Songs for Prayer & Power
Pictured above from Right to Left: Alex Raabe (Lutheran, Long Island, NY); Kerri Meyer (Episcopal, San Francisco, CA); Sylvia Miller-Mutia (Episcopal, Albuquerque, NM); Anna Woofenden (Swedenborgian, Gambier, OH); Asher O'Calaghan (Lutheran, Denver, CO); Gemma Sampson (Church of England, Hartlepool, UK)
In July, 2017, thanks to a generous grant from Austin Theological Seminary to explore "Resistance through Preaching and Song" our ecumenical preaching group (pictured above) began to create and compile short songs for personal prayer, liturgy, public witness, and protest. Below you'll find some of the songs we've created since then.
The songs below are most often "works in progress"--messy rough drafts at best! If you're looking for performance or perfection, you've come to the wrong page. If you're looking for a place to encounter prayer and the power that flows from singing to God in community, you just might find something worthwhile!
The songs below are most often "works in progress"--messy rough drafts at best! If you're looking for performance or perfection, you've come to the wrong page. If you're looking for a place to encounter prayer and the power that flows from singing to God in community, you just might find something worthwhile!
Below are songs for which members of our preaching group have created the text, music, and/or movement.
Songs for the Church (for use in worship, prayer, or private devotion)
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The fire inside
Written by: Sylvia Notes: This song was inspired by our cohort's pilgrimage to Holy Island/Lindsifarne, where we found this excerpt in a larger text (see below) in the parish church. Lyrics: (After St. Aidan) The fire inside impels us on the road to seek Christ in the stranger's face or feel the absence of His touch |
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Wisdom Calls
Written by: Sylvia+ Notes: A useful song to sing before the reading of scripture Lyrics: (After Proverbs 8:1-4) Does not Wisdom call from the heights, on the way? At each crossroads Wisdom is taking her stand. To you, O people, Wisdom calls and her cry is to all that live. |
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Come Good People
Written by: Sylvia+ Text: Hildegard of Bingen, 12th century Notes: A useful gathering song Lyrics: Come, Good People greening verdancy rooted in sun radiant with light |
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Agua Vital
Written by: Traditional, Meso-American Movement Meditation by: Sylvia+ Notes: Sylvia+ learned this chant as part of a course on curanderismo, or traditional healing of Mexico & the Southwest. She developed a simple movement meditation to accompany the chant. This chant/prayer/meditation invokes the healing power of creation through water, fire, wind, and earth. As we are cleansed and healed, we are restored to wholeness and strength to join God's healing work in the world. Lyrics: Agua Vital, purificame Fuego del Amor, quema mi temor Viento del Alma, llevame al altar Madre Tierra, vuelvo a mi hogar [Living water, purify me Fire of love, burn away my fear Wind of Spirit, carry me to the altar Mother earth, I return to my home] |
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Dios te Salve Maria
Written by: Traditional Roman Catholic Prayer Notes: Sylvia+ learned this prayer on the 2018 New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity (an ecumenical pilgrimage) and created the accompanying melody and movement meditation. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is often portrayed as "meek and mild" but she can also be a powerful icon and source of strength and resistance. Lyrics: Dios te salve, María, llena eres de gracia, el Seńor es contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros, los pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén |
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You have lifted up the lowly
Written by: Sylvia Text: Luke 1:52 Notes: For use in Advent as antiphon with psalm or gospel, as a refrain for the prayers of the people, or as a meditative chant at any suitable point in the service. We have been using it throughout Advent as the "sequence hymn" (the song before the Gospel). Lyrics: You have lifted up the lowly (3x) and cast the mighty from their thrones |
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Let us be alive!
Written by: Sylvia Text: St. Hildegard of Bingen, 12th century Notes: The accompanying movement meditation invites us to embody the movement back and forth between deep reverence (in a bow or prostration) and holy action (standing upright and alert ready to answer God's call.) Lyrics: Let us be alive! A live burning offering ourselves a burning offering before the altar of God |
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Now the Day is Over
Written by: Kerri
Notes: Tune is based on a Latvian folk song.
Lyrics:
Now the day is over
what is done is done
Undone still the many things we longed to do
Our restless hearts shall find their rest, O God, in you.
Written by: Kerri
Notes: Tune is based on a Latvian folk song.
Lyrics:
Now the day is over
what is done is done
Undone still the many things we longed to do
Our restless hearts shall find their rest, O God, in you.
Hearts Cry Out
Written by: Kerri
Notes: This is a refrain for the prayers of the people for a community that needs to lament and pray. Text is based on a A poem by Warsan Shire: What They Did Yesterday Afternoon
Lyrics:
O Creator, your world cries out to you
it hurts everywhere, everywhere, everywhere
O Creator, our hearts cry out to you
God in your mercy, receive our prayer
Written by: Kerri
Notes: This is a refrain for the prayers of the people for a community that needs to lament and pray. Text is based on a A poem by Warsan Shire: What They Did Yesterday Afternoon
Lyrics:
O Creator, your world cries out to you
it hurts everywhere, everywhere, everywhere
O Creator, our hearts cry out to you
God in your mercy, receive our prayer
In the Beginning
Written by: Sylvia
Notes: Written on New Year's Day, 2018, inspired by Genesis 1 and John 1.
Lyrics:
In the beginning, you are with God
In the beginning, God is with you
and you are part of a new creation
God is beginning anew
Written by: Sylvia
Notes: Written on New Year's Day, 2018, inspired by Genesis 1 and John 1.
Lyrics:
In the beginning, you are with God
In the beginning, God is with you
and you are part of a new creation
God is beginning anew
Light of Christ (Blessing Song)
Written by: Sylvia
Notes: A song to bless individuals (in need of healing, preparing for protest, etc.)
Lyrics:
Light of Christ come cleanse and heal
Light of Christ protect and bless
Light of Christ inspire and guide
Light of Christ enfold you and hold you today.
Written by: Sylvia
Notes: A song to bless individuals (in need of healing, preparing for protest, etc.)
Lyrics:
Light of Christ come cleanse and heal
Light of Christ protect and bless
Light of Christ inspire and guide
Light of Christ enfold you and hold you today.
Songs for the Streets (for use in marches, protests, processions and public witness)
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El Mundo Nuevo
Written by: Kerri Notes: An original song in Spanish, inspired by Kerri's earlier composition in English "Another World" (see below.) Lyrics: El nuevo mundo de que hablamos El mundo lindo de que cantamos O es mas, es mas que una posibilidad Si es mas, es mas que una posibilidad Ya yo puedo verlo Ya puedo oirlo Esta llegando Llega cantando! [The new world of which we speak the beautiful world of which we sing Oh it's more, it's more than a possibility Yes, it's more, it's more than a possibility I can already see it I can already hear it It's coming It comes singing!] |
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Another World (Street March Re-mix)
Written by: Kerri
Text: Inspired by Arundhati Roy
Notes: For use in public actions/protests/marches. Simple. Peppy. Zip in other verbs (I can hear it laughing; I can feel it dancing; I can see it marching, etc.)
Lyrics:
Another world,
Another world is not just possible
It's on its way (2x)
And I can see it coming
And I can hear it singing
It's not just possible
It's on its way. (2x)
Written by: Kerri
Text: Inspired by Arundhati Roy
Notes: For use in public actions/protests/marches. Simple. Peppy. Zip in other verbs (I can hear it laughing; I can feel it dancing; I can see it marching, etc.)
Lyrics:
Another world,
Another world is not just possible
It's on its way (2x)
And I can see it coming
And I can hear it singing
It's not just possible
It's on its way. (2x)
Sing with me!
Written by: Sylvia
Notes: You can play around with the lyrics of this song to fit a variety of contexts. For example, "sing" could become "pray" in the liturgy or "march" at a protest march. "Justice" could be come "mercy" or "freedom", according to your context. The harmonies in this song are simple and intuitive. You can sing it as a canon, or as a three part layered song. Lately we have been using it as a refrain for the Prayers of the People at our Sunday evening service.
Lyrics:
Part 1: Sing with me
Part 2: Come all you people, singing for justice
Part 3: Together we sing and together we stand.
Sample variations:
Part 1: Pray with me
Part 2: Come all you people, praying for mercy
Part 3: Together we pray and together we stand.
Part 1: March with me
Part 2: Come all you people, marching for freedom
Part 3: Together we march and together we stand.
Written by: Sylvia
Notes: You can play around with the lyrics of this song to fit a variety of contexts. For example, "sing" could become "pray" in the liturgy or "march" at a protest march. "Justice" could be come "mercy" or "freedom", according to your context. The harmonies in this song are simple and intuitive. You can sing it as a canon, or as a three part layered song. Lately we have been using it as a refrain for the Prayers of the People at our Sunday evening service.
Lyrics:
Part 1: Sing with me
Part 2: Come all you people, singing for justice
Part 3: Together we sing and together we stand.
Sample variations:
Part 1: Pray with me
Part 2: Come all you people, praying for mercy
Part 3: Together we pray and together we stand.
Part 1: March with me
Part 2: Come all you people, marching for freedom
Part 3: Together we march and together we stand.
Pilgrim there is no road
Written by: Sylvia
Notes: I wrote this song as a walking song on a recent ecumenical pilgrimage for Christian Unity. The echo format allows for the leader to breathe while the people sing (and vice versa), which is useful for a walking song! I have since used this song as an entrance procession for the community in our Sunday evening worship service. I can imagine it working well in any protest march or walking context. You can replace "pilgrim" with "brother, sister, people, workers, children, traveler, prophet, seeker, dreamer, Christian", etc.
Lyrics:
Pilgrim, pilgrim there is now road (echo)
You make the road by (clap) walking (echo)
Written by: Sylvia
Notes: I wrote this song as a walking song on a recent ecumenical pilgrimage for Christian Unity. The echo format allows for the leader to breathe while the people sing (and vice versa), which is useful for a walking song! I have since used this song as an entrance procession for the community in our Sunday evening worship service. I can imagine it working well in any protest march or walking context. You can replace "pilgrim" with "brother, sister, people, workers, children, traveler, prophet, seeker, dreamer, Christian", etc.
Lyrics:
Pilgrim, pilgrim there is now road (echo)
You make the road by (clap) walking (echo)
Gonna bring that light
Written by: Kerri
Text: Based on Martin Luther King, Jr.
Notes: A song for public action. It's meant to be repeated antiphonally. It modulates (meaning you can't lead it indefinitely, because it will eventually get too high.)
Lyrics:
Darkness can't drive out the darkness
only light can do that (3x)
Hatred can't drive out the hatred
only love can do that (3x)
Gonna bring that light
and bring that love and (repeat)
Darkness can't drive out the darkness
only light can do that (3x)
Hatred can't drive out the hatred
only love can do that (3x)
Written by: Kerri
Text: Based on Martin Luther King, Jr.
Notes: A song for public action. It's meant to be repeated antiphonally. It modulates (meaning you can't lead it indefinitely, because it will eventually get too high.)
Lyrics:
Darkness can't drive out the darkness
only light can do that (3x)
Hatred can't drive out the hatred
only love can do that (3x)
Gonna bring that light
and bring that love and (repeat)
Darkness can't drive out the darkness
only light can do that (3x)
Hatred can't drive out the hatred
only love can do that (3x)
Why does singing matter?
Sylvia+ offers her thoughts on the importance of song in conversation with Josh Blaine.