A Breath of Song

Patricia Norton
  • 5.0 (29)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Ella Fitzgerald said, ”The only thing better than singing is more singing!” Use song to find wellness in ourselves, each other, and our world. In each episode, Patricia introduces a song that she trusts to help her navigate life. These songs provide a great soundtrack to your day — whether it’s comfort, presence, delight, grief-tending, or simply easing the way. Periodic interviews with song creators add color and understanding. Songs have helped Patricia heal, adapt, and grow, and she hopes these selections will become companions for you as well. Visit the website, abreathofsong.com, to learn more and suggest a song!

  1. 2d ago

    246. Ribbon 20: Steady in the Unknown

    The Sunday after this episode is released, August 30th, 2026, at 4 p.m. Eastern time, there will be an online gathering of folk who use song to help navigate life -- and we'll sing through this Ribbon of Songs with live-looping! To learn more, click here, or sign up right now to join us!   Lyrics ​& Links to the original episodes for the songs in this ribbon.   WHERE AM I GOING TO? by Patricia Norton   Where am I going to? What am I walking toward? (2x)   I’m gonna breathe   into the flow, flow, flowing.   BREATHE EASY by Karly Loveling   Breathe easy, let it all go. Rest your body; trust your soul to guide your way and keep you whole. Breathe easy, let go. LOVING KINDNESS by Wendy Luella Perkins   loving-kindness to my body loving-kindness to my mind loving-kindness to each and every joy and heartbreak of my time loving-kindness to my spirit loving-kindness to my soul loving-kindness to each and every part loving-kindness to the whole   zipper: your body, our bodies, all bodies    ANCIENT GREEN by Kathleen Hannan   1. I lay under a tall oak tree, asked the Goddess to shelter me. She wrapped me up in ancient green, ancient green.   2. All my tears, all my tears, all my tears, the river’s gonna wash away.   ONE DAY AT A TIME by Penny Stone with the Serenity Singers of Edinburgh   One day at a time. ​Keep it simple.   ANDITO NGAYON by Gérone Pascal  (with harmonies by Patricia Norton)   Andito ngayon Sa aking puso Ang bawat hininga Maginhawa.   Here now in my heart Every breath Full of ease.    (Tagalog language from the Pilipinas Islands)   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  2. Aug 19

    245. Glimmer in My Eye with guest Jordan Mudd

    Song: Glimmer in My Eye Music by: Jordan Mudd   Notes: Jordan takes us through a journey of listening for a call, listening for our ancestors, listening to the generations to come -- and an exploration of the wild delight of being alive! I felt like so much of what he said is common to the shared experience in song circles where people are “Just singing to sing – and… I didn’t know that was what I’d been looking for…” He said, “It feels like what we are doing in our song circles is an experiment in culture building… that we want to move into the fabric of daily life.” And, “We get to be here making something wildly beautiful – not just our sounds but in the sharing of our souls.” Yes!   Songwriter Info: Jordan Mudd is a songleader, vocal coach, grief tender, and ritualist based in Boston, MA. He co-founded Boston-Area Singing Circles in 2023, where he leads regular community singing gatherings combining oral tradition songs, vocal improv, and ritual, as well as training workshops for aspiring songleaders. He has been catching & leading songs for a decade, and is committed to using song as a tool for personal, collective, and spiritual liberation.   Sharing Info: Yes -- The song is free to share but he always welcomes financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:03:32 Start time of reprise: 01:08:48   Links:  “Gimmer in My Eye” on Bandcamp: https://jordanmuddsings.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-generations-past-future Boston-Area Singing Circles: https://www.bostonareasingingcircles.com/ Jordan’s website: https://www.jordanmudd.com/ Songleader Training with Jordan + milly roberts: https://www.bostonareasingingcircles.com/songleading-intensive   Emma Thomas Mitchell: https://www.emmathomasmitchell.com/ Sunrise Movement: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/   A Breath of Song episode from Sunrise Movement: https://www.abreathofsong.com/p/172-dont-go-putting-the-world-on-your-shoulders “I Send my Hope” https://jordanmuddsings.bandcamp.com/track/i-send-my-hope Ep 244: “I Am Listening” on A Breath of Song: https://www.abreathofsong.com/p/244-i-am-listening Brandeis University: https://www.brandeis.edu/ Howard Thurman: https://www.bu.edu/thurman/about-us/who-is-howard-thurman/ Jordan’s Songleading Offerings: https://www.jordanmudd.com/songleading David Ruffin: https://www.davidruffinvoice.com/ David on A Breath of Song (ep 185): https://www.abreathofsong.com/p/185-vocal-improv-with-guest-david-ruffin David’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/780f3ecf6 elena elizabeth hendrick: can be contacted at elenanicaragua@gmail.com Ukumbwa Sauti: https://about.me/ukumbwa IG:@ukumbwa Dagara cosmology: https://www.theafricangourmet.com/2016/07/whats-your-dagara-cosmology-sign.html Malidoma Somé: https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/26930-holding-our-power Sobonfu Somé: https://www.schoolofintegratedliving.org/grief-forgiveness-ritual-sobonfu-some/ Gaia Music Collective: https://linktr.ee/gaiamusiccollective Amos Lee: https://www.amoslee.com/ Esperanza Spaulding: 12 Little Spells: https://esperanzaspalding.com/   Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, round   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  3. Aug 12

    244. I Am Listening with guest singers

    Song: I Am Listening Music by: Jordan Mudd   Notes: Recording this episode was sheer joy -- I was with a community of vocal improvisors at Back to the Well at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY (see shownotes for links to participate next year!) -- and I shared Jordan's song with a small group of us who were free one afternoon. Please sing with us, letting the song sink in and sing inside you in whatever way is just right today. I love the way this song remembers me into Howard Thurman quote: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”   Songwriter Info: Jordan Mudd is a songleader, vocal coach, grief tender, and ritualist based in Boston, MA. He co-founded Boston-Area Singing Circles in 2023, where he leads regular community singing gatherings combining oral tradition songs, vocal improv, and ritual, as well as training workshops for aspiring songleaders. He has been catching & leading songs for a decade, and is committed to using song as a tool for personal, collective, and spiritual liberation.   Sharing Info: Yes -- The song is free to share but he always welcomes financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:04:01 Start time of reprise: 00:18:27   SINGERS: Laurie Ellington -- suspensionbridgejazz.com Suzzette Ortiz -- suzzetteortiz.com Eileen Webb -- IG: @leenwebb Linnea Dolf -- IG:@linneasings Patti Shaffner -- jazzdakini.com Roy Willey -- voicecirclecolorado.com Giovanna (Gio) Velino -- IG:@giovanna.velino Rosi Amador -- IG:@rosiamadorlala Onome -- onome.org IG: @onome.om Paola Faoro -- IG: @circlesingingboston_jp TatiAnah Thunberg -- vocalwilds.com Carisa Wilder  Links: Back to the Well workshop: https://rhiannonmusic.com/omega-2026 Listen to and purchase Jordan's music on bandcamp: https://jordanmuddsings.bandcamp.com/ Learn more about Jordan's work at www.jordanmudd.com Learn more about the singing community Jordan stewards at www.bostonareasingingcircles.com Learn more about songleader training with Jordan + milly roberts: https://www.bostonareasingingcircles.com/songleading-intensive   Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, minor, unison with optional harmonies   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  4. Aug 5

    243. Mountain River

    Song: Mountain River Music by: Kjersten Hallin   Notes: I absolutely adore the way this song embodies a river by having a low, slow undercurrent that lasts longer than the bubbling, swirling upper layer -- and the two layers sound different on top of each other in different places. As I sing it, I can feel into being the light sparkle on top and the dark fertile below... both needed. Which part calls to you to sing today?   Songwriter Info: Kjersten Hallin (Pronounced Shares-ten Ha-leen) is a Community Song Weaver, Artist and Beauty Activist, Grief Tender, Earth Steward, Producer of Cascadia Song Rise, Eco-Edutainer and Youth Outreach Specialist. Kjersten is of Swedish/Norwegian ancestry, born on Lakota/Anishnaabe land (Minneapolis, Minnesota) and currently living/singing/practicing in the unceded Kalapuyan homelands of Champinefu (Corvallis, Oregon). Kjersten’s songs spring from an intimate relationship with the beauty of the living world and her/their name literally translates to “Love Stone”. Attuning and tending to the aliveness of all beings, seen and unseen, past-present-future, human and more-than-human, is at the core of Kjersten’s work and purpose. She/They believes that songs themselves are living beings that are fed by our singing. Kjersten leads monthly CommUnity BlesSings song circles and Community Grief Rituals in Champinefu/Corvallis, produces an annual song gathering in the Cascadia Bioregion, offers musical climate action presentations to local schools and youth groups, tends to several gardens and two grown children, and makes art and beauty of all kinds, walking humbly and gently on this precious planet. Sharing Info: The song is free to share but Kjersten always welcome financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:03:19 Start time of reprise: 00:22:16   Links: Kjersten's Music: https://kjerstenhallin.bandcamp.com/music Kjersten's GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-the-songs-and-love-flowing-in-corvallis Kjersten's Instagram: @kj_creatrix https://www.instagram.com/kj_creatrix Eco-Edutainment: https://nofoodleftbehindcorvallis.org/videos/   Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, minor, 2-part round with different length parts   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  5. Jul 22

    242. Ribbon 19: Down to the River

    The Sunday after this episode is released, July 26th, 2026, at 4 p.m. Eastern time, there will be an online gathering of folk who use song to help navigate life -- and we'll sing through this Ribbon of Songs with live-looping! To learn more, click here, or sign up right now to join us!   Lyrics ​& Links to the original episodes for the songs in this ribbon.   AN OPEN HEART by Scott Kalichstein travelled version (song 2) I'm gonna let life move me, I'm gonna let life stir me deep, I'm gonna let life wake me  from an ancient sleep. I'm gonna laugh all my laughter, I'm gonna cry all my tears. I'm gonna love the rain as deeply as the sun when it clears.   BEAUTIFUL RAIN with singer Rebecca Csuy mysterious origins Patricia wrote 2nd part Rain, rain, rain, rain,  beautiful rain. Rain, rain, rain, rain,  beautiful rain. Rain falling down on the plains, On the roofs of our towns, Beautiful rain. Rain, rain, rain, rain,  beautiful rain. Rain, rain, rain, rain,  beautiful rain. Rain falling down on the plains, Rooftop raindrops,  rooftop raindrops falling, Beautiful rain.   THE RIVER by Coco Love Alcorn Bass part: Dum t-ka dum dum dum k Dum t-ka dum dum dum k Dum t-ka dum dum dum dum Dum t-ka dum dum dum k Melody: 1. The river is a healer,  the river is a sage. The river knows no end and  the river feels no age. The river is a leader  every single day, It's living in the moment and  it always finds a way. Chorus: Water heal my body,  water heal my soul. When I go down down to the water, by the water I feel whole.   2. The river calls me over,  it's calling out my name In the day and in the night  I hear that river all the same. It's calling me over,  calling out my pain, oh a river gathers tears  just like a river gathers rain.   3. The river is a traveller,  always on the go A river never worries  if it's fast or if it's slow River take me  to where I need to go, Oh and I will just relax  and let the river flow.   STAND IN THAT RIVER by Moira Smiley Chorus:  Come and stand in that river,  Current, gentle and slow, Send your troubles down water,  Down on that water flow. Verse:  When you stand in that river,  Angels sing in your head. Secrets beyond every worry.  Dreams beyond every dread.   AN OPEN HEART by Scott Kalichstein original version I wanna let life touch me,  wanna let life move me deep,  Wanna let life stir me, from an ancient sleep. May I laugh all my laughter,  may I cry all my tears,  may I love the rain as deeply as the sun when it clears. Living my life with an open heart.   INNER PEACE by Kate Valentine I am the deep peace I seek,  I am, I am, Look upon the rolling ocean Look above the sky unfolding All around the tide is turning Right here I am standing. ​ Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  6. Jul 15

    241. Sing Your Roots with guest singers

    Song: Sing Your Roots Music by: Eileen Hazel Guest Singers: Becky Peterson, Karen Chickering, Molly Moerdyk   Notes: There's a slightly strange sound quality in this one, as something weird was going on with my mic when recording... maybe we were so rooted and grounded singing this that we changed the electricity in the room?! I invited three friends over to sing Eileen's round with me, and a little delightful chaos ensued... pick a place to start singing the song, with one of us or in between us, and see what happens. I wonder how we would all be if we felt that sense of deep rootedness, combined with a rise to the stars?   Songwriter Info: After many years of singing, composing, and performing, Elieen discovered her deepest love in community singing. The joy and deep connection found in singing together deeply fed her soul. Since 2023, Elieen has been facilitating community song circles in the East Bay. She especially loves co-facilitating with other song leaders and cultivating spaces that feel joyful, welcoming, and harmonious.  In the last few years, Eileen's connection to the Muse has opened in new ways. The songs flowing through her are now largely created for community singing—meant to be shared, experienced, and sung together. The songs she creates emanate from a place of spirit, drawing inspiration from her profound connection to the natural world, and to our communities. Visit her website (eileenhazel.com) to see what’s coming up.   Sharing Info: Yes -- The song is free to share but Eileen always welcomes financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:02:44 Start time of reprise: 00:13:13   Links: Eileen's Website: eileenhazel.com Bandcamp to buy music: https://eileenhazel.bandcamp.com/. More music on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/eileen-hazel Eileen's own recording of Sing Your Roots: https://soundcloud.com/eileen-hazel/sing-your-roots   Nuts & Bolts: 3:4, minor, round   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  7. Jul 8

    240. What Have We Done with guest Kaitie Ty Warren

    Song: What Have We Done Music by: Kaitie Ty Warren   Notes: Kaitie and I talk about how we get to practice skills in singing that help us show up in full right size to help build the kind of culture we want to live in. This includes stories about cockroaches, childraising, computer-savvy friends... and Kaitie brings it all "earthside" by teaching this powerful layer song which is intimately connected with the South African song "Senzenina". We talk about cross-cultural connections, and how we try to continually update our learning -- what it is to be in right relationship, the illness of wetiko, how to be "other" in a non-inclusive dominant culture. If any of this sparks your curiosity, join us!   Songwriter Info: Kaitie Ty Warren (any pronouns) grew up on Tongva and Ohlone lands, by the ocean and often dreams in fishes and songs. She is a songwriter, songleader, writer, collage artist, cartoonist, minister, and performing artist. She is the founder of Living Room Choir, Be Heard! Voice for Parkinson's, and East Bay Song Fest, all on Ohlone lands in the Bay Area CA. She has a background in theater and music. She goes by Mama to the most awesome little songleader. KaitieTyWarren.com for more; follow on Patreon and socials @KaitieTy.   Sharing Info: Kaitie's songs are available for free to humans for the sole purpose of using it with their choir(s) and song circles. For commercial and for-profit uses, please contact Kaitie via LivingRoomChoir.com. This is not for AI training or use.   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:03:18 Start time of reprise: 01:14:26   Links: Where to find What Have We Done: https://livingroomchoir.com/what-have-we-done/ https://www.patreon.com/kaitiety/posts/song-what-have-143827793 https://kaitietywarren.bandcamp.com/track/what-have-we-done Living Room Choir's Instagram: www.instagram.com/livingroomchoir Living Room Choir's Website: LivingRoomChoir.com/song-library Kaitie's Website: https://kaitietywarren.com/ Kaitie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitietywarren/   Senzenina – The Joy covering it: https://youtu.be/0ye19cENvY4?si=okLZ6YrsQrXwHJb4 Vukani Mowethu South African choir in Oakland: https://www.vukani.com/ Kele Nitoto: https://www.instagram.com/kelenitoto/ Ahimsa – concept of non-violence: https://www.britannica.com/topic/ahimsa Heather Houston retreats: https://heatherhoustonmusic.com/retreats-old/ Laura Sandage: https://www.lauraschapel.com/ “I Am” by Tom Shadyac (available on Netflix) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_(2010_American_documentary_film) Wetiko: Algonquin term for a cannibalistic spirit that is driven by greed, excess and selfish consumption (in Ojibwe it is windigo, wintiko in Powhatan) - https://www.lapishealingarts.com/lapidary-blog/wetiko-and-the-collective-dark-night-of-the-soul East Bay Songfest April 16-18, 2027: https://eastbaysongfest.com/   Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, layer, major   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  8. Jul 1

    239. My Body is Perfect

    Song: My Body is Perfect Music by: Kaitie Ty Warren   Notes: Kaitie started quite a discussion around our house with this song. What is perfect? Who gets to decide? And why is it so darn comforting to be told you're perfect, anyway? But when I first sang this song with Kaitie at Heather Houston's Global Summit many months ago, I was struck by how much better I felt after singing it to myself -- and I have continued to sing it through a flare of pain that I'm still seeking answers for and is constricting my way of life -- and I continue to find it comforting! Maybe you will, too? Next week, I get to talk with Kaitie directly about all kinds of things, including the ways we're trying to move away from the harm done by white colonial cultures and toward a vibrant, inclusive kind of presence that hums with life and generativity.   Songwriter Info: Kaitie Ty Warren (any pronouns) grew up on Tongva and Ohlone lands, by the ocean and often dreams in fishes and songs. She is a songwriter, songleader, writer, collage artist, cartoonist, minister, and performing artist. She is the founder of Living Room Choir, Be Heard! Voice for Parkinson's, and East Bay Song Fest, all on Ohlone lands in the Bay Area CA. She has a background in theater and music. She goes by Mama to the most awesome little songleader. KaitieTyWarren.com for more; follow on Patreon and socials @KaitieTy.   Sharing Info: Kaitie's songs are available for free to humans for the sole purpose of using it with their choir(s) and song circles. For commercial and for-profit uses, please contact Kaitie via LivingRoomChoir.com. This is not for AI training or use.   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:02:54 Start time of reprise: 00:14:00   Links: "My Body is Perfect" on Kaitie's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kaitiety/posts/new-song-my-body-137978799 Kaitie's Patreon: www.patreon.com/kaitiety Living Room Choir's Instagram: www.instagram.com/livingroomchoir Living Room Choir's Website: LivingRoomChoir.com/song-library Kaitie's Website: https://kaitietywarren.com/ Kaitie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitietywarren/ Kaitie's Bandcamp: https://kaitietywarren.bandcamp.com   Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, call and response, major   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

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5
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

Ella Fitzgerald said, ”The only thing better than singing is more singing!” Use song to find wellness in ourselves, each other, and our world. In each episode, Patricia introduces a song that she trusts to help her navigate life. These songs provide a great soundtrack to your day — whether it’s comfort, presence, delight, grief-tending, or simply easing the way. Periodic interviews with song creators add color and understanding. Songs have helped Patricia heal, adapt, and grow, and she hopes these selections will become companions for you as well. Visit the website, abreathofsong.com, to learn more and suggest a song!

Information

  • Creator
    Patricia Norton
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    205
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    A Breath of Song

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