The Seedling: EVC’s Annual Spring Concert for the Environment
Friday, May 19th, 2023 @ 5:30 & 7:30 PM
Milbank Chapel at Teachers College
On Friday, May 19th, EVC presents The Seedling & the Animals. Featuring the voices of Every Voice Kids Choir, Youth Choir, Concert Choir, VoiceAbility, Vocal Technique Across Genres, Hunter Elementary Singers, and Cornerstone Intergenerational Choir. There will be two performances: 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Both performances will take place in Milbank Chapel Teachers College (525 W 120th St). This event is open to the public. Seating is limited. Please reserve seats.
Tickets are free, but producing this concert is definitely not. Please consider donating to help support our production costs. All donations for this concert will be applied toward EVC's spring fundraiser match. Thank you for helping us to continue in our mission of uplifting children's voices.
Lyrics
KIDS CHOIR
A Menagerie of Songs
By Carolyn Jennings
#1 Bandicoot
The bandicoot is fond of fruit.
Australia’s where she’s found.
She likes to dig up gardens there
And burrow in the ground.
How sandy for the bandicoot.
The bandicoot (who dotes on fruit)
Is fond of insects, too.
She has a pouch to hold her young
Just like the kangaroo.
How handy for the bandicoot.
The pouch is on her belly.
It closes on the top
And opens on the bottom
But the babies never drop.
How dandy for the bandicoot.
#2 Giraffe
Giraffes, giraffes, I like them.
Ask me why.
Because they hold their heads so high.
Because their necks stretch to the sky.
Because they’re quiet, calm and shy.
Because they run so fast they fly.
Because their eyes are velvet brown.
Because their coats are spotted tan.
Because they eat the top of trees
Because their legs have knobby knees
Because because
That’s why
I like giraffes.
#3 Penguin
O penguin, do you ever try
To flap your flipper wings and fly?
How do you feel,
A bird by birth
And yet for life tied down to earth?
A feathered creature,
Born with wings
Yet never wingborne.
All your kings
And emperors must wonder why
Their realm is sea instead of sky
O penguin, do you ever try?
#4 Sloth
A tree’s a trapeze for a sloth.
He clings with his claws to its growth.
Both the sloth and his wife lead an upside down life.
To lead such a life I’d be loath.
#6 Rhinoceros
I often wonder whether
The rhinoceros’s leather
Is as bumpy on the inside
As it is on the skinside.
#7 Panda
A panda planned a visit but they told him not to come
He was going to Uganda (where of course he isn’t from).
Everybody knows the panda comes from China not Uganda
And a Panda in Uganda would cause panda panda pandamonium
But they told him not to come to Uganda (Where of course he isn’t from)
Pandamonium, Told him not to come, Going to Uganda (where of course he isn’t from)
Pandamonium, Pandamonium, Panda in Uganda would cause Pandamonium
Pandamonium, Told him not to come, Going to Uganda (where of
course he isn’t from)
Pandamonium, Panda in Uganda would cause Panda Panda Pandamonium
Pandamonium
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VOICEABILITY
“One Drop”
I need you, and you need me
Left alone, we will never be who we could be
So take my hand and, don't forget that
We can do anything together
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Just one drop of your love
A single ray of sun
Just one thing to change the world
It's just you and me
Starting with a dream
And giving it all we've got
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Come with me now, look and see how
There's an ocean overflowing with our hope
So let's jump in and, take a swim, it's
You and me, yeah forever
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Just one drop of your love
A single ray of sun
Just one thing to change the world
It's just you and me
Starting with a dream
And giving it all we've got
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
I need you, and you need me
We can do anything together
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Just one drop of your love
A single ray of sun
Just one thing to change the world
It's just you and me
Starting with a dream
And giving it all we've got
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Only takes one drop (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
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CORNERSTONE CHOIR
“Let the River Run"
We're coming to the edge
Running on the water
Coming through the fog
Your sons and daughters
Let the river run
Let all the dreamers
Wake the nation
Come, the New Jerusalem
Silver cities rise
The morning lights
The streets that meet them
And sirens call them on
With a song
It's asking for the taking
Trembling, shaking
Oh, my heart is aching
We're coming to the edge
Running on the water
Coming through the fog
Your sons and daughters
We the great and small
Stand on a star
And blaze a trail of desire
Through the dark'ning dawn
It's asking for the taking
Come run with me now
The sky is the color of blue
You've never even seen
In the eyes of your lover
Oh, my heart is aching
We're coming to the edge
Running on the water
Coming through the fog
Your sons and daughters
It's asking for the taking
Trembling, shaking
Oh, my heart is aching
We're coming to the edge
Running on the water
Coming through the fog
Your sons and daughters
Let the river run
Let all the dreamers
Wake the nation
Come, the New Jerusalem
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YOUTH CHOIR
“The Water is Wide”
The water is wide, I cannot get o’er
Neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row my love and I
A ship there is and she sails the sea
She’s loaded deep, as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I’m in
I know not if I sink or swim
Bring me a little water, Sylvie
Bring me a little water
Bring me a little water now
Bring me a little water
Bring me a little water, Sylvie
Bring me a little water
Every little once in a while
Ooo...
Oh love is handsome, and love is kind
Bright as a jewel when first it’s new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like morning dew
“Salvation of Mother Earth”
Verse 1
Gray smoke from the gloomy sky
A painful sight to see
Cardboard, plastic soda cans
Littered all over the street
Junk and garbage, such a mess
But along comes a young girl
She sweeps down to pick it up
And decides to change the world
Chorus
Why don’t we care about Mother Earth?
Why be the villains when we could be heroes!
Why don’t we fix the mess that we made?
If we do it’ll all be saved
Verse 2
We’re cutting down the evergreens
There’s oil in the ocean
Animals flee the barren lands
Starting a commotion
But if we protect a fragile seed
Precious as a pearl
It can grow into a mighty tree
One seed could change the world
Chorus
Why don’t we care about Mother Earth?
Why be the villains when we could be heroes!
Why don’t we fix the mess that we made?
If we do it’ll all be saved
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VOCAL TECHNIQUE ACROSS GENRES
A Spring Medley
On A Clear Day
On a clear day
Rise and look around you
And you'll see who you are
On a clear day
How it will astound you
That the glow of your being
Outshines every star
You'll feel part of every mountain,
Sea and shore
You can hear
From far and near
A world you've never heard before...
And on a clear day...
On a clear day...
You can see forever...
And ever more…
Under The Willow Tree
[Polish]
Pod wierzbą płaczą dwa gołębie,
Płaczą dwa gołębie.
(Under the willow tree
Two doves cry, two doves cry)
[Russian]
‘Под ивою-ивой два голубя воркуют
(Under the willow tree
Two doves cry, ah oh!)
[Spanish]
A donde dormir, mi amor,
A dónde volar
(Where shall we sleep, my love,
Wither, shall we fly?)
[French]
Les bois ont avalé la lune
La brume a avalé la rive
(The wood has swallowed the moon
The fog has swallowed the shore)
[English]
The green toad has swallowed
The key to my door
Under the willow tree
Two doves cry, two doves cry
Under the willow tree
Two doves cry, ah oh!
Ah…
Where shall we sleep, my love,
Whither shall we fly?
The wood has swallowed the moon,
The fog has swallowed the shore,
The green toad has swallowed
The key to my door
Love Song To The Earth
This is an open letter
From you and me together
Tomorrow's in our hands now
Find the words that matter
Say them out loud
And make it better somehow
Looking down from up on the moon
It's a tiny blue marble
Who'd have thought the ground we stand on
Could be so fragile
This is a love song to the earth
You're no ordinary world
A diamond in the universe
Heaven's poetry to us
Keep it safe, keep it safe, keep it safe
'Cause it's our world
It's not about possessions, money or religion
How many years we might live
When the only real question that matters is still
A matter of perspective
Looking down from up on the moon
You're a tiny blue marble
Who'd have thought the ground we stand on
Could be so fragile
This is a love song to the earth
You're no ordinary world
A diamond in the universe
Heaven's poetry to us
Keep it safe, keep it safe, keep it safe
'Cause it's our world
This is an open letter
From you and me together
Tomorrow's in our hands now
Find the words that matter
Say them out loud
And make it better somehow
–––––––––––––
CONCERT CHOIR
“La Paloma”
¿Donde estaba la paloma que el gavilán la cogió?
¿Que se hizo la paloma que el gavilán la cogió?
En la puerta de Ramona Ay! mira y fue que la desplumó
Todo en la vida es mentira solo la muerte es verdá.
Porque ahí es donde se acaba la pompa y la vanidá
¿Que se hizo, que se hizo la paloma, paloma que el gavilán la cogió?
En la puerta, en la puerta de Ramona Ay! mira y fue que la desplumó
¿Como no voy a llorar a mi mamá cuando se muera?
Ojalá que yo pudeira volverla a resucitá.
Ya me voy, María, ahí te dejo la paloma,
Abrile el pico y que coma, ahí te dejo la comía.
Ya me voy, ya me despido aunque la gaita está muy buena.
Dale duro a esa tambora pá que se anime mi pena.
Translation:
“The Dove”
Where did the dove that the sparrow hawk caught go?
Where is the dove that the sparrow hawk caught?
At Ramona’s gate, Oh! Look, I found it plucked.
All in life is false, death is the only truth.
For there is where pomp and vanity run out.
Why wouldn’t I cry when my mother dies?
I wish I could bring her back to life.
I’m leaving, Maria, I leave the dove there for you,
Open its beak and make it eat, I’m leaving the food there.
I’m leaving, I say goodbye even though the gaita is very good.
Beat this drum hard so my sorrow cheers up.
–––––––––––––
COMBINED CHOIRS
“The Seedling”
Once within the shaded woods
There a little seedling stood.
As it gazed upon the sky,
Upon the towering trees so high,
Wondering what it should become
If it found earth and felt the sun?
“Shall I ever grow so tall?
To be a tree? Is that my call?”
Then a single drop did land,
Pushed the seed below the land.
Though, it did not feel afraid
For nature’s song was being played.
Ray and rain and shade below,
Sang a song that made it grow.
Time passed on through thaw and spring,
And brought about the most marvelous thing.
As the seedling laid below,
Nature’s song had made it grow.
Seed no longer, roots sprout,
Tiny branches reaching out.
It now did face the sky with pride,
With others by its side.
Nature’s song the way had shown,
Growing tall yet not alone
Other saplings near it spawned,
Each one singing, facing dawn!
Nurtured forth by ray and rain,
The seedling now knew its calling plain:
“Now I’m tall and plainly see
I am a tree with roots and leaves.
Nature’s song in rain and ray
Have made me what I am today.
Strong and kind, set to bring
Joy to the world,
Joy through each song I sing.”
“Here Comes the Sun”
Here comes the sun (Doo-d-doo-doo)
Here comes the sun
And I say, "It's alright"
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun (Doo-d-doo-doo)
Here comes the sun
And I say, "It's alright"
Little darling, the smile's returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
And I say, "It's alright"
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun (Doo-d-doo-doo)
Here comes the sun
And I say, "It's alright"
