SATB and piano

4.5-5 min duration

email for score

Text by Toronto Poet Michael Bennett

Commissioned by Singing Out choir (Toronto).

Video of the Premiere: HERE

The River Sings My Song
Michael Bennett

The river tells my story.
The river sings my song.
It sings of where I’m going.
It sings of where I’ve gone.
It sings of those who’ve sailed with me, of those I’ve yet to know
It sings of who I strive to be, and what I choose to show
The river sings my past, my present, a future yet to be
It changes time, not always in rhyme, and sometimes sings off key
Some verses I no longer sing, I’ve left them far behind
Some I sing for only me, to soothe a troubled mind
I am the river, I am the song
I am more than what you see
I sing out loud, I sing out strong
Sing my hopes, my thoughts, my dreams
My life is in the river,
my life is in the song.
I’ve travelled far from where I’ve been
To a place where I belong.
The water sometimes calm and pure, sometimes rough and wild
Its twists and turns have made me strong and filled my life with pride
But there are times that you may see the river seem to slow,
To change its course, to freeze, to dry, to dam, to cease to flow.
Don’t let the river’s stillness make you think I’ve lost my way
On my journey I may falter, but I’m stronger every day
And when my song is just a whisper,
And the doubts begin to grow,
My quiet strength will see me through…
Under a frozen river, water still flows
I am the river, I am the song
I am more than what you see

I sing out loud, I sing out strong
Sing my hopes, my thoughts, my dreams
My life is in the river,
my life is in the song.
I’ve travelled far from where I’ve been
To a place where I belong.
Like the river I will travel. I’ll sing, be heard, I’ll grow.
My quiet strength will see me through
I’ll be more than I can ever know…
Under a frozen river, water still flows

the river sings my song sample pages