After leaving the LDS church I missed the music! Even though I sometimes sang LDS songs with my family, it just wasn’t the same when I didn’t believe it. Eventually, I began collecting uplifting songs that weren’t problematic for me as an exMormon, so that I could sing with my whole being.
While these songs are great for me, we all find different things inspirational–and problematic, so they might not all work for you. Even so, I thought I’d share what I have in case any of these uplifting songs enrich your life.
Because I am spiritual/non-religious, these songs are not specific to any religion–though they may refer to God. Even though some songs originate from a specific faith tradition (Christian, Jewish, etc.), the lyrics are not specific to that tradition. For example, Dona Nobis Pacem is originally from a Christian mass, but the words simply mean “give us peace” so it’s an uplifting song that can apply to anyone who wants a more loving, peaceful world.
I hope you find uplifting songs to sing for lullabies, teach your children, and enjoy for yourself.
Clearly this is a work in progress: I’m still adding lyrics, chords and recording links. Leave a comment if there’s anything you’d like me to prioritize or if you have an uplifting song to suggest for the list.
Enjoy!
Lyrics with ukulele chords linked in song titles
| Song/Album | Made Popular By | Artist Recording | My Recording | Notes/Story |
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes | Walt Disney’s Cinderella | From the Movie | These lyrics have an extra verse that is not in the movie. | |
| A Place of Our Own (Record/Album) | Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood | Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood–A Place of Our Own | I loved this record when I was a little girl in the eighties! | |
Brother, Lean on the Wind | N/A | N/A | ||
Don’t Worry Be Happy | Bobby McFerrin | Official Music Video | ||
Dona Nobis Pacem | Traditional | Julie Gaulke | ||
Everything is Beautiful | Ray Stevens | raystevensmusic | ||
Feed the Birds | Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins | From the Movie | ||
Glorious | David Archuleta/Stephanie Mabey | David Archuleta Stephanie Mabey | ||
How Can I Keep From Singing? | Hymn Enya | My chords are for the hymn tune, although I do the timing differently. These lyrics are the ones I sang in my high school choir and are not Christian specific. | ||
I Just Called To Say I Love You | ||||
It’s Such a Good Feeling to Know You’re Alive | Mister Rogers | Mister Roger’s Neighborhood–A Place of Our Own 2:08 | This is the version I grew up with and I love it so much! | |
It’s You I Like | Mister Rogers | Mister Rogers–It’s You I Like | ||
Les Bicyclettes de Belsize | Engelbert Humperdinck | |||
Let There Be Peace On Earth | Sy Miller and Jill Jackson | Don Salmon Music | I couldn’t find a video with my lyrics. Maybe I made them up? Enjoy this groovy piano version. | |
Morning Has Broken | Cat Stevens | Yusuf / Cat Stevens – Morning Has Broken (Official Lyric Video) | I forget how much I love this song until I hear Cat Stevens sing it and then I fall in love again. | |
| Sing | The Carpenters | |||
The Impossible Dream | Andy Williams | |||
The Long and Winding Road | The Beatles | |||
There Are Many Ways to Say I Love You | Mister Rogers | Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood–A Place of Our Own 23:23 | ||
Three Little Birds | Bob Marley | Bob Marley Elizabeth Mitchell | ||
Top of the World | The Carpenters | The Carpenters–Top of the World | ||
We All Sing With The Same Voice | Sesame Street | |||
| We Pray | Coldplay | WE PRAY (Little Simz Version) (Official) | I don’t have chords for this song. I just love the recording for now! | |
Weave Me the Sunshine | Peter, Paul, and Mary | |||
What a Wonderful World |