This We Believe

I wrote the piano part for this song in about 1990 or so, and always intended for it to have lyrics. After becoming a Unitarian Universalist in 2005, it took me years to understand the concept of this religion. The lyrics for “This We Believe” came to me in 2020, with the thought that other people unfamiliar with Unitarian Universalism may be in the same boat. The lyrics also reinforce the 2nd Principle. The song is structured as a call and response. The three verses, the first of which begins with “Can you tell me…,” represent the voice of someone seeking to understand Unitarian Universalism. The chorus, which begins with “We believe in justice…,” responds with some explanation. The lyrics are intended to encourage translation of belief into action.

David W. Haas (he/him) writes: In 1975, I went to college planning to become a high school music teacher. While there my plans changed. I ultimately became a physician-scientist. In 2005, I joined the choir at the First UU Church of Nashville, in which I still sing bass. In late 2017, I started drafting what would become my first ever choral composition. Over the next four years our previous Director of Music Ministries, Jaie Tiefenbrunn, was extremely giving of her time and talents at choral composition, arranging and conducting to help make this and many songs that followed immensely better. Of note, I intentionally include my middle initial “W” to avoid being confused with a different David Haas, who composes contemporary Catholic liturgical music.

David W. Haas (he/him) writes: In 1975, I went to college planning to become a high school music teacher. While there my plans changed. I ultimately became a physician-scientist. In 2005, I joined the choir at the First UU Church of Nashville, in which I still sing bass. In late 2017, I started drafting what would become my first ever choral composition. Over the next four years our previous Director of Music Ministries, Jaie Tiefenbrunn, was extremely giving of her time and talents at choral composition, arranging and conducting to help make this and many songs that followed immensely better. Of note, I intentionally include my middle initial “W” to avoid being confused with a different David Haas, who composes contemporary Catholic liturgical music.