Songs for a better world S

Sailing down my golden river

Set the little dove free

Side by side

Simple gifts

Since others do so much for me

Sing for the climate / Do it now

Sing, John Ball

Somewhere there’s a forest

Spread a bit of joy around

Step by step

Swim on, swim on ***

Last updated: 7/3/2023 11:16 AM

The songs below are compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

*** Original songs by Dany Rosevear

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To listen to music from these songs click on 🔊

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved

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Sailing down my golden river 🔊

One for us oldies in appreciation life’s journey.

Somehow it also in tune with an acceptance of the mood of our present circumstances.

Composed by the wonderful Pete Seeger.

Sailing down my golden river,

Sun and water all my own,

Yet I was never alone.

Sun and water, old life givers,

I'll have them where e'er I roam,

And I was not far from home.

Sunlight glancing on the water,

Life and death are all my own,

Yet I was never alone.

Life to raise my sons and daughters,

Golden sparkles in the foam,

And I was not far from home.

Sailing down this winding highway,

Travelers from near and far,

Yet I was never alone.

Exploring all the little by-ways,

Sighting all the distant stars,

And I was not far from home.

Set the little dove free 🔊

The way the world should be.

There are some wonderful musicians who through technical expertise and sound engineering have produced some magnificent global performances that bring us together in a way only music can; one of the foremost of these are Playing for change / Peace through music: https://www.youtube.com/user/PlayingForChange

Equally Zoom (and other platforms) and Covid lockdowns have allowed people from many regions to gather together and sing, lifting spirits through some dark days. This is a humble homage to those folk.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

Let peace come a-calling, set the little dove free! x2

Intro: La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la,

La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la!

La-la-la, la-la-la, la!

Chorus: One world, one song, one big family,

Singing our hearts out in sweet harmony,

Not a border or fence that we can see.

Together as one, the way it should be,

Together as one, the way it should be.

For we each share the stars, we each share the moon,

We each share the blue sky on a warm afternoon.

We’ll raise up our voices, when peace is the prize,

For truth, hope and happiness, so little dove can fly. x2 Chorus

And we all love the flowers, we all love the trees,

We all love the ladybugs, the crickets and bees,

And we need one another whereever we be,

To bring love and joyfulness to our big family. x2

Chorus

We’ll sing songs that move mountains, songs that move hearts,

And songs that will shape us so we each play our part;

As the river runs on, racing down to the sea,

Come with us, sing with us, walk with us, talk with us,

Let peace come a-calling, set the little dove free! x2

Intro + last line x2

Side by side 🔊

A classic from my childhood, whether rich or poor we were all singing it.

A popular song by Harry M. Woods written in 1927 - long lived with its the universal theme; if we have people we love around us everything will be fine, we don’t need consumer goods. If only, when poverty knocks, love and care go a long way but having to cope with hunger and basic needs however, can be devastating.

Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money,

Maybe we're ragged and funny,

But we'll travel along singing a song,

Side by side.

Don't know what's coming tomorrow,

Maybe it's trouble and sorrow,

But we'll travel the road sharin' our load,

Side by side.

Thru all kind of weather,

What if the sky should fall,

As long as we're together,

It doesn't really matter at all.

When they've all had their quarrels and parted,

We'll be the same as we started,

Just to travel along singing a song,

Side by side.

When they've all had their quarrels and parted,

We'll be the same as we started,

Just travelling along singing a song,

Side by side,

Side by side.

Simple gifts O

Composed by Joseph Brockett in 1848 it was written as a dance song: http://www.americanmusicpreservation.com/JosephBrackettSimpleGifts.htm

I first came across this song in the 1960s; the delightful tune became a very familiar one in school assemblies as ‘Lord of the dance’ by Sidney Carter. I added it to my class music collection from a BBC Publication ‘Singing Together’ Spring 1974 to where it was described as an American ‘Shaker’ song; I have omitted the second verse as it was not in the original version.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be;

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,

To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.

To turn, turn, will be our delight,

'Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Since others do so much for me 🔊

Pass happiness on.

Appreciate what is provided and given to us in so many ways and encourage us to do the same to make the lives of others happy.

You can see the results of such thoughtfulness in the help and acts of kindness given freely to refugees from the Ukraine in Europe and beyond.

This song is appropriate in communty settings at Thanksgiving, harvest festival and other times of thankfulness.

Words by Vincent B. Stillman to an American folk tune. From ‘Exploring music 1’ published in 1966.

Since others do so much for me,

I, too will freely give,

And help to fill with happiness

This world in which I live.

Sing for the climate / Do it now 🔊

A powerful anthem for a changing world.

Composed by Nic Balthazar and Stef Kamil Carlens for the Belgian Climate Coalition and sung in 180 town squares in Sept 2012. The music is the traditional Italian activist song ‘Bella Ciao’.

We need to wake up, we need to wise up,

We need to open our eyes and do it

Now! Now! Now!

We need to build a better future,

And we need to start right now!

We're on a planet that has a problem,

We've got to solve it, get involved and do it

Now! Now! Now!

We need to build a better future,

And we need to start right now!

Make it greener, make it cleaner,

Make it last, make it fast and do it

Now! Now! Now!

We need to build a better future,

And we need to start right now!

No point in waiting or hesitating,

We must get wise, take no more lies and do it

Now! Now! Now!

We need to build a better future,

And we need to start right now!

Sing, John Ball 🔊

A rousing song of social protest.

John Ball was a hedge priest whose saying, “When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?” was the watchword of the Peasant’s Revolt in England in 1381. The revolt was led by John Ball and Wat Tyler and the mob met with the child King Richard 11 who promised an end to serfdom. That did not happe as Richard was probably overruled by his council.

It was written by Sydney Carter in 1981 to commemorate the six hundredth anniversary of the uprising. Find out more here: John Ball [Sydney Carter] (mainlynorfolk.info)

Who'll be the lady, who will be the lord,

When we are ruled by the love of one another?

Who'll be the lady, who will be the lord,

In the light that is coming in the morning?

Chorus:

Sing, John Ball and tell it to them all,

Long live the day that is dawning,

For I'll crow like a cock and I'll carol like a lark,

In the light that is coming in the morning.

Eve is the lady, Adam is the lord,

When we are ruled by the love of one another,

Eve is the lady, Adam is the lord,

In the light that is coming in the morning.

Chorus

All shall be ruled by fellowship, I say,

When we are ruled by the love of one another,

All shall be ruled by fellowship, I say,

In the light that is coming in the morning.

Chorus

Labour and spin for fellowship, I say,

Labour and spin for the love of one another,

Labour and spin for fellowship, I say,

In the light that is coming in the morning.

Chorus x2

Somewhere there's a forest 🔊

We all need our moments of peace and fresh air.

This song was written by Susan Stevens and appears in the ‘Our chalet songbook’ published in 1974 and then ABC schools ‘Sing!’ 1995.

Somewhere there's a forest,

Where you can stand and dream,

And walk alone beside the waters

Of a forest stream.

Chorus

Where quietness and peace of mind,

Are waiting there for you to find,

So leave the noisy world behind,

For just a little while.

Somewhere there's a seashore,

Where the wind is blowing free,

And wheeling seagulls call above,

The music of the sea.

Chorus

Somewhere there's a hillside,

Where you can climb at dawn,

And wonder at the sunrise,

As another day is born.

Chorus.

Spread a bit of joy around 🔊

Make the most of the good times.The summer holidays are on their way, share those happy moments with friends and family and others you might meet.

The words here were inspired by the sunshine and the joy to be found while swimming and walking.The cheerful music is inspired by ‘Let him go, let him tarry’ a Broadside song sung to an old Irish tune. Words and set to music by Dany Rosevear.

Feeling good, feeling happy,

Time to spread a bit of joy around,

Gonna sing, dance and whistle,

Everywhere I’m bound;

It is time to shout and holler,

It is time to clap your hands,

Time for smiles and laughter

And to share love where you can.

Step by step 🔊

Get up and go – one step is just the first step in all that you do.

This song, however, has a wider remit; walking good for you and is fun, as is any task you put your mind to and complete to your satisfaction.

Discuss tasks that require perseverance: learning a new instrument, knitting, riding a bicycle, not always easy but difficulties can be overcome by practice and persistence.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

One step, two steps, three steps, four,

Five steps, six steps, seven and more;

Each little step, though it takes a while,

Carries you along, ‘til you’ve walked a mile.

One mile, two miles, three miles, four,

Five miles, six miles, seven and more;

Out and about in the wind, rain or sun,

Keep on walking for walking’s fun.

Whatever you do come rain or shine,

Stick at the task and you’ll be fine;

Don’t give up before you’re done,

One step, two steps and off you run!

One step, two steps, three steps, four,

Five steps, six steps, seven and more;

Each little step, whatever you do,

Carries you along, your whole life through!

Swim on, swim on 🔊

A wish for our world's waters.

What are we doing to help keep our oceans fit for the future? A song to encourage a discussion of how we, in our small way, can make a difference to the survival of the creatures and species we love.

Written by Dany Rosevear to a traditional tune.

Swim, swim through the waters,

Little fish of the sea,

Through the clear, salty waters,

Swim on merrily.

With no more pollution

And no microbeads,

Swim on, swim on,

So wild and so free.

Plough on through the oceans,

Great whales of the sea,

May your journeys be long

And your passage be free,

From waters polluted

With the plastic bags gone,

Plough on, plough on,

Sing your beautiful songs.

It’s the future we are spoiling

For our natural world,

With plastic, noise and garbage

That will never grow old.

Please think what you are doing,

Keep our water’s alive,

Think on, think on,

So our oceans can thrive.

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