Produced and performed by Andrew. J. Williams and Roger. J. McLachlan
Recorded by Roger. J. McLachlan
SONGLIST
1. Rejoice (A J Williams & R J McLachlan)
2. Birth Song (A J Williams)
3. The Garden (R J McLachlan)
4. Swan Ballet (A J Williams & R J McLachlan)
5. Siddhartha’s Song (A J Williams)
6. Devadatta’s Song (A J Williams & R J McLachlan)
7. Siddhartha’s Reprise (A J Williams)
8. Everything (A J Williams)
9. In Good Company (A J Williams)
10. Enlightenment (Buddha)
Andrew. J. Williams (about the author)
Birth Song
Written by Andrew J Williams © 2010
After an extraordinary dream It came to be
The Queen had conceived And was with child
All rejoiced in anticipation
Of the coming royal birth
Peace and love reigned throughout the nation Heaven and Earth
So the Queen and attendants
Began their journey to her childhood home As was the way in days gone by
As they reached the gardens of Lumbini
Filled with flowers and singing birds
The moon was shining brightly, high in the sky
Knowing her time was near She said “I can go on no more, Lay me down by the lake,
To give birth by the shore”
All rejoiced in anticipation
As she leaned against a knowing tree The Prince was born in that moment Painlessly
Heavenly music filled the air
Heavenly flowers rained down upon the earth Rainbows appeared in the sky
Peace was felt throughout the land
The earth stood still with understanding
And nature smiled
Amazingly the child did stand Took seven steps
With each appeared a lotus flower
All rejoiced with realization This was no ordinary child As he so boldly proclaimed
This is my last birth
I am the foremost in this world I will lead and guide you
I am the highest
Now there is no rebirth for me I will teach the truth
It seemed all of nature knew
The child born that day
Would be the man to show the way To set us free
So let us live with love and patience
And understanding in all relations
And as we reach out to each other Always remember the care of our mother Always remember the love of our mother We owe our life to our mother
Always respect love and care for our mother
Siddharthas’s Song
Written by Andrew J Williams © 2010
As I walked in the gardens
Something fell from the sky
And on closer inspection
It seemed that something may have died
An arrow had pierced the wing of a bird
A swan so tender and mild
Oh beautiful one I shall tend to your wound I’m so glad that you’re still alive
I will care for you and I will comfort you
I will keep you warm at my side
I will nurture you nourish you and protect you Until once again you can fly
Soon you will be well and you will be strong You can live with your kind
But for now my friend let yourself heal
And have peace of mind
Devadatta’s Song
Written by Andrew J Williams and Roger McLaughlan © 2010
Hey Siddhartha, Tell me did you see A white swan
Fall down near here
Before I shot it
It belonged to nobody, My aim was true, Now it belongs to me
Hey Siddhartha
Give me back my swan, I’m Devadatta
I shot it down
Hey Siddhartha
Give me back my swan, I’m Devadatta
I shot it down
So give me back my swan
Hey Siddhartha, That bird is mine. As I stand here I tell no lie
You’re being weak I’m being strong It’s my prize, It’s my crown
Hey Siddhartha
Give me back my swan, I’m Devadatta
I shot it down
Hey Siddhartha
Give me back my swan, I’m Devadatta
I shot it down
So give me back my swan
Give me back my swan, Give me back my swan, I want my swan
Siddhartha’s Song (Reprise)
Written by Andrew J Williams © 2010
Oh dear cousin, put down your weapon Let your anger subside
For it’s life that all beings treasure the most Love and respect is where friendships abide
All beings tremble at the thought of being harmed Knowing this, how can we harm them
Knowing that we all seek happiness Cultivate love for all
So the swan stays with the one who saved it Not with the one who tried to destroy it
Everything
Written by Andrew J Williams © 2002
Everything is like a flicker of a lamp The life of a flower
A star at dawn
A dewdrop in the sun
Everything (Everything), Comes and goes
No space, no time
No thing knows Everything (Everything) Let it go
Don’t hang on to the past, No-one owns Anything
Everything is like the changing of the tides Lightning in a summer cloud
A bubble in a stream
A phantom and a dream
Thus shall we think of all this fleeting world
In Good Company
Written by Andrew J Williams © 2002
Trying to put my mind at ease
And ready to please
But all these things that get me high Are only things just passing by
So why do I care for these things at all
So let this sweet life unveil
To reveal it’s many hidden tales How we came to be
Like this and that and you and me I’m sure that we’d all agree
Life is like an endless sea
Into which we set sail, together, free Oh, oh, oh, living in good company
I’ve had better days
And I should have better ways
And with all this time that’s passed us by I ask myself why
Why do we bother with this time at all
We should let this sweet life unveil It will reveal so many hidden tales Of how we came to be
Like this and that and you and me I’m sure that we’d all agree
Life is like an endless sea
Into which we set sail, together, free Oh, oh, oh, living in good company Living in good company
You are good company
And so this sweet life unveils
To reveal it’s many hidden tales How we came to be
Like this and that and you and me I’m sure that we’d all agree
Life is like an endless sea
Into which we set sail, together, free Oh, oh, oh, living in good company Living in good company
You are good company