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

Song: Hildegard's Song

Music by: Barbara McAfee

Notes: Sometimes a great groove and simple harmonies is exactly what you need to explore over -- and this song is a beautiful way to listen to your own singing voice playing. Barbara McAfee joins us next week to talk about her journey toward becoming a voice mentor to many folk, developing the Full Voice program, and what that means to her. We were both reeling a bit in the wake of the apparently politically motivated shootings in Minnesota, close to Barbara, shortly before we recorded. Reflecting on the effect of listening to our own voices helped us both stabilize and ground.

Songwriter Info: Barbara lives on the wild and scenic St Croix River about an hour from Minneapolis/St Paul. She is a master voice coach, songwriter, song leader, hospice choir director, long distance swimmer, poet, and author of Full Voice. She feels so lucky to be alive on planet Earth.

Sharing Info: The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Barbara for recording and/or performing permission.

Song Learning Time Stamps:

Start time of teaching: 00:02:58

Start time of reprise: 00:10:14

Links:

Barbara's website: www.barbaramcafee.com

Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, mixolydian, 3-layer

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, June 15th, 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.

190. In the Spring

By Yuri Woodstock

In the spring, among the flowers

Bird song rings in the morning hours

Sun is up and the day is bright

What a time to unleash your light!

153. Blessings Whenever You Breathe

By Melanie DeMore

​Blessings whenever you breathe

​Blessings whenever you breathe

​Blessings whenever you breathe

Blessings all around

Bless your heart

Your tender, tender heart

Bless your heart

​Blessings whenever you breathe

138. My Thoughts Make A Difference

By Chandler Yorkhall

My thoughts make a difference

My feelings make a difference

My words make a difference

My healing makes a difference

I will not shy away from the struggle in my soul

I will waste no time, for this day is growing old

What can I do for this broken world?

20. Great-Full

By Ishka Shir

I am here on this planet, living my life,

doing what I do, feeling grateful.

I am here, this is life, I'm grateful. ​(2x)

119. I Let Go

By Te Martin

I let go

I lay down

I release

Return again

71. Lullaby My Sweetness

By Patricia Norton

Lullaby my sweetness, rock me forever;

cradle me deep in an ocean of blue.

Lullaby my sweetness, hold me so gentle;

this is the song that I sing for you.

White birds winging above me,

calling wild and calling free.

White thoughts, wheeling away now;

loose and alight and afloat on the sea.

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

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Song: Freedom Over Fear

Music by: Tembre de Carteret

Notes: Which freedoms do we get to choose? What are the places or times in your life when certain freedoms were not available? Have you ever lost freedoms because of violence or threat? Sometimes it's hard to release fears that may have helped protect us in the past -- and sometimes the feeling of letting go of fear is like standing on an ocean cliff, proclaiming again and again, "I choose freedom over fear!"

Songwriter Info: Tembre de Carteret lives in County Clare, Ireland, and has led a beautiful online singing circle called "We May Sing" since 2020. You can learn more about her and the way in which she facilitates, mentors, and builds song communities at her website, www.tembresong.com

Sharing Info: Tembre says: "This song is free to share with your circle of loved ones and singing group. I just ask you credit me and I whole heartedly welcome any recording/video you do of the song with your group, please send to me."

Song Learning Time Stamps:

Start time of teaching: 00:03:45

Start time of reprise: 00:16:35

Links:

Tembre's website: http://www.tembresong.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tembre.decarteret

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5NOOeWM2w3Og68acT2zPei

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhgwiqOGcvICIjSsJq6iJg

Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, 3-layer

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

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Song: Another World

Music by: Patricia Norton

Lyrics by: Arundhati Roy

Notes: Hearing these words in 2020 for the first time felt like a gift of possibility. I love the deeper listening they invite. It took five years before they found a melody in my head -- and the reminder of the quote in its entirety, which is, "Another world is not only possible, she's on her way. Maybe many of us won't be here to greet her, but on a quiet day, if I listen very carefully, I can hear her breathing." Listening. That's the invitation of this melody, which stacks up into an complicated chord when sung as a round.

Songwriter Info: You can find out more about me in general here: https://www.juneberrymusic.com/about-patricia.html Or the whole team that puts this podcast out here: https://www.abreathofsong.com/about.html

Sharing Info: Please share freely, and consider contributing to the A Breath of Song gratitude jar in reciprocity -- or write a review, leave a comment!

Song Learning Time Stamps:

Start time of teaching: 00:04:25

Start time of reprise: 00:14:00

Links:

Flow Singing: https://www.juneberrymusic.com/flow-singing.html

All of what I'm up to: https://www.juneberrymusic.com

Kindred Voices Retreat: https://kindredvoicesretreat.com

Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, 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