Compiled from Rise Up Singing and other sources

This is a collection of lyrics for songs that can help gather groups together. There are 3 sections: Peace & Friendship; Spiritual; and Giving Thanks for Meals. Melodies not provided here, so you’ll have to find someone to teach you if you don’t already know them. Sing out!

PEACE & FRIENDSHIP SONGS

Building Bridges
Building bridges between our divisions
I reach out to you won’t you reach out to me?
With all of our voices and all of our visions
Friends we could make such sweet harmony.

Circle Chant (by Linda Hirschhorn, Copyright 1982)
Circle round for freedom, circle round for peace
For all of us imprisoned, circle for release
Circle for the planet, circle for each soul
For the children of our children, keep the circle whole!

Dona Nobis Pacem (“give us peace”)

Hineh Ma Tov
Hineh ma tov umanayim, shevet achim gam yachad.
(“Behold how good and pleasant it is
for brothers and sisters to live together in unity.”)

Hymn for the Russian Earth
If the people lived their lives
as if it were a song
for singing out of light
provides the music for the stars
to be dancing circles in the night

If You Can Walk, You Can Dance
If you can walk, you can dance
If you can talk, you can sing (2x)
If there’s a song, we’ve got to sing it
A chance for peace, we’ve got to bring it
A brand new world, we’ve got to chance it
If you can sing, then you can dance it.

It’s in Every One of Us
It’s in every one of us to be free (wise)
Find your heart, open up both your eyes
We can all know everything without ever knowing why
It’s in every one of us, you and i. (by and by)

The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
For your friends are my friends,
and my friends are your friends,
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be!

O Be Joyful
O be joyful, o be jubilant,
put your sorrows far away.
Come rejoice let’s sing together this happy day.
O be joyful (3x), put your sorrows away.
O be joyful, o be joyful on this day.

Peace Song/Dear Friends
Peace (4x), Wars have been and wars must cease,
We must learn to live together, Peace (3x)
Love (4x), People we are made for love,
Love each other as thyself, for God is love.
Child (4x), Will we ever see you grown?
We are working for your future, We love you so.
Dear friends (2x), Let me tell you how i feel,
You have given me such treasures, I love you so.

Shalom Chaverim
Shalom chaverim l’hitrayot
(“Peace, friends, until we meet again.”)

Step by Step
Step by step, the longest march, can be won, can be won
Many stones can form an arch, singly none, singly none
And in union what we will, can be accomplished still
Drops of water turn a mill, singly none, singly none.

Vine & Fig Tree (Lo Yisa Goy)
And every one ‘neath their vine and fig tree
Shall live in peace and unafraid. (2x)
And into ploughshares turn their swords
nations shall learn war no more. (2x)
Lo yisa goy el goy cherev
Lo yilmedu od milchama. (4x)

We Are a Circle
We are a circle, within a circle
With no beginning, and never ending
(“Somos un círculo, dentro de un círculo,
Sin principio, y sin final”)

We Come from the Mountain
We come from the mountain
living in the mountain
go back to the mountain
Turn the world around.
We come from the mountain
Go back to the mountain, turn the world around.
River / Air / Fire / Meeting / Mountain

SPIRITUAL SONGS

Earth my Body, Water my Blood
Air my breath, and Fire my spirit

Light is Returning
Light is returning
Even though this is the darkest hour
No one can hold, back the dawn
Let’s keep it burning
Let’s keep the light of hope alive
Make safe our journey, through the storm
One planet is turning
Circle on her path around the sun
Earth Mother is calling, her children home

The point of the road is the journey
Not where you’re going, or where you’ve been
The point is to just keep learning
About the earth around us and the fire within.

Rise Up, O Flame
Rise up o flame, by thy light glowing
Show to us beauty, vision and joy.

River of Life
Oh i’ve got a river of life flowing out of me.
Makes the lame to walk, and the blind to see.
Open up the prison doors, set the captives free.
Oh i’ve got a river of life flowing out of me.
Spring up o well and heal my soul
Spring up o well and make me whole
Spring up o well and let me see
life abundantly.

Simple Gifts
‘Tis a gift to be simple, ’tis a gift to be free,
’tis a gift to come down where we 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 shall not be ashamed
To turn and to turn it will be our delight
Til by turning and turning we come ’round right.

O Spirit prepare me, to be a sanctuary
pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, i want to be a living
sanctuary for you.

We Are Rising, like a phoenix from the fire
So brothers and sisters spread your wings and fly higher (2x)
We are rising, we are rising (2x)

We are the flow, We are the ebb
We are the weavers, We are the web

We are the power in everyone
We are the vision of what can be done
We are the hope that will not hide
We are the turning of the tide
Let it begin with each step we take
And let it begin with each change we make
And let it begin with each chain we break
And let it begin every time we awake

SONGS FOR GIVING THANKS FOR MEALS

Oh, the earth’s been good to me,
and so i thank the earth,
for giving me the things i need,
the sun and the rain and the apple trees,
The earth’s been good to me.

Let us give thanks for the simple things
that come from the earth.
The clouds in the sky,
and the wind through the trees,
and the river that sings to me.
Hear their voices one by one,
hear them as they call,
Heya heya heya heya heya heya ho. (2x)

Thank you for this food, this food,
this glorious, glorious food.
And the animals
And the vegetables
And the minerals
that made it possible.