Resources

For an alphabetical list of all songs in the database, click here.

Adding New Listings

If you search for a song title and can't find it in the database, you can add a new song listing using the box below. New song listings will be approved by a moderator in 2-7 business days and then appear live and searchable on the site. In order to make your listing as useful as possible, include as much of the requested information as you can. This database is set up so that others can add to your listings, so if there’s something you aren’t sure about, someone else may add it later. Include links to recordings of the song (video or audio), websites where printed scores of the song can be purchased or shared freely, the website of the composer who wrote it, or to sources of information about the history of the song or contexts where it is sung by others. When adding tags, check the wording and spelling against the filters in the dropdown menu to the right so that your listing will come up when others search for those terms.

We aim to share information as freely as possible while respecting the copyrights of composers and publishers. If the rights to a song is owned by someone else, you can let users know you like the song by creating a listing and adding links to the publisher or composer's websites so others can obtain recordings or printed copies of the song through the channels preferred by the copyright owners.

This is a great place to share new songs you've written! If you'd like help transcribing a song or finding tools to make a video or audio recording to share, email Rachel Kroh at rachel@musicthatmakescommunity.org.

Contributing to Existing Listings
You can also contribute by adding information, sharing tips or suggesting tags for existing song listings.
Adding information: Sharing songs orally means that over time, tunes change, words change, and information about a song's origin can get lost. We hope this database will give us a chance to combine the inspiring innovation and cross-pollination that are hallmarks of the oral tradition with the wonderful capability of the internet to store information contributed by a community of people. If you know a different version of a song, know another recording or written source, or were told a different version of its origin story--contribute it to the listing!
Sharing tips: You can also contribute your experiences of leading the song and make suggestions that might help others. What context did you lead it in? How did it go? Any tips that might help others have success leading the song paperlessly?
Suggesting tags: Finally, you can suggest tags we can add to the listing that will help others find it. Choose tags from the list of filters to the right, or if you don't see the tag you're looking for, go ahead and suggest it. We can easily add more filters to the menu to match your tags.

Using the Database
This database is a tool to help you build a repertoire of paperless song leading. You can use the tabs above to sort the listings by your preferred method for learning music (print, audio or video), or use the filters to the right to sort by category. You can also type keywords like a song title or composer's name into the searchbox in the upper righthand corner of your screen.

Add a Song Listing

If your song has a common title for example: "Alleleuia", considering adding more description to the title for example: "Alleluia from Palestine".

Suggestions for information to include in resources listing:

1. Where did you learn the song?                                                                                                                                   2. Any tips on leading it paperlessly?                                                                                                                            3. General information about the song:                                                                                                              Song form(s) (simple melody - round - layered - echo - call and response):                                                 Composer(s) Name(s):                                                                                                                                                                    Lyricist(s) Name(s):                                                                                                                                                           Year Composed:                                                                                                                                                               Place of Origin:                                                                                                                                                               Biblical Reference:                                                                                                                                               Copyright Holder Name:                                                                                                                                                           Terms of Use:                                                                                                                                                                      Print Source:                                                                                                                                                                Publisher Name:                                                                                                                                                              Public Domain:Yes or No                                                                                                                                                           Year of Publication:                                                                                                                                                           Audio Recording Link:                                                                                                                                                           Video Recording Link:                                                                                                                                                           Suggested Tags:(see our filters to the right under the sections Season - Liturgical Use - Contexts and Gatherings - Language - Musical Tradition - Religious Tradition)

If you wrote this song, or have permission from the person who did, consider uploading the sheet music. (Optional) The requirements for this file are that it be in jpg format, and be 600 pixels wide, but you can put a link to the music in another format in the box above.

Santo, Santo, Santo

Contributed by · April 28, 2016 3:18 PM

Santo, Santo, Santo is an Argentine folk song that has become popular in American churches and is included in many different hymnals. It is in the The Faith We Sing (#2007), a supplement to the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal. Here's an audio recording of Santo, Santo, Santo from Hymnary.org.

"Santo, santo, santo.
Mi corazon te adora!
Mi corazon te sabe decir:
Santo eres, Dios!

English singing translation:
"Holy, holy, holy.
My heart, my heart adores you!
My heart knows how to say to you:
You are holy, Lord!"

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Don't Be Afraid

Contributed by · April 13, 2016 1:05 AM · 5 contributions

This gentle, expressive song by John Bell is a powerful invitation into a space of loving trust.

"Don't be afraid, my love is stronger,
My love is stronger than your fear.
Don't be afraid, my love is stronger,
And I have promised to be always near."

Copyright for the piece is held by GIA Publications, Inc. so you'll need a OneLicense membership to print the text or music.

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There is Some Kiss We Want

Contributed by · April 13, 2016 1:03 AM · 2 contributions

This song comes to us from presenter Ana Hernandez, with text from Sufi poet Rumi.

Here is the Sheet music, and a video file is attached below.

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Peace, Perfect Peace

Contributed by · March 28, 2016 5:24 PM · 2 contributions

This haunting refrain was composed by Robinson McClellan and it can be sung in unison or as a canon in up to three parts. It incorporates a chanted text of Edward Henry Bickersteth, offering moments of quiet reflection between each statement of the refrain.

Honoring the text's roots, the composer has set the refrain in Gaelic.

"Peace, perfect peace."

"Sith lanachd sith."

Pronunciation: Shee, lahn-ahkt shee.

"Peace, perfect peace with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.

"Peace, perfect peace with loved ones far away?
In Jesus' keeping we are safe, and they.

"Peace, perfect peace our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.

"Peace, perfect peace death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers."

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Night Has Fallen

Contributed by · March 21, 2016 3:11 PM · 2 contributions

“Night Has Fallen” is a call-and-response piece: the cantor sings a line which the people echo, and then everyone sings a refrain together. The tune, “Dzuwa Lapita”, is from Malawi, and was arranged and harmonized for publication in the UK/US by John Bell. The words in English are by Tom Colvin, but also you can make up your own calls and responses.

This song is available in the Iona Community's There Is One Among Us: Shorter Songs for Worship from Wild Goose Publications.

Here's more information about this song from Hymnary.org.

Here is a video of AnnaMarie Hoos leading 'Night has Fallen' at an MMC event at Bishop's Ranch in January 2016.

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Know That God Is Good

Contributed by · March 10, 2016 3:48 PM · 2 contributions

This is a melody from the Democratic Republic of Congo, origin unknown; arranged by John L. Bell in One is the Body, available through GIA Publications, Inc.

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There Are Angels Hovering Round

Contributed by · March 02, 2016 12:10 PM · 1 contribution

There Are Angels Hovering Round is a song that has come to the MMC network through multiple channels. St. Gregory of Nyssa congregants have been singing this song at funerals for many years. Peter and Mary Alice Amidon have a lovely arrangement of it on their website amidonmusic.com, where you can listen to an mp3 and purchase sheet music.

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Holy, Holiness

Contributed by · February 26, 2016 7:55 PM · 2 contributions

Holy, Holiness was composed by Ellen Allard, a performer and teacher who moves seamlessly between both the Secular and the Jewish world of Early Childhood. Carried to the MMC community by Rita Pihra-Majurinen, this haunting minor-key melody holds an invitation to honor the wholeness and beauty in each other and in all creation. Originally written for a Jewish liturgical context, we have also seen the song used in interfaith services and for earth-honoring rituals.

The opening phrases naturally invite call and echo, a helpful pattern for teaching the song. A shruti box or another drone instrument can help the group stay on pitch; guitar or keyboard provide wonderful accompaniment, as well.

"All around, everywhere.
Holy, holiness.

In the highest sky, in the deepest sea.
Holy, holiness."

Additional verses (optional):
"In my heart ...in your soul...

In all we do... in all we are...

Every step... every breath...

As with me... so with you..."

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Have You Died Before

Contributed by · February 26, 2016 1:39 AM · 1 contribution

At the Music that Makes Community Holy Week Retreat in February 2016, Lindsey Nye taught this original song, written for liturgical use on Good Friday.

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=FFcvlegPYP4

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Santo, Santo, Santo

Don't Be Afraid

There is Some Kiss We Want

Peace, Perfect Peace

Night Has Fallen

Know That God Is Good

There Are Angels Hovering Round

Holy, Holiness

Have You Died Before

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