Monday, January 17, 2005
Don't Let the Light Go Out!
While I was burning a CD of Peter, Paul, and Mary songs for my seven month-old daughter I ran across a song titled "Light One Candle." I think I'm going to be singing this song to myself a lot over the next four years, even though it was written by Peter Yarrow primarily for Chanukah. It has a resonance that transcends that particular holiday. I thought I'd post the lyrics to the song because I find them so inspirational. I've been humming the tune to myself for several days now.
Light one candle for the Maccabee children
Give thanks that their light didn't die!
Light one candle for the pain they endured
When their right to exist was denied!
Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand!
And light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemaker's time is at hand!
chorus:
Don't let the light go out!
It's lasted for so many years!
Don't let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears. (2)
Light one candle for the strength we all need
To never become our own foe!
And light one candle for those who are suff'ring
Pain we learned so long ago!
Light one candle for all we believe in,
Let anger not tear us apart!
And light one candle to bind us together
With peace as the song in our heart!
(chorus)
What is the memory that's valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?
What's the commitment to those who have died
When we cry out they've not died in vain,
We have come this far, always believing
That justice will somehow prevail!
This is the burning. This is the promise,
This is why we will not fail!
(chorus)
Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!
Light one candle for the Maccabee children
Give thanks that their light didn't die!
Light one candle for the pain they endured
When their right to exist was denied!
Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand!
And light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemaker's time is at hand!
chorus:
Don't let the light go out!
It's lasted for so many years!
Don't let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears. (2)
Light one candle for the strength we all need
To never become our own foe!
And light one candle for those who are suff'ring
Pain we learned so long ago!
Light one candle for all we believe in,
Let anger not tear us apart!
And light one candle to bind us together
With peace as the song in our heart!
(chorus)
What is the memory that's valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?
What's the commitment to those who have died
When we cry out they've not died in vain,
We have come this far, always believing
That justice will somehow prevail!
This is the burning. This is the promise,
This is why we will not fail!
(chorus)
Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!
Peter, Paul, and Mary = Luke, Han, and Leia ?
When I was a kid, one of my favorite albums was Peter, Paul, and Mommy by Peter, Paul, and Mary, so the other day I decided to burn a CD for my daughter of PPM songs. The CD I burned was mostly this older album supplemented with other PPM songs on three other albums that I checked out from the public library.
While I was listening to these songs, I had this sudden desire to see the first Star Wars movie (episode 4, New Hope) because I really wanted to see Darth Vader get his ass kicked, as well as the rest of the empire (too bad "Darth" Cheney is still running around out there in the real world). [This desire especially manifested itself while singing the Hammer song.]
And I was wondering, what if the engaging interaction between these three characters Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa had something to do with the harmonic interaction between the three singers' voices. Is this just a bizarre connection, or is there something more there?
While I was listening to these songs, I had this sudden desire to see the first Star Wars movie (episode 4, New Hope) because I really wanted to see Darth Vader get his ass kicked, as well as the rest of the empire (too bad "Darth" Cheney is still running around out there in the real world). [This desire especially manifested itself while singing the Hammer song.]
And I was wondering, what if the engaging interaction between these three characters Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa had something to do with the harmonic interaction between the three singers' voices. Is this just a bizarre connection, or is there something more there?
