Auteur: Ellen Pels

I am making notes
For the girl I used to be
Knowing she’ll be scared
Of what she is to see

She’ll need to know she’s strong enough
To carry what will come
She needs to have tenacity
And know she won’t succumb

You’re strong enough
You’re tough enough
You’ll see
You’re good enough
Robust enough
You’ll see

You’re wise enough
You’re kind enough
You’ll see
You’re cool enough
Gracious enough
You’ll see

If only I had understood
If only I had known
When turmoil raged and ruled
How much courage I have shown

If I could send my younger self
A message back through space
Of gumption, spirit and of grit
Many worries I’d erase

You’re strong enough
You’re tough enough
You’ll see
You’re good enough
Robust enough
You’ll see

You’re wise enough
You’re kind enough
You’ll see
You’re cool enough
Gracious enough
You’ll see

Guitar solo: Klaas-Jelmer Sixma
Recorded at Studio Moskou and Studio Silvester April 2021

I wake up to the sound of your complaining
And outside of course it will be raining
Why does all this nonsense always happen to me

My clothes are boring, I have a bad hair day
When will luck ever be coming my way
Why do my wishes never become reality

Don’t be blue
Turn it around
Change your views
Upside down

Why was I born in this alien country
Where everyone always speaks so bluntly
Where everyone is self-centered and selfish, I don’t understand

No one ever puts me first
Pays me a compliment or quenches my thirst Every conversation always gets out of hand

Don’t be blue
Turn it around
Change your views
Upside down

Stuck in a job to pay my mortgage
Always have to listen to everyone’s garbage
I’ll never meet up to my parent’s expectations of me

Don’t be blue
Turn it around
Change your views
Upside down

Vibaphone solo: Tony Hoyting
Recorded at Wedgeview Studio and Studio Silvester June 2020

So many trees in the forest
But this one is just a bit different
Stronger and taller and brighter
All in all rather magnificent
Constantly facing the sun

Your branches are reaching much higher
Your leaves look so green and succulent
In autumn you alter your colours
To yellow and golden magnificent
A safe place to hide when it rains

I want to grow just as strong as you
Just as bright as you
Just as fierce as you
I want to be just as wise as you
Just as nice as you
Just as dear as you

I am merely a sapling
Wanting to grow my own way
Securely under your coverage
Knowing how much that must weigh
Waiting for my Independence Day

I want to grow just as strong as you
Just as bright as you
Just as fierce as you
I want to be just as wise as you
Just as nice as you
Just as dear as you

Sometimes
When the night is extra cold
After lightning has struck
When your bark is feeling old
Rest your weary limbs
On me
Rest your weary limbs on me

I want to grow just as strong as you
Just as bright as you
Just as fierce as you
I want to be just as wise as you
Just as nice as you
Just as dear as you

Trombone solo: Arend Huisman

Like a young child
Learning to walk
Or a small toddler
Mastering the talk
Stumbling is inevitable
Tripping is part of life
Get up, keep going
You’ll learn in time

So I grow
Reap what I sow
And all I know
Becomes a part of me
So I grow
Reap what I sow
All I need to know
Is Love

That big dissapointment
That massive sorrow
That makes you feel
You can’t face tomorrow
Get up, get going
Wipe the tears away
Every single morning
Can be new year’s day

So I grow
Reap what I sow
And all I know
Becomes a part of me
So I grow
Reap what I sow
All I need to know
Is Love

When the pain seemed too deep to breathe
When I saw no way out
That’s when I became a warrior
That’s when I learned to overcome

So I grow
Reap what I sow
And all I know
Becomes a part of me
So I grow
Reap what I sow
All I need to know
Is Love

Flugel solo: Libbe Oosterman
Recorded at Studio Moskou and Studio Silvester April 2021

Wondering ‘bout my life and how things go
I find a few facts and surprises along the way
I’m casually learning how to go with the flow
And stand in awe of where I am today

Beautiful melodies fill the air with delight
Solo’s and jazz songs and saxophone sounds
I may not be a success overnight
But every step feels like my playground

I’m the Leader of the Band
I’ll count you in
I’m the Leader of the Band
One two three, let’s begin
I’m the Leader of the Band

Every moment of this adventure is wild
Every step is new and unknown and scary
I lack experience I feel like a child
I still believe I’m only ordinary

I’m the Leader of the Band
I’ll count you in
I’m the Leader of the Band
One two three, let’s begin
I’m the Leader of the Band

When I look back at what I’ve achieved
I feel pleased and happy and proud
I would never have believed
That I could ever summon a crowd

I’m the Leader of the Band
I’ll count you in
I’m the Leader of the Band
One two three, let’s begin
I’m the Leader of the Band

Saxophone solo: Tibor Elferink
Recorded at Wedgeview Studios and Studio Silvester June 2020

I have a hundred thousand questions
For the world, my friend, and you
‘Bout industrial revolution
And air pollution, what can we do

If we carry on like this
And if we cannot make it end
If we continue this befouling
Overheating will be the trend

Overwrought and overwhelmed
I often lay awake at night
If we don’t take action now
Mass extinction will be our plight

Tomorrow brings another day
And I will struggle through
I’ll persist in finding promise
A guiding light to hold on to

I will open up my eyes
To see the love and all that’s good
The changes and renewal
The people, the sisterhood

Their honesty, their passion
Their courage and their zeal
Give me back my faith
And causes me to heal

Look at all that power
That one man or woman has
All those little groups of people
Have so much pizzazz

Trust the force within you
Nothing is too strange
Believe that it can happen
Know that things can change

I have a hundred thousand questions
For the world, my friend, and you
‘Bout how we can make changes
For this Earth that you love too

Flugel solo: Libbe Oosterman
Recorded at Wedgeview Studios and Studio Silvester June 2020

The museum rang
To ask for some help
Could we loan them a painting
Which one shall we share
Which one from the vault
Which one would be the most entertaining
So we sent our driver
Along with the poolboy
For us it would be too draining
And we shared our treasure
For us it’s a pleasure
What we offer is truly amazing

Think of the good that we do for our globe
Notice how we make a difference
Where we go we generate hope
And receive our well-deserved reverence
Think of the good that we do for our globe

We all held our breath
As she went down in flames
The cathedral collapsed in ruins
Our hearts were heavy
Our minds were sad
Thankfully no loss of humans
But the treasures were burnt
And the relics destroyed
It was almost our undoing
So we donated money
Were generous and caring
This was the right thing to be doing

Think of the good that we do for our globe
Notice how we make a difference
Where we go we generate hope
And receive our well-deserved reverence
Think of the good that we do for our globe

We cannot see the dead and the dying
The hungry, the ill and the poor
Plastic soup, mass extinction
Severe air pollution
We can’t be everyone’s saviour
We won’t be everyone’s saviour

Think of the good that we do for our globe
Notice how we make a difference
Where we go we generate hope
And receive our well-deserved reverence
Think of the good that we do for our globe

Piano solo: Tony Hoyting
Recorded at Wedgeview Studios June 2020

(Live at Odeon Theatre with the Red Limo String Quartet)

I sing this lullaby for you
To ease you into sleep
To pave the way for happy dreams
Instead of counting sheep

Generations in this bed
With copper posts and all
Beneath these quilts you rest
Instead of staring at the wall

My soothing hand slowly sedates
And quietens your mind
All those burdens and those weights
Just leave them all behind

Trust that you are cared for
Know you are secure
In your sleepy hollow
Of that you can be sure

Relax your body and your soul
Let go of all your hurt
So many things you can’t control
Let grace replenish your heart

Featuring: Red Limo String Quartet
Vibraphone: Tony Hoyting
Double bass: Pieter Althuis
Recorded at Odeon Theatre January 2019

She has a scar
But it’s hidden from plain sight
Only her nearest and dearest know it’s there
She likes to scratch it open
As a reminder of her plight
Lest she could ever forget how she cared

Stop scratching, stop hurting
It’s okay
He’s in your heart
Don’t let this pain and this sorrow
Tear you apart

Then, once it heals
And she grants herself some more
Can she see the treasures lying below
Does she know she grew
That she’s wiser than before
Has she noticed who is running the show

Stop scratching, stop hurting
It’s okay
He’s in your heart
Don’t let this pain and this sorrow
Tear you apart

Look up to the light
The sun has always shone
Allow yourself to breathe
Know that love is never gone

Stop scratching, stop hurting
It’s okay
He’s in your heart
Don’t let this pain and this sorrow
Tear you apart

Look up to the light
The sun has always shone
Allow yourself to breathe
Know that love is never gone

Love is never gone

Rhodes solo: Tony Hoyting
Recorded at Studio Moskou and Studio Silvester april 2021