A variety of voices...
An eclectic mix of styles...
One message:
Peace.
To listen: www.cdbaby.com/cd/increasethepeace
To order: click on the image of the CD.
A man crosses the street in rain, stepping gently, looking two times north and south, because his son is asleep on his shoulder. No car must splash him. No car drive too near to his shadow. This man carries the world’s most sensitive cargo but he’s not marked. Nowhere does his jacket say FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE. His ear fills up with breathing. He hears the hum of a boy’s dream deep inside him. We’re not going to be able to live in this world if we’re not willing to do what he’s doing with one another. The road will only be wide. The rain will never stop falling. Copyright Naomi Shihab Nye 2. Courage Bob Blue (Sung by Janet O’Connor) A small thing once happened at school that brought up a question for me And somehow it helped me to see the price that I pay to be cool. Diane is this girl that I know. She’s strange like she doesn’t fit in I don’t mean to say that that’s wrong. We don’t like to be with her though. And so when we all had a plan to have this big party at Sue’s Most kids at the school got the news, but no one invited Diane The problem with Taft Junior High is secrets don’t last very long I acted like nothing was wrong when I saw Diane start to cry I know you may think that I’m cruel; it doesn’t make me very proud I just went along with the crowd. It’s sad but you have to at school You can’t pick the friends you prefer. You fit in as well as you can. I couldn’t be friends with Diane, ‘cause then they would treat me like her. In one class at Taft Junior High we study what people have done With gas chamber, bomber and gun in Auschwitz, Japan, and My Lai. I don’t understand all I learn. Sometimes I just sit there and cry. The whole world stood idly by and watched as the innocent burned. Like robots obeying some rule, atrocities done by the mob All innocent, doing their job, and what was it for? Was it cool? The world was aware of this hell, but how many cried out in shame? What heroes and who was to blame? A story that no one dared tell. I promise to do what I can to not let it happen again. I’ll care for all women and men. I’ll start by inviting Diane Copyright Bob Blue 3. World of Justice, World of Peace Dana Clark I want to give my children a world that’s safe in every way But now the radio reports new dangers every day Within this world of war my only weapon is a song All alone I’m not strong enough to right what’s wrong Chorus: But if we walk hand in hand and we work side by side If we join heart to heart ‘til we see eye to eye Then every dream we dream can be reality In a world of justice, a world of peace Can we be sure of freedom when so many are not free Why do some have plenty while some live in poverty We grow so tired of the struggle for the problems never end But in each other’s eyes we find the faith to try again For when we walk hand in hand…… Seven billion of us on a planet that’s so small Someday we may realize we’re family after all And as we reach out to heal each other, set each other free We’ll find only sisters, brothers, not one enemy Then we will walk hand in hand…….. . Copyright Dana Clark 4. Ain’t Nothin’ to be Proud Of Bett Butler Now I was born and raised here And I love these people, and I love this land. And I’m proud of who we are and what we’ve made here, But certain things I’m finding hard to understand. Comes a time you have to question what you’ve always been taught. Seems that things aren’t always simple black and white. It seems we’ve treated certain people badly in our time. It seems we haven’t always done what’s right. Chorus: Ain’t nothin’ to be proud of Ain’t nothin’ to be proud of Now we are young as a country Sometimes we act with the carelessness of youth We think that we’re invincible; we can do no wrong We make decisions not entirely based in truth. And it seems we’ve treated certain folks unfairly Even while we claim that God is on our side But I can’t help but think that God has much more sympathy For the people to whom justice was denied Chorus Now, different things mean different things to different people— Like the meaning of a symbol or a song But rubbing salt into the wound of people’s painful memories, How can we ever learn to get along? Chorus nd we find it really hard to say we’re sorry, So the shadow of injustice still remains We build monuments to those who died in battle But we seldom speak of those who died in chains. Chorus Copyright 2004 Bett Butler 5. Only Glory Leeann Atherton Oh, people search for glory a million different ways In their solitary faces, working at it hard each day Well, if they’d stop and take the time to question why they care They might just start to find there’s still room for sharing It’s like we go around in circles when there’s no love in our lives Just an empty game we’re playing, all we do is mark the time And if we get our name in the papers and make a lot of money Have we satisfied our hunger in our search for glory Chorus: You know that the only glory is to love and be loved It’s the ageless story all of our dreams are made of And we all need someone to share in this great prize You know the only glory is to love and be loved To love and be loved To love and be loved We’re all driven by desire for something in our lives Climbing always higher, always searching for the light And what a glorious adventure when the wings of love enfold you And lift you up above to find that the search is over Chorus Copyright Lee Ann Atherton 6. Litany for the Fourth of July Tom Keene Oh, America, happy birthday. Happy remembering how we declared our independence from the world’s most powerful rule. Happy remembering how we proclaimed our freedom from the very idea of empire. When we declared, “all humans are equal,” When we pronounced that governments get their powers from the consent of the governed, When we deemed it our right and duty to overthrow any rulers who impose on us empire and the ideas of empire. Today, on this your birthday, we declare again our independence from empire and the notions of empire. From the notion that the need to control requires that some dominate others, we declare our independence. From the belief that the rulers may use us to achieve their goals, we declare our independence. From the prejudice that nature equips men better than women to dominate, and some races and classes to dominate others, we declare our independence. From the assumption that imperial ends justify the use of any means, we declare our independence. From the dogma that violence is redemptive, that violence is the only language enemies understand, we declare our independence. From the premise that rulers and managers should be rewarded by extra privileges and greater wealth, we declare our independence. From the conviction that property is sacred, and property ownership is an absolute right, we declare our independence. From the opinion that institutions are more important than people, we declare our independence. Happy birthday, America, and here’s to the day when you will enjoy independence From your own empire. Copyright Tom Keene *with language and ideas from Engaging the Powers, by Walter Wink, Fortress Press, 1992 7. Raghupati Raghava Traditional Hindu hymn— Used by Mahatma Gandhi at his daily prayer meetings to plead for peace between Moslem and Hindu. Sung by Veena Prasad. Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram Patita Pavana Sita Ram Sita Ram Jaya Sita Ram Patita Pavana Sita Ram Ishwara Allah Tere Nam Saba Ko Sanmati De Bhagavan 8. Rise and Take a Stand Dana Clark We are a family, the human family We are in trouble. Can we survive? When so many of our children struggle just to stay alive Rise and take a stand, lend a helping hand Rise and take a stand, lend a helping hand When we help someone to help another, to help another It helps us all When so many people need you, can you hear them when they call? Can you catch them when they fall? Rise and take a stand, lend a helping hand Rise and take a stand, lend a helping hand The world we’re making will be our children’s Will be their children’s, on and on forevermore Will it be a peaceful planet? Will it be a world of war? We can make it so much more Rise and take a stand, lend a helping hand Rise and take a stand, lend a helping hand Our brother’s hungry, our sister’s homeless Our daughter’s dying, our son’s at war It’s a desperate situation, like we’ve never faced before. What’s the future hold in store? Rise and take a stand, lend a helping hand. Rise and take a stand, lend a helping hand. Copyright 1998 Dana Clark 9. Path of Peace Lee Ann Cook There is enough in my heart There is enough in my heart I no longer need to fear you On a path of peace I see anew I see enough in this world Bounteous gifts in this world When we join hands we have begun On a path of peace to work as one Chorus: Joy is the guiding light within That shows us how to begin To walk on a path of peace Fear and anger pull us to the side As we get blinded by their lies And we stray from a path a peace I feel a change in my soul A new direction, new way to go A voice of love says in my ear On a path of peace the choice is clear Chorus There is enough in our hearts There is enough in our hearts No one left behind; no one made to fall On a path of peace we’ll save us all. There is enough in our hearts. Copyright 2005 Lee Ann Cook 10. New Choices Rudi Harst Come let us sing together Come raise our voices Come celebrate the power Making peaceful choices Come on and tell your story Come on and sing your song Come celebrate the glory Knowing that we are one Come let us sing together Come raise our voices Come celebrate the power Making our new choices When I am one I may grow lonely When we are two we can stay strong Three of us together make a movement And wherever four or more are gathered the angels sing along And help us on Chorus We’re all being asked to dance with danger Made to feel like strangers sometimes, too We’re all being called to help increase the peace The walls are falling down ‘round me and you Heaven could be waiting ‘way up yonder Heaven could be living right next door Shining in the eyes of total strangers And begging us to end this endless war to end all wars And ask, “what’s this fighting for?” Chorus Copyright 2005 Rudi Harst 11. Peace on Earth Michael Jackson See the leaders put all they know And all they do into war Look at the people, what they say All I can hear is, “no war, no way.” Chorus: Peace on earth Peace on earth I don’t know why If we try We wouldn’t find Peace on earth You say it’s not simple, I wouldn’t know In a perfect world maybe, but in this one, no Well, nothing worth having ever comes free We have to work for what we want to be Chorus Copyright 2004 Michael Jackson 12. Peace Lullaby Patti Radle It’s been so long since I’ve heard a very simple lullaby I know the world is so confused and I think that’s probably why It’s hard to sing a simple song in a world that twists and sways And so I think that that’s good reason we should sing one today (Hum Brahms Lullaby) I want the same for my children as the parents long ago To sleep in peace without a fear of any danger coming near And so I think a lullaby’s a simple song to lead the way To simple hopes, to simple dreams, to simple jobs, to simple play (Hum Brahms Lullaby) What do I know of Iraqi mothers? Do they sing sweet lullabies? All I hear are world leaders with their fearful threats and cries And so I dedicate this song to all the parents ‘round the world Who wish for peaceful lullabies to sing upon a peaceful earth (Hum Brahms Lullaby) Copyright Patti Radle 13. Father of the Martyrs Padre Nuestro de los Mártires Anonymous Sung by Lodie and Rob Mueller Padre Nuestro, del pobre y del marginado. Padre Nuestro, de martires y torturados. Tu nombre es santificado en a quel que muere al defender la vida. Tu nombre es glorificado cuando la justicia es nuestra medida. Tu Reino es de libertad, de fraternidad, paz y comunión. Maldita toda violencia que devora el pueblo por la represión. Hagase Tu voluntad eres el verdadero Dios Liberador. No vamos a seguir doctrinas almañadas por el poder opresor. Pedimos el pan de la vida, pan de la esperanza, el pan de los pobres. El pan que trae humanidad, y reconstruye el pueblo en vez de cañones. Perdónanos cuando, por miedo, quedamos callados delante la muerte. Perdona y destruye el reino de la corrupción, como ley mas fuerte. Protégenos de la maldad, de los prepotentes y los asesinos. Dios Padre, Revolucionario, Hermano del pobre, Dios del oprimido 14. Peace is a Choice Rudi Harst Peace is a choice Peace is a choice I raise my voice I make peace my choice Peace Peace Peace Peace I make peace my choice I make joy my choice I make joy my choice I raise my voice I make joy my choice Joy Joy Joy Joy I make joy my choice I make love my choice I make love my choice I raise my voice I make love my choice Love Love Love Love I make love my choice I make joy my choice I make peace my choice I make peace my choice I make peace my choice Peace Copyright 1999 Rudi Harst 15. The Ring Terri Hendrix When we were kids we’d lay awake at night And listen to my mom and dad talk about money, when times were tight My mom would raise her voice. My dad wouldn’t say a thing. He’d walk outside, turn on his workshop light And he’d work on a ring. My dad earned the Soldier’s Medal and the Purple Heart in Vietnam He learned how to make jewelry to ease his mind on the ship back home The war left him changed. He never said a thing. Every time he thought about it, he’d work on the ring. Chorus: For my mother, he made a ring For my mother, he’d do most anything A quiet man, with words unspoken Proved his love could not be broken Out of a half dollar my father made my mom a ring. We watched him through the window as he worked one afternoon He held the silver half dollar in his hand as he tapped the edges with a spoon When I asked my dad if he was mad he never said a thing It seemed to ease his troubled mind as he worked on the ring Chorus Every holiday we gather round the table as my dad prays And when we close our eyes, sometimes I think my dad cries And those words left unspoken I’ve come to understand What’s kept our family together is worn on my mother’s hand Chorus Copyright 2002 Terri Hendrix 16. Whisper Lightly Jesse Garza Mine are the simple rhymes Melodies of my soul sung to you, my Lord No one in their heart can sing out of tune ‘ Cause his love will take you And whisper light Chimes are a crystal kiss When you hear those sounds of love Then you just can’t miss Reasons to be loved And know that you can trust Your heart of hearts will tell you That you were right Cry is a song for you The silent voice of my guitar Will tell it to When you think you’ve gone As far as you can go The sound of love will take you even more Even more Copyright 2003 Jesse Garza |