Behind the Song: "Umass Ropes"

I read with great interest about a new ropes course opening up at UMass Amherst, here's the article: https://gazettenet.com/2025/09/05/umass-aims-to-take-leadership-to-new-heights/ wrote a song about it called "UMass Ropes"

Swing high with the "UMass Ropes Course Song," a vibrant American folk anthem celebrating the new Leadership Challenge Course at UMass Amherst. With acoustic guitar, violin, and mandolin weaving through heartfelt male vocals and soaring female harmonies, this track captures the thrill of teamwork and personal growth in Orchard Hill's treetops. Part of a collection of UMass-inspired songs, it echoes the campus's spirit of adventure and community, inviting listeners to climb, connect, and soar.

Purchase and download here: https://adamsweet.bandcamp.com/track/umass-ropes

Here are the lyrics:

(Verse 1)

Up in the trees where the sky meets the ground,

Orchard Hill's callin', hear the adventurous sound.

A zip line's a-soarin', platforms touchin' the stars,

UMass is risin' to new heights, no bars!

Eight hundred grand for a challenge so bold,

Teamwork and trust in the stories we're told.

From students to locals, we'll climb and we'll grow,

In the heart of Amherst, let the leadership flow!

(Chorus)

Swing high, reach far, on the ropes we'll climb,

Sky park's callin', it's our time to shine.

Buildin' our courage, together we'll soar,

UMass Leadership Course, we're openin' the door!

(Verse 2)

Alpine Towers buildin', October's the day,

Soft launch in spring, when we'll all come to play.

High ropes, low ropes, we'll conquer our fears,

Problem-solvin' skills that'll last through the years.

From The Notch to this haven, a new path we'll tread,

For students, for teams, where the future is led.

Jeff Smith's got a vision, a name yet to find,

A place for connection, for heart and for mind.

(Chorus)

Swing high, reach far, on the ropes we'll climb,

Sky park's callin', it's our time to shine.

Buildin' our courage, together we'll soar,

UMass Leadership Course, we're openin' the door!

(Bridge)

Orchard Hill Pavilion, with views all around,

Yoga in summer, where peace can be found.

But up in the treetops, we'll challenge the skies,

With teamwork and trust, watch our spirits arise!

(Verse 3)

Community's welcome, from near and from far,

Businesses, students, we'll raise up the bar.

Springtime's grand opening, the campus will hum,

A place for new leaders, where growth will come.

So grab a harness, let's swing through the air,

UMass is ready, adventure we'll share.

From wooden platforms to zip lines so free,

This ropes course is where we were destined to be!

(Chorus)

Swing high, reach far, on the ropes we'll climb,

Sky park's callin', it's our time to shine.

Buildin' our courage, together we'll soar,

UMass Leadership Course, we're openin' the door!

(Outro)

Orchard Hill's callin', the future's in sight,

With ropes and with heart, we'll take on the fight.

UMass, oh UMass, where leaders are born,

In the trees, we'll find strength, from dusk until dawn.

Behind The Song: "Blood Moon Rising"

The Blood Moon rises this coming Sunday. I read an article about it. Wrote a song based on the text: https://phys.org/news/2025-09-blood-moon-total-lunar-eclipse.html. Called it "Blood Moon Rising"

Blood Moon Rising is a celestial journey woven through the innovative lens of cybernetic fusion-a bold blend of ancient ancestral echoes and cutting-edge electronic soundscapes. Inspired by the vivid imagery of the March 2025 total lunar eclipse, this track captures the haunting beauty of a crimson moon as it rises over Asia, Africa, and beyond. Drawing from the spirit of ancient Celtic and Mediterranean traditions, the song features evocative lyre-like plucks and droning harp tones, reminiscent of long-lost rituals, seamlessly fused with pulsating modern beats and ambient synth pads. The result is a hypnotic sound that feels both timeless and futuristic, pulling listeners into the cosmic dance of Earth, moon, and stars. Perfect for stargazers, dreamers, and those who feel the pull of the universe's mysteries.  

https://adamsweet.bandcamp.com/track/blood-moon-rising

(Verse 1)

Under the stars, where the night unfolds,

A crimson glow in the sky takes hold.

From Asia's plains to Africa's shore,

The moon turns red, like tales of lore.

The sun and Earth in a cosmic dance,

Cast a shadow, a fleeting trance.

At seventeen-thirty, the world holds its breath,

A blood moon rises, defying death.

(Chorus)

Blood moon rising, painting the night,

A scarlet dream in the soft starlight.

No glasses needed, just lift your gaze,

The heavens burn in a mystic blaze.

Blood moon rising, oh, can't you see?

The sky's alive with eternity.

(Verse 2)

In Canberra's glow or Colombia's skies,

The moon turns red as the evening flies.

Europe catches a glimpse at dawn's first light,

While the Americas sleep through the night.

Scattered rays through the atmosphere bend,

Red waves linger where blue ones end.

A fleeting moment, yet ancient and grand,

The moon's bold hue grips the heart of the land.

(Chorus)

Blood moon rising, painting the night,

A scarlet dream in the soft starlight.

No glasses needed, just lift your gaze,

The heavens burn in a mystic blaze.

Blood moon rising, oh, can't you see?

The sky's alive with eternity.

(Bridge)

Milligan chases the sun's embrace,

Through eclipses, he's run the race.

But this blood moon calls, a prelude to more,

To August's shadow in twenty-six's core.

From Spain to Iceland, the skies will align,

A total eclipse, a moment divine.

Yet tonight we stand, beneath the red glow,

Where dreams and cosmos forever flow.

(Chorus)

Blood moon rising, painting the night,

A scarlet dream in the soft starlight.

No glasses needed, just lift your gaze,

The heavens burn in a mystic blaze.

Blood moon rising, oh, can't you see?

The sky's alive with eternity.

(Outro)

So look to the heavens, let wonder take flight,

The blood moon rises this Sunday night.

A fleeting marvel, a cosmic art,

It stains the sky and it stirs the heart.

Writing "DCR is Walking With the Land"

This afternoon I set out for a walk across the Windsor Dam at the Quabbin Reservoir. The air was crisp, the sun warm, and the late-summer sky stretched endlessly blue above the water. It was one of those days when you can feel the land itself breathing - the quiet strength of the forest, the shimmer of the reservoir, the pathways that invite you to slow down and simply be.

As I walked, I came upon a group of DCR staff gathered together. They were friendly and open, and before long I found myself in conversation with them. One woman in particular, MeShell, stood out - she is one of the leaders at Mount Greylock. We talked about the Quabbin, about music, and about the work they do across Massachusetts to keep our parks, trails, and natural spaces alive and welcoming.

The more we talked, the more I felt a deep appreciation for what DCR does. These are the people who care for the places that mean so much to all of us - places where we walk, hike, paddle, reflect, and reconnect. They make sure the Quabbin, and so many other beautiful landscapes across the state, remain accessible, safe, and vibrant.

I left the conversation inspired. Music has always been my way of responding to the world, and I felt moved to give something back - a song for DCR, simple and singable, something they could use while walking or hiking together.

Here are the lyrics:

DCR is Walking With the Land

(Chorus)
DCR is walking with the land, step by step we go,
Water, woods, and mountains, rivers we all know.
Voices join together, strong as earth and sky,
DCR is walking with the land, we'll keep it safe and strong.

(Verse 1)
Hear the wind upon the pine,
See the eagle's flight.
Quabbin holds the water clear,
Shining in the light.

(Chorus)
DCR is walking with the land, step by step we go,
Water, woods, and mountains, rivers we all know.
Voices join together, strong as earth and sky,
DCR is walking with the land, we'll keep it safe and strong.

(Verse 2)
Stories flow like rivers do,
Old and new they meet.
Caring for the paths we walk,
Life beneath our feet.

(Chorus - repeat)

I recorded a simple version which you can listen to here:

👉 DCR is Walking With the Land

I hope the song carries a little of the gratitude I feel - for the people of DCR, for the Quabbin, and for all the wild and beautiful spaces we share.

Behind the Scenes: Composing "Your Brain's Alive"

I read this interesting article about the brain and sat down with my mandolin to write the lyrics for a song about this article: https://interestingengineering.com/science/first-mouse-brain-decision-map, called "Your Brain's Alive"

Hey there, pickers and dreamers! We're thrilled to share "Your Brain's Alive," a bluegrass barnburner inspired by a groundbreaking neuroscience study that mapped a mouse's brain at single-cell resolution. This song's got the high-lonesome twang of mandolin, violin, and guitar, weaving a tale of neurons firing and decisions sparking across the mind's vast frontier. With foot-stomping rhythms and soaring harmonies, it celebrates the wonder of choice and the global quest to unlock the brain's secrets. Crank it up, let the strings sing, and feel your own brain light up! Recorded with love for fans of bluegrass, Americana, and the mysteries of the mind.

https://adamsweet.bandcamp.com/track/your-brains-alive

(Verse 1)

In a lab where the mice run free,

Spinning wheels for a taste of sweet,

Scientists trace with a watchful eye,

Your brain's alive as decisions fly.

Seventy-five thousand neurons spark,

A symphony glowing in the dark,

From deepest core to the edges wide,

Your mind's own choices can't be denied.

(Chorus)

Your brain's alive, it's a map of fire,

Every cell's a note in the choice's choir.

Steering left, steering right, chasing the dream,

Your mind's a blaze, it's a living stream.

From single cells to the whole wide brain,

Decisions dance like a sweet refrain.

A first in science, a global quest,

Your brain's alive, it's the mind's own zest.

(Verse 2)

Twenty-two labs, their hearts align,

Melding their data, their souls, their minds.

From Princeton's spark to the world's embrace,

They map your thoughts in a neural space.

Probes catch the pulse, the electric hum,

Of every choice where your will comes from.

Regions once silent now sing with might,

Your brain's alive in the lab's soft light.

(Chorus)

Your brain's alive, it's a map of fire,

Every cell's a note in the choice's choir.

Steering left, steering right, chasing the dream,

Your mind's a blaze, it's a living stream.

From single cells to the whole wide brain,

Decisions dance like a sweet refrain.

A first in science, a global quest,

Your brain's alive, it's the mind's own zest.

(Bridge)

Faint striped circles, a choice to weigh,

Your past lights up to guide the way.

Not just motion, but thought's design,

Your brain's a chorus, a spark divine.

Witten, Engel, and Pillow's team,

They wove the map of your mind's own gleam.

A dataset vast, for the world to see,

Your brain's alive, set free to be.

(Chorus)

Your brain's alive, it's a map of fire,

Every cell's a note in the choice's choir.

Steering left, steering right, chasing the dream,

Your mind's a blaze, it's a living stream.

From single cells to the whole wide brain,

Decisions dance like a sweet refrain.

A first in science, a global quest,

Your brain's alive, it's the mind's own zest.

(Outro)

Here's to the mice, the wheels they spin,

To the fire of thought where your life begins.

A map of your mind, the first of its kind,

Your brain's alive-what will we find?

Behind the Scenes: Nipmuc Rematriated – Honoring the Land and Its People

I recently received a thoughtful message from John Gerber after he heard my song about the North Quabbin. He suggested I write a song about a local initiative in Belchertown, where a group is proposing to rematriate 430 acres of land back to the Nipmuc people. His message read:

“Adam, your new song about the North Quabbin got me thinking that you might write a song about the proposal by a local group to rematriate (land back) 430 acres in Belchertown to the Nipmuc people. For details see: https://www.lampsonbrook-landback.org/

. Thanks for the song you wrote about Jeffrey Amherst based on my Amherst Indy article!”

Taking his suggestion to heart, I wrote Nipmuc Rematriated, which is part of my upcoming album Ancestral: Songs of the Land. This album has grown from my ongoing exploration of history, place, and the stories of the people who lived on this land long before us. From songs about the North Quabbin and Pocumtuck homelands to reflections on figures like Jeffrey Amherst, each track is a way of connecting with the past and honoring those who shaped it.

Here are the lyrics to Nipmuc Rematriated:

Verse 1

In the heart of Belchertown, where the rivers meet the sky,

Lies a patch of earth where our ancestors lie.

Through the forests and the fields, their spirits still remain,

Calling us to honor them, to heal the land again.

Chorus

Return the soil, return the seed,

To the hands that once did lead.

Nipmuc hearts, strong and true,

Rematriate what was taken from you.

Verse 2

The farm stands silent, waiting for the day,

When the Nipmuc return to show the way.

With agri-hoods and kitchens shared,

A future built on love and care.

Chorus

Return the soil, return the seed,

To the hands that once did lead.

Nipmuc hearts, strong and true,

Rematriate what was taken from you.

Bridge

Through legislation and community voice,

The land returns, we make the choice.

To honor those who came before,

And open wide the healing door.

Chorus

Return the soil, return the seed,

To the hands that once did lead.

Nipmuc hearts, strong and true,

Rematriate what was taken from you.

Outro

So here's to the land, to the people, to the dream,

A future where we all redeem.

Nipmuc Rematriated, the circle now complete,

Together we rise, together we meet.

Nipmuc Rematriated continues the thread of my work: reflecting on history, recognizing the past, and considering how we honor it today. Each song on Ancestral: Songs of the Land is a story, a remembrance, and a call to awareness-because music has the power to connect us to place, to community, and to the people who came before us.

You can listen to the song here: https://adamsweet.bandcamp.com/track/nipmuc-rematriated

Mount Holyoke, Hear Us!

Mount Holyoke, Hear Us! is a powerful anthem born from the courage of nearly 200 Mount Holyoke College workers—dining staff, housekeepers, and facilities workers—who took to the picket lines on September 2, 2025, demanding fair wages and respect. Led by a stirring female vocal, backed by a soaring mixed choir, and enriched with emotive violin and driving guitar, this song captures the heart of their struggle and the solidarity of students chanting “pay your workers.” From Rhonda’s resolve to Jorge’s dreams for his family, each verse weaves their stories into a call for justice, echoing the legacy of labor icon Frances Perkins, a Mount Holyoke alumna. This folk-inspired protest anthem is both a tribute to the workers’ unbreakable spirit and a rallying cry for dignity and change. All proceeds support the striking workers of SEIU Local 32BJ and UAW Local 2322. Join us in amplifying their voices—Mount Holyoke, hear us!

https://adamsweet.bandcamp.com/track/mount-holyoke-hear-us

(Verse 1)

We rise at dawn, with hearts so strong,

The backbone of this place we've been all along.

From dining halls to dorms we sweep,

Grounds we tend, and promises we keep.

But the wages low, they break our soul,

No living wage, it takes its toll.

We're cooks, we're cleaners, we're the core,

Mount Holyoke, hear us, we'll take no more!

(Chorus)

Stand up, stand tall, we're answering the call!

For justice, for fairness, we're fighting for all.

With courage and pride, we're striking today,

Mount Holyoke workers, we're paving the way!

(Verse 2)

Rhonda's voice, it rings out clear,

Seven years of toil, she's still right here.

Jorge dreams for his children three,

A better life, through unity.

Bonnie's served for nineteen years,

Ann's first strike, she's faced her fears.

Rich invokes Frances Perkins' name,

Her legacy fuels this righteous flame.

(Chorus)

Stand up, stand tall, we're answering the call!

For justice, for fairness, we're fighting for all.

With courage and pride, we're striking today,

Mount Holyoke workers, we're paving the way!

(Bridge)

Students chant, their voices soar,

“Pay your workers!” they implore.

Purple stickers, yellow too,

Solidarity shines in all we do.

The college speaks of deals to make,

But empty words won't heal the ache.

A living wage, respect, and care,

That's the future we demand to share!

(Verse 3)

We're the heart that keeps this campus alive,

Through every season, we help it thrive.

From convocation to the halls we roam,

We're the ones who make this place a home.

No more silence, no more delay,

We're standing firm, we're here to stay.

With unions strong, we'll break the chain,

Together we'll rise, through struggle and pain.

(Chorus)

Stand up, stand tall, we're answering the call!

For justice, for fairness, we're fighting for all.

With courage and pride, we're striking today,

Mount Holyoke workers, we're paving the way!

(Outro)

Honk your horns on College Street,

Feel the pulse of our heartbeat.

From South Hadley to the world we'll sing,

Workers' rights are everything!

Mount Holyoke, hear our cry,

For dignity, we'll fight, we'll rise!

Solidarity forever, we'll never sway,

Mount Holyoke workers, we lead the way!