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Here you will find songs, some written by me and some by others, in the paperless singing tradition.
I love the music style taught by Music that Makes Community, a non-profit that empowers communities through song. Their practice of paperless song leading makes their music accessible for me to sing and teach in my congregation, even though I am not trained in vocal performance or song leading. The songs I have learned with this organization are so simple yet lyrically and musically deep. I encourage you to sign up for their newsletter to see what's happening near you or online—they host a variety of ways to learn music and sing together. This page is a place where I will share links to songs I learn with MMC and songs I write, with notes about how you might use it and why I like it. Things are posted in no particular order. Click on the "categories" in the sidebar (bottom of page in mobile) to see...you know, categories. Feel free to use anything you find here. All my work on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons license that allows you to use and adapt my work with attribution for non-commercial purposes. Please credit me by name and link to this website.  This work by Alison Casella Brookins is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Get Up and Go
Artist: Alison Casella Brookins Lyrics: (below) Type: Unison refrain, call/response verses Notes: Starting note A. Upbeat sending song. There should probably be clapping. Refrain You gotta get up and go out of this place Get up, go out and live 2x Verse 1 Leader: Your God came that you might have life All: Get up, go out and live Leader: So full of light that you just can’t hide All: Get up, go out and live refrain Verse 2 Leader: Won’t be easy, you’re gonna be scared All: Get up, go out and live Leader: Look around there’s hope out there All: Get up, go out and live refrain Verse 3 Leader: Take a step and raise your voice All: Get up, go out and live Leader: Don’t hafta be perfect to sing ‘n rejoice All: Get up, go out and live Be Right Here
Artist: Alison Casella Brookins Lyrics: Here; right here; be right here Type: Unison, Loose round Notes: Starting note C#. This one is good with a drone, or a Shruti box. Can be sung in unison, or layered, either precisely as demonstrated in the recording, or loosely with a drone accompaniment, with each person singing the words repeatedly, coming in whenever they want, creating a tapestry of sound. A good song to sing before prayer or before a practice like confession. Encourages us to ground and center ourselves here and now. Welcome to the Arms of God
Artist: Alison Casella Brookins Lyrics: Welcome to the arms of God Welcome to the hands of Christ Sing welcome to the Spirit she is coming even now Welcome, welcome home Type: Round, Unison Notes: Starting note: C. Simple welcome song, sung to each other. Who Will Set Us Free?
Artist: Father Bernardo Maria Perez and Francisco Feliciano Lyrics: "Who will set us free? Jesus, we're waiting for you. You said you'd be coming. Don't let our hope be futile." Full lyrics can be found here. Type: Echo Notes: This is a "Yo Jesus! Keep your promise! Do something!" It's a petitionary prayer that actually expects an answer, asking for what it needs without hesitation. I love the strong, ringing notes of the last line. Til the Moon is No More (In the recording she sings the song, then teaches how to teach the song)
Artist: Angela Morris Lyrics: Adapted from Psalm 72:6-7. "Roll down like rain, water the earth. Shower the world in justice and peace, from now til the moon is no more." Type: Unison Notes: Love a good minor key. Also love drones! This is a good one for petitionary prayer. Thank You For This Day, Spirit (Rhythmic, Loose)
Artist: from the Native American Church Movement Lyrics: "Thank you for this day, Spirit, this healing day." Full lyrics can be found here. Type: Unison Notes: I learned this at a tempo somewhere between the above rhythmic/loose recordings; rhythmic enough that it can be sung in a group, but with all the stretching of notes you want. When I first heard this I thought it was tacky, but then I found myself singing it all week, and it popped into my head whenever I felt gratitude—often before I consciously realized I was grateful, I would be singing this. Now it's one of my favorites. Stone by Stone
Artist: Taya Mâ Lyrics: "Stone by stone, tear by tear, we release and create right here. What is gone, we build upon" Type: Unison Notes: Simple, repetitive. I like that it doesn't come to a musical ending, that you just keep going and going—just like the work of building and releasing. One Foot/Lead With Love
Artist: Melanie DeMore Lyrics: "You gotta put one one foot in front of the other, and lead with love" Type: Echo verses, unison chorus Notes: For whenever you need power to persevere. Rhythmic, good for singing on Zoom, marching song. Lay Me Low (link to teaching video)
Artist: Shaker text, music by Daniel Schwandt Lyrics: "Lay me low where the Lord can find me...hold me...bless me..." Type: Unison or echo Notes: Love this one. For times when we need a reminder that the lowest places are exactly where God is most present. Often use this one at Longest Night, Good Friday, etc. |
This work by Alison Casella Brookins is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. AuthorAlison ArchivesCategories
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