Trust Your Heart To Lead You Home by Dana Clark

Your presence and courage consistently leaves us in awe. Your God-given spirit shows through. Gracias."

PATRICIA CASTILLO

DIRECTOR, P.E.A.C.E. INITIATIVE

"If you're having a bad day any day, you should hear Dana Clark make music. Clark is a singer and songwriter who plays piano, flute and guitar. Her music fuses folk, jazz, blues and pop. Her song subjects lean toward peace, freedom, compassion and spirituality. Clark is one of those rare people who not only believes the world can be a better place but works to help the world be a better place.

The music on "Trust Your Heart," created by Clark, bassist/guitarist Kevin Lewis, and percussionist Julie Newberry, is varied, but the message is steady. Songs such as "Leap of Faith," "Most Miracles Are Made" and "Something to Believe" might make curmudgeons cringe, but if those curmudgeons actually listen, they'll have a better day. Believe it."

JIM BEAL

SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

"Clark has everything it takes in the vocal department."

CHUCK PRATT, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

"It took only one listen for her to establish a unique identity. It should be noted that Dana Clark is quite a competent musician as well, playing acoustic and electric piano, acoustic guitar, percussion, and flute."

TOM BINGHAM, FOLKSCENE MAGAZINE.

"She is a sensitive and imaginative artist whose original material is meaningful because it comes from the heart."

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.

"The usually laid-back coffeehouse audience rarely calls a performer back for an encore, but they did for Clark."

THE TIMES, MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

"You have to admire an artist whose songs can emit a child-like innocence on one track, a sultry, brazen aura on the next, and yet still retain a distinct musical personality throughout."

DAN KENING, ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER MAGAZINE.

A VETERAN OF THE CHICAGO MUSIC SCENE, Dana now teaches and performs in San Antonio, Texas. Her songs range from the outrageously humorous to ones that touch the heart. Tying these songs together are her stories, which flow so naturally into her songs that it is difficult to tell exactly where a story ends and a song begins. Her flute-guitar-piano playing not only provide an interesting variety, but truly let her audience know that Dana is a multi-talented and accomplished musician. Besides writing lyrics that are original, witty, and entertaining, she is not afraid to tackle serious philosophical subjects and social issues. With equal skill she can paint a lighthearted picture of the ultimate greasy spoon in one song, and in the next advocate a way of working toward world peace. Her audiences are often moved to laughter, and sometimes brought to tears.

When the situation demands instrumental music her piano repertoire includes everything from Bach and Beethoven to blues, ragtime, and jazz. This mastery of a wide range of styles has made Dana much in demand as a teacher of both children and adults, as well as a versatile performer who is comfortable in a wide range of venues. While living in Chicago she played clubs and coffeehouse concerts around the city and performed at over fifty colleges throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. In San Antonio she has played several of the San Antonio Folk Music Festivals sponsored by Inner City Development, as well as playing at Peace Cafe events for the Peace Center. She's played the Riverwalk Hilton, and the restaurant atop the Tower of the Americas. She's performed at Casbeers, Gini's, and some of the annual Celebration Circle fundraisers. She has played numerous times for services at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, and is currently serving as Music Director and band leader at the Unity Church. In 2005 she organized and performed at several concerts in San Antonio to benefit the work of A Season for Nonviolence, including one at the Arneson River Theater. She has worked as the music teacher at both The Circle School and Winston School. She presently has a large number of private students for both piano and flute.

In 2003 she published a songbook of twenty of her songs arranged for piano/vocal. In 2004 she produced a CD for A Season for Nonviolence in San Antonio which included two of her songs as well as fourteen other selections by some of the best poets and songwriters in the area. In 2005 she completed a CD of her compositions entitled "Trust Your Heart to Lead You Home." She now performs with guitarist/bassist Kevin Lewis. Percussionist Julie Newberry is sometimes added to the group to form a trio.

I BELIEVE THAT MUSIC IS MAGIC.

I believe that music can work miracles.

I believe that music can help us remake the world.

May you find here music that helps you in your work.

If you are searching for your true direction

gathering your courage to face a challenge,

or reinventing your life,

you will find here music to give you strength.

If you are coming to terms with your doubts,

celebrating the diversity of the people in your life,

or questioning your relationships,

you will find here music to express your feelings.

If you are pursuing a spiritual journey,

building community,

or working for peace and social justice,

you will find here music to help you accomplish your goals.

I believe that music can work miracles.

May you find here music that helps you in your work.

Dana Clark

WORLD OF JUSTICE, WORLD OF PEACE

(I have been privileged to work for peace and social justice with wonderful partners who help me hold onto my dream for a better world. This work enriches my life and keeps hope alive for others.)

I want to give my children a world that's safe in every way.

But now the radio reports new dangers every day.

Within this world of war my only weapon is a song.

All alone I am not strong enough to right what's wrong.

CH: But if we walk hand in hand, and we work side by side,

If we join heart to heart 'til we see eye to eye,

Then all the dreams we dream will be reality,

In a world of justice, a world of peace.

Can we be sure of freedom when so many are not free?

Why do some have plenty while some live in poverty?

We grow so tired of the struggle because the problems never end.

But in each others' eyes we find the faith to try again.

For when we walk hand in hand...

Seven billion of us on a planet that's so small.

Someday we may realize we're family after all.

And when we reach out to heal each other, set each other free,

We'll find only sisters, brothers, not one enemy.

CH: Then we will walk hand in hand,

And we'll work side by side.

We will join heart to heart 'til we see eye to eye.

Then all the dreams we dream will be reality,

In a world of justice, a world of peace.

Copyright 2003 Dana Clark

RISE AND TAKE A STAND, LEND A HELPING HAND

(For do-gooders everywhere: Suggestions for saving

the world, one small action at a time.)

We are a family, the human family.

We are in trouble.

Can we survive,

When so many of our children struggle just to stay alive?

Rise and take a stand. Lend a helping hand.

Rise and take a stand. Lend a helping hand.

When we help someone to help another, to help another,

it helps us all.

When so many people need you,

Can you hear them when they call?

Can you catch them when they fall?

Rise and take a stand. Lend a helping hand.

Rise and take a stand. Lend a helping hand.

The world we're making will be our children's,

Will be their children's, on and on forevermore.

Will it be a peaceful planet?

Will it be a world of war?

We can make it so much more.

Rise and take a stand. Lend a helping hand.

Rise and take a stand. Lend a helping hand.

Our brother's hungry.

Our sister's homeless.

Our daughter's dying.

Our son's at war.

It's a desperate situation, like we've never faced before.

What's the future hold in store?

Rise and take a stand. Lend a helping hand.

Rise and take a stand. Lend a helping hand.

Copyright 1998 Dana Clark

Trust Your Heart to Lead You Home

(The Dalai Lama says that a loving home is the best foundation for a life, but finding our place in the world may not be easy. The more we follow the still small voice inside, the stronger it will grow to direct our path.)

When you began this journey

you were sure how it would end

So you found the faith to follow

Though the road would often bend

But now you've lost direction.

There's nowhere you can turn.

And from this crossroad all you see

are bridges you have burned.

CH: Trust your heart to lead you home.

Find a path that's yours alone.

Listen to the voice inside you.

It will grow in strength to guide you.

Trust your heart to lead you home.

Home is not the place you started from.

It's a place you're reaching for

When you stretch beyond yourself

to find a harbor in the storm.

A dream will be your compass.

Your passion is your guide.

Sometimes you will have to crawl,

but sometimes you can fly.

Like a painter with her canvas

or a sculptor with his clay,

Your life takes shape beneath your hands

as you work through each day.

You create a fabric with the threads of love you hold.

A tapestry of memory to warm you when you're cold.

CH: Trust your heart to lead you home.

Find a path that's yours alone.

Listen to the voice inside you.

It will grow in strength to guide you.

Trust your heart to lead you home.

Copyright 1998 Dana Clark

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