We Are—Murfin Home Confinement Music Festival 2020

We Are performed by Dr. Ysaÿe Barnwell and the UUA General Assembly 2020  Virtual Choir.

A week ago today Unitarian Universalists around the world were able to log on to view the virtual Sunday worship service of the UUA General Assembly.  The inspiring service was led by Rev. Joan Javier-Duval of the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, Vermont with Rev. Mykal Slack of Black Lives UU and included wonderful music.  Particularly fine was We Are performed the GA virtual choir featuring a lead solo by the song’s composer Dr. Ysaÿe Barnwell.

Dr. Ysaÿe Barnwell. composer of We Are.

Barnwell was formerly a member of the a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock and was a founder of the Jubilee Singers at All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, D.C.  She wrote many songs for both ensembles and for other choral groups.

The UUA's teal hymnal  Singing the Journey.

We Are (Our Grandmother’s Prayers) and Woyaya, her arrangement of a song by the Afro-pop band Osibisa are in the UUA’s most recent hymnal Singing the Journey a/k/a the teal hymnal.  The Tree of Life UU Congregation Choir has included the song in its repertoire so I was familiar with it.

It is a song about generations, debt, gratitude, and inspiration. 

We Are (Our Grandmother’s Prayers)

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises and sings
to the universe who we are

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises and sings
to the universe who we are

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises and sings
to the universe who we are

We are our grandmothers prayers
we are our grandfathers dreamings
we are the breath of the ancestors
we are the spirit of God

We are Mothers of courage
fathers of time
Daughters of dust
sons of great visions
we are sisters of mercy
brothers of love
lovers of life and the builders of nations

We’re seekers of truth
and keepers of faith
makers of peace, wisdom of ages

We are our grandmothers prayers
and we are our grandfathers dreamings
we are the breath of the ancestors
we are the spirit of God

We are mothers of courage
fathers of time
we are daughters of dust
and sons of great vision
we are sisters of mercy
brothers of love
we're lovers of life and the builders of nations
we're seekers of truth and keepers of faith
makers of peace and the wisdom of ages

We are our grandmothers prayers
and we are our grandfathers dreamings
we are the breath of our ancestors we are the spirit of God

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises and sings
to the universe who we are

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises and sings
to the universe who we are

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises and sings
to the universe who we are

For each child that’s born
a morning star rises and sings
to the universe who we are.

—Dr. Ysaÿe Barnwell