I wrote this song about and for my family. There is some political references, but most of all it is about adoption and the greater meaning of family. Enjoy. [audio:https://dianedandeneau.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/01-The-Bond-thats-Called-Love.mp3|titles=01 The Bond that’s Called Love]  The Bond That’s Called Love, from the CD What Would You Do if You Knew You Were God?
Diane Dandeneau

Sweater – MP3  Demo

Capo on 7^th Fret Am, C G (Bridge F, Am G Am)

I have a sweater that keeps me warm
It’s soft to the touch and beautifully adorned
With sacred symbols first carved in the stone
Reminding me I’m not alone.

Made by a woman from high in the Andes
In the tradition of her mother before
Spinning the yarn from the family Alpacas
While her children play on the floor

I have a sweater that keeps me warm
It’s soft to the touch and beautifully adorned
With sacred symbols first carved in the stone
Reminding me that I am not alone.

Bought in a shop down in La Paz
Just after I was almost kidnapped
The shopkeeper said I was lucky to survive
I know I’m grateful to be alive

I have a sweater that keeps me warm
It’s soft to the touch and beautifully adorned
With sacred symbols first carved in the stone
Reminding me that I am not alone.

Bridge
I feel the love in her hands
Wrapped in the gift from the land
The Andes live in my dreams
As I feel the sacred me

I have a sweater that keeps me warm
It’s soft to the touch and beautifully adorned
With sacred symbols first carved in the stone
Reminding me that we are not alone.

I heard this story on NPR http://www.npr.org/2011/08/29/139641794/where-generations-of-soldiers-healed-and-moved-on about Walter Read Hospital and it inspired me to write in my journal. In a few short hours, it turned into this song:

Why? By Diane Dandeneau

He once was six foot three, now he’s five foot two
Someone put a landmine in the path of his boots
His life has changed forever, as he waits for stumps to heal
The good news is they have for him new feet made of steel

One of the lucky ones, he has a life to live
Wants to raise a family, would like to coach some kids
The interviewer asks him, can’t that dream still come true?
He hesitates… saying yes… not sounding very sure

Chorus
He’s a hero to his county
A hero to his wife
But no-one asks the question…
Why?

I listen to this story on NPR
Wondering why the real question’s left on the floor?
In this crazy world there must be another way
To deal with the insanity, than playing these deadly games

Chorus

For it is the economy that really matters now
The more it grows the more we need to protect what is ours
We should all be grateful to those we sacrifice
Their lives and limbs to protect our privileged, cushy lives

Bridge
Can we hear him crying late in the night
And feel the pain that’s shattering all of our lives?

Chorus

I have finally put all the pieces together from my documentation of “Goldie”, the golden eaglet that grew up in Meadow Park last year. The music is from my new CD: What Would You Do if You Knew You Were God?. The Filming is from my April 16th CD Release Concert and Art Show and from Meadow Park. Photos from many wonderful photographers. Please leave your comments!

I wrote this song a few years ago as a commentary on the debate about climate change and protecting our environment.  Now that the Space Shuttle program is being retired, I hope that we can use this opportunity to shift the conversation to focus on protecting our only home. Listen here:  Shuttle Song.  This song is from my CD:  What Would You Do if You Knew You Were God?.  Below are the lyrics.

Don’t retire the shuttle yet, we’ve got somewhere to go
We have got to find ourselves another home
For we’re using up this one as fast as we can
And we don’t seem to have ourselves another plan

Why do we think we need so much?
Did happiness come with all this stuff?

Chorus:
Fly me home, is there somewhere else that I would rather roam?
Fly me home, is there someplace better to call home?

So now I am asking, would you mind sharin’ a bit
I think we can find a way to resolve this
For I believe we’re smart enough to make it be alright
It’ll just take the left hand working with the right

So why are we fighting over stuff?
Don’t we know that all we really want is love?

Chorus

Please retire the shuttle, there’s nowhere else I want go.
Let’s keep all those scientists workin’ here at home
For we have Mother Nature, the water, earth and sun
And she will teach us how to live with everyone

Then we will remember who we are
A part of everything and made of the stars

Chorus

Wait!
Don’t retire the shuttle yet, we’ve one more trip to make
We need a photo of our home, from outer space

For when we look at everything together all at once
We will see the truth that we’re all part of one
We will see the truth that we are part of one
We will see the truth….

Then Fly me home, there is nowhere else that I would rather roam
Fly me home, there is no place better to call home

Diane Dandeneau, lead vocals, 6-string guitar;  Erin Schey, background vocals; Tyler Grant, 6-string guitar, mandolin; Brian Schey, bass, background vocals, tambourine; Brian McRae, drums and percussion

I wrote this song in 2004, shortly after I got my 12 string guitar.  It is about shifting our perspective of life to realize that we have chosen to come here and have chosen to play the game.  Here are the Lyrics. 

Welcome to the Party
by Diane Dandeneau

Welcome to the Party
Welcome to the Game
I know it is crazy
It seems quite insane
But there’s something about it
That allures all the same
We’ve chosen to come here
Chosen to play the Game

So you buy you a ticket
And climb on the Train
It’s going somewhere
Life is the place
So you find you a family
Find your own space
Learn your new part
And walk out onto the stage

Create a story create a life
Searching for something wondering why

Welcome to the Carnival
Welcome to the show
You’ve been given amnesia
So you don’t know
That you write the story
You create the plot
You think you’re a spectator
Ha Ha! Sorry, you’re not

Wondering why we have come
Searching for something, could it be love?

We think it’s about winning
Making money, reaching goals
Protecting our own families
Playing out our roles
We live pursuing happiness
Buying things to fill our homes
It seems so illusive
We wonder why we feel alone

But we’re never alone
Wake up its time to come home

Finding the love
That lives in our hearts
Is all that there is
It’s all it’s about
So let’s change the story
and how we play the game
and take off our costumes
And walk off the stage

Remembering why we have come
Knowing that it is just to love

Welcome to the Party
Welcome to the Game
I know it is crazy
It seems quite insane
But there’s something about it
That allures all the same
We’ve chosen to come here
Chosen to play the Game

Knowing why we have come
Remembering it is just to Love
Knowing why we have come
Remembering we are all One

Diane Dandeneau, lead vocals, 12-string guitar; Erin Schey, organ, background vocals; Tyler Grant, 6-string guitar; Brian Schey, bass; Brian McRae, drums