Song: Loosen

Music by: Aly Halpert

Notes: Written in 2017, this song by Aly Halpert catapulted its way around songleader circles, shared friend to friend, sung in cars and buses, after dinners, on walks, between dances, around fires, beside rivers and on beaches. I learned it in 2019, and it has accompanied me since through the pandemic, an intense year of many deep losses, over to Europe twice, in groups, with single friends, and alone. Some songs are like sunscreen in summer, a warm coat for winter. You may already know this one; please enjoy singing it with me. It may be new to you -- may it spread wider, carrying its healing, kind reminder to loosen.

Songwriter Info: Aly Halpert (she/her) is a queer Jewish musician, educator, and activist living on Lenni Lenape land in Philadelphia, PA, USA. A singer, pianist, drummer, and guitar player, Aly writes songs for building community and visioning different worlds. Aly leads music and prayer for Jewish community, including Let My People Sing, Kol Tzedek Synagogue, Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, and Hadar's Rising Song Institute. Her songs have been sung in national gatherings, song circles, and quiet moments of personal prayer, and have moved people all over the world. Her first full-band album Loosen was released in April 2022 with Rising Song Records. Aly believes deeply in the power of music to awaken us to the loss and hope we carry, expand our sense of possibility, and connect us to each other and our collective strength.

Sharing Info: The song is free to share in oral tradition groups. Aly welcomes financial and/or networking support, she would like to be contacted re: recording/performing permissions, and she appreciates donations when used by organizations with means.

Song Learning Time Stamps:

Start time of teaching: 00:03:12

Start time of reprise: 00:16:10

Links:

Aly's website: https://www.alyhalpert.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/alyhalpertmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alhalpal

Loosen with Aly on Bandcamp (great opportunity to support her directly!): https://alyhalpert.bandcamp.com/album/loosen

Nuts & Bolts: 6:8, minor, 2 layers, optional harmony, optional round

Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

The Sunday after this episode is released, July 20th, 2025, at 4 p.m. Eastern time, there will be an online gathering of folk who use song to help navigate life -- and we'll sing through this Ribbon of Songs with live-looping! To learn more, click here, or sign up right now to join us!

Lyrics ​& Links to the original episodes for the songs in this ribbon.

140. The Feast

By Heidi Wilson

(sung by Heidi Wilson)

Holy

Fire in the sun

Water in the river, and

Wind within my lungs

Oh holy

Earth beneath my feet

All of us are offerings

and also at the feast

67. Gandalf's Blessing

Words: J.R.R. Tolkien (The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings)

Music​: Joshua Blaine

​May the wind, may the wind,

may the wind under your wings

Bear you where, bear you where

the sun sails and the moon walks. Not all who wander are lost.

122. September Moon

By Chandler Yorkhall

(sung by Patricia & Rebecca Csuy)

Full Moon outside my window

this warm September night

Pulls me into wakefulness

far too early.

I’d rather be sleeping

the day is already too long for me

I’ll just wait for dawn.

53. Wish For We

By Judi Vinar

Every little wish

that I wish for me,

is a wish

for we.

Sunshine,

then some rain.

Sunshine,

and then some rain.

Moonlight and starlight (3x)

112. Let Me Sing

By Jane Lewis

Let me sing as the sun rises

Let me sing as the day falls

Let me offer this prayer to the moonlight

Let me stand in the beauty of it all

(Let me sing to the beauty)

57. Farewell

By Patricia Norton

May you know

the love that surrounds you

is as warm

as summer sun on sand;

and until

the time that we meet again,

​may love hold you

in the palm of her hand.

Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

Song: I Am Blessed

Music by: Desirée Dawson

Notes: Ok, so there's a bit of mess in this episode -- the reprise happens twice, because I couldn't get my Loopy app to turn off when I wanted it to -- but we just get to sing it again, so it turns into a good thing! Desirée's song really helps me remember how blessed I am, with my mess, my stress -- the way it all opens my heart, like a treasure chest. Great body percussion part for all you rhythm-hungry folk, plus oohs for the Supremes fans. I take some time picking it apart so you can find some of the intricacies...

Songwriter Info: As a recording artist, songwriter, producer, facilitator, and yoga teacher, Desirée is driven by a passion for collective liberation. She is a two time SXSW music video winner and was nominated for a Juno Award for best adult contemporary album of the year in 2022. She has had multiple viral moments on TikTok and Instagram with her most popular video being for her song I Am Blessed. With her powerful voice as her main instrument, Desirée often accompanies it with her baritone ukulele, body percussion and other musicians. She has a passion for harmonizing and singing with others. She blends folk, soul, pop, Americana, and old-time country influences into her creations, though she often labels her music as 'singer-songwriter' for simplicity.

Sharing Info: The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Desirée for recording and/or performing permission. Desirée says, "Donations are encouraged and welcome but I do not want money to be a barrier for people to share and learn the song."

Song Learning Time Stamps:

Start time of teaching: 00:03:31

Start time of reprise: 00:21:53

Links:

Desirée's website: www.desireedawsonmusic.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/desireedawsonmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desireedawsonofficial

Desirée singing I Am Blessed on Bandcamp: https://desiree-dawson.bandcamp.com/track/i-am-blessed-loop

Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, melody, harmony, body percussion

Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html