Circle Round

30 Jun Circle Round

Melanie DeMore and I commissioned this song from MaMuse for the “Boots on the Ground” community singing playlist in 2021.  What a song they delivered! Here I have arranged their song with permission for Wholehearted Chorus in three voice parts.  See the teaching notes for details about the arrangement.

Composer & Copyright

Original song by MaMuse. ©MaMuse. Arranged by Lisa G. Littlebird for Wholehearted Chorus in collaboration with the composer. Free for singing in community, permission required for recording or performing for profit. Please support the artist and purchase the studio version of this song here.

Recording

This arrangement is by Lisa G. Littlebird and recorded over MaMuse’s studio release with permission.

Lyrics

I have a circle around me of people I love
I have a circle around me of care
I have a circle around me of people I love
So I can stand up in the face of fear, stand up in the face of fear

Chorus:
One step in front of the other, one step back
One love, one for each other
Keeping the circle intact (x2)

Let me be the circle around you in love
Let me be the circle of care
Let me be the circle around you in love
So you can stand up in the face of fear, stand up in the face of fear

Solo/ oooh’s:
That you stand with me gives me the strength
That you are here with me oooooh…
That you stand with me gives me the strength
To do what I am called to do, do what I am called to do

Be my circle surround me in love
Be my circle of care
Be my circle surround me in love
So I can stand up in the face of fear, stand up in the face of fear

Chorus

I have a circle around me of people I love
I have a circle around me of care
I have a circle around me of people I love
I will stand up in the face of fear (x4)

Chorus

Teaching Notes

In Wholehearted Chorus, the sopranos sing the high part, altos sing the middle and the tenors and bariones sing the low. In this arrangement, the middle part has the melody on the verse and the low has the melody on the chorus. The song starts quite low and escalates to the higher end of most singers’ ranges in the chorus.

Key: This recording is in Fm but Wholehearted singers found it too low so we sing it up a full step in Gm.