Music
Theater
Writngs
IT'S RIGHT THERE
(SPOKEN WORD)
IT'S RIGHT THERE
In her head
But she's almost settled
in her thoughts
listening the voices that have fought
to keep her asleep
They whisper
play it safe play it safe play it safe
though her dreams wrestle to escape
her trance
She keeps them in check
positioned just under her breath
but their about to SCREAM!
Dare she speak them out loud
Oh how
the universe would conspire
to make them a reality
Because
IT"S RIGHT THERE
in her hands
though she's almost settled
in her seat
her hands just beneath
her thighs
In crippling comfort
She sits
on a wealth of talents unrealized
Because in truth it's cold sometimes
to put yourself out there
But Dare she get up, stand up and
set her hands free
giving and receiving with passion and intensity
Fanning the flame of all she was born to be
would transform her world
Oh I wish she'd look
IT"S RIGHT THERE
in her heart
But she's almost settle
in her nerves
Never feeling the rush of excitement
That invites her each morning
to flow in the tempo
of expectation and joy
not just happiness from happenings
but joy deep down inside
Dare she find courage to try again
Her heart would beat in rhythm
to her life's true anthem
But wait,
maybe
I think she perceives
IT'S RIGHT THERE
in her Hope
Though she almost settled
for the statue quo
her dream just won't let go see see
her Hope is employing faith
If she pays
attention to faith
She'll stop denying, apologizing and sacrificing
the Power within
her head
her hand
her heart
to WIN!
'Cause it's not far once she beings
to wake up and declare
All she needs
It's right there
Written by Paula D. Ralph-Birkett
©2016 RaBirWriter Publishing
SOME THING BETTER
Chorus
There's got to be something better this
there's got to be something
There's got to be something better this
there's got to be something
There's got to be something better this
Life's
Got to give something better than this
V1
Waiting for change
Life's gotten dusty cause she
Settled for safe
What she left on the shelf
dreams to change the world
she needs courage
to hold touch them again
knowing life is worth the risk
Chorus
V2
Weak from the pain
of putting her hopes hold she
reaches for change
when dust flies it's hard to see
faith to change the world
but if she fails
she'll try again
knowing life is worth the risk
Chorus
Bridge
Dreams deferred make the heart sick
It's like dust from a life un-lived
It's not what you get but what you give
to light the spark
and fan the flames
to change the world
to change the world
Chorus
Written by Paula D. Ralph-Birkett
©2012 RaBirWriter Publishing
I Choose To Live
V1
Left me alone to die
papers on the table
You gave no reason why
But like a tree is able
To bend in the wind
and not be moved
Chorus
I choose to live
Got to keep breathing
I choose to live
Left me in pieces
I choose to live
I may be bleeding but
I choose to live
V2
You became my world
now my ground is sinking sand
it's either life or death
so I close my eyes, take a breath
and pray God please
let my roots grow deep cause
Chorus
Bridge
It may look I have died
when winter's done
the sun will bring
the spring
I let you go
So I can grow
Cause
Chorus
Written by Paula D. Ralph-Birkett
©2014 RaBirWriter Publishing
But I See
V1
Attitude
is all they can see
an angry mood
is all they can see
the role they make you wear
is desperate for repair
Cause in your heart
who can noticed
you're patching hole as you
as you come apart
Chorus
But I see
what they won't see
But I see
what they won't admit
Cause I know
under the disguise
you try to survive
this life
hiding yourself
V2
You fight to fit in
they ignore it
try to act like them
they abhor it
the character you play
is vanquished in the fray
Cause in your heart
it goes unnoticed
you're patching holes as you
as you coming apart
Chorus
Bridge:
In the mirror don't believe the lies
In the mirror don't see through their eyes
Cause if your sight
was filled with
the Light I provide
You might consider
when you hear Me whisper
I see I care
Chorus
Written by Paula D. Ralph-Birkett
©2014 RaBirWriter Publishing
Exploring stories of trials and triumphant as listeners imagine their own PATH OF POSSIBILITIES.
Do you know how precious you are?
Vocalist, writer, and actress Paula Ralph Birkett’s work is equal parts
music, theater, and empowerment festival!
Creating music ever since a child, Paula has always found joy in helping others with her gifts. However, she began her professional career in musical theater working in regional theaters throughout the New York Tri-State area. Paula developed her vocal production and songwriting abilities performing R&B, Gospel, and Dance/House music, including the James “Sleepy Keys” Preston dance tune Ain’t No Runnin’ Away, produced by Willy Washington. She has sung in venues big and small such as The Greene Space at WNYC, the United Nations, Harlem Arts Festival, Paul Robeson Theater, the Apollo Theater and the Schomburg Library for Black Culture. And has toured as a featured vocalist with choral ensembles throughout Europe.
Currently Paula is the featured vocalist in the progressive music group Tyrone Birkett | Emancipation (TB|E). She shines her gifts on their releases In The Fullness of Time and Postmodern Spirituals - The Promised Land. Some reviewers have said…
...the lush voice of [Paula] Ralph-Birkett is a pure joy. With the emotion that she puts into her singing one is pulled into the music to the point that you almost have the feeling that you are sitting in the same room with her, hanging on every word and phrase.”
~ Jazz Improv - Jazz Improv Magazine
..Paula Ralph-Birkett... Hers is a voice that can soar, can snap time with the best of them, and sing from the heart in a manner that not only is communicative but also deeply spiritual.”
~ Grady Harp - Amazon.com Customer Review
Although she enjoys interpreting the genius of TBE music, she has something of her own to say.
Paula has presented and performed at several entrepreneur and women’s empowerment conferences in the New York Tri-State area. She has created her keynote concert centering on her grant-winning presentation See Yourself / Be Yourself, and her concept Perception2Decisions: How we see ourselves, is how we will be ourselves. In 2023 Paula won the Bronx Council on the Arts | Bronx Cultural Visions Fund Grant award to support the writing of her play Black American Working Woman, and has had her cabaret Love Letter to Me featured in Bernie Wohl Arts Center W.H.A.M. Festival 2023. Using spoken word, original music, and dramatic monologues as envelopes of illustration, Paula believes everyone has the potential for greatness. She says…
“I believe everyone has a champion inside that could use some reinforcement.
I craft stories of trials and triumphs to help audiences imagine their own paths of possibilities.”
Upcoming Shows
Bookings Contact - PaulaRaBir@gmail.com
More shows coming soon…
Past Shows
March 24, 2023 - WHAM (Women’s History Artist Month) Festival - 6:30 PM doors open, 7 PM show - The Bernie Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside 647 Columbus Ave New York, NY 10025
Februrary 11, 2023 - 100th Birthday Celebration - Private event - New Rochelle, NY
February 18, 2023 - Sonic Sanctuary: The Luminous Darkness A concert by Tyrone Birkett | Emancipation - 6:30 PM doors open, 7 PM show - The Bernie Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside 647 Columbus Ave New York, NY 10025
June 19, 2022 - Kaatsbaan Cultural Park presents a day of music, dance, and poetry with composer and saxophonist Tyrone Birkett and his ensemble Emancipation - 3:30 PM 120 Broadway Tivoli, NY 12583
June 17, 2022 - TYRONE BIRKETT : TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN - 7:30 PM Symphony Space 2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025-6990
October 29, 2021 - Something Better Together - Music and Spoken Word w/ the Paula Ralph Birkett Trio - 6:30 PM - Kente Royal Gallery 2373 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd, Harlem NY 10030 with support by the City Artist Corps, #cityartistcorps
September 12 & 13, 2021- Sisters Inspiring Sisters Virtual Summit - speaker and performer - 11 AM Sat/ 12:30 PM Sun - via Zoom on Sisters Inspiring Sisters Facebook Page
May 19, 2021 - BX Expressions | Something Better Solo Show - I 6:00 PM - Bronx Council on the Arts FaceBook Page
April 24, 2021 - Poets with Purpose Presents: "Spotlight On The Scribes” - 8:00 PM via Zoom on YouTube
April 19, 2021 - Women’s Diversity Network Annual (Virtual) Summit - 7:30 PM via Zoom
October 27, 2020 - In Full Color’s Walking the Walk Workshop for GlaxoSmithKline - 12:00 PM - via Zoom
September 15, 2020 - In Full Color Do Better: Creating a Diversity-Fostering Workplace Workshop - 1:00 PM via Zoom
May 11, 2019 - See Yourself/ Be Yourself: A Journey to Self-Awareness for Bronx Week - Parkchester Library - 2pm -1985 Westchester Avenue, Bronx NY - 718.829.7830
June 8, 2019 - Storm King Arts Center w/ Tyrone Birkett | Emancipation - 1pm 1 Museum Rd New Windsor NY 12553 - 845.534.3115Mar 15, 2019 - See Yourself/ Be Yourself: A Journey to Success - Parkchester Library - 2pm -1985 Westchester Avenue, Bronx NY - 718.829.7830
Feb 28, 2019 - How Can We Sing In A Strange Land - Rochdale Village Queens Library - 6:30pm 169-09 137 Avenue, Jamaica - 718.723.4440
Feb 16, 2019 - How Can We Sing In A Strange Land - Rosedale Queens Library - 2:30pm 1144-20 243 Street, 718.528.8490
Feb 9, 2019 - TEDx Deer Park - What Box? - 10am Van Nostrand Theater, Suffolk County Community College, Grant Campus, Brentwood NY 11717
Feb 9, 2019 - How Can We Sing In A Strange Land - 2pm - Laurelton Queens Library - 134-26 225 St - 718.528.2822
Feb 8, 2019 - Rumination & Hope, In & Out of Time - by Tyrone Birkett - 8pm - Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd, Flushing NY
Dec 1, 2018 - Sonic Sanctuary w/ Tyrone Birkett Emancipation - 7:30pm - Goddard RIverside’s Bernie Wohl Center, New York, NY
Nov 9, 2018 - Perception2Decisions Keynote Concert Presentation: Invite Only - 7pm -Michiko Studios - New York, NY
Oct 13, 2018 - The Newburgh Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum w/ Tyrone Birkett | Emancipation - 4pm - Newburgh, NY
Sept 15, 2018 - Mount Vernon CityFest - 2-9 PM Gramatan Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY
Sept 6, 2018 - Harlem Fashion Week Gala - 7pm Harlem Renaissance, Harlem, NY
June 16, 2018 - 7pm - African American Heritage Music Trail show with Tyrone Birkett | Emancipation, Ferry Godmother Productions
Mar 24th 2018, 4pm #KnowYourWorth Tour 6:15-9pm, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building
163 West 125th Street New York, NY 10027
Apr 5th 2018 12noon: Drew University with Tyrone Birkett | Emancipation.
Feb 3rd 2018, 4pm Apollo Theater Open House with Tyrone Birkett | Emancipation
Feb 14th 2018 5pm: Drew University with Tyrone Birkett | Emancipation. More info to be announced
Get on the list for exclusives
JAN 2023 - HNY, Without Resolutions!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I have officially decided NOT to commit to any resolutions this year!
Between the anxiety of creating, keep and then possibly missing the goal, my mental health is worth too much to even start a list! Beside resolutions always make me feel like I am staring from a negative, listing all the things I’m not. So, this year I've decided to become CURIOUS!
Now don’t get me wrong, I do want to become my best self. But without the pressure and angst of being judged by the grind. For years I’ve tried to hustle and grind. So much so that last year I ground myself in the ground, LOL! Eyes twitching, shoulders tight, and losing sleep.
So, the last week of 2022 I went to upstate NY with my husband to slow down and get my mind right. (Hence the sun setting behind Bear Mountain, NY… bliss)
While there I started reading Life Coaching for Successful Women by Valorie Burton. Which is a good resource BTW! (I am not an affiliate.) In the book she encourages the reader to “choose curiosity over judgement.” Including self-judgement.
So, for the past two weeks every time I felt myself falling back on dysfunctional habits, I became curious. I asked myself questions like Why are my shoulders so tight? What is making me feel this way? Can I change it? If not, can I change my perception about it?
What I’ve learned is curious people care. They ask questions and are interested and engaged because they care.
As I write this, I’m understanding that my “self-curiosity” is self-care. And when I self-care there is no room for self-judgement. This is so powerful because as I become more curious toward myself, my capacity grows toward curiosity and care for others.
And that I am surely resolved to do ;)
<3
Paula
P.S. I have become so curious about this process that I’ve started writing a performance piece about it. I’ll share more about that soon.
Seeing in the dark & Feb 18th
Back in the day I played a little theater in downtown NYC. It was a cute little theater with two little steps that led to a compact stage and out to a 30-seat house. I can’t remember the name of the production but I, of course, was the singing chanteuse.
In the show, I was to hit a high note as the lights blacked out and scurry off the stage. Well, on opening night as the lights blacked out, I was blinded by the darkness so much that I couldn't see the two little stairs to get off the stage. But I had to move! So...
I tumbled off the stage! (LOL!) I hurt my leg so bad I had an indentation on my shin for months.
Here’s the point...
There's gonna be darkness sometimes. Things will look confusing and you may even feel disorientated. And though you still have to keep moving, you do not have to hurt yourself to do it.
If you can, give your eyes time to adjust* to the darkness in order to see your way forward!
This Saturday I'll be shining some light in the dark, singing with Tyrone Birkett | Emancipation at their The Luminous Darkness show.
<3
Paula
*The physical phenomenon of seeing in the dark is called “dark adaptation”. It's when the eyes adjust to see in low-lighting conditions.