PEACE ON EARTH   Next Song | | Solo Recordings |
        Lui Collins/July 10, 1992
The night before the Grumbling Gryphons 1992 Arts Camp production, Director
Leslie Elias asked me if I knew any songs about "sun, rain, peace." I
wrote this song in the car driving my kids to camp the next day. I taught
it to the other children when we got there and they sang it like angels
that evening! Recorded here with Children's Chorus.


Oh the sun and the wind and the rain
Bring everything we need.
Father Sky above
Mother Earth beneath.

        Peace on Earth, peace on Earth
        Peace on Earth, peace on Earth.

We are sisters and brothers all
All the world around
We lift our voices high
In one joyous sound.

        Peace on Earth, peace on Earth
        Peace on Earth, peace on Earth.

©1992 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


STORYTELLER   Next Song | | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        Lui Collins/January 1, 1992
I awoke on New Year's Day with this song in my head. I marvel at how a
story, by taking me very far away, can give such perspective and clarity on
what is deep inside myself.

Take me storyteller, to a place that used to be
Carry me on wings of hope to a place I long to see
Weave a spell, spun of air, by voice and turn of hand
The moon lies in your fingertips, my heart at your command.

        Let me fly away with thee
        Let me fly with thee away.

Let me soar upon your words to a place of darkest night
Lift me up and ever higher to a land of brightest light
Touch my heart, hand of Grace, unlock with gentlest key
Open me to worlds unknown, brush memory deep in me.

        Let me fly away with thee
        Let me fly with thee away.

        And I shall dream my dream
        And I shall hold my heart
        And I shall come alive to all my stories yet untold.

Take me storyteller to the shore where dreams are blessed
Wrap me in soft-spoken word, safely feathered in my nest
As the night winds sing, a peace will fill my breast
To the lullaby of the stars above, my soul will find its rest.

        Let me fly away with thee
        Let me fly with thee away.

© 1992 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


BEARLINE   Next Song | | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        Lui Collins/June 30, 1991
A black bear really did come visit us on the afternoon of June 24, 1991.
Hope you can bear to listen to this track! Guest musician Jim Mola plays
the Black Bear Udu solo and other percussion.

I live almost in the middle of town,
There's a church right across the street
And a swamp out back, and a mountain down the way,
And an acre of land make my life complete.
        A rural village, peaceful village,
        You live your life, and I'll live mine
        A rural village, peaceful village,
        And you never know what's going to happen.

My neighbor drove by, it was just last week,
He was on his way home from work
He said traffic was stopped all over the road,
In the light of day, this is what he saw:
        A big black bear, walking so slow,
        Coming for a visit at my house
        A big black bear, right there,
        Oh you never know what's going to happen.

That bear came walking down Ivy Mountain Road
And he lumbered across North Street
Then he headed right on into our front yard,
And he knew right where he was going.
        That bear made a bearline right for the beehives,
        Walked right past our garden
        Didn't knock on the door, didn't say hello,
        No he headed right for the beehives.

Honey, honey,
That bear had a one track mind
He got his bearings and he headed due west
On a bearline right for the beehives.
        He was a big black bear, right there,
        But he didn't stop by for tea
        Like an arrow through the orchard this uninvited guest
        Headed right for the honey.

        Never knocked on the door, never said hello,
        What unbearably bad manners!
        Like an arrow through the orchard this impolite guest
        Headed right for the honey.

        A big black bear, right there,
        It was a sticky situation at best
        Like an arrow through the orchard this overbearing guest
        Headed right for the honey.

        In this rural village, peaceful village,
        The bear lives his life and I live mine
        Well there's plenty of honey, lots to spare -
        If the bees are willing to share it
        Then I guess I can grin and bear it!

©1991 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


RED CREEK RISING   Next Song | | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        Lui Collins/October 10, 1993
After my performance at the Music Hall in Oswego, NY, Cathy Barbano,
organizer of this wonderful concert series, and I talked until the wee
hours at her home in Red Creek. The next morning she cooked me breakfast
as I played guitar in her cozy kitchen, together celebrating the sunshine,
the glorious autumn day.

©1993 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


MS.A. HULAS   Next Song | | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        lyrics by Jane Yolen/music by Lui Collins
Sometimes at bedtime we get very silly before we get sleepy. Books like
Jane Yolen's Dinosaur Dances, (published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1990) help
keep us going. Jane's poems are so musical, often as I read one to my
children, the melody arises spontaneously. Ms. A was about the best
inspiration yet. Guest musicians: Chris Brown - trumpet, Bill Lauf - tenor
guitar, Jim Mola - percussion.

Have you ever seen
Ms. Allosaurus hula?
It's like watching continents
Go drifting by.

First she shakes the lower forty
With a vengeance.
Then she shifts and
Ocean waves are tidal high.

        There are folk who swear
        When Allosaurus hulas
        Building shake and faint hearts break
        And walls fall down.

        She's a number even Richter scales
        Can't measure.
        Son, be careful when
        Ms. A. comes into town.

Don't stand near whenever
Allosaurus hulas
If you value life and property
And limb.

For if you're on the dance floor
When she hulas
Then your chances for survival
Are real slim.

lyrics ©1990 Jane Yolen, Beer & Pizza/BMI; music ©1994 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


JOYFUL NOISE   Next Song | | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        Lui Collins/March 2, 1992
I wrote this round for the Joyful Noise Coffeehouse of Lexington,
Massachusetts, a few days before my first performance there. Guest
musicians Sylva Zander, Sarah Bodley and Jane Spencer from the Children's
Chorus.

Make a joyful noise unto the Earth
Make a joyful noise
Let our voices rise up to the Sky
Make a joyful noise unto the Earth.
©1992 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


SEDNA   Next Song | | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        Lui Collins/with the children of the 2nd annual
        Grumbling Gryphons Theatre Arts Camp/August 5, 1993
I learned of the myth of Sedna through Leslie Elias, director of the
Grumbling Gryphons children's theatre group. Versions of this myth are
found in many parts of the world. The Netsilik Eskimos give the Sea
Goddess the name of "Nujialak"; in many versions she is known as Sedna. I
wrote the song, with creative input from the children, for Leslie's 1993
Grumbling Gryphons Theatre and Arts Camp's production of Elke and the Magic
Gryphon. The narrative is my version of the myth of Sedna, based on
information from Leslie. Many thanks to Leslie for sharing the myth with
me. I am grateful for the privilege of working with her. Recorded here
with Children's Chorus.

        Sedna, Sedna, Sedna
        Beautiful Goddess of the Sea
        You're no longer alone
        For I love you so
        In your giving your spirit's set free.

Human once, but pushed away,
You sank sorrowfully into the sea
Alone there you've dwelt, with the pain in your heart
As the anger controlled you and held you apart.

        Sedna, Sedna, Sedna
        Beautiful Goddess of the Sea
        You're no longer alone
        For I love you so
        In your giving your spirit's set free.

I too have felt hurt by uncaring words
So I know of the pain that you feel
But I've seen you give from your body so freely
And I know the truth of who you really be.

        Sedna, Sedna, Sedna
        Beautiful Goddess of the Sea
        You're no longer alone
        For I love you so
        In your giving your spirit's set free.
©1993 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


TWO STONES/ONE RIVER//REFLECTION   Next Song | | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        lyrics by Jane Yolen/music by Lui Collins
When I shared my plans for this album with Jane, she sent me several poems,
including these two. This piece is one of my favorites of our
collaborations. The poems are from Water Music, published by Boyds Mill
Press 1995. This one is for you, Tim, for those moments of stillness.

Two Stones, One River

Nothing is as wise
As water passing stone,
So sure of its position
It can compromise
The path downstream,
Sometimes flooding,
Sometimes ebbing,
And sometimes running in-between.
lyrics ©1995 Jane Yolen, Beer & Pizza/BMI; music ©1994 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


Reflection

Water is a magic mirror
Showing earth and sky
Revealing the fairest
To the careful eye.

What is up is down,
What is far is near,
A truth so fragile,
Only eyes can hear.
lyrics ©1995 Jane Yolen, Beer & Pizza/BMI;music ©1994 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


WALTZING WITH BEARS   Next Song | | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        Dale Marxen
This song has been a favorite of mine ever since I first heard Gail
Rundlett sing it in the WERS studio in Boston years ago. The Matilda verse
was written by Nick Hawes. With guest musician Michael Kessler on
accordion and full Children's Chorus.

I went to his room in the middle of the night
I tiptoed inside, and I turned on the light
But to my dismay, he was nowhere in sight
'Cause my Uncle Walter goes waltzing at night.

        He goes wa wa, wa wa wa, wa waltzing with bears
        Raggy bears, shaggy bears, baggy bears too
        And there's nothing on earth Uncle Walter won't do
        So he can go waltzing, wa wa wa waltzing
        He can go waltzing, go waltzing with bears.

We bought Uncle Walter a new coat to wear
But when he comes in, it's all covered with hair
And lately I've noticed there's several new tears
I'm sure Uncle Walter's been waltzing with bears.

We told Uncle Walter that he should be good
And do all the things that we said that he should
But we know that he'd rather be off in the woods
We're afraid that we'll lose him, lose him for good.

We begged and we pleaded, "Please won't you stay?"
We managed to keep him home just for a day.
Then the bears all barged in and they took him away
Now he's waltzing with pandas, he won't understand us
And the bears all demand at least one waltz a day.

Now my Aunt Matilda was mad as could be
She said, "Walter, that rat, never waltzes with me."
So she took her fur coat and remodeled it so
Now she can go waltzing and Walter won't know.

She goes wa wa, wa wa wa, wa waltzing with bears
        Raggy bears, shaggy bears, baggy bears too
        And there's nothing on earth Aunt Matilda won't do
        So she can go waltzing, wa wa wa waltzing
        She can go waltzing - Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda -
        She can go waltzing, go waltzing with bears.

©Dale Marxen


MAGGIE'S REEL/RAVEN SONG   Next Song | | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        Lui Collins/May 19, 1993 and September 13, 1992
Violin was one of my earliest instruments, but I gave it up after high
school. A few years ago I revived my interest in it playing New England
and Celtic traditional dance tunes. I derive great pleasure from this and
from writing an occasional tune for fiddle. Maggie's Reel is named for my
daughter Magdalen, who danced to the tune when it first came into my head,
as we walked down Ivy Mountain Road. With guest musician David Kaynor on
fiddle.

©1993 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


TWO PTERODACTYLS   Next Song | | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        lyrics by Jane Yolen/music by Lui Collins
Remembering to celebrate our lives, setting moments aside from the
busy-ness that often engulfs us - as children or grown-ups - to dance,
play, dream, or just to be with a friend, is so essential to our well-being
and to keeping the joy present in our lives. This song is another Dinosaur
Dances treasure. With guest musician Chris Brown on trumpet.

Two pterodactyls
Dancing in the moonlight,
Sliding through the night sky,
Slipping through the stars.

They think they're in heaven,
Dancing under moonlight,
Holding hands near Venus,
Kissing north of Mars.

Two pterodactyls
Winging through a fox-trot,
Soaring through a two-step,
Gliding through a waltz.

In the midst of dancing
Everything is heaven.
They forgive each other
All their everyday faults.

lyrics ©1990 Jane Yolen, Beer & Pizza/BMI; music ©1994 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


POPPA BEAR'S HUM   | Top | | Solo Recordings |
        lyrics by Jane Yolen/music by Lui Collins
Magdalen's favorite lullaby, from The Three Bears Rhyme Book, published by
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1987.

Go to sleep, my baby bear,
        Hum, hum, humble-bee,
In your Daddy's great big chair,
        Bumble-bee, good night.
I will carry you to bed,
        Hum, hum, humble-bee.
Pillow for your sleepy head,
        Bumble-bee, sleep tight
lyrics ©1987 Jane Yolen, Beer & Pizza/BMI; music ©1988 Molly Gamblin Music/BMI


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