To everyone who bought Mothers of the World through GMT or Mindhop Music:

The CD you have is a pirated copy that is missing all the liner notes and credits. Unfortunately, the people at GMT and Mindhop Music manufactured and sold thousands of copies of my CD without my permission and without paying me. They also changed the packaging, and misrepresented it, so the product you received may not be what you expected.

Mothers of the World sprang from my desire to bring us together with music that expresses love. So in that spirit, here are the missing notes and translations for the songs. I hope that these notes and the information elsewhere on this site will make Mothers of the World more meaningful for you. If you were a GMT Associate and sold this to your friends, please let them know about this site.

I hope you enjoy my music and want to share it. Please buy a CD for someone you love.

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1. Sea Gypsies

   Mason, Gilman (3:41)

   Sea Gypsies take flight Sail on in the night. We'll set our sails for the land of dreams So come aboard. You'll find our ship is strong Ocean deep, wind so sweet, We'll sail away. Sea Gypsies take flight Sail on in the night.

   Stars so bright, dancing on the waves, Come out and play. Whispering wind, Moonlight on the sea. Sea Gypsies take flight Sail on in the night. Our ship is strong Ocean deep, wind so sweet, We'll sail away. Sea Gypsies take flight Sail on in the night. Sail into the night.

2. Yemanja

   Traditional, arranged Mason, Gilman (8:19)

   listen

   This lovely Afro-Cuban song is an invocation to the Orisha Yemanja - Mother of the Waters, and loving protector of sailors, fishermen, and children. It originated with the Yoruba tribe of West Africa centuries ago and was carried to the New World by slaves during the African Diaspora. Sung as a lullaby, this prayer invokes her presence and protection for those who journey to the land of dreams. The words are a mixture of Yoruba and Spanish. Yemanja is still honored throughout Central and South America today.

3. Nana

   Traditional, arranged Mason, Gilman (1:51)

   listen

   This ancient, traditional cradlesong comes from Andalusian Spain where several variations have survived. It's haunting flavor is Moorish, from the Arab Moors of North Africa who controlled this part of Spain from the eighth to fifteenth centuries. I have chosen to arrange the enduring and beautiful melody that was popularized by Manual de Falla. "Sleep my little one, my soul, little light. Sleep until the morning."

4. Suo-Gan

   Traditional, arranged Mason, Gilman (6:04)

   listen

   This age-old Welsh lullaby is widely known and well loved.

   Gaelic	"Slumber my child on the warm shelter of my breast. Mother's arms are tightly around you. Mother's love speaks in my heart. None compare to you, my darling child."
   English	"Sleep my darling, sleep my little treasure. I love you. Mother's arms enfold you safely, Mother's heart is ever true. Sleep my darling, my sweet treasure. In my arms you are safe and warm. Close your eyes my little angel, sleep upon your mother's breast."
   Gaelic	"Sleep gently my little jewel. When you smile so beautifully in your sleep, the angels are smiling specially on you. Sleep quietly my darling".

5. Byzantium

   Traditional, arranged Mason, Gilman (3:38)

   This haunting, centuries-old Greek melody comes from Ismir, a coastal city now belonging to Turkey, where a thriving Greek community existed from the time of the Byzantine Empire. A mother bribes her child with the promise: "I will give you the city of Alexandria in sugar, and Cairo in rice, and you will reign in Constantinople for three years, if only you will go to sleep".

6. Nenneko

   Traditional, arranged Mason, Gilman (4:42)

   This traditional lullaby comes from Izumo Province in southwestern Japan, but is well known all over the country. The words are delightful - while urging her child to sleep, the mother explains why rabbits have long ears - "Because his mother ate the long bamboo grass and the leaves of the loquat before he was born. So, go to sleep."

7. Cayuga

   Traditional, arranged Mason, Gilman (4:29)

   The Cayuga Nation is part of the Iroquois Confederacy of Native peoples. This traditional ceremonial music is a seed song - a prayer of thanksgiving to the Creator. The words mean: "I have come a long way to give thanks, carrying my seeds with me. I have come to give thanks."

8. Akanda

   Mason, Gilman (6:42)

   Akanda is the Sanskrit word for sky - the deep blue inverted bowl of the heavens. From starry night skies came our inspiration for this improvised rhapsody to the spirit of East Indian music.

9. Gaia's Song

   Mason, Gilman (5:55)

   listen

   Contemplating Mothers of the World made me reflect on the Mother of Us All - Gaia - Mother Earth, our beautiful, precious and endangered blue-green home.

   Gaia's song is a journey through a stormy night to the dawning of a new day as she disappears back into the forest. If you listen carefully you will hear her message in Sanskrit, Russian, Arabic, Armenian, Dutch, Japanese, Urdu, Gujarati, Polish, and English. (Canadian loons appear courtesy of Dan Gibson's Solitudes Series)

10. Children of the Sea

    Gilman, Rusk, Mason (3:30)

    The ocean is crying
    We're wondering why.
    Our friends are dying
    We're wondering why.

    We are the Children of the Sea

    Chorus:
    Just one river
    Just one ocean
    Just one person
    Now is the time.

    The ocean is changing
    You can't turn away.
    (Don't be afraid)
    Take the first step now,
    We'll show you the way.

    We are the Children of the Sea
    We believe you will hear our plea.

    Chorus

    Come sail our ocean
    Come splash in our streams,
    Let's swim together
    Make this more than a dream.

    We are the Children of the Sea

    Chorus

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    Thank You

    I would like to express my appreciation to many friends who shared in the birth of this project - with love and encouragement, research and language support, financial backing and faith. Special thanks to my mother Madge Mason, to Teresa Bristow, Sandy Davies, Berny Dohrmann, Lynn Edwards, Arnie General, Ray Greene, Roslyn Lewis, Doreen MacPherson, Mahindi Masai, Sylvia Mittler, Oonagh Perdue, my Silent Partner, and to my friend and producer, Paul Gilman.

    All Vocals: Jennifer Mason
    Keyboards: Jennifer Mason and Paul Gilman
    Produced by Paul Gilman
    Photography by Cheryl Coleman