[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIsO1O8bOPQ]
Duchess Susanna writes: With a lot of bad, sad news in the headlines, I wanted to find a hopeful song. The video above shows the Eugene Peace Choir, from Oregon, performing “Peace Is” by Fred Small.
If you want to sing the song, yourself, you can find the lyrics in Rise Up Singing, on page 163. A sample of the lyrics: Continue reading Royal Song of the Day: Thursday 7/28/11
“Banks of Marble” is the Royal Song of the Day. This song was written by Les Rice. You can find this song on page 180 of Rise Up Singing. It’s still hot out. Just like yesterday. And entirely coincidentally we are on the next page of Rise Up Singing from yesterday. My friend Linda introduced me to this song last week.
I spend a good part of my daylight hours helping people deal with their mortgage banks. The mortgage industry is such a disaster because everything is broken up between different corporations so no one has any responsibility. The simplest explanation of the mortgage industry is that it is broken up between two different entities: 1) the investor who owns the promissory note and 2) the servicer who is basically a bill collector. You only get to deal with the front man, the servicer, rather than the investor who holds the real power. If you try to contact the investor, they give you a Sgt. Shultz “I know nothing attitude.” The servicers are byzantine, disorganized, redundant, bureaucratic and sometimes arbitrary. Occasionally, I will hop over to Linda’s office to express my frustration. Her response was to introduce me to this song which, like so many great songs, was popularized by Pete Seeger:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-o3CJytIPE] Continue reading Song of the Day: Saturday 7/23/11
“Yellow Submarine” is the Royal Song of the Day for today. You can find this song on page 179 of Rise Up Singing. It’s hot! And we need something fun to sing that reminds of cool water. Close your eyes and dive deep into a technicolor cartoon ocean. The blue meanies have taken the day off. So sing-o along with Ringo as the credits roll by.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCsYDZ2M04M]
In a town
where I was born
lived a man
who sailed the sea
“If I Had A Hammer” is the Royal Song of the Day for today. You can find this song on page 215 of Rise Up Singing.
I chose this song to continue the idea that singing out will keep us cool. Also, because it has such bold images and patterns, I think it would be a great song to make new lyrics for.
So, this week, while the temps in New York (and elsewhere) are in the 90’s, I am going to sing… Continue reading Royal Song of the Day: Thursday 7/21/11
“Study War No More” is the Royal Song of the Day. It’s a classic (well, make that a “traditional”, identified as a Black Spiritual). And, the song can be found in Rise Up Singing on page 163.
Here is a youtube video of Mahalia Jackson singing “Study War No More“:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nASMNYM8tn8] Continue reading “I ain’t gonna study war no more”: Peace Song for 7/19/2011
“Singing For Our Lives” is the Royal Song of the Day. This song, written by Holly Near, can be found on page 218 of Rise Up Singing.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbXq0oU5osg]
Reflections on “gentle anger” by Duchess Susanna: Continue reading Royal Song of the Day: Saturday 7/16/2011
Duchess Susanna writes: This morning, on Twitter, the phrase “Rise & Grind” was trending. It inspired me to reflect on the importance of doing work you feel good about (right livelihood). And, also, the fact that our work does not define our whole selves.
So, The Royal Song of the Day is “Our Life Is More Than Our Work“. The song is by Charlie King, and appears in Rise Up Singing on page 257. You can find Charlie King performing the song on his album Somebody’s Story. There is a place to listen to a snippet of the song, and/or buy the album or MP3 at digstation. Continue reading Royal Song of the Day: Wednesday 7/13/2011