Let’s raise our voices together in support of beloved Canadian singer-songwriter, choir leader, and mother Coco Love Alcorn, who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Join with others whose hearts and lives have been moved by Coco’s music, to sing her songs and collectively envision her health and vitality! This is a community sing, not a concert; all voices are welcome ~ listeners too!
In the spirit of community, this is a collaboration with special guests Tom Arntzen, Narissa Young, Jenny Lester, Cari Burdett, Sylvia Wende, Rebekah Demirel, Kim Bothen, and Kazimea Sokil, April Laurie, and myself as host. There will be a mix of learning simple harmonies and letting it flow, and room to move (chairs optional).
We will also livestream on YouTube, so you can sing with us from afar: https://www.youtube.com/live/SraTpoc3YhA
Community sing will start at 4:00 until 5:30, followed by a potluck for those who would like to stay and share stories of Coco's awesomeness (bring a dish to share; we have access to a full kitchen).
Rather than fear, we will focus on hope, and a shared vision and celebration of Coco's powerful life force and wholeness!
Suggested donation $20+. Cash donations will go directly to Coco, or you can donate through her GoFundMe campaign:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/SupportCocoThroughCancer (there you can also read more details about her journey).
Parking at St. Andrews is limited; carpool if you can. Please bring a water bottle and an open heart full of hope!
Here are some of Coco’s songs we’ll sing.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE LYRICS SHEETS, PLEASE PRINT FROM THE PDF LINKED BELOW. Otherwise, please use your phone to read the lyrics linked below. With the large expected turnout, printed sheets are not feasible. Following the lyrics is optional - you may already know many of them!
Song List and Lyrics - printable pdf of all lyrics
Each song title links to a recording; lyrics follow.
A Song To Sing (jump to lyrics)
Gather Your Courage (jump to lyrics)
Hope In The Day (no lyrics needed)
Nature Calling (jump to lyrics)
Sing You Through The Storm by Sylvia Humble (lyrics)
That Old Feeling (jump to lyrics)
Tiny Lights (jump to lyrics)
Unbreakable (jump to lyrics)
Water People (no lyrics needed)
Add your voice to the collective joyful sound we'll create as we sing Coco's songs and send her our united intentions and faith in her strength, resilience and healing power.
Song Lyrics: get a printable pdf of all lyrics here
A SONG TO SING:
Every person has got a light (x2)
Look with your heart and see how bright
Every person has got a light, Has got a light
Every bird got a song to sing (x2)
Whether grounded or taking wing
Every bird got a song to sing, Got a song to sing
Ooo ooo ooo…
Every tree takes time to grow (x2)
If you want a forest then you should know
Every tree takes time to grow, Takes time to grow
Ooo ooo ooo…
Every dream is a wishing well (x2)
And a treasure you don’t ever sell
Every dream is a wishing well, Is a wishing well
Every person got a song to sing (x2)
Whether grounded or taking wing
Every person got a song to sing, Got a song to sing
Ooo ooo ooo…
GATHER YOUR COURAGE
Moira Smiley, Coco Love Alcorn, Màiri Britton, Adah Hetko
Gather your courage
Into your heart
When we’re together,
We can start x2
Everybody show up
Everybody rise up
Everybody shake it up
Everybody here
Everybody speak out
Everybody reach out
Everybody shake it out
Everybody here
Gather your power
Into your hands
Care for each other
On these lands
GOOD NEWS
Good news… we’re breathing
Good news… we’re alive
Good news… we’re here
And no one can deny
You can break my heart, You can break my bones
But no one can break my spirit
‘Cause my spirit is my home
You can take my money, You can take my time
But no one can take my spirit
‘Cause my spirit is mine
(CHORUS)
(Ohhh….)
You can fool my mind, You can fool my eyes
But no one can fool my spirit
‘Cause my spirit is wise
You can bound my body, You can bound my day
But no one can bound my spirit
‘Cause my spirit finds a way
(CHORUS)
The spirit finds a way…
(CHORUS) ... Good news!
MY DAY
Bad, bad news nagging on my mind
Wish I could leave my woes behind
Waiting on sleep to carry me away
I don’t want no more of this day
My day, my day
Let my, my day be done
Let the worry fade
And let my tomorrow come
Misery keeping me up at night
When nothing in my world is feeling quite right
Waiting on sleep to come like a thief
Steal my time and give me relief
(Chorus)
Tomorrow gonna come when my fear dies
If I’m afraid of pain I’m never gonna rise
If I’m afraid of pain I’m never gonna rise
Tomorrow gonna come when my fear dies
(Chorus)
NATURE CALLING
I hear nature calling out my window
I hear nature calling out to me
I hear nature calling out my window
Sayin' it is what it is, so just let it be (X 2)
I got things
That I carry around
They're out of my hands
But weighin' me down
I got things
Playin' on my mind
I don't know what to do about it
So give me the courage to leave it all behind (X 3)
Come outside and play…
Let your worry fade away…
I hear nature calling out my window
I hear nature calling out to me
I hear nature calling out my window
Sayin' it is what it is, so just let it be
REBIRTH
by Coco Love Alcorn and Robbie Grunwald
I saw the flames burn it all down My life on fire
Thought I knew where I was headed Knew my desire
Everything gone in a moment On that painful day
Rising up out of the ashes I’m trying to find my way
Chorus:
Outta the hard times in life comes rebirth
Outta the hard times in life we grow
All that I thought that I needed, All that I knew
All that was taken away from me, Now what do I do
It would be easy to give up And let myself fall
But I’ll climb out of these ashes I will reach up tall
(Chorus)
When the flames have come and gone
And you don’t know which way to turn
Believe there’s something deep inside
That’ll never burn
(Chorus)
SING YOU THROUGH THE STORM
by Sylvia Humble. Verses are call-and-echo.
Chorus Part one:
You are not alone
We will sing you through the storm (x 2)
Chorus Part two:
Let our voices carry you
‘Till you come sailing through
Let our voices carry you… through the storm
THAT OLD FEELING
We break bread And we drink wine
What a good way To pass a little time
We share our joys And the tears we've cried
We couldn't let each other go If we tried
Chorus:
We gather round when we can
And we let ourselves be true
Doesn't matter how the years go by
That old feeling always comes through
Familiar jokes And smiles we know
And those old stories That feel like home
Lights dim low And spirits are high
This is worth more Than anything I could buy
(Chorus)
When the night Is winding down
And there's a little more Silence in the sound
Oh, we start to wonder How long will it be
Till we find ourselves back In this company
(Chorus)
THE RIVER
The river is a healer, the river is a sage
The river knows no end and the river feels no age
The river is a leader, every single day
It's living in the moment and it always finds a way
Chorus:
Water, heal my body
Water, heal my soul
When I go down, down to the water
By the water, I feel whole
The river calls me over, it's calling out my name
In the day and in the night, I hear that river all the same
It's calling me over, calling out my pain
Oh, a river gathers tears just like a river gathers rain
(Chorus)
The river is a traveler, always on the go
Oh, a river never worries if it's fast or if it's slow
River, take me to where I need to go
Oh, and I will just relax and let the river flow
(Chorus)
When I go down, down to the water
By the water, I feel whole
TINY LIGHTS
We take a chance, when we can
We take a break from having a plan
We are bold, invite surprise
Then feel our spirits rise
Chorus:
We are tiny lights that sparkle and glow
In a world much bigger than we’ll ever know
We are tiny lights, shining so bright
In a world we know is gonna be alright
We celebrate, through love and play
We take a minute everyday
We chase the shadows far away
Finding colours in the grey
(Chorus)
If you try And I try And we try
We can light each tiny light
If you try And I try And we try
We can light the world tonight
(Chorus)
Yeah we know the world is gonna be alright
‘Cause we got all these tiny lights
UNBREAKABLE
I’ve decided
Decided to be strong
I’ve decided
Had it in me all along
I am fearless
Now that I feel this
And all the weight is gone
Chorus
Finally, I’m unshakeable, unbreakable
Finally, my destiny has tested me
Finally, I’ve heard the call and I’m standing tall
From this moment on…I’m unbreakable
I’m standing solid
Solid on the ground
I’m standing solid
For whatever comes around
Yeah, I’m ready
And I’m steady
In this new feeling that I’ve found
(Chorus)
I’m unbreakable, so (test me)
Unshakeable, come on (test me)
Unbreakable, yeah you can (test me)
From this moment on…
And I am thankful for the colours in the grey
I am thankful for the star that lights the day
I have been lifted
I have been gifted
With these signs that show me the way
(Chorus)
I’m unbreakable, so (test me)
Unshakeable, come on (test me)
Unbreakable, yeah you can (test me)
Unshakeable, come on (test me)
Finally, you can (test me)
Finally, come on (test me)
Finally, you can (test me)
Finally, I’m unbreakable