Listen to or download the song.

Play this on the jukebox and listen to a lot of other versions too.
You can also download all the different musical versions, in the order they went up.

Check Emma’s website, Facebook page, Instagram page and Twitter feed for more info.

CREDITS:
Main vocal: Emma Langford
Singers: Sadhbh O’Sullivan, Niamh Farrell, Jess Leen, Cari Q, Alma Kelliher & Ruth Smith
Bodhrán: Davey Long
Cover photo: Conor Kerr, Belfast

From Janis: I don’t know Emma well, but I absolutely love her music, and the way she thinks. Her first album, 2017’s “Quiet Giant”, gained her a bunch of award nominations and critical acclaim from County Mayo to Milwaukee. Now, she’s releasing “Sowing Acorns”, recorded and produced by The Production Suite, who have their own Grammy nomination. Proud of her advocacy for social justice and equality, using social media during lockdown to raise funds and awareness for various charities, she’s someone I hope to work with myself one day. 

You can see her fierce love of womanhood, and history, in her “Birdsong” video (And thanks to Líla Courtney, who transforms into her older cousin Jessica Courtney Leen in that video.) For the lyrics to “Birdsong”, see below.

BETTER TIMES WILL COME
(Janis Ian)

Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come

When we greet each dawn without fear
knowing loved ones soon will be near
When the winds of war
cannot blow any more
Oh, better times will come

CHORUS

Though we live each day as our last
we know someday soon it will pass
We will dance, we will sing
in that never-ending spring
Oh, better times will come

CHORUS

“Better Times Will Come” words & music by Janis Ian; © Janis Ian 2020. All rights reserved; international copyrights secured. Used by permission

BIRDSONG (Emma Langford)

‘Til your eyes find me I’m strong as my bones
‘Til then here I stand, I am strong as my bones
‘Til your eyes find me I am strong as my bones
’til then, only then I am strong as my bones

Then only then I am all self-doubt
All my will and my won’t fly out of my mouth
Like a little white dove that you’ve trained so well
to sing prettily along to another bird’s song

‘Til your eyes find me I am strong as my bones
’til then, only then I am strong as my bones x 2

Meanwhile I’m tall, I am tow’ring above
All your hate in your soul can’t undo this self-love
Like a little white dove that will soar on the wind
Proudly bruising my lungs with the songs I have sung

‘Til your eyes find me I am strong as my bones
’til then, only then I am strong as my bones x 2

I’ll beat my breast cry a great fearsome cry
See you cowering then, as I fly high
And when I am done, oh I’ll swoop on down
Seeking those eyes of judgement, I’ll peck ’em out

‘Til your eyes find me I am strong as my bones
’til then, only then I am strong as my bones

But for now I belong to no beast, man, or thing,
My own self is my own I am strong as my bones
Like a fierce bird of prey that knows only the hunt
With a strength you don’t know how your pretty bird’s flown

‘Til your eyes find me I am strong as my bones
’til then, only then I am strong as my bones x 4