream. May the day come when we can all live in gentle compassion and peaceableness.

Turn the World Around

This Sunday many will gather for the Water Communion. The UU Singers choir in the congregation I serve this week will be singing “Turn the World Around” by Harry Belafonte/Robert Freedman. I adore this song! The reminder, and the call, of our unity. 

When Harry Belafonte performed this on The Muppet Show, he talked about what makes the world go ‘round, that we are here for a very brief time, and that if we take the time to understand each other that there is not really any difference in any of us. And that, if we get to know each other, to really care about each other, we can turn the world around. 

https://youtu.be/zEkyllSJte8?t=23m28s

May your Water Communions be beautiful calls to compassionately love one another.

“Turn the World Around” 

by Harry Belafonte/Robert Freedman

We come from the fire

Livin’ in the fire

Go back to the fire

Turn the world around

We come from the water

Livin’ in the water

Go back to the water

Turn the world around

We come from the mountain

Livin’ on the mountain

Go back to the mountain

Turn the world around

Oh, oh so is life

Oh, oh so is life

Oh, oh so is life

Oh, oh so is life

Do you know who I am

Do I know who you are

See we one another clearly

Do we know who we are

Oh, oh so is life

A ba tee wah ha so is life

Oh, oh so is life

A ba tee wah ha so is life

Water make the river

River wash the mountain

Fire make the sunlight

Turn the world around

Heart is of the river

Body is the mountain

Spirit is the sunlight

Turn the world around

We are of the spirit

Truly of the spirit

Only can the spirit

Turn the world around

We are of the spirit

Truly of the spirit

Only can the spirit

Turn the world around

Do you know who I am

Do I know who you are

See we one another clearly

Do we know who we are

Oh, oh so is life

A ba tee wah ha so is life

Oh, oh so is life

A ba tee wah ha so is life

This Sunday in Pittsfield Maine

The Meeting House Singers led by Reverend Jess Tardy, and accompanied by a cadre of talented musicians including our own Matrika Press-published poet and songwriter Wes Burton, along with Rodney Mashia, Cynthia Chatis and Ed Arnold will be creating a beautiful service in Pittsfield this week. Jess has been bringing long-awaited new light to this church. She is newly ordained as an Interfaith Minister by the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (and a lovely soulful woman!!!). Grateful to see glimmers of positive transformation in this congregation. May their spiritual growth be blessed and may they continue on this new and transformational path.

Emma’s Revolution Concert w/ Women With Wings

Friends, join us in Bangor on Saturday, June 1st at 7:30pm for the Emma’s Revolution Concert with Women With Wings!! Pat Humpries and Sandy Opatow are award winning songwriters, whose compelling lyrics and beautiful harmonies lead the way forward in our justice movements. Our own Women With Wings singing group will be joining them for several songs. What a joyous evening it will be! Click the links below for tickets.

https://www.facebook.com/events/920709584927085/

https://emmasrevolution.com/bangor-me-tickets-june-1-2019

Something You Love

This song may well encompass 80-90% of what I preach about in churches, and talk about in media presentations. 

Time is precious. Do something you love. 

(PS: Dad and Charlie would have Loved performing this song…so in my mind, they are)