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TEXT & TRANSLATIONS
Koowu
Maryam Khoury
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Translation:
Koowu, Koowu, Koowu, Koowu.
I am a caged bird who longs to fly away.
Her name is Koowu, Koowu fly.
I have a caged bird who is weeping, I dare not set her free. Her song is mine and i’m keeping, but soon this dove will die if she does not get the chance to fly. Fly! Oh, Koowu fly! Oh, Koowu fly! Oh, Koowu fly!
I have a caged bird, who is weeping. Oh, Koowu do not cry, cry. If it is freedom that she is seaking, then my bird must Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! She must fly away.
I am Koowu and her keeper, I am Koowu and her keeper, I am Koowu and her keeper, I am Koowu and her keeper.
Taste the wind. Breathe the air, Koowu. I’ll be waiting for you there, oh Koowu.
Taste the wind. Breathe the air, Koowu. I’ll be waiting for you there, oh Koowu. Oh Koowu. Koowu.
In Arabic, Koowu means strength. As a child, Maryam Sameer Faheem Khoury’s father told her stories about the difficulties he experienced growing up in Palestine. Koowu is about how different her life would be if her father had not moved to the United States. The text of Koowu is symbolically about a caged bird who longs to fly away and find freedom.
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Caritas Abundat
Hildegard von Bingen
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Text:
Caritas abundat in omnia
​
Translation:
Grace abounds for everyone
Wau Bulan
arr. Tracy Wong
Translation:
Part 1:
Eh wau buleh, eh wau buleh, eh wau buleh teraju tigo,
Eh wau eh wau, eh wau buleh, eh wau buleh teraju tigo.
Part 2:
Ala eh wau, eh wau buleh, eh wau buleh teraju tigo,
Ala eh wau, eh wau buleh, eh wau buleh – Ha! teraju tigo.
Malay to English translation: “Kite moon, kite moon, kite moon with your three points.”
Aure Volanti
Francesca Caccini
​
Translation:
Wandering breeze singing birds fountain gentle graces and pleasures
All of these around make more bright sun more gentle day
Caverns frozen glowing sun
green meadows lilies violets and violets
Caritas abundat (Great & Fiery force)
arr. Michael John Trotta
Text by Hildegard von Bingen
​
Text:
I am the great and fiery force,
That breathes life into all things:
I am what awakens and supports life
And enkindles all living things
I ma the great and fiery force,
That breathes life into all things
Everything in the cosmos
Is encircled with my wisdom.
I am the beauty in the fields
The force, that moves like a grateful wind
I shine in the waters, and burn in the sun,
Glimmering in the stars.
Caritas abundat in omnia
[Grace abounds for all}
Changes
Composed by Audrey Snyder
​
Text:
Changes:
Here’s one clear voice just singin’ a song.
Add another voice to sing along.
Three together, we’ve got something to say, hey; gotta make some changes in the world today.
There’s trouble in the world, there is no denyin’.
You know that too many people are dyin’.
People ev’rywhere come answer the call.
It really doesn’t help when we do nothing at all.
Be the people who will lead the way, hey, hey.
Raise your voices.
Start today.
There’s trouble in the world, there is no denyin’.
You know that too many people are dyin’.
Gotta change the world, gotta change the world.
Come on, people get together, hey, hey, hey.
There’s trouble in the world, there is no denyin’.
Too many people are cryin’, dyin’.
Gotta make some changes, gotta make some changes, gotta make some changes in the world, changes in the world today.
Bandyrowe
Arranged by Susan Brumfield
Traditional Irish Tune
​
Text:
As I was goin’ to Bandyrowe, Kitty alone, Kitty alone
As I was goin’ to Bandyrowe, Kitty alone and I
Saw a crow a-flyin’ low, and a cat a-spinnin’ tow
Kitty alone and I, Rock-a-ma-rye-rie.
Way up yonder above the moon, Kitty alone, Kitty alone
Way up yonder above the moon, Kitty alone and I
Way up yonder above the moon, a bluebird sits in a silver spoon
Kitty alone and I, Rock-a-ma-rye-rie.
Da da ‘n du dey ‘n du do, da da ‘n du dey-o.
Da da ‘n du dey ‘n du do, da da ‘n du dey-o.
Kick-ma-lee-rie, Kick-ma-lee-rie, cow-din down.
Kick-ma-lee-rie, Kick-ma-lee-rie, cow-din down.
Cow-din down, Cow-din down, dah dey ’n du dey ’n du do,
Coy ma neero, Kilto caro, o.
Kick-ma-lee-rie cow-din down, Kick-ma-lee-rie cow-din down,
To me tat, me tear, me ditt an o’dill, Kitty alone and I.
As I was goin’ to Bandyrowe, Kitty alone, Kitty alone
As I was goin’ to Bandyrowe, Kitty alone and I
Next came in was a little bee, drawin’ a fiddle across his knee
Kitty alone and I, Rock-a-ma-rye...
Next came in was a little bee, will you play a tune for me
Kitty alone and I, Rock-a-ma-rye-rie.
To me tat, me tear, me ditt an o’dill,
Kitty alone and I.
​
This little light of mine
Traditional African-American Spiritual
Adapted by Priyeshni Perera
​
Text:
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Won't let anyone blow it out, ';m gonna let it shine, (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Hide it under a bushel, No! I'm gonna let it shine, (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Shine my light across the land, I'm gonna let it shine, (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
The moon bridge
Composed by Florence Price
Text by Mary Rolofson Gamble
​
Text:
The moon like a big, round ball of flame
Rose out of the silver bay,
And built a bridge of golden beams,
Where the fairies came to play.
I saw them dancing in jewel’d robes
On the wavelet’s rhythmic flow,
And I long’d to stand on the magic bridge,
In the moonlight’s mystic glow.
But over the sky a veil of mist
Thin, soft as a web of lace,
Was drawn, then parted, then came again,
With easy, coquettish grace.
And the moon put on a somber mask,
And frowned on the rippling wave,
And the beautiful bridge went under the sea,
Nor a beam could the fairies save!
I wonder’d if this would end their play,
And if, as the bridge went down,
They would lose their jewels so frail and fair,
And their queen her diamond crown!
But they glided away in merry mood,
To their home in the rosetree’s bowers,
And there they danced on the dewy grass,
Till the “wee sma” morning hours.
Where the light begins
Composed by Susan LaBarr
Text by Jan Richardson
​
Text:
Perhaps it does not begin. Perhaps it is always.
Perhaps it takes a lifetime
to open our eyes, to learn to see
[what has forever shimmered in front of us]
the luminous line of the map in the dark
the vigil flame in the house of the heart
the love so searing
we cannot keep from singing,
[from crying out in testimony and praise.
Perhaps this day will be the mountain over which the dawn breaks.
Perhaps we will turn our face toward it, toward what has always.
Perhaps our eyes will finally open in ancient recognition, willingly dazzled, illuminated at last.]
True Colors
Composed by Billy Stienberg & Tom Kelly
Arranged by Tom Brent
​
Text:
You with the sad eyes, don’t be discouraged.
Oh, I realize it’s hard to take courage.
In a world full of people you can lose sight of it all.
The darkness inside you makes you feel so small.
I see your true colors shinin’ through.
I see your true colors and that’s why I love you.
So, don’t be afraid to let them show.
Your true colors are beautiful, like a rainbow.
Show me your smile then, don’t be unhappy.
Can't remember when I last saw you laughin’.
If this world makes you crazy and you’re takin’ all you can bare, you call me up 'cause you know I’ll be there.
I see your true colors shinin’ through.
I see your true colors and that's why I love you.
So, don't be afraid to let them show, let them show.
I see your true colors shinin’ through.
Your true colors and that’s why I love you.
So, don’t be afraid to let them show.
Your true colors are beautiful like a rainbow.
Your true colors.
Your true colors.
Love is love is love is love
Composed by Abbie Betinis
​
Text:
Love is love is love is love
What a wonderful world
Arranged by Audrey Snyder
​
Text:
I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Ooh, yes
Still I rise
Composed by Rosephanye Powell
​
Text:
​Though I have been wounded, aching heart full of pain. Still I rise, yes, still I rise. Jus’ like a budding rose, my bloom is nourished by rain. Haven’t time to wonder why, though fearful I strive. My pray’r and faith uphold me ‘til my courage arrives. Still I rise as an eagle, soaring above ev’ry fear. With each day I succeed, I grow strong an’ believe That it’s all within my reach; I’m reaching for the skies, Bolstered by courage, yes, still I rise. Yes, it’s all within my reach; I’m reaching for the skies,Yes, still I rise. Gentle as a woman; tender sweet are my sighs. Still I rise, yes, still I rise. Strength is in my tears and healing rains in my cries. Plunging depths of anguish, I determine to strive. My pray’r and faith uphold me ‘til my courage arrives. Though you see me slump with heartache; Heart so heavy that it breaks. Be not deceived I fly on bird’s wings, rising sun, its healing rays. Look at me, you see a woman; Gentle as a butterfly. But don’t you think, not for one moment, that I’m not strong because I cry.
