Becoming
Hymn composed by
Mary GrigoliaContextual information
The song “Becoming” arose out of an opening in me, a longing to engage the Deeper Wisest Self. Sitting at the piano, I asked, “Enough about me. What do you need to say, to sing now? I’ll sit here, improvising and listening.” The song came through virtually whole. Only later did I recognize the declaration of the mystical Hebrew nameless One: “I am who I’m becoming” (four Hebrew letters — yod hay vav hay — misrepresented as ‘Jehovah’). Expanding through each and all of us.
The song “Becoming” arose out of an opening in me, a longing to engage the Deeper Wisest Self. Sitting at the piano, I asked, “Enough about me. What do you need to say, to sing now? I’ll sit here, improvising and listening.” The song came through virtually whole. Only later did I recognize the declaration of the mystical Hebrew nameless One: “I am who I’m becoming” (four Hebrew letters — yod hay vav hay — misrepresented as ‘Jehovah’). Expanding through each and all of us.
Tune Name
[Becoming]
Tune Name
Text Meter
Irregular
10.9.10.9
Song Composer
Mary GrigoliaHymn Arranger
Composer Background information
Mary Grigolia (she/her) is a Unitarian Universalist minister, singer-songwriter, consultant for spiritual deepening, meditation teacher, and end-of-life guide. Singing and songwriting are her spiritual practice, a dialogue with life, the deepest-wisest-self, singing to and through her. Her songs are accessible for singers of all ages. She served as parish minister with seven UU congregations (1992–2024) and shares her music widely as a catalyst for love in spiritual community. She and her partner live in Lakewood, OH.
Lyricist Background information
Arranger Background information
Clif Hardin (he/him) is a composer, conductor and pianist living in the Washington, DC area. Along with his freelance work in theater, he has served as Director of Music at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation since 1983, where many of his arrangements and compositions were first performed. His music is performed internationally, and his Requiem recently had its Carnegie Hall premiere.
Lyrics
I am who I’m becoming, I am all I have done.
I am what I am dreaming, I’ve only just begun.
You are who you’re becoming, you are all you have done.
You are what you are dreaming, you’ve only just begun.
We are who we’re becoming, we are all we have done.
We are what we are dreaming, we’ve only just begun.
Resources
Music XML and MEI and MIDI and Musescore files