Featured Archives - Pamela Holm 1960-2019 https://pamelaholm.ca/category/songwriting/featured/ Singer, Songwriter, Music Therapist, Sound & Energy Healer Fri, 22 Mar 2024 13:02:19 +0000 en hourly 1 135377168 While He was Sleeping There with You https://pamelaholm.ca/2020/06/while-he-was-sleeping-there-with-you-2013/ Mon, 08 Jun 2020 17:43:14 +0000 https://pamelaholm.ca/?p=1990 NEW VIDEO (Feb. 2021) A really good hurtin' song.

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]]> I found enough drafts of “hurtin’ songs” in Pamela’s manuscripts to make a file of them. She wrote for her own personal therapy, and most won’t get published. By the time (2013) she wrote this gem, however, she could distill her pain into a few words, a good hook, an essential bridge, and the clever device of addressing the “other woman”. Chords are mine, but as an old bandmate observed, Pam and I had a similar sense of harmony. – HH

Table Of Contents
  1. Video
  2. Sheet music
  3. Lyrics

Video

Here’s Miranda Lever singing it, as part of a project to get Pam’s songs out into the world, off paper and onto video so people can hear them, and maybe sing them, too. Sheet music is below the video.

Sheet music

While he was Sleeping there with You by Pamela Holm, sheet music PDFDownload

Lyrics

While he was sleeping there with you

It’s been hard to say I’m sorry
for what I had to do.
I somehow saw within your face
a hidden dream come true.
I couldn’t stay forever
but did you have a clue
I’d be walking away
while he was sleeping there with you.

I had no way to tell you
’bout how bad it could be.
But you are not me either
and that much I could see.
I was drawing strength within myself
but his mind was blind to truth,
that I could walk away
while he was sleeping there with you.

I hear a cry of innocence
I hear a cry of pain
I hear a cry of “How could this
be coming round again?”
I haven’t got your answers,
and my own are much too few,
all I can say is that I had to go
while he was sleeping there with you.

All I can say is that I had to go
while he was sleeping there with you.

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]]> 1990 Ave Maria https://pamelaholm.ca/2020/04/ave-maria/ Fri, 24 Apr 2020 01:33:42 +0000 https://pamelaholm.ca/?p=1957 NEW Video (Dec. 2020) A hauntingly beautiful sacred song for a soloist and/or choir.

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]]> One of my favourite pieces of Pam’s, which is saying a lot.

Her original manuscript is reproduced further down.

I’ve made an arrangement from Pam’s chords, which could be played on piano or sung as parts – SAAB or SATB, or SAA with a cello playing the baseline. Maybe a soloist with vocal harmonies on the two “Ave Maria”s in the middle and the last 12 bars. Arrangers, feel free to make your own version! Do what you will with the “Amen” she wrote at the end.

Table Of Contents
  1. Video
  2. Practice audio
  3. Sheet music
  4. Lyrics
  5. Original manuscript

Video

Here is Miranda Lever singing Pam’s “Ave Maria”.

Practice audio

Singalong: I’ve computer-recorded an instrumental version. Follow along with the sheet music below.

Here it is at 100 beats per minute (? = 100), maybe too fast.

Ave Maria, by Pamela Holm

If that’s a little fast, here it is again at ? = 80.

Ave Maria, by Pamela Holm, a little slower

Sheet music

Ave Maria by Pamela J Holm, sheet music (PDF)Download
Ave Maria, by Pamela J Holm, p1
Ave Maria by Pamela Holm, arr. Heather Holm, p2

Lyrics

Ave Maria,
Lady of Ladies, Queen of our hearts.
Your mercy wafts on a gentle ray of light,
Softly penetrating even in the darkest of night.
Ave Maria
Join with our hearts, Lady, carry our prayers
to bring heav’n’s holy Light into hearts of despair.
Ave Maria
Be as a guide as we go through our day,
bringing Light to our path as you show us your way.
Ave, Ave Maria, Ave Maria,
Ave Maria.

Original manuscript

Ave Maria by Pamela J Holm, original manuscript

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]]> 1957 Hold the World in Love https://pamelaholm.ca/2020/04/hold-the-world-in-love-2011/ Wed, 01 Apr 2020 14:58:45 +0000 https://pamelaholm.ca/?p=1929 NEW VIDEO (Sept. 2020). Sing-along song for a rally or other gathering, Earth Day, environmental caretaking event, spiritual group.

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]]> Where can you see this song being sung? I can imagine it on the steps of a parliament or legislature at an Earth Day or environmental rally. More quietly in a small circle. Arranged for choir, or for small a capella groups. I can imagine people changing the words or writing new verses to suit their cause, their mindset, the needs of the day. I can imagine it evolving into an anthem (one of many) of those who are embracing a new relationship with the planet.

Table Of Contents
  1. Video
  2. Sheet music
  3. Lyrics

Video

We recorded this song in 2020 near Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.

Sheet music

Hold the World in Love – Sheetmusic with lyricsDownload
Sheetmusic for Hold the World in Love

Lyrics

Hold the World in Love

Listen to the heartbeat of the nations
Listen to the rhythm of their songs
Listening, feel the spirit as it rises
Listen how the heartbeat draws us home

Hold the world in love (x4)

Hear the steps of people walking peaceward
Hear the steps of people holding hands
Feel the rhythms as we walk together
Bringing hope and courage to all lands

Hold the world in love (x4)

We sing of peace, we sing of courage, we sing of love
We sing of truth, we sing of justice, we sing of love

Hear the sound as nations sing together
Feel the strength as voices rise in song
Feel the spirit, oh my sister, brother
Singing out our songs in unison

Hold the world in love (x4)

I feel appreciation for my sisters
Who gather us around the fire bright
I feel compassion deeply for my brothers
Searching for a way to make things right

We sing of life, we sing of harmony, we sing of love
We sing of joy, and of tenacity, we sing of love

Forgiving one another for our failures
Forgiving first of all the one within
Learning how to dance as equal partners
So paradise on Earth, it can begin

We sing of sharing, and of compassion, we sing of love
We sing of peace, and of forgiveness, we sing of love

Hold the world in love (x4 or more to finish)

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]]> 1929 Home by the Ocean https://pamelaholm.ca/2020/03/home-by-the-ocean/ Wed, 11 Mar 2020 21:34:06 +0000 https://pamelaholm.ca/?p=1896 NEW VIDEO Dec 2020: A song expressing the heart's tug-of-war between home by the sea and living far away for work.

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]]> Home by the Ocean poignantly expresses Pam’s perennial wish to move back to the Maritimes. She wrote it just after a 2016 summer car trip through New Brunswick, to us in Nova Scotia, and back to Ottawa along the North Shore of the Gaspé Peninsula. She was doing research for a writing project, The Marco Polo Table, and also visiting places she had lived as a child.

And the tug of war between life inland and shore, between work and wages and sea
Tears me apart, wrestles hard with my heart, and I long to be free …

From Home by the Ocean by Pamela Holm

Maritimers and would-be Maritimers love this song.

Table Of Contents
  1. Videos
  2. Sheet music
  3. Lyrics

Videos

Mirth (Miranda Lever, Mary Knickle and Cynthia Myers) in St. John’s Church, Lunenburg, Aug. 31, 2022:

Miranda Lever solo in 2020.

Sheet music

Home by the Ocean by Pamela Holm, sheet music Download

Lyrics

There’s a call from the heart of my soul
to go down to the tide, to the salt crested tide
to the shoreline where waves gently roll
to the wild rocking beat, cooling sand ‘neath my feet
to be home by the ocean once more.

A rover I am, a sailor on land.
I’ve lived in far places, journeyed through foreign lands.
I have braved other climates in the heat and the rain,
gazed at far mountains, and come home again.

A sailor on land, my home is my car
On four wheels I’ve travelled, follow some distant star.
I have lost myself over and over again
Then the smell of the seaside brings me home once again.

And the tug of war between life inland and shore,
Between work and wages and sea,
Tears me apart, wrestles hard with my heart
And I long to be free

To follow the call of my soul
to go down to the tide, to the salt crested tide
to the shoreline where waves gently roll
to the wild rocking beat, cooling sand ‘neath my feet
to be home by the ocean once more.

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]]> 1896 Surrender (1990) https://pamelaholm.ca/2019/11/surrender-1990/ Wed, 20 Nov 2019 21:52:46 +0000 https://pamelaholm.ca/?p=1374 A jazzy song from a personal tape showing Pam's vocal range and flexibility.

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]]> From a rough cassette recording Pamela made for copyright purposes, dated August 1, 1990. That was the summer between the two years of her Music Therapy course at Capilano College (now Capilano University) in North Vancouver.

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]]> 1374 Ostara https://pamelaholm.ca/2019/10/ostara/ Thu, 31 Oct 2019 18:34:50 +0000 https://pamelaholm.ca/?p=1114 A lively tribute to the goddess of spring. The first part can be sung as a 2-part round.

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]]> A lively, bouncy song to celebrate springtime, spring equinox, planting time, May Day or Easter. Ostara is the Germanic goddess of spring. Pam said that she wrote this song for some Wiccans who were getting tired of their old chants and wanted something new to sing.

The first part of this chant can be sung as a round or canon, then all sing the chorus together. There’s an audio of that further down. Or sing it straight, as in the video.

Table Of Contents
  1. Lyrics
  2. Video
  3. Audio
  4. As a canon
  5. Sheet music
  6. Pam's garden

Lyrics

Bless the seeds we sow today, Ostara,
Bless the earth that all may grow in peace.
Bless the sun and rain that falls, Ostara.
Bring to life the radiance in our seeds.

Sing Ostara, Bringer of new life.
Dark is lessened, stronger grows the light.
We sing to Ostara, Bringer of good cheer
The time of light is here.

Video

Pamela recorded Ostara with a live singalong audience at the James St. Wellness Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, on March 19, 2011. I’ve made the recording into a video:

Audio

This is the audio to the live video. You can always right click and save the audio to your device.

Here is another recording in a lower key, in which Pamela is teaching the song to a group. Sing along and you’ll learn it with them in no time!

As a canon

The first part of Ostara can be sung as a round. This is what it sounds like (2nd and 3rd times through):

(This is actually the first recording digitally manipulated. That’s why it sounds like Pam is singing with herself.)

Sheet music

Sheet music for Ostara by Pamela Holm Download

Pam’s garden

Pam took great pleasure in her community garden bed. A bountiful harvest!

Pamela Holm and her garden bed
First spring planting

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]]> 1114 Another Bright Star https://pamelaholm.ca/2019/10/another-bright-star/ Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:30:48 +0000 https://pamelaholm.ca/?p=982 Composed for her mother's memorial service in 2014. Sung again by her colleagues for her service in 2019.

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]]> Pamela Holm composed this song for her mother’s Memorial Service in 2014.

It was performed again by Pamela’s colleagues at her own Memorial Service in October, 2019. That video is further down the page.

Both times, the congregation joined in on the chorus at the end.

Table Of Contents
  1. Video, 2014
  2. Lyrics
  3. Sheet Music
  4. Video, 2019

Video, 2014

Lyrics

There’s another bright star in the heavens.
There’s another bright soul goin’ home.
On her angel’s wings she’s a joinin’
The hosts and the heavenly throng…. Singin’…

Chorus:
Hallelujah in Heaven
Singin’ hallelujah to the Soul of Souls
Sining’ hallelujah in Heaven
She’s a-goin’ home.

All the birds are singin’ there in heaven
And tall grasses reach high to the sun
Oceans offer up their splashes
All the songs of creation are sung … They sing….

Light a candle to help her on her journey
Sing a song of praise to guard her soul
And on angel wings she flies homeward
To the land where we all are remade whole…. Singing’ …

Down the road, I know I’ll be goin’
One day, when my journey is done
She’ll be there to meet me at the temple
Where our hearts will sing praises as one … We’ll sing …

Sheet Music

Download Sheet Music (PDF)

Another-Bright-Star-with-Pams-harmonies

Video, 2019

Here is Another Bright Star being performed by Pamela’s music therapy colleagues and a few others for Pamela’s memorial service in Ottawa on October 12, 2019. The video starts at the timestamp for the song. Again, audience participation was irresistible.

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