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Breaths
Tonight, rather than wait around for the few trick-or-treaters who bother with this neighborhood, I went out to attend the Rise Up Singing circle at the Fireroast Mountain Cafe. It was fun; we honored the spirit of Samhein by dedicating songs to departed loved ones. I brought along copies of a Sweet Honey in the Rock song for us to sing a capella:
Breaths
chorus:
Listen more often to things and to beings.
Listen more often to things and to beings.
Tis the ancestors' word when the fire's voice is heard;
Tis the ancestors' word in the voice of the water...
Those who have died have never, never left.
The dead are not under the earth...
They are in the rustling trees, they are in the groaning woods,
They are in the crying grass, they are in the moaning rocks.
The dead are not under the earth...
chorus
Those who have died have never, never left.
The dead have a pact with the living...
They are in the moment's breath; they are in the wailing child,
They are with us in the home, they are with us in the crowd.
The dead have a pact with the living...
(repeat and vary chorus as a round)
Breaths
chorus:
Listen more often to things and to beings.
Listen more often to things and to beings.
Tis the ancestors' word when the fire's voice is heard;
Tis the ancestors' word in the voice of the water...
Those who have died have never, never left.
The dead are not under the earth...
They are in the rustling trees, they are in the groaning woods,
They are in the crying grass, they are in the moaning rocks.
The dead are not under the earth...
chorus
Those who have died have never, never left.
The dead have a pact with the living...
They are in the moment's breath; they are in the wailing child,
They are with us in the home, they are with us in the crowd.
The dead have a pact with the living...
(repeat and vary chorus as a round)
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Is this something that happens every year? I would have loved to go.
The song I would have sung for my Dad is "'Tis the Gift to be Simple."
(FWIW, the spelling is Samhain -- I feel horribly uncomfortable correcting you, but as you are a writer and spiritually interested in the season I thought you'd be interested in the spelling. I always appreciate it when folks correct mine, but I never know how others will react.)
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'Breaths' comes out ahead of 'O Death' with me, though I do get a chill from the latter.
I love 'Simple Gifts.' I dedicated 'Today' (While the blossom still clings to the vine...) to my father and sister.
I'm not sure whether this Wednesday R.U.S. Circle follows this tradition every year. (I usually have conflicts on Wednesdays and mostly attend the 2nd Sunday group.) I do love the harmonies we get when we do a capella gospel numbers.
If you enjoy sing-alongs of this sort the 2nd Sunday group is very friendly. 2nd Sunday of the month, 6:30 - 9:00. I can give you the address if you'd like to attend sometime. The Wednesday group meets on the last Wednesday of the month (and the 2nd?), same time slot, at the Fireroast Mountain Cafe on 38th St & 37th Avenue in South Mpls.
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the Sunday group does sound fun, but Jan has an event he attends every Sunday night at that time, and I have to be home with the kids. I might check out the Wednesday group, though! Thanks!
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