Meditation on Breathing
Hymn composed by
Sarah Dan JonesContextual information
This is the chorus from an original solo piece, entitled When I Breathe In, which was written in 2001 following the tragedy of September 11, 2001. This chant has been sung all over the country at various Unitarian Universalist (UU) churches and at peace rallies and marches. It was heard on the Virginia Tech campus after the massacre there in 2007. The following is the text for the verses:
One long day of terror is etched upon my heart
When I reflect on the shock that I felt
As I cried and watched the world fall apart.
Making sense of evil is no small task
Some would say, “Let’s bomb ’em to hell”
But before we do we should look at our own past.
At times I feel bewildered like I’m lost in a dream
I search for hope in the meaning of truth
As I close my eyes and I focus on peace.
Fear’s a heavy feeling; it can eat you alive
But it can’t run and it can’t hide
If you breathe these words, then you know you’ll survive.
When I’m feeling hopeless and out of control
I clear my mind as I think on a cure
And I center in as I make love my goal.
Is war really an answer? Can we find those to blame?
All we are saying is “Give Peace a Chance”
And I pray to God as I sing this refrain.
This is the chorus from an original solo piece, entitled When I Breathe In, which was written in 2001 following the tragedy of September 11, 2001. This chant has been sung all over the country at various Unitarian Universalist (UU) churches and at peace rallies and marches. It was heard on the Virginia Tech campus after the massacre there in 2007. The following is the text for the verses:
One long day of terror is etched upon my heart
When I reflect on the shock that I felt
As I cried and watched the world fall apart.
Making sense of evil is no small task
Some would say, “Let’s bomb ’em to hell”
But before we do we should look at our own past.
At times I feel bewildered like I’m lost in a dream
I search for hope in the meaning of truth
As I close my eyes and I focus on peace.
Fear’s a heavy feeling; it can eat you alive
But it can’t run and it can’t hide
If you breathe these words, then you know you’ll survive.
When I’m feeling hopeless and out of control
I clear my mind as I think on a cure
And I center in as I make love my goal.
Is war really an answer? Can we find those to blame?
All we are saying is “Give Peace a Chance”
And I pray to God as I sing this refrain.
Tune Name
[Meditation on Breathing]
Tune Name
Text Meter
Irregular
10.9.10.9
Song Composer
Sarah Dan JonesHymn Arranger
Composer Background information
Lyricist Background information
Arranger Background information
Lyrics
Melody:
When I breathe in, I’ll breathe in peace.
When I breathe out, I’ll breathe out love.
Descant:
When I breathe in, I’ll breathe in peace.
When I breathe out, I’ll breathe out love.
Drone:
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Resources
Music XML and MEI and MIDI and Musescore files
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