Free Song

Why All This Music? (& A Free Song)

Submitted by Carolyn on June 18, 2012 - 5:00pm

Social media has its problems, but also its gifts.  

Today:

A tweet from Image Journal

mentioned a tumblr post from Alissa Wikinson

which featured this wondrous poem from Gregory Orr ...

 

 

 

To be alive: not just the carcass
But the spark.
That’s crudely put, but …

If we’re not supposed to dance,
Why all this music?

- Gregory Orr, from Concerning the Book that is the Body of the Beloved

 

                                                                                                                      

photo of Bethany Arends taken by Matt Kennedy

 

"If we're not supposed to dance, why all this music?" 

I tried to write a song about that once.  Maybe in some way all of my songs are about that.  But right now, one in particular comes to mind.  I'll give it to you free if you promise to dance.  Deal?

Here's the lyric.  [You can listen to the song by pressing the play arrow below, or download it for free (forever and ever!) by clicking on the attachment at the bottom.]

May You Live
Carolyn Arends 

If there is a cup of life
And we each get our quotas
May you drink yours down, pass the rest around
And not waste one iota
And if there is a winding road
And mountains meant for climbing
May you be strong and brave, and constantly amazed
By every new horizon

And may you live
All the days
Of your life
May you live
All the days
Of your life

And if our days make up a dance
Then have no hesitation
Turn the music loud and send a crowd
Of friends your invitation
And if it’s true that love's a song
We sing in joy and sadness
Then may your song be sung at the top of your lungs
And may it bring you gladness

And may you live
All the days
Of your life
May you live
All the days
Of your life

And if there is another world
That waits beyond the curtain
Then when your time has come may you hear "well done"
And may you know for certain

That you lived
All the days
Of your life
May you live
All the days
Of your life

© Running Arends Music (SOCAN) 

From the recording Under the Gaze by Carolyn Arends

Enjoy the music!

 

Wanna keep in touch?  Sign up for the free Carolyn Arends newsletter and receive periodic updates and "cool kid" status ...

Subscribe to Carolyn's email list!

 

Only Love - A Song for MLK Day

Submitted by Carolyn on January 16, 2012 - 8:01pm

Ever since we moved, I miss my old drycleaners.  They never put staples in my clothes, their prices were great, and the owner's son, John, always had the best quotes up on a chalkboard in the customer area.  One day I was dropping off some sweaters and read something deeply true from MLK ... by the time the sweaters were ready for pick-up, I'd gotten a good start on a song the quote inspired, and eventually I finished it up with my good bud (and brill writer) Brad Crisler.  Today, in light of MLK day, I'd like to give the song to you.

You can click on the attachment link below to download the song for free.  Here are the words:

Only Love
words and music by Carolyn Arends and Brad Crisler
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -- Martin Luther King Jr.

 

No one ever overcomes the dark with darkness
It takes a little light to chase the shadows back
So tell me why I try to fight the hate with hatred
When only love can do that

When I'm in this hole I just keep digging deeper
And when I lose my way I circle 'round this track
Trying to mend my heart with all the things that break it
When only love can do that

Only love, only love
Only love, only love
The more I try to fill me up
The more I lack
'Cause only love can do that

Well I could swear sometimes it seems like I'm in quicksand
Or like I'm sinking fast in water cold and black
I go deeper down the more I try to save me
Guess only love can do that

Only love, only love
Only love, only love
The more I try to fill me up
The more I lack
'Cause only love can do that

Well I have heard it said that you might be the answer
And it occurs to me -- that could be a fact
'Cause it was you who gave your life up for another
And only love can do that

Only love, only love
Only love, only love
The more I try to fill me up
The more I lack
'Cause only love can do that

c 2001 Songs of Peer, Ltd / Mr. Marley's Music (ASCAP)/EMI/April Music
Inc./Waltztime Music, Inc. (ASCAP)

(This song was released on my Traveler's project - if you'd like to purchase the whole disc, go HERE)

Shalom,
Carolyn
Syndicate content