The Kitchen Musician ~ May 2022

Hello friends,

I have been deeply moved by the struggles and strength of Ukrainian mothers as they face a devastating war and separation from loved ones. With them in mind, my Ukrainian friend Olena Oksenych has beautifully translated one of my songs. Recorded this week in Kyiv, we share “Колисанка (Kolysanka, a Lullaby)” for mothers and care-givers everywhere.


Index

  NEWS:
  THIS MONTH’S MUSIC: “Колисанка (Kolysanka – a Lullaby)”
  UPCOMING SHOWS
  FEATURED NON-PROFIT: City of Goodness


Olena Oksenych playing the Lira, a Ukrainian hurdy-gurdy


News:

I have two shows coming up. On Saturday, May 28th I will return to Club Passim Campfire Festival to do an in-the round set with terrific musicians – Louis Apollon, Doctora Xingona and Chris O’Brien. There is lots of music from Friday through Monday. This is both in-person and streamed live on the web.

Next month on Saturday, June 25th, I return to the Javawocky Coffeehouse in Brockton, MA for a full evening show, live in-person, assisted by my talented friend Seth Connelly.

Click for the details of these and all upcoming shows.


This Month’s Music:
“Колисанка (Kolysanka – a Lullaby)”


“Колисанка (Kolysanka – a Lullaby)”
Ukrainian and English lyrics in a comment below.
© 2022 Tom Smith and Olena Oksenych

Click here for an audio download of this song.

As the world locked down at the start of the Pandemic, my son and his wife gave birth to twin girls in Zurich, Switzerland. A year passed, and still Margo and I were not able to travel to meet our new grandchildren. To make matters worse, it seemed like everything else that is important in the world was falling apart – the climate, Democracy, racial justice, and more.

Like parents everywhere, my son and his wife are doing everything in their power to provide a loving and safe home for their twin girls and son, but I also know that it is emotionally very difficult for parents to set aside their own fears and doubts for the sake of their children. And as much as we try to shelter our children from the harsh realities, they are often completely aware of them. That is why I wrote I’ll Show You the Way, a lullaby. I find it ironic that acknowledging very bad and unexplainable things can be comforting when sung with loving assurance that light will follow dark.

As images of parents and their children started emerging from Ukraine at the start of the war, I found myself connecting those images with my lullaby. I reached out to my friend Lynn Noel of the New England Folk Festival Association (NEFFA) to see if she could connect me with any musicians in Ukraine who could translate it. Through her work as NEFFA Program Chair, Lynn suggested I speak with Susan de Guardiola, who is active in the historical dance community in both the USA and Ukraine. After meeting via Zoom, Susan reached out to Oleksii Kryvenko, a dance organizer and teacher in Ukraine, who in turn suggested Olena Oksenych. Communications in Ukraine are difficult but after several lovely Facebook conversations, Lena and I became friends and she whole heartily became the keystone of this project.

Olena Oksenych is living in Kyiv and fluent in both Ukrainian and English. Her experience translating poetry makes her a perfect person for our project. Lena is also a talented musician and performs solo and in several folk groups. I loved her suggestion to record the song with a lira; a traditional Ukrainian instrument closely related to the hurdy-gurdy. When Lena invited her talented friend Mariya Dmitrova to play guitar and sing backup vocals, the dream team was almost complete. Fortunately, audio engineer Vyacheslav Sobolev was available and his Kobzar Records studio was still functioning, in spite of bombing and failing infrastructure in the area.

I am amazed that these folks did this project as the Russian army increased missile bombardments in Lena’s neighborhood in the Kyiv region! When I contacted her with my concern for her safety, and to make sure she knew that our recording was far down on the priority ladder in the middle of a war zone, she replied “It really helps a lot knowing that people from all over the world support us with their hearts’ work” – and in a later conversation, “I was numb since the war started and I felt alive again making this song.” As my friend Rolly Brown says, “music heals!”

For comparison, here is the English version of my lullaby as published in The Kitchen Musician – August 2020.


“I’ll Show You the Way”
© 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

For an audio download of the songs on this page, please click on my Bandcamp page.

I am so grateful for the positive power of music, and how it continually serves to connect me in deep ways to others – even those I have never met in person.

Peace for Ukraine,

Tom

(If so inclined, I invite you to leave a comment by scrolling to the end of this page.)
#Ukraine, #UkraineLullaby #Kolysanka


Featured Non-profit

My Ukrainian friend, Olena Oksenych has chosen City of Goodness as our featured organization this month. Please watch the video below to learn more about how they are supporting women and children in Ukraine during the war.

Please join me in supporting the great work of City of Goodness. For those of us living in the US, a convenient way to donate is to use the PayPal link on this page.

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29 Comments
  • Tom
    May 9, 2022

    Колисанка (Lullaby)

    English title: I’ll Show You the Way
    Words and music: © 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP), TomSmithMusic.com
    Ukrainian translation: © 2022 Olena Oksenych

    Olena Oksenych: vocals, lira (hurdy gurdy)
    Mariya Dmitrova: vocals, guitar
    Vyacheslav Sobolev: sound producer, mix engineer. Kobzar Records studio.
    Video: Olena Oksenych

    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    Колисанка (Lullaby)

    Пригортаю ніжно-ніжно
    До мене лягай
    В затишку моїх обіймів
    Міцно засинай

    Ніч холодна, але сяє
    В чорноті зоря
    Коли світ тебе лякає
    Знай, що поруч я

    Хай тривоги згинуть геть
    Слухай мене
    Я крізь темряву дороги
    Поведу тебе

    Часом люди горе сіють
    Схочеш знать чому –
    Поясню, все що зумію
    Й міцно обійму

    З серця лине колисанка
    Кожна ніч мине
    І до певного світанку
    Я поведу тебе

    Хай тривоги згинуть геть
    Слухай мене
    Я крізь темряву дороги
    Поведу тебе
    Поведу тебе

    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    I’ll Show You the Way (Lullaby)

    Lay your head upon my breast
    Match your breath to mine
    Wrap your arms around my waist
    Sleep will come in time

    Though the night is cold and dreary
    You are safe at home
    When the world is mad and scary
    You’ll not be alone

    Cast all care away my child
    I am here to say
    When it’s time to walk through darkness
    I’ll show you the way

    The bad things that some people do
    You may not understand
    Ask and I’ll explain to you
    Or tell you when I can’t

    This I know with all my heart
    It may seem far away
    Light will always follow dark
    And I’ll show you the way

    Cast all care away my child
    I am here to say
    When it’s time to walk through darkness
    I’ll show you the way
    I’ll show you the way

  • Marian
    May 10, 2022

    What an extraordinary project! Bravo to all involved. “I’ll Show You the Way” is one of my favorites – a go to song in times of trial. Thank you for singing it to me again today as Hawkeye goes to MGH for DBS surgery for his Parkinsons.

    • Tom
      May 10, 2022

      Thank you for listening deeply, as you always do. All hugs and love to Hawkeye, and surgical success. <3

  • Polly Pillsbury
    May 10, 2022

    Tom,
    This is absolutely beautiful. The song itself, and the way you connected with musicians in Ukraine. The feeling of unity this creates is powerful.

    • Tom
      May 10, 2022

      Thank you Polly. Music is a gift that I never underestimate.

  • Ken Batts
    May 10, 2022

    A lovely and meaningful lullaby. I loved both versions. It would be great to hear you and Olena play and sing it together.

    • Tom
      May 10, 2022

      I would love that too, Ken. Thank you for listening!

  • Genie
    May 10, 2022

    Your song is so beautiful, Tom, it makes me cry, no matter who is singing it. This was such a wonderful project, connecting with Ukraine! I love the song, and the connection! Thank you, Tom.

    • Tom
      May 10, 2022

      Thank you, Genie. Thank you so much for listening. I am glad that it touched you, as it did me.

  • steve rollins
    May 10, 2022

    So very neat Tom.

  • Virginia Amsler
    May 10, 2022

    Thank you for reminding us that love and comfort are universal

    • Tom
      May 11, 2022

      Thank you, Miss Virginia. Love to you and the tortoises of Useppa!

  • Amy Conley
    May 10, 2022

    Such a beautiful example of musical collaboration and international friendship, thank you for your beautiful song (all of you!).

    • Tom
      May 11, 2022

      Thank you for listening, Amy! I will send along your encouragement to the Ukraine crew.

  • Deb
    May 11, 2022

    Both versions, so beautiful and touching, especially during these times. Love and strength.

    • Tom
      May 11, 2022

      Thank you for listening, Deb. This project has rekindled some waning hope.

  • Joe Fredette
    May 11, 2022

    What a beautiful story to read and music to hear! Yes, music heals! And it has always been the Heart’s work with you Tom.

    • Tom
      May 11, 2022

      Thank you Joe. I hope you are still making your wonderful music!

  • Lynn Noel
    May 11, 2022

    On behalf of the amazing NEFFA network, I am awed and humbled at the healing connection of music in the face of pandemic and war. I choke up every time I listen to this. Such lullabies are not just for children. My very best wishes to all those I know in this remarkable chain, and to those friends I have yet to meet. Bless you for your good work.

    • Tom
      May 12, 2022

      Lynn, Thank you so much for helping me get this project started. It ended up so much better than I dared hope at the beginning. Carry on!

  • Laurel Paulson-Pierce
    May 12, 2022

    MY heart fills … with sadness….then joy… to hear this song … in both languages Bless you… and may you and all the people in Ukraine walk in the light…and out of this dark time …. soon!
    Sláva Ukrayíni! Many all around the world have been focussed on creating Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Eggs) The intricate designs are meant to bring light to the world, banish evil and assure the continuation of good on the planet. A centuries-old tradition which is growing .. especially now!

    • Tom
      May 12, 2022

      Hello Laurel. Thank you for listening with your heart. I am pleased this song has spoken to you. Peace to Ukraine.

  • Mike Doyle
    May 16, 2022

    Very very beautiful Tom. It is amazing what was going on while they did this. Music does heal

    • Tom
      May 17, 2022

      Thank you for listening, Mike! Sing on!

  • Pat Lamanna
    May 20, 2022

    Wow, Tom. This is a beautiful song and an even more beautiful story. How wonderful that you reached out to Ukraine and let them know that they’re not alone. Thank you for telling us about this at Sally’s song circle tonight.

    • Tom
      May 21, 2022

      Thank you, Pat. And I was deeply moved by your song from the point of view of one of those children. Devastating.

  • Bill Miller
    July 15, 2022

    Hi Tom, I just saw your three song performance from the Summer Convergence from the PMN Archives.I loved your singing/songs and am wondering if I could buy a recording of the Itsy-Bitsy Spider song with a copy of words and chords? You have a wonderful demeanor and presentation and I hope you get to play a lot for others.
    Thank you. — Bill Miller

    • Tom
      July 15, 2022

      Hi Bill. Thank you for your kind comment. I will contact you directly about that song.