Find the melody
Everyone begins in unison. Listen for the first complete phrase, pause, and echo it back. Keep the melody conversational rather than forcing a large sound.
Golden Eagle Messengers
Stories in motion.
Voices in song.
Featured film
Together We Rise
The Senior Voices song
Let’s Turn the Lights Back On Together
Words by Anna · Created with AI
A song about honoring our elders, sharing wisdom across generations, and discovering what becomes possible when we rise together.
Listen to the song2 minutes, 30 seconds
Sing along
Lyrics
Intro
Let’s turn the lights back on together.
Verse 1
To see, to listen, to honor—
When we give our elders a voice,
We awaken the wisdom of generations
And our potential.
We have a choice.
In unity, we rise together.
Chorus
There is nothing we can’t do together
When we honor our humanity,
When we create unity.
There is nothing we can’t do together.
As we rise, the Golden Eagle flies.
We dream a dream together.
Verse 2
Senior Voices PDX is a movement
Of elders, visionaries, and allies.
As the eagle flies,
We empower our elders to age in place
With dignity, purpose, and connection.
In Portland and beyond,
We’re forging a new direction.
Bridge
We are the Golden Eagle Messengers
On a mission.
Giving seniors a voice
Is a message of unity,
Of purpose and transition.
Verse 3
We believe in the power of connection,
The beauty of shared wisdom,
And the strength of every voice.
Together, let’s build a community
Where seniors are valued and celebrated—
A future where all generations
Are uplifted and empowered.
Final chorus
As we rise, the Eagle flies.
There is nothing we can’t do together
When we honor our humanity,
When we create unity.
There is nothing we can’t do together.
Let’s turn the lights back on.
Learn the song
Sing it with us.
A friendly, practical guide for guitar, piano, solo practice, and singing together as a group.
- Key
- A minor Relative major: C
- Tempo
- ≈ 96 BPM Moderate walking pace
- Time signature
- 4 / 4 Count 1 · 2 · 3 · 4
- Tuning
- Standard Guitar: no capo
The harmonic map
Most of the song uses one welcoming four-chord loop.
Main loopAm → Em → F / Fmaj7 → G
TurnaroundDm → E → Am
Roman numeralsi → v → VI → VII · iv → V → i
Count in & practice
Ready? One, two, three, four…
Choose a practice speed when you are ready.
The slow setting changes playback speed, so the voices may sound slightly lower or deeper on some devices.
Chord diagrams
Play it on guitar or piano.
For guitar, use the easier open Fmaj7 shape wherever the recording colors the chord as F. On piano, play the named notes together; the highlighted keys show the chord tones.
Guitar
Piano
CDEFGABC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯
Play A · C · ECDEFGABC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯
Play E · G · BCDEFGABC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯
Play F · A · C · ECDEFGABC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯
Play G · B · DCDEFGABC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯
Play D · F · ACDEFGABC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯
Play E · G♯ · BCDEFGABC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯
Play C · E · GChords above the lyrics
Complete sing-along song sheet
Each chord appears just before the lyric where the harmony changes. Listen once, then use this as a practical group arrangement.
Intro
Am Em Fmaj7 GLet’s turn the lights back on together.
Verse 1
Am EmTo see, to listen, to honor—
Fmaj7 GWhen we give our elders a voice,
Am EmWe awaken the wisdom of generations
Fmaj7 GAnd our potential.
Dm EWe have a choice.
Am GIn unity, we rise together.
Chorus
Am EmThere is nothing we can’t do together
Fmaj7 GWhen we honor our humanity,
Am EmWhen we create unity.
Fmaj7 GThere is nothing we can’t do together.
Dm EAs we rise, the Golden Eagle flies.
Am GWe dream a dream together.
Verse 2
Am EmSenior Voices PDX is a movement
Fmaj7 GOf elders, visionaries, and allies.
Am EmAs the eagle flies,
Fmaj7 GWe empower our elders to age in place
Am EmWith dignity, purpose, and connection.
Dm EIn Portland and beyond,
Am GWe’re forging a new direction.
Bridge
Dm AmWe are the Golden Eagle Messengers
Fmaj7 GOn a mission.
Dm AmGiving seniors a voice
Fmaj7 GIs a message of unity,
Dm EOf purpose and transition.
Verse 3
Am EmWe believe in the power of connection,
Fmaj7 GThe beauty of shared wisdom,
Am EmAnd the strength of every voice.
Fmaj7 GTogether, let’s build a community
Am EmWhere seniors are valued and celebrated—
Dm EA future where all generations
Am GAre uplifted and empowered.
Final chorus
Am EmAs we rise, the Eagle flies.
Fmaj7 GThere is nothing we can’t do together
Am EmWhen we honor our humanity,
Fmaj7 GWhen we create unity.
Dm EThere is nothing we can’t do together.
AmLet’s turn the lights back on.
Verse-by-verse practice
Build the song one section at a time.
01 Intro & Verse 1 Am · Em · Fmaj7 · G
Speak the words in rhythm first. Keep “To see, to listen, to honor” relaxed, then let the line grow toward “we rise together.” Take a full breath before the verse begins.
02 Chorus Am · Em · Fmaj7 · G
This is the main communal moment. Sing “There is nothing” clearly and together, sustain the final word of each phrase, and take a quick shared breath before “When we honor.”
03 Verse 2 Am · Em · Fmaj7 · G
Practice the longer phrase “With dignity, purpose, and connection” slowly. Keep the consonants light so the musical line continues smoothly.
04 Bridge Dm · Am · Fmaj7 · G · E
Begin with a slightly quieter, storytelling tone. Build energy on “Giving seniors a voice,” then let the E chord create anticipation before the next verse.
05 Verse 3 & ending Am · Em · Fmaj7 · G · E · Am
Start warmly and add singers or volume line by line. In the final chorus, hold “flies,” sing the last line in unison, and let the final A-minor chord ring.
Melody & harmony
A simple plan for singing together.
Add a low foundation
Lower voices can hold the chord roots—A, E, F, and G—on a gentle “oo” beneath the chorus. Change note when the chord changes.
Add an upper harmony
Once the melody is secure, a small group can sing a third above on the repeated chorus phrases. If a note feels awkward, rejoin the melody rather than straining.
Shape the message
Keep verses intimate, open into fuller harmony on “together” and “unity,” then return to clear unison for “Let’s turn the lights back on.”