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 [email protected].

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.

Yarabba Ssalami - God of Peace

Contributed by · May 09, 2020 1:38 AM · 1 contribution

This passionate prayer for peace is attributed to a Palestinian source in several Global Song collections.

While the pronunciation of Arabic can differ from country to country, here is a recording of the text in the original language to guide you.

Yarabba ssalami amter alayna ssalam,
Yarabba ssalami im la’ qulubana ssalam.

Poetic translation:
God of Peace, rain peace upon us,
fill our hearts with peace.

Singing translation:
God of peace and of justice, rain down upon us your peace.
God of peace and of justice, fill every heart with your peace.

1 contribution Share

Let the Broken Ones Be Healed

Contributed by · November 23, 2019 2:45 PM · 2 contributions

This lyrical melody by Sandra Gay can also be sung as a three-part round. The text is from Songs for the Cycle by hymn writer Michael Hudson, who took on the challenge of writing a hymn text for each of the gospels in the three-year Lectionary cycle.

Invite the community to listen to the text spoken aloud. Then, break the tune into phrases and invite the group to echo each. Combine the phrases into longer units; listen carefully and use gestures or mnemonic cues to instill confidence. When the group is ready, sing the piece through several times and then invite a canon.

"Let the broken ones be healed.
Let the lost be found and fed.
Let the grace of God roll on.
Let the river rise and spread.
Step into the stream with me.
Let God's gracious purpose be!"

2 contributions Share

While We Are Waiting, Come

Contributed by · October 18, 2018 9:16 PM · 2 contributions

While We Are Waiting, Come is a beautiful melody by Claire Cloninger and Don Cason that can be taught through echo patterns. It makes an effective Prayer Song or response during the Advent season.

"While we are waiting, come.
While we are waiting, come.
Jesus our Lord, Emmanuel,
While we are waiting, come."

Once the assembly has learned the song well, you can add harmony parts or keyboard accompaniment.

2 contributions Share

Come to the Table of Grace

Contributed by · June 17, 2018 10:13 PM · 2 contributions

Come to the Table of Grace is a short song by Barbara Hamm, the Minister of Music at Community Congregational Church UCC in Benicia, CA. It could be offered as an Invitation to the Table or during the distribution of communion elements.

Try lining out the melody one phrase at a time, inviting the community to echo until they're confident. It's also a zipper/pocket song that welcomes the substitution of words for the context/season. We have included a few possibilities below.

"Come to the table of grace.
Come to the table of grace.
This is God's table it's not yours or mine.
Come to the table of grace."

Alternative text:
Come to the table of peace...
Come to the table of joy...
Come to the table of hope...

2 contributions Share

Spirit, Still My Body

Contributed by · November 24, 2017 10:21 PM · 2 contributions

Spirit, Still My Body was written by Charles Murphy, a singer, songwriter, and church musician in the Chicago area. It was shared at our Pentecost weekend in Western Chicago in June 2017.

Enjoy this soulful song and give thanks for Spirit's calming, centering presence in these challenging days.

"Spirit, still my body. Spirit, wake my soul.
I can't tame tomorrow, Now need be my goal.
Spirit, still my body. Spirit, wake my soul.
Steep me in the present, The rest God will control.'

Charles is happy to have you share the song but kindly asks you to reach out and request permission.

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