Norwegian people announce “Peace Song of the Day” for 4/27/2012

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As royalty (in the most whimsical of senses), the Duke and Duchess of Peace envision themselves as proclaiming the Peace Song of the Day. If you look around the news today, you see that the people of Norway have made the choice: The Peace Song of the Day is Children of the Rainbow” by Pete Seeger.

In a compassionate, defiant, community response to the actions and words of the right wing, mass murderer, who killed 77 people last year, 40,000 people gathered in Oslo to sing Pete Seeger’s song about love and tolerance, “Children of the Rainbow” (“My Rainbow Race”, English title.)

You can see video from the scene in Norway below. And underneath, is a story from Common Dreams, and the song lyrics. The song, in English, appears in Rise Up Singing: The Group Singing Songbook, the songbook which was part of the inspiration for our Peace Song of the Day project. We knew that the answer to world peace was somewhere between the covers of that amazing, inspiring, abundant collection of sing-a-long tunes.

Thanks to David Mitchell, for sending along the Common Dreams story, with the link to the authentic video, this morning.

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When the war is over: Peace Song for 3/25/2102

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Steve Earle‘s song, “Steve’s Hammer (for Pete)“, is the Peace Song of the Day for March 25th. As the title hints at, this song is dedicated to Pete Seeger. The song is from Earle’s album, Washington Square Serenade.

“Steve’s Hammer” tells about the day when the war is over, and there isn’t any hunger and pain, so all of us peace and justice activists can finally take a bring and sing a silvery tune. In other words, the song embodies why it is called “The Struggle”.
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Sun & water old life givers: Peace Song for 12/21/2011

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Happy Solstice! Hope you are feeling in tune with nature. Winter Solstice will occur at 5:30 UTC [12:30am EST] on Thursday, December 22nd. (Late Wednesday night!). Reaching the Winter Solstice point means that the daylight hours will grow longer again. (Today was the shortest “day” of the year. Could you feel it?)

The Peace Song for December 21st is “Sailing Down This Golden River” by Pete Seeger. You can find the lyrics in the Rise Up Singing songbook on page 235. On this shortest day of the year, it is nice to think of floating down a golden river on a warm, sunny day.

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The ultimate song about nonviolence: Peace Song for 11/12

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“Take It From Dr. King”, by Pete Seeger, is The Peace Song of the Day for November 12th. This song is the ultimate celebration of nonviolent activism for social change. It tells the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, the bus boycott, and The Civil Rights movement. It also has the somewhat tense, but poignantly necessary line, “Drop the gun.”

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“I will not fight your war,” said the child and he stood: Peace Song for 11/10/2011

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The Bell” by Stephan Said (aka Stephan Smith) is the Peace Song of the Day for November 10th. This song was created back in 2002, in response to the Iraq War. Unfortunately, it is still relevant today, on a variety of levels.

The video below includes vocals by Stephan Said and Pete Seeger.

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As the season turns: Peace Song for 11/8/2011

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Turn, Turn, Turn” by Pete Seeger is the Peace Song of the Day for November 8th. (Yes, dear readers, I missed a couple of days and am playing catch up!) You can find the words to “Turn, Turn, Turn” — which are adapted from The Bible, Book of Ecclesiastes — on page 228 of the Rise Up Singing songbook.

I am dedicating this song to everyone who feels funny, anxious, excited, or depressed by the changing of seasons and the clocks being adjusted. Take care of yourself, talk to someone if you need to, and realize it is all part of a glorious cycle!

-Susanna, Duchess of Peace
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It takes a worried nation: Peace Song for 11/3/2011

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Worried Man Blues” is the Peace Song of the Day for November 3, 2011. This is a traditional song. You can find the lyrics in the Rise Up Singing songbook on page 105.

A new verse by Duchess Susanna: “It takes a worried nation, to make an occupation…”

Below is a video with Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash. (You know ol’ Pete will ask you to sing along…)

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