Why Do We Sing?

Why do we sing? This is a question that resonates in both professional musicians and the singers that sing only in the privacy of their showers. The answer to this question is as universal as it is unique:

We sing because it lets us live in the moment and forget about this fast-paced world, even for just a few minutes.

We sing because it gives our emotions a medium to be released when we can't seem to express ourselves any other way.

We sing when we are overjoyed and also when we are depressed.

Whatever the reason is, we sing, and we have for thousands of years. It was the way people connected with the heavens and the world around them. If we look back in time we will find many powerful examples of people singing that shaped our history. Voices alone, through song, have started revolutions, brought peace to warring factions, and uplifted souls when there was no hope.

For example, think of the songs of the civil rights movement, such as “We Shall Overcome”. What does this evoke in you at the very mention of its title? How about “Where All the Flowers Gone?” or “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”? Powerful stuff!

The following is a poem by composer Greg Gilpin. The words capture so much of the singing spirit. Enjoy.

Why We Sing

by Greg Gilpin

A sound of hope, A sound of peace,

A sound that celebrates and speaks what we believe.
A sound of love a sound so strong.
It’s amazing what is given when we share a song.

This is why we sing, why we lift our voice,
why we stand as one in harmony.
This is why we sing, why we lift our voice,
Take my hand and sing with me.

Soothe a sound, mend a heart,
bring together lives that have been torn part.
Share the joy, find a friend.
It’s a never ending gift that circles back again.
Music builds a bridge, it can tear down a wall.
Music is a language that can speak to one and all!

This is why we sing, why we lift our voice,
Take my hand and sing with me.
This is why we sing, why we lift our voice,
why we stand as one in harmony.
This is why we sing!

The important lesson from this is to just sing. This is one of the few things that connect all of us and truly make us human.