Heart Opening Song
Hymn composed by
Randy PartainContextual information
At a gathering of spiritual directors, Pat McCabe (Woman Stands Shining) shared a beautiful “heart opening song” in the Diné language. It was distinctly characteristic of Diné culture, and despite its beauty, I felt that it would be inappropriate for a predominantly white UU congregation to sing this song. So, I composed a song with the same spiritual intentions of connection with the Divine in Earth, others, and self, but with words and tune more characteristic of the community where I ministered. (Later that day, I spoke with Pat and told her how much the song had meant to me, and she offered it to me as a gift. When I told her that I had been inspired to compose something that would be more centered in the culture of my own community, she beamed with delight.)
The Heart Opening Song I composed has been used at ministerial gatherings, and I was honored to have it chosen as a piece for a colleague's ordination ceremony. The song’s simple, flexible form allows a variety of words to be inserted as desired, so we might sing that our hearts are open to the pain of the Earth, or to the joy in our souls, or whatever we may want to open our hearts in connection.
At a gathering of spiritual directors, Pat McCabe (Woman Stands Shining) shared a beautiful “heart opening song” in the Diné language. It was distinctly characteristic of Diné culture, and despite its beauty, I felt that it would be inappropriate for a predominantly white UU congregation to sing this song. So, I composed a song with the same spiritual intentions of connection with the Divine in Earth, others, and self, but with words and tune more characteristic of the community where I ministered. (Later that day, I spoke with Pat and told her how much the song had meant to me, and she offered it to me as a gift. When I told her that I had been inspired to compose something that would be more centered in the culture of my own community, she beamed with delight.)
The Heart Opening Song I composed has been used at ministerial gatherings, and I was honored to have it chosen as a piece for a colleague's ordination ceremony. The song’s simple, flexible form allows a variety of words to be inserted as desired, so we might sing that our hearts are open to the pain of the Earth, or to the joy in our souls, or whatever we may want to open our hearts in connection.
Tune Name
MCCABE
Tune Name
Text Meter
8.9.8.9
10.9.10.9
Song Composer
Randy PartainHymn Arranger
Composer Background information
Rev. Randy Partain (they/them) is a fellowshipped UU minister currently serving the UU Congregation of Cleveland in Shaker Heights, OH. They passionately define ministry as inviting people into a deeper relationship with their inner wisdom, deeper connection with others, and deeper awareness of the world we all share. Randy is most at home in the intersection of spirituality, creativity, collaboration, and meaningful play.
Lyricist Background information
Rev. Randy Partain (they/them) is a fellowshipped UU minister currently serving the UU Congregation of Cleveland in Shaker Heights, OH. They passionately define ministry as inviting people into a deeper relationship with their inner wisdom, deeper connection with others, and deeper awareness of the world we all share. Randy is most at home in the intersection of spirituality, creativity, collaboration, and meaningful play.
Arranger Background information
Lyrics
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the songs of the earth;
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the songs of the earth.
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the songs of you;
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the songs of you.
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the songs of my soul;
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the songs of my soul.
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the pain of the earth (2xs)
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the pain of you; (2xs)
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the pain of my soul; (2xs)
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the love of the earth (2xs)
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the love of you; (2xs)
My heart is open, open wide, open wide to the love of my soul; (2xs)
Resources
Music XML and MEI and MIDI and Musescore files