Breath Cycle II

The Covid Composers Songbook

Sing your way to better health

Since 2021, in addition to our singing sessions, our participants could also sign up for online song writing workshops led by composer Gareth Williams and performance poet Martin O’Connor. 

The first group of songs written in these workshops have been gathered together as The Covid Composers Songbook. Please download any of the songs and use them as you wish in any non-commercial context: to sing with friends, with your community choir, or by yourself! The songbook is a ‘two way street’;  we would love to hear from anyone who’s written and recorded their own song about their experiences during lockdown or while recovering from Long COVID.

We will add your work to The Covid Composers Songbook and the project will become an ever evolving platform for people to borrow from and contribute to.

We have also commissioned professional singers and musicians to record, in their own musical style, cover versions of songs from The Covid Composers’ Songbook, including David McCluskey, Ken McCluskey and Robert Hodgens (The Bluebells), Lewis Gordon and Gregor Philip (Deacon Blue), Louise Connell, Tunde Martin, Frances Thorburn, Darren Brownlie and Ross Brown.

Below, you will find a playlist of 13 songs, which you can download as audio files, as well as PDFs with their respective lyrics, videos of these same songs without vocals and with their lyrics displayed, and videos of the cover versions.


Please note Breath Cycle is not a medically led programme and is delivered by trained opera singers. If you have any concerns about the suitability of the course please consult your doctor or medical professional.

Songs with vocals

Download the lyrics:

Songs without vocals

Things Are Piling Up...

Lullaby For Jess

A Week Without Voice

Keep It Up

I Remember

This House Is My House

Out In All Weathers

Cover Versions

'Out In All Weathers' performed by The Bluebells

'Lullaby for Jess' performed by Frances Thorburn and Darren Brownlie

'Break Free' performed by SOTUNDE

'A Story Of Healing' performed by Lewis Gordon & Gregor Philp

Song Credits

'Things Are Piling Up...'
Written by Gareth Williams, Sharon Miller and Martin O’Connor
Vocal - Gareth Williams, Pianist - Karen MacIver, Cellist – Sarah Harrington, Violinist - Terèz Korondi

'Lullaby for Jess'
Written by Gareth Williams, Martin O’Connor and Breath Cycle Participants
Vocal - Jessica Leary, Pianist - Karen MacIver, Cellist – Sarah Harrington, Violinist - Terèz Korondi

'Lullaby for Jess (Duet version)'
Written by Gareth Williams, Martin O'Connor and Breath Cycle Participants
Composed by Gareth Williams
Arranged by Ross Brown
Vocals - Frances Thorburn and Darren Brownlie, Piano - Ross Brown, Guitar - Alan Sweeney

'A Week Without Voice'
Written by Gareth Williams, Linda Smith and Martin O’Connor
Vocal - David Douglas, Pianist – Karen MacIver, Cellist – Sarah Harrington, Violinist - Terèz Korondi

'Worry Dolls'
Written by Wendy Paterson and Gareth Williams
Vocal and Guitar – Louis Abbot

'Keep It Up'
Written by Gareth Williams, Martin O’Connor and Breath Cycle Participants
Pianist - Karen MacIver, Cellist – Sarah Harrington, Violinist - Terèz Korondi

'I Remember'
Written by Gareth Williams, Martin O’Connor and Breath Cycle Participants
Vocal - Kirsty Findlay, Pianist - Karen MacIver, Cellist – Sarah Harrington, Violinist - Terèz Korondi

'I Remember (Louise Connell's version)'
Written by Gareth Williams, Martin O'Connor and Breath Cycle Participants
Composed by Gareth Williams
Arranged & performed by Louise Connell

'This House is My House'
Written by Gareth Williams, Martin O’Connor and Breath Cycle Participants
Pianist - Karen MacIver, Cellist – Sarah Harrington, Violinist - Terèz Korondi

'A Story Of Healing'
Written by Gareth Williams and Melanie Harte
Composed by Gareth Williams
Arranged & Performed by Lewis Gordon & Gregor Philip

'Out In All Weathers'
Written by Gareth Williams, Martin O’Connor and Breath Cycle Participants
Vocal - David Douglas, Pianist - Karen MacIver, Cellist – Sarah Harrington, Violinist - Terèz Korondi

'Out In All Weathers (The Bluebells version)'
Written by Gareth Williams, Martin O'Connor and Breath Cycle Participants
Composed by Gareth Williams
Arranged by David McCluskey, Robert Hodgens and Ken McCluskey
Lead Vocals - Robert Hodgens, Backing Vocals - David McCluskey and Ken McCluskey, Cellist - Sarah Harrington, Violinist - Terèz Korondi

'Break Free'
Written by Tunde Martin, inspired by the ideas of Martin O'Connor and Breath Cycle Participants
Composed by Tunde Martin
Arranged by Song Structure
Performed by SOTUNDE

Share your singing with us!

If you enjoyed singing along to The Covid Composers Songbook, or would like to write your own songs on your experience of living with Long COVID, we would love for you to share it with us and other participants! Simply film or audio record yourself while singing and upload your file through the form below:

Upload your video or audio file

Please note you must have a Google account to be able to upload your video or audio files via the form above.
If you don't have a Google account but would still like to share your files, please email them to citizensongbook@scottishopera.org.uk.
Read more about Exercises On Demand
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Exercises On Demand

Our video exercises will guide you through the basics of some operatic singing techniques. They can be used by anyone who has breathing difficulties – particularly those living with Long COVID.

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