Lyr Req: I Want to Be Strong (from Up with People)

Subject: Lyr Req: Up with People song(?) 'I Want to be str
From: GUEST,CatCameBack
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:45 PM

Does anyone have the words / chords to this? I remember some of it, but not all. I THINK it was associated with UWP, at least they were performing it in the 60's. TIA

Subject: Req: Up with People song: I Want to be strong
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 01:00 AM

I take it that you're looking for an Up With People song called "I Want To Be Strong" - right?
I have the 1966 Up With People book, How to Create You Own Sing-Out and it's not in that book. This site makes me think the song was from another tour, possibly called "Up with People! in Hollywood."
We used to sing "Up With People" as the theme song for a church group I belonged to in college, and I kinda liked the song. I saw an "Up With People" performance in Sacramento in the 1980's, and felt it bordered on right-wing, jingoistic propaganda.
They're still in business - their Website is http://www.upwithpeople.org/.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: I WANT TO BE STRONG (from Up with People)
From: Barry T
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 02:02 AM

I believe the song you're looking for is titled 'Keep Young at Heart' written by Glenn Close (yes, 'the' Glenn Close') and Kathe Green.

Chorus
I want to be strong, to be strong as the land around me
I want a heart that's as wide as the sky!
I want a spirit like a moving mountain stream
I want to look people straight in the eye.

Walking alone beneath a canopy of cloud
Feeling like a stranger in the midst of a crowd
I know that something great is calling me aloud
I know that I must choose.

The crowd is crying 'cause there's hunder and hate
If we care it's not too late
A loving, laughing world we'll be able to create
Underneath an endless sky.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Up with People song(?) 'I Want to be str
From: Barry T
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 02:05 AM

Oops... cancel that song title. It is titled 'I Want to be Strong', as you stated.

If you want the chords you'll have to wait till tomorrow night. It's past my bedtime! (Yawn)

Subject: Chords Add: I WANT TO BE STRONG
From: Barry T
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 09:01 PM

Chords as requested...

I Want To Be Strong

By Glenn Close and Kathe Green

Chorus
I (G) want to be (Bm) strong
To be strong (C) as the (D7) land around me
(G) I want a (Bm) heart that's as (C) wide as the (D7) sky!
(G) I want a (Em7) spirit like a (C) moving mountain (D7) stream
(G) I want to (Bm) look people (C) straight (D7) in the (G) eye.

(C) Walking (D) alone beneath a (G) canopy of (Em) cloud
(C) Feeling like a (D) stranger in the (Em) midst of a crowd
(C) I know that (D) something great is (G) calling me (Em) aloud
(C) I know that (D7) I must (G) choose.

(C) The crowd is (D7) crying 'cause there's (G) hunger and (Em) hate
(C) If we care it's (D) not too (Em) late
(C) A loving, laughing (D) world we'll be (G) able to (Em) create
(C) Underneath an (D7) endless (G) sky.

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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Up with People song(?) 'I Want to be str
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 10:18 PM

Yes Glenn Close had a band called "The Green Glenn Singers". I believe she played the Melodica (I'm not making that up)

My "Up with People" album is still one of my all time weirdo-favourites. It contains gems like "Which Way America", and my all time fave bad song "You Can't Live Crooked and Think Straight". If I tell you that the song implies that masturbation could lead to the death of astronauts, you wouldn't believe me.....so I won't....but it does......honest.

Perhaps even MORE bizarre.....I once DATED a woman who had sung with "Up With People".

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Up with People song(?) 'I Want to be str
From: Barry T
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 11:06 PM

What does that say about me, Rick? I married one!   ;-)

...but not a member of the American cast. Does that make it OK? (LOL)

One upon a decade, the original UWP cast performed at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario, which spawned a group there. In turn that group visited and performed at the base at Summerside, Prince Edward Island, where I was stationed... and yet another group was created. I got involved for seven years as a volunteer coach and erstatz musical director.

All kidding aside, the group served its purpose in that rural community where there was little for the teens to do. At our peak we had over a hundred on stage and a band of nine. 'Got to perform for the Queen, too! (Remember that, Liz?) Several of the members went on to perform professionally.

Musically speaking, we drifted slightly from the UPW formula and repertoire, though we did stick to 'feeling good' kinds of songs that were politically correct for the military base and local community.

So I, for one, say "Thanks, Up With People!" After twenty-eight years I'm still happily married to that cute gal in the front row!

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