by Gretchen Sleicher (some of lyrics based on quote from Howard Thurman)
Lyrics
This life is a courtship, this life is a song
This life is the dance of the place you belong
Give it, give it, give it, give it, give it all you got to give
Give it, give it, give it, give it, give it that others may live
Don’t ask what the world needs
Don’t ask what the world needs
Ask what, what , what, what, What brings you most alive
Ask what, what , what, what, What brings you most alive
Then, go out and do it, go out and do it, go out and do it now
Go out and do it, go out and do it, go out and do it now
‘Cause what the world needs is people who have come alive
‘Cause what the world needs is people who have come alive
Come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive now
Come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive now
This life is a courtship, this life is a song
This life is the dance of the place you belong
Give it, give it, give it, give it, give it all you got to give
Give it, give it, give it, give it, give it that others may live
It’s a courtship, it’s a song,
It’s the dance of the place you belong
You belong to what brings you most alive
You belong to what brings you most alive
Come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive now
Come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive, come alive now
This life is a courtship, this life is a song
This life is the dance of the place you belong
Give it, give it, give it, give it, give it all you got to give
Give it, give it, give it, give it, give it that others may live
Notes
What would our life be like if we experienced it as a courtship, a lover with whom we are dancing? And what if we experienced the world in this same way? What is your song, your dance of belonging?
This song, like the Work That Reconnects, invites us to connect with what brings us most alive and then do it! Some of the lyrics are based on a quote from Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
For a quick teach to enliven a gathering, use just the chorus. Download the PDF for a lyric sheet and arrangement of the whole song.
- Author grants permission to learn and use this song, with attribution, in non-commercial contexts including song circles, workshops, worship services and community gatherings. However, all commercial rights remain reserved: if (for example) you wish to offer recordings of this song for sale, please use the contact form to discuss compensation.
Full Mix and Song Parts
Mix
Alto and Bass
Soprano
Tenor