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The Dance of Kindness
He stepped out singing in the morning sun,
Light on his shoulders, every creature spun.
Birds in the treetops dancing in the air,
All of creation gathered round his care.
He had that spark that animals feel,
A bright electric kindness warm 'n real.
Foxes in the hedgerow, rabbits on the run,
Slowed their little hearts to join the fun.
He moved like sunlight skipping through the leaves,
A rhythm nature followed with such ease.
Every shy heartbeat, feathered, furred,
Leaned into the joy within his word.
He had that spark that animals feel,
A bright electric kindness warm 'n real.
Foxes in the hedgerow, rabbits on the run,
Slowed their little hearts to join the fun.
He laughed with life in every step he made,
A pulse of wonder in the world he played.
The smallest creature, trembling, still,
Found courage in the brightness of his will.
He had that spark that animals feel,
A bright electric kindness warm 'n real.
Foxes in the hedgerow, rabbits on the run,
Slowed their little hearts to join the fun.
And some still carry hearts like his,
A deeper way of how life lives —
A natural joy, a gentle fire,
Animals have with pure desire.
He had that spark that animals can feel,
A bright electric kindness warm and real.
Foxes in the hedgerow, rabbits on the run,
Slowed their little hearts to join the fun.
STORY BOARD
SONG OVERVIEW
Written and produced by Tasmanian Songwriter Jason Bresnehan, The Dance of Kindness is a joyful disco-pop and R&B inspired song written for Saint Francis of Assisi, while also serving as a deeply personal tribute to Jason's wife Alison. Built around the idea that some people possess a natural connection with animals, the song celebrates a rare form of kindness that seems to be recognised instinctively by living creatures. Foxes, rabbits, birds and woodland animals are drawn not by commands or training, but by a quiet and genuine gentleness.
Within the Saints and Sinners project, Francis of Assisi is remembered as the saint most closely associated with animals and the natural world. Rather than focusing on poverty, simplicity or the founding of the Franciscan Order, this song explores the aspect of Francis that has captured imaginations for centuries: the belief that animals sensed something special in him and responded accordingly.
FRANCIS AND THE ANIMAL WHISPERERS
Throughout Christian tradition, Francis is remembered through stories involving birds, wolves and other creatures that appeared unusually comfortable in his presence. Whether viewed literally, symbolically or somewhere in between, those stories have survived because they express a simple idea. Some people move through the world in a way that animals instinctively trust.
The song takes that tradition and extends it into the present day. The bridge introduces the idea that "some still carry hearts like his". Francis becomes the historical example, but the song suggests that the same gift can still be found today. Certain people possess a gentleness that animals recognise immediately. Dogs calm down. Birds stay close. Cats choose their lap. Nervous creatures become curious rather than afraid.
THE DANCE OF KINDNESS
The central metaphor running through the song is movement. Nature itself begins to dance around kindness. Birds circle overhead. Rabbits slow their pace. Small creatures emerge from hiding. The world appears lighter and more joyful simply because one person carries a spirit of generosity and care.
Rather than portraying kindness as weakness, the song presents it as a force that changes the behaviour of everything around it. The repeated phrase "a bright electric kindness" deliberately combines warmth with energy. This is not passive kindness. It is a living presence that creates movement wherever it goes.
MUSICAL DIRECTION
The Dance of Kindness draws direct inspiration from the joyful energy of September by Earth, Wind & Fire. Syncopated bass lines, bright horn arrangements, disco-pop grooves and warm R&B vocal harmonies create a song designed to feel uplifting from the opening bar.
The arrangement aims to capture sunlight rather than solemnity. The rhythm section drives the song forward with a danceable pulse while the horns provide bursts of colour and celebration. The chorus is intentionally simple and memorable, allowing the song to feel playful and light-hearted while still carrying an underlying spiritual message. The result is one of the most cheerful and accessible songs within the Saints and Sinners collection.
THE ARTWORK
The artwork presents a luminous woodland clearing bathed in golden light. At the centre stands a young figure surrounded by deer, birds, squirrels, rabbits and other animals. The animals are not being directed or commanded. Instead, they gather naturally around the figure, creating an atmosphere of trust, harmony and quiet wonder.
The composition reflects the song's central theme that kindness attracts life. The forest itself appears alive with movement, colour and warmth. Light pours down through the trees, transforming the clearing into something that feels almost heavenly. The image serves as both a visual representation of Saint Francis and a personal tribute to the qualities celebrated within the song.
PERSONAL CONNECTION TO JASON BRESNEHAN SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER
While The Dance of Kindness forms part of the Saint Francis chapter of Saints and Sinners, the deeper inspiration behind the song is Jason's wife Alison. Throughout their life together, Jason has observed a natural connection between Alison and animals that consistently amazes him. Animals appear comfortable around her in a way that cannot easily be explained through training, commands or technique. They simply seem to trust her.
When researching Francis of Assisi, Jason repeatedly found himself thinking about Alison. The stories of Francis and the animal world echoed something he had witnessed for many years. The song therefore became a fusion of history and personal experience. Francis provided the saintly inspiration, while Alison provided the living example.
For Jason, the woodland figure surrounded by animals represents something close to an ideal image of Alison's soul. If heaven contains gardens, forests and creatures living in harmony beneath God's light, then the scene depicted in the artwork would be difficult to improve upon. The Dance of Kindness is therefore both a song about Saint Francis and a love letter expressed through music.