Offering Songs
Colorful treble clef

Children's Recessionals


Suggested by members of the UUMN (Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network)


Important to know:
  • Songs may always be taught and sung orally without obtaining specific permission. Also, it is generally acceptable to project words on a screen from a legally owned copy. However, to print or copy the words and/or music, or to make changes to the words, permission must be sought from the copyright owner unless permission has already been granted.
  • If permission has been given, the song is available by clicking on the title. Otherwise, where available, information on various permissions and where to obtain the song is provided.
  • Typically, even if permission to print/copy is granted, it is considered good etiquette to contact the composer and let him/her know when and how their song is being used. And of course, always make sure proper attribution is provided.
  • Keep in mind that many of these songs would be good choices to close a worship service.

Original songs by UU musicians, available directly from the composer

As You Go by by Kathleen Tracy.  May be used freely. Send copy of OOS to Kathleen (see music for contact info).

As You Go by John Ruben Piirainen. "We usually sing it a capella with percussion instruments. We had fun trying different musical styles (reggae, calypso, etc)." No restrictions. If used, please notify Piirainen: rubenp [AT] uucw [DOT] org

As You Go From This Room by David M. Glasgow. 3-part round w/piano. Hymnal insert and piano score available. Preview page, ordering and copying info at: http://davidmglasgow.com/product/as-you-go-from-this-room/ 

As You Journey by Ann Hossler.  A 1-verse text that is sung to the tune of Frere Jacques. Ann says it works well at her congregation and at others as well. Congregations may print the words in their order of service as long as they provide proper credit.

Children's Benediction. Music by Bart Bradfield, words by Barbara Pescan. Printed in UUMN Notes v.18:1, Feb 2000. Use freely, but please let Bart know if you use it. bbradfield [AT] ucevanston [DOT] org

Children's Benediction by Randall Springer. Use freely. Please recognize Randall when it is printed or posted on a screen. mecdesigns926 [AT] yahoo [DOT] com

Children's Recessional. Words by Rev. Ana Levy-Lyons, music by Adam Podd. Use freely, but please let Adam know if you use it. adampodd [AT] gmail [DOT] com

Children's Recessional by Sharon Scholl. Has a cheerful Latin beat and is easy to learn and danceable. Use freely. accidentals [AT] comcast [DOT] net

Children's Blessing by First UU Nashville Youth Choir. Written by the youth of First UU Nashville under direction of Jason Shelton. 2 sheets: vocal w/piano + bulletin inserts. Use freely. No specific permissions required.

Go and Let Your Lights Shine by William James Ross. Vocal w/piano. May be combined with This Little Light of Mine. "Use freely with my compliments." wjross [AT] satx [DOT] rr [DOT] com

Go On Your Way In Peace by Hal Walker. Lead sheet with chords. Youtube. Permission to copy for church use.

Go with Joy by Sharon Scholl. "We are having a joyous time with it -- lots of maracas and twirling in the aisles!" May use and copy freely. halwalker [AT] mac [DOT] com

Going Going Gone by Nick Page. A round. Feel free to change the key, tempo, meter, or words. No restrictions on use. npchoralfa [AT] aol [DOT] com

The Light Within by John Kramer. W/piano accomp, separate vocal sheet for insert.
  • Song w/piano accomp.
  • Vocal sheet for bulletin insert.
May use and copy freely. "I would love to see it used." kramer5000 [AT] comcast [DOT] net

Love Will Guide Your Way by Bernadette Burns. May use and copy words and/or music freely. "I would just like my name in the OOS if you use it." drbearsong [AT] aol [DOT] com

May Love Surround You by Carole Etzler. Use freely but be sure and credit the composer.

May You Always Walk in Peace by Wally Kleucker. Click at left for regular version, with piano accomp.
  • Here it is as a 4-part round.
  • If sung unison, the chords are: C em F G / C em F G / F C G7 C / F C G7 C
  • Also see free download of several songs from We Light This Chalice: 24 songs for UU children and youth choirs.
  • Permission for congregations to use freely, including printing in order of service. Please contact Wally when you use it the first time. http://musicisdivine.tripod.com  kleucker [AT] bellsouth [DOT] net

Now We Bless You On Your Way by Jen Rathbun. If the flow of the service is more mellow, this song would work nicely. It is along the lines of a prayer, to send the children on their way. It can be repeated or just played instrumentally however many times is necessary. Please include composer's name when lyrics and/or melody is/are reproduced in anyway. Otherwise, congregations may use freely. jenrathbun [AT] earthlink [DOT] com

Reeb Children's Benediction
by Ian W Ridell. May use and copy freely. Please let Ian know what you're doing with it, though. iwriddell [AT] gmail [DOT] com

Safe Passage by Mary Grigolia. Powerful closing song for Black History service. From the heart. Easy-to-learn. Hands-free. For Sunday services, memorials, interfaith, classes.
  • mp3 audio file
  • Sheet music with melody + chords
  • Sheet music, SATB
  • Sheet music, melody + piano
  • If you decide to use the song, please purchase a license here.  mary[AT]marygrigolia[DOT]com

Sheltering Arms of Love. Text by Nancy Starr, to be sung to hymn tune #34. Use freely. dfstarr [AT] icx [DOT] net

Walk On Your Path by Scott Roewe.
  • Youtube video.
  • Order music online.
  • mp3 audio file. 
  • Composer grants permission to copy music and print words to members of the UUMN with purchase of one copy for $1 per congregation. scott.roewe[AT]gmail[DOT]com

We Love You and Bless You by Amy Carol Webb. Congregations have permission to print words and music in their orders of service and/or as projection. songwevr [AT] bellsouth [DOT] net

We Will Keep a Place for You
by John Corrado.
  • Melody line
  • Words
  • Feel free to play, sing, copy as frequently as you wish. Just make sure Corrado's name is on it. UUMN may also include in any future publications.

We Wish for You. Words by Marianna Nystrom & Janeen Grohsmeyer; music by Marianna Nystrom. Use freely with no restrictions but "please be sure to acknowledge the second verse words were written by Janeen Grohsmeyer." mhnystrom [AT] aol [DOT] com

With Love We Send You On Your Way
by Rev. Wendy Pantoja. Two verses that may be sung to the tune of #371 (Old Hundredth). Use freely. revwendypaz[AT]aol[DOT]com

Songs that are in Published Volumes

All You Need is Love (chorus) by John Lennon. Available in many sources. See publisher and copyright holder info
 
Carry the Flame. Words by Patricia Yates, music by Harold Brown
Songbook 3/Signature Collection, p.6.
UUA, ©1990. No longer in print.
 
Go Your Way in Peace by Jim Scott.
From May This Light Shine, p.9. UUMN, ©2006. Available from UUA Bookstore.
SATB arrangement also available from Jim Scott at http://jimscottmusic.com/
 
Hambani Kahle. This is a Zulu song that means “Go well and safely, go well and safely, go well and safely, the Lord be ever with you.” Can be found in Songs for Earthlings: A Green Spirituality Songbook, comp. Julie Forest Middleton. Emerald Earth Publishing: 1998, p. 145. It is frequently sung in multiple parts with harmony and drums, but the basic melody is actually very simple and short and could be sung by the congregation without all the bells and whistles. You can find numerous recordings of this song on youtube. Here’s one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iet3X68TjEw&list=RDIet3X68TjEw
 
May the Longtime Sun Shine Upon You by Mike Heron, from "A Very Cellular Song (Chant)" by Mike Heron, arr. Rashani.
Can be found in: Songs for Earthlings: A Green Spirituality Songbook, comp. Julie Forest Middleton. Emerald Earth Publishing: 1998, p. 144.
You can find numerous recordings of this song on youtube, done in different versions and styles. Here are a couple that will give you an idea as to how you might use it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4q414m3fEs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNKYfobc6oQ
 
On Your Way by Jaie Livingston.
From Earth & Spirit Songbook, p. 115.
ed. Jim Scott, ©2003 Jim Scott Music. Available from UUA Bookstore. Also from Jim Scott Music.
Livingston said in an email to UUMN-L 8/20/2007: "Teaching it by rote or publishing the words in the OOS are acceptable to me as long as credit is given." An SAB arrangement is also available.
jaie [AT] jnjlivingston [DOT] net
 
Peace Be With You by Barbara Hamm.
From Children of Creation: Hymns of Love & Justice for the 21st Century, p.58-59, by Barbara Hamm.
Abingdon Press, ©2006. Available from Cokesbury.
Permission to duplicate is granted with purchase of 10 copies
 
Peace Canon by Tom Benjamin.
From Choral Responses, p.44. UUMN
Available from UUA Bookstore.
 
Sayonara, Au Revoir by P. Robbins
From Now Let Us Sing! (p.42), comp. Phyllis Robbins. Kingston Unitarian Press, 2004. This volume is apparently no longer available through the UUA Bookstore. To find out if iot is still available, contact the folks at Kingston Unitarian Fellowship (in Canada): http://www.kuf.ca
 
Till We Meet Again by Tom Benjamin.
From May This Light Shine, p.25.
UUMN, ©2006. Available from UUA Bookstore
 
Wishing You Peace and Understanding by Joe Schafer.
From Making Music: Original Songs for UU Children's Choirs, p.75-80. Includes vocal sheet for bulletin insert, simple single-line melody arrangement with piano accomp, and also SATB+children arrangement. ©1997 Joe Schafer
Ordering info: Contact Director of Lifespan Faith Development, West Shore UU Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd, Rocky River OH 44116.
kstrawser [AT] wsuuc [DOT] org
May freely use and copy after purchase of one book.



Songs in UU Hymnals
(available from UUA Bookstore)


From Singing the Living Tradition
116 I'm On My Way
118 This Little Light of Mine
402 From You I Receive
413 Go Now in Peace
407 We're Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table (1st verse)
414 As We Leave This Friendly Place
 
From Singing the Journey
1018 Come and Go With Me
1019 Everything Possible (chorus)
1030 Siyahamba (English words)
1057 Go Lifted Up
 
From Las Voces del Camino

68 Mi pequenita luz (This Little Light of Mine)

73 Vayan en paz (Go Now in Peace)
76 Lleva la llama (Carry the Flame)
To suggest additions to this list or to report errors, contact kaye7m [AT] gmail [DOT] com. Updated 9/21/2016.