I decided each person should be in charge of their own birthday – including sending out card, planning parties, giving presents. This way they would never forget, people couldn’t guilt-trip each other (as in “Hey, you forgot your birthday! You don’t care about me!”) — and you’d never know when you might receive an unexpected birthday card or gift.
(Can you tell I struggled with birthday traditions even as a kid?)
It’s my birthday today and I’m thrilled I was born. Like, jumping up and down thrilled. A few years ago, I made this lyric video – my first-ever lyric video – of my birthday song “Congratulations, You Made it This Far!” – the song I wrote for my OWN birthday nearly 2 decades ago.
Please share it, sing it, comment on the YouTube video or below in the comments (or comment in both places – because I LOVE getting comments – each is like a gift – seriously – so what a perfect day to leave one!). Download the Lyrics, MP3, sheet music – plus FREE Congratulations Birthday Hats and Gift-Wrap right here!
Congratulations,
you MADE it this far!
And Happy Birthday!
This is an archive post ~ originally published Nov. 11, 2015 and updated in 2019.
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Thank you so much for that. I was feeling pretty down that when the Birthday Fairy visits me next week it will be for the sixtieth time… but you have given me a reason to cheer up.
Ha ha! I suspect you’re just beginning to shine Elisabeth … but feel free to kick her out on her keester if she gives you any lip!
Thank you for this sweet DHC. This was exactly what I needed to hear today.
You are soooo welcome, Pauline! Big hugs to you!
Deborah,
Thank-you for touching so many lives with your beautiful music, lyrics, and wisdom…I also celebrated as birthday yesterday, and at 53 have questioned where I am and what I am and today I will look differently at my imperfections in the mirror and embrace what I am.
Happy Birthday to an amazing woman,
Paula from CT.
Seen you perform this – love it so much!
Thank you!!!!
Happy Birthday, Deborah! Today is my husband’s birthday too, so this was a fun email to get today that I will share with him.
Since you are in charge of your birthday, I know you will have the happiest day you you can think of for yourself, and I hope you have a marvelous year ahead. Congrats, you made it this far!!!
Thank you Chris – and congratulations to your husband! Yes I have taken full charge ahead of my birthday and it’s a marvelous year ahead for sure! Many thanks!
That is awesome, Deborah, and happy solar return to you!!! And you’ve always sported the edgy hair, eh? 🙂
Thank you Helen! Ha, edgy hair … sigh … to tell the truth, my real hair is in a coma and has been pretty much since birth, but I never lose hope in it. Happy solar return to you as well ! (Um… what’s a solo return … I mean solAR return?)
Happy Birthday, DCH! I so clearly remember when I first heard you play this song;
Chan’s in Woonsocket, you excused yourself from the stage and went to the piano. The opening line sent me scrambling for pen and napkin to record your latest lightning strike to my heart. I have unabashedly Loved you and followed you for the past couple of years (1988) and you continue to inspire me and lightning strike my heart in generous and fresh ways. Blessings all around you, Deborah, and, CYMITF
Oh, thank you Sarah! What a wonderful story. I remember Chan’s! I loved playing that place, and I love the idea of lightening strikes … and all the gorgeous thunder that follows. Thank you!
love it……hope your day was special
So far it’s been spectacular, Pennie – a fabulous beginning to the year. Thank you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We share the November birthday month although mine isn’t until the 22nd. I had the privilege to attend your concert in Indianapolis a couple years ago. I live near Delphi, IN about 80 miles North of Indianapolis where an 1800s restored opera house was just reopened. Seating capacity is 230 unobstructed viewing. It would be a great honor if you would present a concert there some day.
Enjoyed Congratulations, you made it this far!!!
Thank you so much!!
Thank you, Mary!! HAPPY almost-birthday! I remember that concert in Indianapolis — your Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra is incredible – amazing players. I still remember one moment in rehearsal that was truly a pinnacle music-moment in my life. I hope I get to see you all again soon – audience and players, alike!
And oh wow — I LOVE restored opera houses! If you know any of the administrative folks there, definitely pass on the word – I’d love to come!
Wow!!!
Happy Birthday Deborah!!!
I am jumping up and down with you!!!
Nov. 20 is mine, so sister-Scorpio, I am with you in heart and spirit.
I love you, I love what you do, and I love all you manifest, in this world and beyond.
The love, the sound, and the spirit reverberate here and far beyond…
OXOXO
Thank you Thalia! YOU share a birthday with Sharon Thormalen of Thormalen Harps!! So happy almost-birthday to you!!
Thank you so much for expressing the many thoughts I’ve had as I turned 80 this year. . . can’t believe it, but the “child” is still there and you helped me remember that!
You are so welcome, Charmaine. Yes, sometimes I think the older I get, the stronger she becomes inside me. Thank you so much for your comment.
Thank you, Audrey!!! That makes ME so happy to hear!
Happy Birthday wonder Scorpio you. How generous of you to share this with all of us. LOVE IT!! Many thanks DHC. Ginny in Asheville NC
Thank you for seeing things differently and bringing the light to others. Happy happy birthday!
Dearest Deborah: Happy Birthday! I had a heart attack in June, so now I feel even more sentimental about birthdays and the passage of time. I’m fine now, don’t worry, but take good care of your precious self. Love, Linda
Happy Birthday, Dearest Deborah! You are a shining star!!!! And I love you so much!
A wonderful song that had new twists and turns as it went, with humor and humanity along the way. Happy Birthday, with Great Respect, Alexandra
Happiest Birthday to the lady who Brings so much joy…Sets us free from inhibitions..
Makes us leap over the stones in our paths…..
Prayers for the most glorious year ever!!!!
Happy Birthday to you — hope you are having a really great day!!
You are a total inspiration, in your energy, creativity, poetry and music! Thank you! — and and wishing youas many more birthdays as you would want!! 🙂 xxx
Happy, happy HipHarpy birthday to yooouuuuu!!!!!
Thank you, Gretchen!
Thank you Deborah for this song that everytime makes me laugh and happy and tap my feet on the floor… and cry. You touch me very deeply with all your wonderful works!
Thank you, congratulations and Happy BirthDay!
Thank you so much, Fabrizio. I love hearing that.
Happy Birthday, Deborah!
What a wonderful gift! Makes me so happy! Really needed a lift today!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and spirit with us! Truly one of the best gifts ever! Can’t wait to send to my best friends turning 60 and 70 this month. Will have it all ready for my 65th next spring. Sure takes the sting out of that birthday fairy wand!!
Hundreds of Hugs!
Pam Jurgens
Thanks, Pam! I sing it myself a lot – it’s what I need to hear and I can say it works even for non-birthdays. So happy it lifted your day! – DHC
Deborah, Happy Birthday!
I love this song … it is bubbling over with joy and love. May your days be filled with both.
And, thanks so much for sharing it with all of us.
Pema
Happy Birthday Deborah!!
I LOVE this song!! 😀
Thank you for sharing your amazing talent with us!! You are an inspiration!! Felicia.
I started playing harp late in life, and you have been one of my inspirations to keep going, make it work for me. Playing harp for others is one great kick! Thanks for all your music, concerts, chats, information, and FUN! And the person you are! My husband’s birthday today, too! Have FUN!
‘Love the birthday song and especially that you take charge of your own birthday. Great idea with no disappointments!
Been wanting to tell you this 🙂 . . . Saw you for the first time at Beginning in the Middle about 3 years ago after I had only been playing the harp for about 2 years, and at the time didn’t know know anything about you. As we were waiting for you to do an evening concert, and I wondered why there was no harp on stage — well, they’ll bring it out soon, I thought. What a surprise when you came from the back, playing up the aisle! What a terrific concert it was, and yes, I believe you played the birthday song. You ‘da bomb! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you so much, Janet. I love that little story about wondering where the harp was!
A journey of a lifetime writen and singing in one song.
Wow, I love it.
Sending a big, huge, enormous birthday HUG to you from the other side of the pond.
I’m rising up my small glass with some Madeira wine and saying cheers to you.
Ohhh, how I hope to see you again 🙂
Hope you have a fantastic BIRTHDAY MONTH, DHC!!! Your video is stupendous – just like YOU!! You are one in a zillion: an empathetic, constructive, helpful, brilliant, kind, beautiful, supremely talented, funny, and positive coach/teacher/person/harpist/singer /composer/storyteller/friend. Thanks for being YOU – All of your students, family members, friends are glad you were born!!!! Xxxx Emily
Happy Birthday Deborah! What a stellar song for the spirit. The words ring such truth!
Jannie
Happy Birthday Deborah! I remembered it but you got to it before I did- yes, love you being in charge of your own birthday. I just know that many more doors are going to open for you this year. Your unlimited passion will lead your heart to new territories.
Thank you for being the perfect incompletion you are! You have give me a sense of freedom on so many levels this year. Thank you!
Kathryn
Thank you so much Kathryn! I’ve sooooo enjoyed getting to know you on line and off this year. Here’s to many more!
Happy Happy Birthday, Shining Star! I am still unwrapping the gift of THREE amazing workshops with you at the Southeast Harp Conference last month!! And now to find out you are a fellow Scorpio! My birthday is the 18th, and I will be singing this catchy tune to myself all day! I heard you described by someone at the conference as a “force of nature ” and I must agree! Have a fabulous new year ahead! Keep on Shining! We need you!!♡♡♡
Thank you Sharon! And happy, happy almost Birthday! Here’s to the force of nature in all of us on birthdays and unbirthdays! Thanks so much for your note.
You may be older, but you ARE getting better. Thank you for this wonderful song and so many more. Happy Birthday. Jessica
You know, it’s funny, but I was talking to some other performers and noting that – in fact, we ARE playing better than we ever have … at least, according to us! I look forward to seeing you in May!!!
Great song..may have to listen to it every day! YOU are amazing! Thank you for lifting my spirit with your words and voice…a Scorpion sister.
Yes, please listen every day, Scorpion Sister – I sometimes just sing it at the top of my lungs!
Happy birthday Deborah!!!
Thank you for this great song, it is a gift (like the day I heard you sing it in Leiden for another harpist Rossitza Milevska’s birthday at the end of your brilliant show for the Jazz Harp festival, wonderful!), I will use it and your concept of “being responsible for our own birthday” very soon ’cause my birthday is 10 days after yours…those dates can be challenging sometimes but the lyrics of your song are so really sweet and warm, that I think I will just jump up and down singing your song on the 21st!!!
You are definitely a shining star!
Thank you so much, Valérie — and happy ALMOST birthday – you are shining VERY brightly!! I can just imagine you jumping up and down with your harp – and it’s a wonderful image!
Happy Belated Birthday and Thank You. Loved your Congratulations Birthday Song.
Thank you Renee – and so happy to hear that. Don’t worry – you’re not belated – I’m celebrating for the whole month.
Happy Belated Birthday DHC! Sending you lots of Aloha from Kauai!
Thank you, Lainey!
Thank you Deborah, this was fun and moving. It brought tears to my eyes and made me smile. You are also so generous with your performance this music keeps ringing and the rhythm is lifting and the talk is sweet and the music keeps ringing…really loved it !
And a very Happy Birthday to you! There is no harm in celebrating it a few days 🙂