Category Archives: Social Justice

Music, Nonviolence, Peace, Royal Song of The Day, Social Justice

Poor Boy Blues: Peace Song for January 8, 2012

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[Today at Peace Couple we are going to do some serious catching up on Peace Song of the Day. We won’t tweet them all. But, if you check back tonight, you will find a long list of songs that celebrate peace and justice in the spirit of nonviolence!]

The Peace Song of the Day for January 8th is “Poor Boy Blues” [aka “Poor Boy A Long Way From Home”]. It is a traditional song with many variations, and many artists who have covered it. We are going to feature the video and lyrics with Mississippi John Hurt. There is also a rockin’ version with Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler at Youtube: here.

Continue reading Poor Boy Blues: Peace Song for January 8, 2012 →

Music, Occupy Wall Street, Peace, Royal Song of The Day, Social Justice

Do what the spirit says: Peace Song for 1/7/2012

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You Gotta Sing, made famous by Raffi, is the Peace Song of the Day for January 7th. This song is about joy, spirit, and intention. You gotta sing when the spirit says sing!

Continue reading Do what the spirit says: Peace Song for 1/7/2012 →

Royal Song of The Day, Social Justice

It was sad when that great ship went down: Peace Song for 1/5/2012

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“Ship Titanic”, sometimes know as “The Titanic”, “It Was Sad When That Great Ship Went Down”, or “Husbands and Wive”, is the Peace Song of the Day for January 5th. (We are doing catch-up!) It is a traditional song, tracing back to around 1915 or 1916. You can find the lyrics and chords to this song in the Rise Up Singing  songbook on page 206.

This song is related to peace and justice, because it resonates with the stories of how the rich people died on the Titanic, while black people were not allowed on, and poor people were trapped down below.

I also can’t help but relate the story of how the great ship went down with the story of how the big banks in America failed us. How about new lyrics of, “It was sad when those big banks went down…”? This song is ripe for an occupy version.

Some Lyrics:

Continue reading It was sad when that great ship went down: Peace Song for 1/5/2012 →

Music, Nonviolence, Peace, Royal Song of The Day, Social Justice

People are not the same: Peace Song for 1/4/2012

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The Color Song by Patricia Shi is the Peace Song of the Day for January 4th. You can find the lyrics and chords to this song in the Rise Up Singing songbook on page 238. The song uses child-like images and simplicity to share an important message about diversity.

You can find a sample of this song, and/or purchase the CD or MP3 of the album at CD Baby: here. You can find more songs, books, and good ideas (for children and adults) at Patricia Shih’s website: here.

Excerpt from lyrics: Continue reading People are not the same: Peace Song for 1/4/2012 →

Music, Nonviolence, Peace, Royal Song of The Day, Social Justice

Peace Song of the Day for 1/2/2012 and thoughts on catching up

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We Are One In The Spirit by Peter Scholte, is/was the Peace Song of the Day for January 2, 2012.

This is a more specifically religious song than we usually put on the Peace Song list. Though, it has themes of peace, unity, and working together which resonate with the life of a peace activist. So, take what you like, and leave the rest, as they say. (For more thoughts about songs and religion, and for a secular version of “We Are One In the Spirit”, see the Peace Couple post: here.)

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The Duke and Duchess of Peace (aka Ian and Kimberly of Wilderside, Ltd) announce a Peace Song for every day of the year. The Duke and Duchess believe that one of the ways to peace is through joyful, nonviolent entertainment. We encourage you to express yourself with singing, playing, and/or composing music about peace!

Music, Peace, Royal Song of The Day, Social Justice

Song variations: We Are One In The Spirit (religious and secular)

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Since Peace Couple is designed as a gathering place for people who strive for peace, nonviolence, and harmony, we try to keep it open to people of all (or no) faiths and philosophies. While some people find religion and spirituality to be uplifting and build community, other people are concerned with the way that the practice of a specific religion can create differences, confuse people, or leave people out.

So, we have been choosing peace songs that avoid naming or praising god or a specific religion.

But, what about wonderful songs, with powerful ideas, which may resonate from our past, and/or help articulate good visions for a world of peace? Continue reading Song variations: We Are One In The Spirit (religious and secular) →