Tag Archives: Richie Havens

Richie Havens, Rest in Peace

Richie Havens passed away April 22, 2013. Rest in peace, Richie Havens.

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Dear Richie,

English: Richie Havens Live, Musikhalle Hambur...
Richie Havens

The loss of your bright shining heart and soul from our world is a shock.  I realized that that I had seen you perform four times.  More than I have seen any other nationally touring performer.

I first saw you at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, NY when I was barely out of college.  My best friend had gotten concert tickets from his older brother.  His brother decided he didn’t want to go to see some oldies acts.  We were psyched to see Country Joe and the Fish.   We reveled in his famous anti-war song.  Joe was fun.  We stayed to see the next act that — in our ignorance — we had never heard of.  We figured we were there anyway.  Why not give you a listen?

You blew us through the doors.

Continue reading Richie Havens, Rest in Peace

Do your job like a man: Peace Song for June 25th

The Great Mandala (Wheel of Life)” by Peter Yarrow is the Peace Song of the Day for June 25, 2012.

The lyrics are unusual for a peace song, because they use the discourse of the opposition. And, the song also includes sensitive reflections of male pride and self-defense mechanisms. A father, who has already lost one son to war, tells his other son, “So I told him that he’d better shut his mouth, and do his job like a man…”

I realized the power of this song, because it was praised by Richie Havens in the movie Peter, Paul and Mary – Carry It On – A Musical Legacy.

Continue reading Do your job like a man: Peace Song for June 25th