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Songs of Love and Freedom

by Cecily

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    Songs of Love & Freedom compact disc features a full color, 4-panel CD case, as well as an 8-page insert with full song credits, lyrics, and Cecily's personal thank you's and album notes.

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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 9 Cecily releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of A Flower in Winter, I Am Love, Spirit Tell Me, Awakening Pt. 1, Songs of Love and Freedom, Pisces, Cecily EP, Heaven In Your Eyes, and 1 more. , and , .

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1.
Pisces 04:04
V1: I’ve swam in waterfalls that stung my back And all I ever needed was to go back Cause even things that hurt make you feel alive And all I ever wanted was to live before I die Chorus: Cause there’s a river in me and it pushes my feet In uncertain forward motion There’s an ocean in me and it won’t let me sink But it’s drawing me out Wash away my self-doubt V2: I find myself searching along the shore Not ever really knowing what I’m looking for Caught in imaginings of a different me Still insecure and graceful and damn sure free Chorus: Cause there’s a river in me and it pushes my feet In uncertain forward motion There’s an ocean in me and it won’t let me sink But it’s drawing me out Wash away my self-doubt
2.
V1: Midnight humming sweetly Mystery of you near me We’ve done it all before And I can taste it once again Your smile unwraps me Comforted disarmingly There’s a softness to you But you still won’t release Pre-chorus 1: I’ve told you all my flaws And half my mistakes Bared every inch to you And let me ego ache All because… Chorus: I just wanna be your beautiful I just wanna be your beautiful Your idea of beautiful I just wanna be your beautiful Can I be your beautiful? I just wanna be your beautiful everyday V2: Two months til I see you again And still I’m willing to let you in Been craving the depth of your voice And the spirit in your hands Pre-chorus 2: Can’t seem to find your flaws Ignored your mistakes Bared every inch to you And let my ego ache All because… Chorus: I just wanna be your beautiful I just wanna be your beautiful Your idea of beautiful I just wanna be your beautiful Can I be your beautiful? I just wanna be your beautiful everyday
3.
4.
Hope 03:09
Just trying not to lose hope Just trying not to lost hope Just trying not to lose hope Just tryin, Just tryin I would never tell the children there’s no hope But as they sleep I’ll guide their dreams Singing Fly Away! No I would never never tell the babies theres no hope But I’ll speak their dreams Singing Fly Away! Just fly away (fly away) Where you are safe (just fly away) Just fly away (fly away) Where you have peace (just fly away) Just fly away (fly away) Where you are free (just fly away) Where you are free (just fly away) Where you are free (just fly away) No I would never never tell the babies theres no hope But ill speak their dreams Singing Fly Away! And we’ll find peace between the Earth and Sky No longer silenced or caste aside Yes we’ll find peace between the Earth and Sky Discover we are the source of the light Just trying not to lose hope Just trying not to lost hope Just trying not to lose hope Just tryin, Just tryin And if dreams aren’t enough I’ll wrap my arms around you Arms strong from pulling weeds Hands sweet from sowing seeds If dreams aren’t enough I’ll wrap my arms around you And fly away! Fly away! Fly away! Just tryin, just tryin.
5.
Ain’t you been there Ain’t you going Can’t you taste your ideas growing We are soldiers Soldiers of a new day Can’t you see it Can’t you feel it In your heart Ain’t you been there Ain’t you going To a place where Friendships flowing We are brothers and sisters in the spirits Can’t you see it Can’t you feel it In your heart Ain’t you been there Ain’t you going Can you feel this Love I’m showing It’s got to be me and you Me and you together Can’t you see it Can’t you feel it In your heart
6.
V1: There’s a point when you stop When you know you’re no longer alone There’s a time when your breath and the breeze become one There’s a moment your mind just lets go Let’s your heart open and find the road Pre-Chorus 1: Right where you’re meant to be At the brink of your sanity You stepped into the Truth, Right where you need to be At the center of gravity Pulling all you need towards you Chorus: Can you feel it? Can you feel it? Can you hear it? Can you see it? V2: When I feel like I’m failing, I’m losing the way When I feel like my dreams and action are far astray Then my mind tells me I’m no good And I have to quiet her down to hear what I should Pre-Chorus 2: I’m right where I’m meant to be At the brink of my sanity I stepped into the truth Right where I need to be At the center of gravity pulling all I need towards me Chorus 2: I can feel it! I can feel it! I can hear it! I can see it
7.
8.
Grow 04:24
V1: I got in my car And rolled my windows down And sang a song I needed to feel the sound It’s been along week With changes I didn’t see But I can’t be Melancholy Cause joy is natural It’s natural to me So I release All despondency Into the breeze Into the melody Return to peace Ride into Freedom Chorus: Don’s stop! Don’t stop, don’t stop no You must grow Go within Cause you must grow V2: The whole seems lost (Don’t be afraid) But I feel helpless (It’ll be ok) Too many hurt (Don’t you run away no) Too many being selfish (Don’t you be selfish) Cause deep down in my heart I know (Feel it, feel it, feel it, feel it) That I can do more (Do it, do it, do it, do it) To remind us all (Don’t you forget) That we were born for Freedom (Freedom) Chorus: Don’s stop! Don’t stop, don’t stop no You must grow Go within Cause you must grow You must grow! Outro: Sing Dance Cry Laugh Do Be You
9.
Chorus 1: Don’t hide the sun It feels so damn good on my face Don’t hide the sun I feels so damn good on my face V1: Head resting on a cloud Grass in between my toes Stretched out into myself I just wanna be here with me Right here, right now Chorus 2: Don’t hide the sun It feels so damn good on my face Don’t hide the sun Don’t close the curtains honey Bridge: I won’t run from myself today Won’t run from myself today Won’t run from myself Won’t run from myself today Won’t run from myself today Won’t run from myself Chorus: Don’t hide the sun It feels so damn good on my face Don’t hide the sun Doesn’t it feel sooo good to be alive… Outro: Right here, right now To be alive Right here, right now,

about

Songs of Love & Freedom is a piece of myself I shaped over many months and long hours, and tried to fashion honestly, making it beautiful — true beauty which can only come from Truth. The truth found in solitude; the truth that lifts you from comfort and into something much more powerful – rebirth.

With each song I tried to capture a moment. I tried to give you the moment I sat in the grass in London feeling the sun on my face appreciating not having to please anyone but myself. I tried to give you the moment I was in Ghana’s lush green Volta region and felt the power of Wli Falls spraying my back — how alive that felt! I tried to give you the moment I sat in my room in silence looking at Spring outside my window and knew that the Universe was holding my hand and leading the way, if only I let my ego go. I tried to give you the moment I learned of the murder of Jordan Edwards, just 15 years old and killed by a police officer. The moment I found Hope in hopelessness.

With unconditional LOVE of self — appreciation of the growth, the struggle, the beauty — I offer you a piece of myself created out of my own power – the Power that comes from vulnerability.

credits

released May 4, 2018

Pisces
Written by C. Bumbray, J. Meacham, J. Brown.
Publishing companies: Selim Music Publishing (BMI), Warm Valley Music (ASCAP)
Produced by Jason “BrotherSpanky” Edwards, John Daise
Vocals recorded by Cephas Jackson, Omega Studios, Rockville, MD.
Instruments recorded by Jason “BrotherSpanky” Edwards, BandoMansion Studios, Washington, DC
Jason “BrotherSpanky” Edwards: Drums, percussion, keys.
John Daise: Bass, guitar.
Vaughan Bradley-Willemann: Violin
Zayani Sims: Flute
Mixed by: Dave Darlintgton, Bass Hit Recording, New York, NY

Your Idea of Beautiful
Written by C. Bumbray & N. Aryee
Publishing company: Selim Music Publishing (BMI), Musical Lunatics (BMI)
Produced by Aaron Abernathy
Vocals recorded by Cephas Jackson, Omega Studios, Rockville, MD.
Instrumentation recorded by Aaron Abernathy, Abernathy Studios, Washington, DC
Strings recorded by Jason “BrotherSpanky” Edwards, BandoMansion Studios, Washington, DC
Drums recorded by Eamonn Aiken, The Bastille Recording Studio, Arlington, VA
Zachary Cutler: Guitar
Malik Hunter: Bass
Haikeem Johnson: Wurlitzer
Dante Pope: Drums
Vaughan Bradley-Willemann: Violin
Aaron Abernathy: Additional vocals
Mixed by: Eamonn Aiken, The Bastille Recording Studio, Arlington, VA

Yearning: An Interlude (feat. Drew Kid)
Written and Performed by A. Flores
Publishing company: Afrocentric Asian Music (BMI)
Recorded by Andrew Flores at The Dojo, Aspen Hill, MD
Mixed by: Eamonn Aiken, The Bastille Recording Studio, Arlington, VA

Hope
Written by C. Bumbray
Publishing company: Selim Music Publishing (BMI)
Produced by Cecily Bumbray
Recorded by Cephas Jackson, Omega Studios, Rockville, MD.
Additional vocals recorded by Matt Veirs, Sweet Spot Studios, Annendale, VA.
Dante Pope: Percussion
Vocals by Cecily Bumbray, Christie Dashiell, Deborah Bond, Tamara Wellons, Imani-Grace Cooper, Nneka Lyn, Kenny Sharp.
Mixed by: Eamonn Aiken, The Bastille Recording Studio, Arlington, VA

Song For Bobby Smith
Written by G. Scott-Heron
Publishing company: Brouhaha Music Inc (ASCAP)
Produced by Cecily Bumbray
Recorded and Mixed by Cephas Jackson, Omega Studios, Rockville, MD.
Drew Kid: Rhodes piano
Cecily: Vocals

Can You Feel It?
Written by C. Bumbray & Z. Cutler
Publishing companies: Selim Music Publishing (BMI), Zach Cutler Music (ASCAP)
Produced by Cecily Bumbray & Zachary Cutler
String Arrangement by Nneka Lyn
Vocals recorded by Cephas Jackson, Omega Studios, Rockville, MD.
Instrumentation recorded by Jeff Gruber, Blue House Productions, Silver Spring, MD
Strings recorded by Matt Veirs, Sweet Spot X, Rockville, MD.
Zachary Cutler: Guitar
Eliot Seppa: Bass
Tyler Leak: Drums
Colin Chambers: Piano
Joe Herrera: Trumpet
Nneka Lyn: Cello
Vaughan Bradley-Willemann: Violin
Leroy “Boogie” Greer: Percussion
Mixed by: Eamonn Aiken, The Bastille Recording Studio, Arlington, VA

Healing: An Interlude (feat. Drew Kid)
Written and Performed by A. Flores
Publishing company: Afrocentric Asian Music (BMI)
Recorded by Andrew Flores at The Dojo, Aspen Hill, MD
Mixed by: Eamonn Aiken, The Bastille Recording Studio, Arlington, VA

Grow
Written by C. Bumbray, J. Daise, J. Edwards
Publishing company: Selim Music Publishing (BMI)
Produced by Jason “BrotherSpanky” Edwards & John Daise
Vocals recorded by Cephas Jackson, Omega Studios, Rockville, MD.
Instrumentation recorded by Jason “BrotherSpanky” Edwards, BandoMansion Studios, Washington, DC
Jason “BrotherSpanky” Edwards: Drums, keys, percussion
John Daise: Bass
Zachary Cutler: Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Nneka Lyn: Cello
Vaughan Bradley-Willemann: Violin
Christie Dashiell: Additional Vocals
Mixed by: Eamonn Aiken, The Bastille Recording Studio, Arlington, VA

Don’t Hide the Sun
Written by C. Bumbray & A. Abernathy
Publishing companies: Selim Music Publishing (BMI), Aaron Ab Publishing (ASCAP)
Produced by Cecily Bumbray & Aaron Abernathy
Vocals recorded by Cephas Jackson, Omega Studios, Rockville, MD.
Instrumentation recorded by Aaron Abernathy, Abernathy Studios, Washington, DC
Zachary Cutler: Guitar
Malik Hunter: Bass
Tyler Leak: Drums, tambourine
Aaron Abernathy: Wurlitzer, keyboard synthesizer
Mixed by: Eamonn Aiken, The Bastille Recording Studio, Arlington, VA

All Songs Mastered by Jim Curtis, Omega Studios, Rockville, MD
Photographer: Nakeya Brown
Makeup Artist: Ky Washington
Album Artwork: Lena Ghannam

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about

Cecily Washington, D.C.

Cecily is a vocalist and songwriter known for her sweet soprano and honest lyrics. Unmoved by passing trends, Cecily’s sound is rooted in a deep appreciation for mid-century soul and jazz, 90’s R&B, and re-imagined folk music.

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