About Ruth
“Ruth Blake’s songs are a true wonder.
Her voice bathes over me as if I have soaked
myself in a healing sound-shower.”
– Steve Lee, Gfm
Ethereal songstress Ruth Blake carries her audiences on powerful wings across lyrical skies, through ever-changing landscapes that prise open our hearts, weaving an ancient yet ever-present magic to heal and awaken the wounded soul towards ecstasy. In one moment simple, hypnotic guitar riffs, crystalline vocal melodies, and harmonies both subtle and strange lead us open-eyed into the mystery; at another her wild spirit calls our human community to unite with rousing lyrics, joyful insight and irresistible refrains – inspiring us to return to the truth of the heart.
Haunting, playful, bitter or sweet; tender, broken, fierce and wild; poetic lyricism rich in symbol and storytelling, these are songs of earth and sky, of being and not being, of one and of many, remembering and forgetting, celebration and mourning, prayers of the ancestors and of the generations to come.
Her uniquely eclectic sound earns her comparisons to a wide array of artists including Joni Mitchell, Ayla Nereo, Katie Melua, and Tina Malia, with a little bit of wild more akin to Florence, and PJ Harvey.
A fierce advocate for self-knowledge, authenticity, and the dissolution of hierarchy, Ruth is increasingly working to help people explore and heal their relationship with their own voices, creativity and self expression.
Ruth has just released her second studio album, Creation, and her first album, Lullabies for Grown-Ups is also widely available.
“With its delicate harmonies, Ruth Blake’s music seems to emanate from a waking dream. Her compositions are made of shades of love, sweetness and strength.”
“Ruth Blake is producing some of the most beautiful music I have heard in a long time.”
“As with her William Blake’s, Ruth Blake’s are visionary works that defy categorisation or label.”
Videos
Album Lyrics
Seeds
Here inside your heart, a seed, I’ve planted
Deep into the flesh where nature beats her drum of peace
Here beneath the earth I lie awake
My bones are aching as I grow
My rose you’ll pick
Your thorns I’ll sew
Each finger pricked
And so we grow again, grow again
And so we grow again
And so it goes
Here inside your arms
I shelter from the night
Safe beneath your canopy
Leaves are falling, winter calling me
Leaves are falling, winter calling me
Here beneath the stars
These tangled roots of love
Lay me down, my heart does beat
Winds are blowing, you’re still showing me
There’s not a day, not a day doesn’t die
There’s not a night doesn’t come alive
There’s not a yours, not a yours, not a mine
Just the seeds of a love divine
Breathe
Breathe in and nourish every cell, feel their vibration
Breathe in this flourish of divine and pure elation
You are children of the light
There’s a loving heart inside you
May the beauty of the night
Fill your eyes with stars
With stars to guide you
Mmm mmm mmm mm…
Breathe out, my love, for there’s nothing to hold on to
Breathe out, my love, don’t be afraid of where you’ve gone to
In the shadows of your mind
Though you fear the black that binds you
Here your infinite becoming
Purest emptiness
Holy light shall shine through
Mmm mmm mmm mm…
Be open, gentle and strong
Joyfully sing
Rejoicing we bring insight
Be open, gentle and strong
In and all around you
Sweet spaciousness resides
Breathe slowly, rockabye baby, how I love you
Holding hands with the angels high above you
Oh this world is but a dream
Let us row the boat together
For the lonely wolf has been
And now our time has come
Behold
How Can I Tell You?
How can I tell you, my love
Of the sweetness you bring to my life?
I’ll sing to the sky
As we sleep
The moon has her way with the sea
And you’re lying here next to me
And my heart is a star
Blazing fire twinkling from afar
And my heart is a star
Upon it I pray that you’ll be safe
(Chorus)
And way up in the sky
They say the angels fly
Dancing with the moon
Always the same tune
And way off in the clouds
Where dreams are lost and found
It’s plain as day to see
Hearts can be set free
How can I tell you, my love,
Of the sweetness you bring to my life?
I’ll sing to the sky
As we sleep
The moon has her way with the sea
And you’re lying here next to me
And my heart is a star
Blazing fire twinkling from afar
And my heart is a star
Upon it I pray that you’ll be safe
Safe
Always
Chorus
You are sunshine, you are rain
You are the dancing stars that teach us to sing again
You are sunshine, you are rain
You are the dancing stars that teach us to sing again
You are sunshine, you are rain
And you teach us,
You teach us to sing
How can I tell you, my love,
Of the sweetness you bring to my life?
I’ll sing to the sky
Fear Not
Fear not, my beloved, though the wind blows, wind blows
Fear not, my beloved, for you shall be carried home
Fear not, my beloved, though you’re hurting so, hurting so
Fear not, my beloved, for you shall be carried home
(Chorus)
We are born from love and born to love
We are born from love and born to love
We are born from love and born to love
We are born in love and borne on love
Fear not, my beloved, though you want to know and don’t want to know
Fear not, my beloved, for you shall be carried home
Fear not my beloved, though the wind blows and you’re hurting so
Want to know and don’t want to know and you want to go home
Chorus
Fear not, my beloved, though the wind blows, wind blows
Fear not, my beloved, for you shall be carried home
Fear not, my beloved, though the wind blows, wind blows
Wind blows, wind blows and you want to go home
Chorus
I love to live and live to love
I love to live and live to love
I love to live and live to love
I love to live and live to love
Fear not, my beloved, for you shall be carried home
Mamacita
Here in the forest where I dwell
I’ve gathered secrets I can tell
Great serpent coil around the tree
Shed the skin of you and me
Though you don’t see me I can dance
Though you don’t hear me I can sing
For the there’s a song in everything
And as I dance this twisted dance
I call you in your dreams
Unpick you at your seams
Mamacita mama, mamacita mama, mamacita mama
Mamacita mama, mamacita mama…
I taste of bitter and of sweet
And with a sickness I can treat
And though my love is deep and wide
Most who come here fear to die
For I’m the medicine you fight
I am the tunnel and the light
Both reality and dream
Dreamer wake and waking
Be the dream you seek in me
Be the dream I weave in thee
Be the dream of dreams your born to be
Mamacita mama, mamacita mama, mamacita mama
Mamacita mama, mamacita mama
Maria
Fall as the leaf falls
She trusts the ground beneath her
With no belief at all
She finds the ground beneath her
Such surrender
She flutters in the breeze
Who pulls and tugs for her release
Til she falls, she floats, to dance below
Grow as the grass grows
Reaching for the sun
And even when cut and downtrodden
His roots grow on
Such grace
‘Neath every footstep he bows
Yet every chance he gets to rise again and wave up to the light, he will
(Chorus)
For the river forever flow for’d to the sea
Calling “Maria!”
Force of the water caught within thee
Ever to flow and to receive
Om
See as the heart sees
With love
No judgment in her eyes, no cloudy thoughts to think of
Such strength
With every heartbeat she feels
Yet every chance she gets to love afresh
And dive to depths of trust, she will
Chorus
Mirror Light
If you think I’m beautiful
It’s because you’re beautiful
And if I wanna be like you
Somewhere inside I’m like you
‘Cause the light that you see in my eyes is the mirror light
Shining the light of your beautiful love
And the beauty I see as you move and you breathe
Is the beauty of life and it moves within me too
If you just can’t forgive me
Then you just can’t forgive you
And if you hate me today
Darlin’ I feel your pain
‘Cause the flaws that you find in my body and mind
Are just signs of the judgment and fault that you find in yourself
Where there’s blame, we can’t be the same
And there lies the pain as we separate in two
‘Cause in this face is every face and every life
And in these eyes is every tear and every smile
And my mistake is your mistake, my crime your crime
And as we wake, illusion breaks, there’s only one dancing
And in this heart is every star dissolving time
And in these eyes the mirror light shines
And in these eyes the mirror light shines
And in these eyes the mirror light shines
If you think someone’s better than you
then you’ve dropped from your centre, it’s true
And the only thing that stands in your way
Is the shadow of doubt and fear you’re creating
The shadow of doubt your fear is creating
Just a shadow of fear
‘Cause the difference you see in between you and me’s
Like the difference ‘twixt stars and in each blade of grass
Though they each tell their tale, some bright and some pale
Some tall and some small and some strong and some frail
Well we’re all made of music, each magical fuse lit
With earth, water, air, golden fire, and a prayer sent from
God
Only knows where…
From God only knows where
You Belong
The road is dark, the road is long
So I invite you sing this song
Know in your heart that you belong
Come follow me, come follow me, come
Join hands and rejoice hearts, you belong
Way above the sun, an empty sky
Way beyond the stars I’ve come to fly
Deep inside my heart, beyond my mind
One people, we’re one ocean of light
One people, we’re one ocean of light
One people, we’re one ocean of light
Wings of Grace
The moon, she loves the sun
She knows that he’s the one
She’ll never touch his skin
But feels his fire within
She’ll never hold him in her arms
They’ll always walk on different paths
On wings of grace, he pulls her to him as she dances
They fall through space, he draws her to him as she dance
On wings of grace
The earth, she loves the sky
It never even crossed her mind to wonder why
His breath to her divine
Refreshing, cleansing, breath of life
And when he speaks, she sings
Of trees that whisper, laughing springs
On wings of grace, he’s always with her as she dances
And face to face, he’s breathing with her as she dances
On wings of grace
The storm, she loves the rain
He always seems to know just what to say
And when she laughs, he laughs
And when she cries for all things past
He wraps her pain in his icy skin
And melting pours down the love within
On wings of grace, he gives his body as she dances
On wings of grace, he is her body as she dances
Their wildest place, they share one body as she dances
On wings of grace
Little Bird
Out of the silence, hear her sing
This little bird of sorrow
Her song so simple, bittersweet
The song of all tomorrows
And her eyes awash with tears
Healing waters, so crystal clear
Little bird, little bird
Little bird, little bird
Pajarita, canta! Pajarita, encanta!
Pajarita, canta! Pajarita, encanta!
Only in darkness is there light
In blackest night, stars shining
And the moon, in silver white
Her gaze so soft and smiling
Her reflection of the day
Purest mirror, light the way
Little light, little light
Little dark, little light
La lunita, refleja! La lunita, refleja!
La lunita, refleja! La lunita, refleja!
Here in my body lies a key
This little heart, so tender
And if I listen, she speaks to me
With words of sweet surrender
In the darkest place of me
Where the rhythm and stillness meet
Little heart, little heart
Little heart, little heart
Corazoncito, laté! Corazoncito, laté!
Corazoncito, laté! Corazoncito, laté, laté, laté, laté!
Little bird, your voice so bright
You sing of darkness and of light
You sing that night is day, and black is white
You tell me there’s no wrong and there’s no right
You tell me there’s no wrong and there’s no right
You tell me there’s no wrong and there’s no right
Excalibur
Excalibur
(Ruth Blake – vocals, guitar, Larry Lloyd – guitar, Tristan Stibbards – darbukka, shaker, tambourine, Ben Capp – u-bass)
Excalibur I know you, shining in the light of eternal truth
Mightiest protector, why do I project all my fears on you?
Reaching up I hold you, and yet I’ve sold you so many times
Cut away illusion and all the bonds of these endless lies
Simple truth, why do I waiver?
Sword of truth, why am I afraid?
I like to think I’m honest but come to make my protest
I hang my head
Searching for the courage to express my no and yes
Calling the father within me to stand his ground
Steady his river banks guide mother water
She’s flowing, flowing home
He’s guiding, guide me home, da da da da da
Guide me home, else that I waiver
True freedom, bringer of the light
Trusted sword straight from the heavens
Make my heart steady and bright
Excalibur I love you, shine in the light of eternal truth
Mightiest protector, from the heights connect me down
to the roots
Reaching up I hold you and though I’ve sold you so many times
Cut away illusion, teach me to accept all I am inside
Trust and freedom from the heavens, bringer of the light
Oh let me not, oh let me not, oh let me not waiver
Oh let me no-ee, oh let me not waiver
Oh bringer of the truth and the light
And the stars in the sky always shine in the night
And the love in your eyes is the light of a life that never dies
Trusted sword straight as an arrow
Oh my heart, steady and bright
Forge & Flow
Forge & Flow
Forge and flow with the water
Winding and free, so infinitely
Forge and flow with the river to the sea
Laugh and sing with the sunshine
Playful and bright, so warm in the light
Laugh and sing with the blazing sunshine
Dance and inspire with the tempest
Transforming air, this breath that we share
Dance and inspire with the tempest, fierce and wild
Grow and bear fruit with the forest
Walk on the earth, meet death and rebirth
Grow and bear fruit with the forest and the soil
Na na na na na na na…
Dissolving
Dissolving
(Ruth Blake – vocals, guitar, indian bells, David Nassim – vocals, Ben Capp – floor tom)
Mother Darkness, Father Light, I am your child
Show me sightless, and dissolving of the lines
Enter my vision like a knife
Cut all there is away, leave nothing behind
Leave nothing, leave nothing behind
Mother Water, Father Sunbeam, Lord of Fire
Born of silence, and the calling of the infinite sky
Of the infinite sky
Her Calling
Her Calling
(Ruth Blake – vocals, guitar, Tristan Stibbards – djembe, Larry Lloyd – guitar, Ben Capp – u-bass)
Verse 1
And the sky was black
And the stars were shining, shining
And the earth did shake
As she called it into being x 2
Bridge 1
For her song was all there was x 3
For her dance was all…
Chorus
Can you hear her calling, her calling, oh? X3
Can you hear, can you hear, can you hear?
Verse 2
And her feet were bare
And her skin was rainbow, black and white
And her hair was wild
As she danced it/us into being x2
Bridge 2
For her dance was all there was x3
For her dance was all…
Chorus 2
Can you feel her dancing, her dancing oh?
Chorus 1
Can you hear her calling? x3
All aboard boys, all aboard!
Can you hear her calling x 2
Etc to end
Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga
(Ruth Blake – vocals, guitar, Ben Capp – u-bass, drum kit, shaker, Tristan Stibbards – Shamanic drum)
Chorus
Mmm mm Baba Yaga I am calling you, calling you x 4
Verse 1
Send your plough o’er the bones of the dead
And let the ground renew the skin that you shed x2
Chorus
Verse 2
Dig deeper, dig deeper, dig up the dead
Knit their bones into homes for the souls that you’ve fed x2
Chorus
Verse 3
Heart beating, heart beating, deep in my body
Be my teacher, let me reach my deepest fear and release it x4
Chorus
Calling you, calling you, calling you, calling you x2
Dig deep, dig deep, heart beat
Teach me, reach me, release
Mmm mm mm Baba Yaga!
Mmm mm mm Baba Yaga!
Mmm mm Baba Yaga I am calling you, calling you x 3
Red White & Black
Red White & Black
(Ruth Blake – vocals, guitar, David Nassim – charango, Ben Capp – drum kit)
Show me your courage
Show me you’re made of more than sugar cane
And summer rain
Show me the storms that rage in the night of your soul
Show me your pain
Show how she cuts you again, and again
Show me your fire
That you’re not afraid to erase, to annihiliate
Raze it and start again
Show me the red, white, black of your name
Don’t hold it back coz you’re wild, you can roar
Don’t try to act all small, coz you’re not and that’s a trap
You can soar to the sun
We are a, we are a wheel
We are a wheel turning
We are the innocent ones eternally learning
We are the, we are the earth, we are the sky calling
We are the sun and the moon
We are the stars falling
We are the God that we’re seeking
So listen up coz we’re speaking
We’re saying, “Come on, let’s answer some of these prayers we’ve been praying…”
What are we waiting for?
What are we waiting for?
I know you’re sorry
I feel you’re sorry for all the pain you’ve caused
But know that you’re all that ever was
And whatever was lost is found and will come around
In the night of your soul
Call to Love
Call to Love
(Ruth Blake – vocals, guitar,Tristan Stibbards – djembe, shaker, Larry Lloyd – guitar, Ben Capp – u-bass)
Verse 1
This is my song, my song of freedom
This is my call to love
Calling the wrong, the blind and the heathen
Unravel this ball of love
Mother of life, I feel you in me
Lioness, crow and dove
Father so bright, you heal within me
Blinding the light of love
Bridge
Madre de la vida, da da da, na na nai
Padre de la verdad da da dad, yada hey, yada ho
Yajé!
Chorus (Spanish)
Aguilita mi reina que se eleva tan alto
Maestra enseña me a ver a través de tus ojos
Oh Madre Tierra, demuéstrame que tu cuerpo es mi
cuerpo
Gran Espíritu, muestra me tu amor que es mi amor
Verse 2
Beat of the golden sun upon us
Dance of the silver rain
Finding the truth is deep within us
Finding the truth again
Wake up dragon, where’s your flame?
In my belly, breathe again
Bridge
Chorus (Spanish) x2
Chorus (English)
Oh cherished eagle soaring so high, my queen
Teacher, guide me with your eyes so clear, to see
Oh Mother Gaia show me that your body is my own
Great Spirit, show me love, show me your love that
is my love
Great Spirit, you are love, you are the love that is
my love
Gran Espíritu, muéstrame tu amor
Great Spirit, you are the love, you are my love
We are this love, there’s only love, my call to love
When all is love… y es mi amor!
Open Your Heart
Open Your Heart
(Ruth Blake – vocals, guitar, Tristan Stibbards – djembe, Larry Lloyd – guitar)
Verse 1
Holy holy night, the light and the shadow unite
Here in the dark we can see that I’m you and you’re me x2
Bridge
And here we are, we’re dancing in a dream
A dream of love x 2
Chorus
Open your heart
All of the pain you’re afraid of was love at the start
Open your heart
Even the hate that’s created was love at the start
Open up wide, we’ll laugh and we’ll cry
All of my brothers and sisters and I
Nowhere to hide, we’ll live and we’ll die
Just like the stars and the sun in the sky
Open your heart
All of the pain you’re afraid of was love at the start
Verse 2
Calling of the sea, come swim in the water with me
Here in the depths we can feel it’s all real and unreal x2
Bridge
Chorus
… All of the pain you’re afraid of
The fear and the shame that it’s made of
The blackest of hate you hate so much…
Was love at the start
New Dawn
New Dawn
(Ruth Blake – vocals, guitar, Larry Lloyd – guitar, Sam Hargreaves – djembe, Ben Capp – u-bass, David Nassim – charango)
Verse 1
Over the hill I see the fire burning
As in my dream, now real as we are turning
‘So what of love?’ The moon and stars are asking
While as the fire burns bright, the night is passing
Chorus
Ya yada dada da da..
Verse 2
Over the fields I see my sisters dancing
And all the flowers join in, I watch them swaying
And though my heart cries, all the birds are laughing
Calling in the sunrise, they are celebrating
Chorus
Middle 8
Oh Spirit know, Spirit see through me, through my dreams
Verse 3
Over the bridge, my brothers they are building
Around them forests and green, green clover growing now
There was a vision, once on the horizon
Of a new dawn breaking, and a fresh wind blowing
Chorus
Ya kuku malé lé, lé
Ya kuku male lé
Ya kuku male lé, malé lé lé
Ya kuku malé wo
I Am
I Am
Verse 1
I am the sparkling dust in the sunlight
I am the round sun
I am the morning mist and the breathing of evening
I am the whispering wind in the orchard
And the surf on the cliff
I am the bowed head and the pardon
Both love and the heart that has hardened
I am the fear, the pain and the tears of your loss
I am the time, the void and the line you’ll never cross
I am the dusty dreams of old
Won’t you come and find me?
Chorus
Look to the skies
See your own eyes
And out to the sea
Hear your heart’s mystery
And the trees and the earth
Sing of our rebirth
Mmm mm mm mm mm
Hail to the Sun
Hail, hail, hail, hail to the God in everyone!
For I am the question that burns in your mind
I am the space as the words fall behind
I am a crumbling concept of time
Verse 2
I am the sweetest taste, I am bitter
I am the curling tongue
I am the calling bird and the unfurling of wings
I am the coldest water falling
And the gift of Spring I am the prayer that you whisper each night
And the loving arms holding you tight
I am the sign, the bread and the wine of your flesh
I am the crime, both reason and rhyme of innocence
I am the dusty dreams of old
Won’t you come and find me?
Chorus
I am I am I am I am I…..
I Will Break
I Will Break
(Ruth Blake – vocals, guitar, Tristan Stibbards – udu, shaker, tambourine, Ben Capp – u-bass, David Nassim – charango)
Verse 1
I had a dream, listen, oh listen!
I couldn’t see the slightest light glisten
And I was afraid, I couldn’t escape
The demons were coming for me
Why such demons are coming for me?
Verse 2
Then from below, a stir and a wiggle
My fingers and toes did wriggle and jiggle
And a great cry did bellow and wail
A goddess inside had something to say
From the infinite fire I found in my tail
Chorus
I will break like the waves
Nothing left and nothing saved
And with a crash almighty, a rumble of thunder
The starfish will wonder if everything’s starting again
Verse 3
And with a flash of lightning, the frightening old
Demons did crash in a heap, no more fighting
Just piles of ash so rich for the garden of
Flowers that’s growing now here in my heart
They dance in the light though they sing of the dark
Verse 4
And a new song I sing for the fear
When it’s crushing my tongue and trapping my tears
I just follow the drum beat down to my soul
Where I find all but nothingness makes up the whole
And broken we open to treasures untold
Middle 8
So I’ll give it some welly from my belly
Give it some juice, let it loose
Give it my all and smash down the walls
Om Kali Kali as she calls
Chorus
These Loving Arms
These Loving Arms
(Ruth Blake – vocals, guitar, Larry Lloyd – guitar, David Nassim – vocals, charango, Ben Capp – floor tom)
Verse 1
Circle of brothers
Finding yourselves in the eyes of each other
Singing the songs of your fathers’s grandfathers
Calling out from your hearts,
‘Entrust us.’
Verse 2
Circle of sisters
Cleansing the blood of the oceans and rivers
Give of your bodies to nourish the others
Crying out from your hearts,
‘Please see us.’
Bridge
I pray that you know yourself
That you love yourself
Feel these loving arms around you
And I pray, oh that you feel safe
Find your wings of grace
And your courage rise to meet you
Chorus
Mm weya nay hey yo way…
Verse 3
Tribes of the forest
Carry the wisdom of those gone before us
All you’ve protected so sacred and cherished
Calling us from your hearts,
‘Return to us.’
Verse 4
Father and mother
Union of opposites merging together
Spirit of Heaven meet body of Gaia
Song of creation sounds
Within us
Bridge
Chorus
