HELP! Need a song about peace!!!

Subject: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Knicke
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 12:25 PM

Hi, Mudcatters! I hope you can help me with this challenge. My campus Peace Club (of which I am a member) is holding a vigil tomorrow on the steps of our administration building. The vigil is on behalf of the children in Iraq, many of whom experience malnutrition, sickness, and death as a result of the sanctions placed on Iraq. We're going to ring the campus bell once for every child who dies in a day as a direct result of the sanctions.

ANYHOOOOOOOOO...my problem is that they've asked ME to lead a song!!! And I don't know what's appropriate! My friend and I have been digging through "Rise Up Singing" and other resources, looking for a song that would be appropriate, easy to play, and MAYBE easy enough that everyone could sing on the chorus. The simpler, the better, I'm sure. This is not a post about politics, just a folksinger problem that I hope you 'Catters can help me with. Any ideas?!!!

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 12:31 PM

At a vigil for Mathew Shephard we sang a very simple one. I don't know the name, but the melody was easy and the words were simple:

Listen, listen, listen to my heart song X2
I will never forsake you, I will never forget you X2 It si a very pretty tune. I could send you a midi of me singing it, if you want the tune, just PM me your addy.

Congratulations on being asked to lead.

kat

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 12:33 PM

Pete Seeger's "Strangest Dream"?
RtS

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Áine
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 12:40 PM

Dear Knicke,

One of your fellow Mudcatters, McGrath of Harlow, has written a beautiful song about peace, called 'White Snow of the Springtime'. You can find two Realaudio versions of it and a link to the lyrics here. And I'm positive he'd love it if you'd sing it.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: LR Mole
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 12:44 PM

"Peace is (clap CLAP) the bread we break/Love is the river rollin'/Life is the chance we take/When we make this world our home/Gonna make this world our home." I only caught this on the radio once and I know it has verses. The two-clap is participatory without being threatening and I'd like to know more of/about it myself.Help!

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: mousethief
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 01:28 PM

ALL WE ARE SAYING IS "GIVE PEACE A CHANCE"
-John Lennon

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: GUEST,FiddleGirl
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 01:30 PM

There's a three part round called "what a goodly thing" that might be good. The way I've heard it goes

"Oh, what a goodly thing, If the Children of us all, Could live together, in peace"

sung to the tune of "rose, rose, rose" in the mudcat database.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Dani
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 01:45 PM

What's that Prayer of St. Francis song?

"Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me

Let there be peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be......"

....I'm thinking...

Dani

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: The Crazy Bird
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 02:06 PM

I'd suggest "Where have all the Flowers Gone?", even decrepit oldies, wearing bifocals like me, mite join in...

rgrds CrzyBrd

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 02:23 PM

I Come And Stand At Every Door
(N.Hikmet)

  
D          C/D            D               C/D             D  
I come and stand at every door but no one hears my silent prayer  
  G         A             D       Em            C    D  
I knock and yet remain unseen for I am dead for I am dead  
D        C/D              D  
I'm only seven although I died  
       C/D        D  
In Hiroshima long ago  
    G     A             D                  Em       C      D  
I'm seven now and I was then when children die they do not grow  
D           C/D                  D  
My hair was scorched by swirling fire  
             C/D              D  
My eyes grew dim my eyes grew blind  
      G        A                  D  
Death came and turned my bones to dust  
    Em                 C      D  
And that was scattered by the wind  
D               C/D       D              C/D             D  
I need no fruit I need no rice I need no sweets nor even bread  
  G       A           D          Em            C      D  
I ask for nothing for myself for I am dead for I am dead  
D          C/D            D  
All that I ask for is for peace  
          C/D             D  
You fight today you fight today  
G            A              D  
So that the children of this world  
    Em                C         D  
May live and grow and laugh and play  

I can't get through this one without breaking up. If you can sing it, I think you'll find it's one of the more powerful anti-war songs ever made.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 02:27 PM

The other old chestnut--"Blowin' In The Wind" Timeless questions ultimately about caring a bout our fellow man.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Grab
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 02:29 PM

Garth Brooks - "We shall be free".

Grab.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: mkebenn
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 02:31 PM

I'm with Mr. Mouse "Give peace a chance"(not likly in Iraq} Mike

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 02:58 PM

Darn. Lost all the line breaks etc in above post. If interested, Personal Message me and I'll clean it up for you.

Why does that happen so often when you copy and paste?

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Tinker
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 03:10 PM

Plea for one world

A plea for one world, is heard in many different lands
This is a plea of a world that is hunry for peace
Let all men come together, let all men live untogether
Happily in any weather, pledging their lives for peace
This is a wonderful and haunting round. DT gives it possible Russian origin unfortunately there is no midi file and I probably know a different tune as I learnt it in a Minor key.

You may find a few folks who know Peace (I ask of Thee oh River) it tends to be still taught at many camps.
Best wishes and Blessings

Tinker

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Tinker
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 03:11 PM

Plea for one world

A plea for one world, is heard in many different lands
This is a plea of a world that is hunry for peace
Let all men come together, let all men live untogether
Happily in any weather, pledging their lives for peace
This is a wonderful and haunting round. DT gives it possible Russian origin unfortunately there is no midi file and I probably know a different tune as I learnt it in a Minor key.

You may find a few folks who know Peace (I ask of Thee oh River) it tends to be still taught at many camps.
Best wishes and Blessings

Tinker

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: GUEST,Knicke
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 04:31 PM

AH! Tinker, that's closer to what I'm getting at! That's not to knock the rest of the suggestions...it's just that MOST songs about peace are about specific situations. Plus, this is a religious school, so anything that's, um, "spiritual", will probably be welcomed more warmly. That's not to say that "Give Peace A Chance" isn't my first choice! I just don't think I could do it justice. :) Now, unfortunately, I don't have both the words and the tune to the right song yet...keep tryin', guys!

Knicke

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 04:48 PM


I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
In my soul (repeat)

I've got joy like a fountain...
I've got strength like a mountain...
I've got hope like a rainbow...
I've got love like an ocean...
I've got peace like a river...


On the other hand, since it is a vigil, there's nothing like We Shall Overcome-


On another hand, since it's for the children, you might consider the Russian song:
May there always be sunshine
May there always be blue skies
May there always be Mama,
May there always be me.

Blessings on your event, and may the children of Iraq cease their suffering soon.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 04:51 PM

"The Dove She Is A Pretty Bird" is in the DT.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: pastorpest
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 05:10 PM

I put @peace in the digitrad lyrics search and it came up with 36 songs. There is so much choice! Choose something simple that people learn quickly and easily.

Subject: LYR ADD: Let There Be Peace On Earth
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 06:56 PM

Here's the one Dani mentioned. Most Unity Churches use it in their services. It is my understanding that the people who wrote it were members of Unity or another metaphysical org. BTW, the St. Francis Prayer song is in the DT.

Let There Be Peace On Earth,
and let it begin with me.
Let There Be Peace On Earth,
the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Fa - ther,
broth - ers all are we,
Let me walk with my broth-er,
in per-fect har - mo - ny.

Let peace be - gin with me
let this be the mo - ment now,
With ev-'ry step I take,
let this be my sol - emn vow,

To take each mo - ment and live each mo - ment
in peace, e - ter - nal - ly.
Let There Be Peace On Earth,
and let it be - gin with me.

Circa 1955
Words and Music by Jill Jackson and Sy Miller

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 07:23 PM

Several Sydney Carter songs come to mind - especially "When I needed a neighbour", which seems especially right for this, and is very simple to sing and improvise extra verses for - you'd find it in lots of collections for schools and churches:

When I needed a neighbour were you there, were you there
When I needed a neighbour were you there?
(Chorus)And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter, were you there

I was hungry and thirsty, were you there...

I was cold, I was naked...

When I needed a shelter...

When I needed a healer...

Wherever you travel, I'll be there......

(Tell us how it goes, Knicke, whatever you choose to sing.)

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: MichaelAnthony
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 10:47 PM

The one Lonesome EJ mentioned, though I've never heard it, sounds like a very relevant choice. A line or two changed and it's custom-made.

He mentioned I Come And Stand At Every Door by N.Hikmet

MA

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From:
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 10:54 PM

Roger, do you mean "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream"?

It's written by Ed McCurdy, who died last year.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From:
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 12:18 AM

HEre's another song, written by Cape Bretoner Allister MacGillivray. It's called Song For Peace. I have an MP3 of the Cape BReton Chorale singing a chorus from it.

http://www.geocities.com/george_seto.geo/Song4peace.html

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 01:42 AM

Here's one that usually get people going. The tune is familiar to them and a peace crowd will appreciate the humor.

      - Mark

Universal Military Training

(to the melody of "Johnny Comes Marching Home")

For you and me all war must cease, hurrah, hurrah,
We have the perfect formula for peace, hurrah,
Oh I'll shoot you and you'll shoot me,
and then how happy we will be,
Universal military training.

Oh we will drop an atom bomb upon the Russ',
And they will drop an atom bomb on us, hurrah,
And then we're sure to have peace allright,
Cause there'll be nobody left to fight,
Universal military training.

When life upon this earth is gone, hurrah, hurrah,
Then up in heaven we'll carry on, hurrah, hurrah,
We'll give them guns and they'll be proud,
As they go marching cloud to cloud,
Universal military training.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: KT
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 01:59 AM

George, thanks for the link to that beautiful song. I've been singing that song for years and there were three words I couldn't make out from the recording I had. Now I know. (for 'tis certain)

LR Mole, the song you suggested, "Peace Is," was recorded by Fred Small. I think he wrote it, too, but can't say for sure. Great song.

"From a Distance" may be a good one for your gig, Knicke. Sing pretty!!

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:04 AM

Yes, George,that's the one (I meant as sung by Pete Seeger - as I post from work I have to rely on memory for titles, authors and artists which is why I get so many wrong!).
RtS

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Knicke
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 09:15 AM

Hi, all! I think I found what I was looking for...thanks SOOOO much for your suggestions. My friend and I figured that "Hard Times" by Stephen Foster would actually work the best for what we wanted. It's perfect, because I think it was originally written in response to civilian suffering as a result of the Civil War. I THINK so...anybody care to back me up or refute me on this one? THANKS AGAIN!!! I'll let you know how it goes. Knicke

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 09:59 AM

Actually Knicke, according to info in this thread, it was written slightly before the Civil War, in 1854. There is also an address, in that thread, for s Stephen Foster site which has documentation. I think Dicho posted that info.

kat

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From:
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 11:12 AM

KT, you're very welcome. It's a beautiful song. The Barra MacNeil's do my favourite version of the song.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Marion
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 07:34 PM

"Down By the Riverside" is a great religious song about peace, and is very singable. RUS has chords for it, as well as some suggestions for modern verses that might inspire you to write some verses specific to this demo.

I like Bob Dylan's "Masters of War", though it may be a little harsher than you want ("Even Jesus would never forgive what you do...") and isn't as suitable for group singing.

St. Francis' song about peace is actually the one that goes "Make me a channel of your peace... where there is hatred let me bring your love..." which is also very pretty if you know it.

Or do you know "Dona Nobis Pacem"? It's a three part canon, very beautiful music, with just the words Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant us peace) repeated. It's in the "Sacred Rounds" section of RUS and has the melody included. It would be nice if your group didn't object to a little Latin and was able to rehearse the music.

Marion

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Knicke
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 11:44 PM

Hi, all. The short vigil this afternoon went quite well. It's cold out here in Kansas, so my hands were blue and numb by the end of three verses. Still, everyone picked up beautifully on the chorus of "Hard Times" and the whole thing was very meaningful, I think. I had a very hard time making it through the whole song without choking up, especially having to sing it after listening to the school bell rung 166 times (once for each civilian that dies everyday as a result of the economic sanctions) and looking at pictures of Iraqi children who are suffering, unable to obtain basic medical equipment to treat simple ailments such as diarrhea...and all because of my country's policies. Very sobering stuff. Here is a website that you might want to visit if you're interested in hearing more about ths situation. Click here

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: LR Mole
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 12:56 PM

Should you do this again, I'd suggest Neil Young's "I Am a Child", done more slowly, maybe even as a duet.

Subject: ADD: Peace Must Come
From: radriano
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 06:48 PM

There's a great non-religious song called Peace Must Come. It was written, I believe, by a guy from New Zealand. I'm tracking the author down and will post his name. It is in the DT as Over And Over Again where it is credited to an Englishwoman that Bob Walser met/knows? I used to sing this and it has been recorded by the author and by John McCormick (local California singer). I'll post the lyrics I have because they're a bit different from what's in the DT.

Peace Must Come

Many's the time I heard the bells chime
To bring the people to pray on a sunny Sunday
Blessed are the meek for the peace that they seek
Over and over again

Chorus:
Over again, oh, over again
Say it, pray it, over again
Over again, oh, over again
Peace must come

From way out in space the world is our place
A pinpoint of light whose people still fight
They smile and shake hands, then make weapons and plans
To do battle all over again

It it really so hard to lower your guard
And admit to the greed of more than we need
The words on the wall are familiar to all
I've been reading them over again

(repeat first verse)


Richard

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: radriano
Date: 02 Mar 01 - 05:28 PM

Peace Must Come was written by Paul Metsers. See new thread: Lyr Add - Peace Must Come.

Richard

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: GUEST,faswilli2
Date: 02 Mar 01 - 10:43 PM

"God on Our Side". (good luck graduating into the 'real" world.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Mr Red
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 11:02 AM

The tune, format and inspiration are the "Old Barbed Wire" (or "If You Want to Find the Colonel") and I would have called it "The Old Barbed Why Here?" but you don't need to know the original song if it is called :-

The War Memorial - lest we forget.

V1 (emphasis But-Cher) If you want to find the "Butcher", I know where he is, I know where he is, Oh! I know where he is If you want to find the Butcher, I know where he is. "His name it is carved in stone", I saw him I saw him, his name it is carved in stone I saw him, name it is carved in stone. V2 (emphasis Ba-Ker) ditto- "Baker" ditto "(He) died with a bullet all alone" ditto V3 (emphasis Candlestick-Maker) ditto Candlestickmaker ditto "(His) flame it no longer burns" ditto V4 (emphasis Grand-Sons) ditto grandsons (them) ditto "(They're) leaving all their litter here" ditto

(C) cresby.com If litter doesn't translate then try garbage. emphasis is to make the words scan. They just dun gotta be them words I'm afraid. Unless John Doe is part of a trio.

Let me know if it strikes a chord.

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 04:27 PM

I came across this thread today, and thought that this is a perfect time to refresh it. I had a nice chat with Sandy and Caroline Paton today, and we talked a lot about the war clouds that are forming. Caroline and I are still hanging onto our optimism.
I hope we're right.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 04:42 PM

I'm sure you can imagine, Joe, how very much most of us hope you and Caroline are right! My own notion is that the very best scenario one can hope for at this point is that Hussein will flee into exile. His departure might leave this country's leaders scratching their heads in bafflement and confusion, but surely it would mean that we wouldn't start lobbing the missiles. Go, Hussein!

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: mg
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 04:53 PM

heart's a wonder by ? Sands...
and Linda Allen just sang a great new one at Rainycamp..she is here..maybe you could PM her for words or we can somehow find them..

mg

Subject: RE: HELP! Need a song about peace!!!
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 05:00 PM

I just saw Canned Heat in concert last Sat. and they closed with this song. I thought it was pretty good for the times. Question.. can anyone tell me what the chords to this would be?


Let's Work Together Let's Stick Together
Together we'll stand
Divided we'll fall
Come on now people
Let's get on the ball
And work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
(Now now people)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, every girl and man
People, when things go wrong
As they sometimes will
And the road you travel
It stays all uphill
Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
You know together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Oh well now, two or three minutes
Two or three hours
What does it matter now
In this life of ours
Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
(Now now people)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, every woman and man
Ahhh, come on now...
Ahhh, come on, let's work together...
Well now, make someone happy
Make someone smile
Let's all work together
And make life worthwhile
Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
(Now now people)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Oh well now, come on you people
Walk hand in hand
Let's make this world of ours
A good place to stand
And work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
(Now now people)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Well now together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man


Peace. Rustic