Wrapped Up

Honolulu, HI

Boing!   Song started on a drive down to the beach to check the surf... which turned out to be really fun and lightly populated ;)  Had to keep singing the whole time in the water so I wouldn't forget it, so it grew and was "done" pretty quickly.  Came home post-surf and... dozed off before recording it!  Luckily, it remained firmly stuck in my head when I awoke.

LYRICS:

We are wrapped up
Safe and Sacred
Held and Holy
In the ____ of the One
 (arms, heart, light, 
  mind, joy, peace, etc)

All that we are
All we can see
Everything we learn
All that we can be

RHYTHM:   D.Ck.kC.

Magnificent!

Honolulu, HI

Once in a while I just "know" there's a song to unfold... and then there's the lag while I try to figure out what it actually is!   This one started out exploring the theme of "beyond" - beyond all the symbols, art, scriptures etc. that we typically associate with deity.  Thinking that way leads one pretty quickly to "God is EVERYTHING" - and here's what came out of that ;)

LYRICS:

You are the Center, of the circle
The farthest flung frontier
Pure essence, sweet presence,
Magnificent!  Now!  Right here!

You are the All in All in everything
You are the All in All… in All!
You bathe us in Your beauty
Everywhere is Your Temple

RHYTHM:  D..kC..k.kD.C..k

Warrior

Honolulu, HI
 
Brewing on offerings for the 2014 Illumination Gathering in Oregon and realized I don't know any songs about warriors.  (We'll be doing a four phase fire-circle on Friday night unfolding along the lines of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey - Lover, Warrior, Philosopher, Fool.) So, here's what popped out...

LYRICS:
 

Yeah, there’s a Warrior in me

I pursue my goals relentlessly

I am strong, courageous, brave and caring

Unstoppable, noble and daring

There's a Hero right in here

Who overcomes all fear

Champion for a better world

For every woman, man, boy and girl

RHYTHM: (accapella)

 
“Every society needs heroes. And every society has them. The reason we don't often see them is because we don't bother to look. -- There are two kinds of heroes. Heroes who shine in the face of great adversity, who perform an amazing feat in a difficult situation. And heroes who live among us, who do their work unceremoniously, unnoticed by many of us, but who make a difference in the lives of others.  --  Heroes are selfless people who perform extraordinary acts. The mark of heroes is not necessarily the result of their action, but what they are willing to do for others and for their chosen cause. Even if they fail, their determination lives on for others to follow. The glory lies not in the achievement, but in the sacrifice.”  -- Susilo Bambang Yadhoyono - President of Indonesia

 

Zillions!

Honolulu, HI
 
Grateful summer is here again.  Free time to muse and create!  I'm thinking this may actually be the first song I have written - vs the way I have pasted like themed chants together into longer pieces for my looper or open mic sets. I am SUCH a variety junkie, it only seemed natural to make up a song appreciating that... and, I just love the word "zillions" ;)

LYRICS:

wandering 'round in the forest                                                           
so many different shaped leaves   
curve and line, massive or fine
it's the infinite pattern of goddess
a zillion patterns of god

touching the world all around me                            
so many textures my fingers meet
slick or prickly, fluffy or moist
it's the infinite sensation of goddess
a zillion sensations of god

CHORUS: 
variety, diversity, multiplicity, infinity
scents and sounds and sights surround
tastes and textures do abound!

take a deep breath in the city
endless scents, sour and sweet
pungent or smokey, moldy or fresh                    
it's the infinite aroma of goddess
a zillion aromas of god

i hear the world and it's singing
a symphony of sounds greet my ears
chirps and thumps, bubbles and howls
it's the infinite song of the goddess
a zillion songs of god

CHORUS

all the miraculous flavors
so many things we can eat
savory, tangy, salty and tart
it's the infinite taste of the goddess
a zillion tastes of god

thousands of people surround me
every conceivable form
black or red, yellow or white
it's the infinite face of the goddess
a zillion faces of god

CHORUS
 
i thank the One for variety
the diversity and wonders of life
multiplicity, infinitely
it's a potpourri of the goddess
a potpourri of god 

RHYTHM:

1...2...3...4...

D.Dk.kC.C.Dk.kC.

 

I Bow to You

Honolulu, HI

Well... it's been a long time since I have written anything, as I have simply been deep into singing "traditional" kirtan songs, as well as the multi-faith library.  In truth, I have been feeling the need to be creative in some way, and that combined with conversations about our kirtan group recording a CD provoked me to work on something original.   The notes in parenthesis are mudras that accompany the song....and, you'll note there's no rhythm on this recording as I'm playing the harmonium these days too!

LYRICS:

I bow to You         (namaste heart)
Light of all Life      (hands to heaven)
all around            (chi gung circle)
and all within       (hands to heart)
    
Use me now        (holding tray)
Oh Holy One       (hands to Heaven)
To do your will    (hands to 3rd eye)
and live as love   (lemniscate)

Put my hands in motion
Fill me with Devotion
Bathe me in the Ocean
Of You, Oh Lord, Of You

A Righteous Revelation
Of positive vibration
Fill me with the Ocean
Of You, Oh Lord, Of You

Rhythms: Bhajan and Bideo