Camp Woodland Presentation

Last Saturday, August 14, Sue Rosenberg and I presented our Camp Woodland show for the third time. This time it was at the Woodstock Historical Society. With us were Joe Hickerson, Mickey Vandow, and Eric Weissberg. Eric is one of the leading banjo players in the country, perhaps in the world. Joe Hickerson was the Director of the Archive of Folk Culture at the Library of Congress for 35 years and has been collecting and performing folk songs for much longer than that. He brought many great songs to Woodland as its music counselor in 1959 and 1960, including the last three verses of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"

What a privilege it was to perform the old Woodland songs with these three distinguished gentlemen! Eric and Mickey did a hilarious version of "Lather and Shave," as well as other great songs. Joe did "I Walked the Road Again." We sang many beloved Woodland favorites together. Sue as always did a great job describing the history, philosophy and spirit of the camp, weaving the words of its Director, Norman Studer, with pictures, quotes from campers and visitors to the camp, and stories.

A couple of weeks before the presentation I took it upon myself to send a letter to every one of the 240+ people on the list that had been compiled at the reunion in 1997. I knew many letters would be returned, but I felt it was worth the money and effort to reconnect with even a few campers. Sue and I spent a morning folding, stuffing, and stamping, and I brought them all to (of all places) the post office in Phoenicia, New York, the town where Camp Woodland had been. I've been going there every Wednesday in the summers to sing with the children at the Catskill Woodland Camp, a day camp directed by Cara Cruikshank, a young woman who lives on the Camp Woodland property and was inspired to start a day camp in the same spirit.

I did get a lot of returns, but I also got many emails thanking me for contacting them. Many couldn't make it but were glad to reconnect and are now on my email list. And about a dozen actually were able to make it to the event, and had a great time!

Following the presentation we were invited to the home of a member of the board of the Woodstock Historical Society, where we ate, talked, and sang and sang! If you go to the web site I provided the link to above, click on "Spirit of Camp Woodland" and then, on the left side, "Camp Woodland celebrates," you can see pictures of both the events, as well as pictures from the next day's concert by Joe Hickerson, sponsored by Heritage Folk Music. I opened for him with my song "Full Circle," appropriately enough since it's about my reminiscences of Camp Woodland. Following that, another great music jam at the home of the Director of HFM.

Another wonderful weekend, and hopefully more will follow, as we have ideas for future get-togethers, possibly a book and/or a movie about the camp, and more!

Peace Pilgrim, Visited

Back on February 27, I wrote about how Pete suggested I write a new verse to my song, "Peace Pilgrim." He also really, really liked the song, and asked me to sing it every time we were at the peace vigil together, and also every first Friday at the song circle at the Beacon Sloop Club. He tweaked it in another way, suggesting that I drop the second "She said" from the chorus. Others agreed, and I do too, so I now sing it differently from the way it's sung on the recording, but that's the folk process!

Pete's enthusiasm and support gave me the courage to send the song to the Peace Pilgrim web site, where there are already a few songs about her. I was so gratified to receive a handwritten letter from the web master, thanking me for the song and inviting me to perform it at the third annual celebration of Peace Pilgrim's birthday, July 16-18. There was to be a concert on Friday evening, a peace walk, educational program and picnic on Saturday, and an interfaith service on Sunday morning.

This will be a long post, because so much happened that weekend and it was all so magical. I met Bruce Nichols, web master and Board member of Friends of Peace Pilgrim, and we carpooled down to Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, Peace Pilgrim's birthplace. We stayed at the home of Peace's sister, Helene Young, who at 95 lives up to her name. She still rides her bike every day, and she has every one of her marbles; more than I can say for myself! She loved to reminisce about Peace and their lives as children, how for the 28 years that Peace was walking, Helene picked up her mail at the little post office just down the road (it's still there), how after Peace died and the letters came pouring in from people whose lives she'd touched and changed forever, she decided to continue Peace's work by speaking about her.

Helene's home, where she has lived for 60 years, is a lovely little ranch on a main highway in this South Jersey community, with a large backyard including a small grove of trees, where Bruce hung his hammock, and a fenced-in garden, where she grows all sorts of vegetables and some flowers too. Besides Bruce and myself, she hosted Mayte (pronounced MY-teh) Picco-Kline, another Board member, and Maurice Hoover, a volunteer from Oklahoma City. If you order Peace Pilgrim pamphlets, books, or DVDs, it's his crew that generally packs them up and ships them to you. In a front parlor there was a huge scrapbook that Helene's husband, who died a few years ago, put together about Peace Pilgrim, with photos, newspaper clippings, letters, and all sorts of memorabilia. There are peace signs everywhere, as well as pictures and statues of cats -- my two favorite things!

Friday evening was the concert. I opened for the featured performer with four songs: Malvina Reynolds' "Sing Along;" my own "Peace Pilgrim;" a new one about the peace vigil where Pete and I jam, called "The Foot of the South Hills Mall," that will find its way to my MySpace page eventually; and "We Will Survive." The featured performer was Pamela Whitman, an amazing flute player who played world music on an array of flutes, spoke of Gandhi and Martin Luther King and just gave a magical performance.

Next morning we assembled at Peace Pilgrim Park for a one-mile walk from the park to the house where Peace Pilgrim was born. The park is a most appropriate tribute to Peace Pilgrim, with a statue of her surrounded by tiles made by the schoolchildren of the town, an herb garden in the shape of a peace sign, and a grove of trees with small signs for each of her "steps toward inner peace" written on them. At the house, Helene told us about Peace Pilgrim's early life and took questions. Then we planted a Peace Pilgrim pole. This looks something like your standard Peace Pole, except that instead of the words "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in different languages, it has Peace's words: "This is the way to peace: overcome evil with good, overcome falsehood with truth, overcome hatred with love." From there we walked back to the City Hall, just beside the park, for an educational program about Peace Pilgrim presented by Mayte.

After a nap, which we all needed after the walk in the heat, we returned to the park for a picnic. But just before the picnic, we were all invited to join in a commitment ceremony for a man and woman who had met planning the first Peace Pilgrim celebration two years ago. When it was my turn to sing, I opened with "Give Yourself to Love," dedicated to this lovely couple who were dressed in tie-dyed t-shirts and bellbottoms with peace signs. I then led a singalong of peace and justice songs. The featured band were faculty from nearby Stockton College, and they were great! Later on there was a drumming circle. Reflecting on the afternoon, I realized, "If this little town, with its variety of political opinions, can gather together peacefully and joyfully for this one day, perhaps someday the whole world will learn to live like this -- maybe not all the time, but most of it."

Helene took a group of us to see Peace Pilgrim's gravesite. It's near the graves of her three maiden aunts who lived with the family and helped to raise her and her sister. Someone had made peace signs out of pine cones with a big heart shaped out of pine cones in front of the stone.

Sunday morning was a service at the local Unitarian Universalist church. It had been organized jointly by the UUs and the Quakers. I sang three songs, Bruce gave an uplifting sermon, and there was a Quaker meeting-style silence, as well as singing and readings. After lunch at Helene's the weekend was over and Bruce and I drove home, listening on the way to Pamela Whitman's glorious CD.

I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this weekend. I met so many wonderful people, learned so much more about Peace Pilgrim, and got an extra little "boost" along my spiritual journey. I recommend anyone who can, to come to this festival next year.

Joined ASCAP

Well, I took a big step today -- even the ASCAP site told me that after I joined. The decision followed a conversation with Anne Feeney, who's been singing my song "If I Could Have Beer With the President" (which she renamed, with good reason, "The Man I Voted For," and that is its new title) all around the country. You can view and listen here. If you listen to my version on
MySpace, you'll see she took a few liberties with the tune and words: "Look what they've done to my song, Ma, look what they've done to my song..." Maybe some would consider them improvements, but at first it was disconcerting nonetheless. But then when I think of what Peter, Paul and Mary did to "If I Had a Hammer," or what the Byrds did to "Turn, Turn, Turn," I realize I should be (and am!) grateful that she liked it enough to cover it and record it! She recorded it at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and called me to tell me that they may be making a commercial recording of the performance, so she wanted to know, am I with BMI or ASCAP? I had to admit -- neither. I almost joined BMI once, then freaked out when I saw all the legal language and chickened out. She convinced me that I'd better do it.

And I haven't mentioned yet that Cindy Mangsen has covered my song, "Stories," at a Unitarian Universalist service in Bennington, VT. So I knew the time might come when I'd want to join a PRO (Performing Rights Organization) eventually, and I wasn't sure if I wanted that time to come or not. But come it did, and who knows what amazing things may come after?

I *am* on TV!

So I was singing a song at the first Friday song circle at the Beacon Sloop Club and this guy comes bounding over and says, "I want to put you on my TV show! You can have an hour to do whatever you want!" And I was pretty intimidated, because I've never really been on TV and the idea of a whole hour of just me scared me a lot. I asked my pal and co-producer, Vito Petroccitto Jr., if he could do it with me, but he has a lot on his plate right now, and no one else is available days. So I arranged to go yesterday at 2 p.m., since I'm off this week.

It was a small studio. There was Ed Pell, the man who invited me, an engineer named Walter, another guy named Joe, three cameras, and me. The cameras were set up to focus on different parts of me: one, from about the waist up; one, a close-up of my face; and one, a close-up of my right hand. I tried to explain to Ed that guitarists would be more interested in seeing what my left hand was doing, if we had to choose, but Ed picked the right hand.

The cameras did not move, therefore, I could not move. I was instructed to look into whatever camera had a light over it. Then Walter proceeded to turn so many lights on that I could hardly tell which light was on over which camera. There was a TV monitor set up but I was told not to look at it. This turned out to be a bad idea because every time the face close-up camera was turned on me, I turned to face it and wound up moving out of its range. I couldn't really see the monitor anyway when I was facing that camera (I think that was camera 3), because it was on the other side of the studio. So, aside from that and a few awful guitar or lyric mistakes, it went pretty well. I kept thinking about how Jon Stewart asks people to "meet me at camera 3" when he wants to say something "serious."

I got a DVD of the thing right away, and then Ed took me out for a delicious bowl of soup at a nearby pizza place. All in all, it wasn't too painful, but I can't say it was painless either. I'd practiced about an hour or more per day for a few weeks for this. That was great -- definitely improved my guitar and vocal technique. I can make as many copies of the DVD as I want, but I don't think I'll make too many. I'm chalking this up as more of learning experience than a finished product. Nonetheless, a very productive learning experience.

It turned out that every time

New verse to Peace Pilgrim

So I'm at the weekly peace vigil at the corner of Routes 9 and 9D, and Pete is there, and it's about 1:40. Generally our practice has been that we vigil from noon to 2 p.m., then sing a couple of songs, then break down all the signs and banners and flags and so forth and leave. But it was 1:40 and Pete said, "Pat, go get your guitar!" So I did, and the first song we sang, at my request, was "My Rainbow Race." Then I think we did a couple of others, and then I did "Peace Pilgrim," which Pete always asks for. When we finished it, Pete said, "You know, you could write another verse to that song. Something like...though Peace Pilgrim ate her last meal thirty four years ago, her spirit is standing with us on this corner...something like that."

Well, I was going to play that song that very evening, February 20, at the Hudson Valley Folk Guild, so I thought I'd better make up another verse pretty quick. By the time I got home, I had it. I tweaked it a tiny bit since then, but here's the new version:

As we stand here on this corner, in sun and rain and snow,
We remember Peace Pilgrim and her words of long ago.
Though her spirit flew to freedom in 1981,
She's standing here beside us as our prayers for peace are sung.

Pete hasn't heard it yet. I'm looking forward to singing it for him, hopefully sometime soon. He told us he won't be at the peace vigil this Saturday (I guess today, that is), but maybe next week. Or maybe at the Beacon Sloop Club this Friday.

Link to CD Baby

"It Shoulda Been Pete" and "Too Big"

I just have to share what may have been the most amazing afternoon of my life. I went to the weekly peace vigil that's held in Wappingers Falls, that Pete Seeger often attends. He was there today, and asked me again to sing my song "Peace Pilgrim" (second song on my CD). I didn't bring my guitar, so he accompanied me on the banjo and joined in on the chorus, as did the dozen or so other demonstrators. I was so awed by the thought that Pete was playing and singing my song that to this minute I'm not sure I remembered to sing all the verses.

Then Caitlin O'Heaney, bless her heart, who lives in Beacon and is a good friend of Pete's, asked him if I could sing him my song about him, "It Shoulda Been Pete." I had sung this song at the last "Water Not Weapons" hootenanny at the Yippie Museum Cafe, which is where Caitlin heard it. Joel Landy's intrepid high school students recorded the entire hootenanny, which can be accessed in four parts at Joel's web site,
sing freedom


I was the first performer in part three, which you can view by going to

this site
The second song I did on the video was "It Shoulda Been Pete." I'll talk about the first one in a minute. Anyway, Pete somewhat reluctantly agreed to hear it, and couldn't help himself -- he played along on the banjo, with a broad smile on his face. When I finished, he said, "I have to admit it -- it's a good song!"

I had been reluctant to direct anyone to Joel's video previously because I had heard from

Paul Kaplan
that Pete had personally called him and asked him to take Paul's song praising Pete off of You Tube. But now I feel I can at least direct a few people to this; it's not like it's on You Tube...yet...hopefully Pete won't object.

Here are the words to "It Shoulda Been Pete":

It Shoulda Been Pete (c)2009 Pat Lamanna

I heard the news the other day, it took me by surprise.
They said Barack Obama had won the Nobel Prize!
But, isn't this the very same man who sent more troops to Afghanistan,
And tortured prisoners in Baghram, and threatened to invade Iran?
So all that I can say is...

Chorus: It shoulda been Pete, it shoulda been Pete,
Gettin' that call from Oslo, it shoulda been Pete. (Spoken): Re-peat!
It shoulda been Pete, it shoulda been Pete…

I was so happy on that night when he won the election.
But that was just a year ago; and what has he done since then?
Please don't think me coarse or rude, but isn't this the very same dude
Who watched as Palestine got screwed, and Bush's black sites continued?
And all that I can say is...

Chorus

I'm willing to keep an open mind, someday he might deserve this.
But why not give it to a guy with 90 years of service?
Who taught the whole wide world to sing "My Rainbow Race" & "Dr. King"
And "Sailing Down My Dirty Stream"? Each time I hear that banjo ring,
All that I can say is....

Chorus

The past is past, what's done is done, there is no turning back.
But now we know what we must do: put pressure on Barack!
With letters, phone calls, emails, tweets, and demonstrations in the streets,
We'll use the lessons learned from Pete, build victory out of defeat,
So we won't have to say...
Chorus

Now, as to the first song I sang at that hootenanny, it was called "Too Big," and here are the words:

TOO BIG
© 2009 Pat Lamanna

When you whine and you cry that you’re too big to fail
When your Board of Directors is carted to jail
When you don’t make a damn thing that anyone needs
That’s when you know you’re too big to succeed.

When you write all the bills that the Congressmen pass
When you’ve got the World Bank to cover your ass
Your profits and bonuses, all guaranteed,
That’s when you know you’re too big to succeed.

Bridge: How do you know you’re too big to succeed?
When your only value is unabashed greed
And you don’t know who suffers, and you don’t care who bleeds,
That’s when you know you’re too big to succeed.

When you don’t have to worry that the markets will crash
And you think the whole world is for dumping your trash
While plains turn to desert, and icecaps recede
That’s when you know you’re too big to succeed.

Bridge

When the people wake up and they open their eyes
And they look all around and they start to arise,
And they keep right on rising till everyone’s freed,
That’s when you’ll know you’re too big to succeed. (Repeat 3 times.)

Radio Head

Happy New Year!

On Monday, January 4, 2010 I drove out to the Pine Hill Community Center for an interview with Terry Doyle of Imprint, an Internet radio show. My show will be aired the week of January 24th. For the exact schedule, visit www.imprintradio.com.

I’d met Terry at NERFA, the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (http://nerfa.org) conference in November. I was sitting at the Peoples Music Network table; he was tabling nearby. I gave him one of my CDs. A few days after NERFA, I got an email from Terry: Pat, I like the sound and feel of your CD…I’d like to line you up for an interview for the ‘imprint’ program in the near future.” (I should mention here, I print out all the positive feedback I’ve gotten about the CD and file it in a folder marked “CD Project Feedback.” When I’m feeling down it’s great to read through it all.) It took awhile to work out a day that was good for both of us, but finally here was the day.

Driving out to Pine Hill was a joy. Pine Hill is a tiny town off of Route 28 just 10 miles past Phoenicia, the town where Camp Woodland was located. I always love to drive to the Catskills. On this day, there had been a rather serious snowfall the day before, so it lay still white and enchanting on both sides of the road. The roads themselves had been plowed and sanded with red dirt that stuck to my tires and the bottoms of my boots, when I walked through the parking lot. Along the way I stopped at Bread Alone, my favorite bakery, for a loaf of organic mixed grain.

Terry was waiting when I arrived. We spent about an hour chatting before getting down to the 18-minute interview. Terry had chosen three good songs to play and had come up with some great questions. It went smoothly, I thought, and I said most of what I had wanted to. (I did forget to plug Peoples Music Network, but that’s the only regret I have.)

I’ve been doing whatever radio I can, but I guess I’m not doing the shameless self-promotion bit as I should be. Oh well, I have a day job; this is a hobby and I can do (or not do) what I want.

Good news

Two good things happened this weekend. One, I went to the peace vigil that takes place at a major shopping intersection every Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. Sometimes Pete Seeger is there, sometimes he isn't. I go when I can, whether he's going to be there or not (I almost never know anyway). Well, this time he was there, and there was an entourage of about 10 folks with him (one wag refers to them as "Pete-ophiles -- they only show up if he's going to be there). One of my friends had recorded "Peace Pilgrim" and "Stories" just for Pete to listen to. She played "Peace Pilgrim," and by the second chorus, Pete was singing along!

At 2 p.m. our custom is to gather around a tree and sing a few peace songs before parting ways for the week. This same friend asked me to sing "Peace Pilgrim." Pete played along on the banjo, and once again sang on the chorus, and praised the song as "beautiful." I gave him the CD; he was amused that there was a quote from him on the back. At someone's request, he played "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy," which, alas, is still relevant.

Oh, and three people bought my CD, on the strength of the one song I played!

Then I got an email today. A friend had been at the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Bennington, VT and had heard Cindy Mangsen cover "Stories"! This is quite an honor to me because I think very highly of Cindy Mangsen and her husband, Steve Gillette (www.compassrosemusic.com).

So it's been a great weekend. I know there are ups and downs in this business; I'm just glad for every up.

CD Release Party, and NERFA

My CD Release Party was on the afternoon of Sunday, November 1, 2009. I was extremely fortunate that many of the people who'd performed on the album were able to attend and back me up. Only the violinist and harmonica player were unable to make it. About 30 people came, some from a distance -- and gave me a standing ovation! My first one ever!

I had each of my backup performers do a song of their own. That took some of the pressure off of me and I think made it a more varied, and therefore enjoyable, concert. The other performers seemed to feel I was doing them a favor, but really it was a favor to me as well. I'm really glad I did it.

I sold about 17 CDs that day. I'm not keeping track as well as I should, I suppose. I have 1,000 of the things. I doubt I'm going to be running out. But I should keep some sort of track so I'll get an idea of when I break even. I figured out that I'd have to sell about 366 of them at $15 each to break even. But I did give someone a discount -- she wanted ten, for Pete's sake! How cool is that? Another person bought 6, and another 3. That's when I really feel like my music must be making a difference. I expected my friends to buy it for themselves, but I didn't expect them to be buying copies to give away to people who don't know me. A good feeling.

Speaking of Pete, I gave Pete Seeger one at a rally we were at together but he left it behind when he left the rally. I hope that was a mistake. I'm going to try again, though he may really not want it. I know he gets a lot of unsolicited music, but we stand together at the peace rallies many Saturdays so I thought maybe I was different. But maybe not.

I went to NERFA this year for the first time. It was daunting. I'm not ready for the level of shameless self-promotion in evidence there. I just feel blessed to have a day job that can support this habit. There's no way I could make a living off of this if I had to hustle like that. I give folks a lot of credit who do music for a living, and I do what I can to support them. There sure are a lot of great singer-songwriters out there.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope you all have as much to be thankful for as I have.

The first two weeks

The album came to the UPS location near me on Thursday, Oct. 1. I picked it up, because the thought of 1,000 CDs sitting in my driveway while I was at work was disturbing. There were only five boxes; I thought there would be more. But, it was a fairly minimal package, so it didn't take up much room.

I listened to it. Then after awhile I stopped listening to it. I sent a whole bunch away -- to friends, family, radio DJs I know. I let some people know it was out, and the checks started coming. People are buying it!

I brought it to a few gigs and open mics, and sold a couple that way. Not as many as I'd hoped, but still...each one is a big deal still! I'm getting lots of good feedback. It feels good, but I remind myself -- those are my friends; they have to say nice things. Anyway, slowly, little by little, it's getting out there.

If you want a copy, send a check made out to Pat Lamanna for $15 to 27 Meyer Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. I should also be on CD Baby eventually, but not yet.

Now I'm getting nervous

You may notice, these posts are getting further and further apart. I feel like my life is going to change when the album comes out. (And when I let everyone know that I have this blog.) And the album has been shipped -- and will be here in a couple of days!

I'm having a CD release concert on Sunday, November 1 at 2 p.m. My friends who helped me on the album will back me up on some songs, and do some songs of their own. It will be a blast!

And I'm starting to make lists of all the people I'm going to send the album to when it arrives. I have to stock up on mailers, and stamps. I'm going to have to learn how to post songs to MySpace. I'm going to have to learn a lot of things. As if learning to play guitar, write lyrics and music weren't enough.

Do I not sound happy enough? Should I be more euphoric? Or is this normal?

I've decided: it's normal.

We Will Survive

Well, now that you have the lyrics, here's what's been happening:

The master CD and the artwork have all been sent to Oasis, and I'm waiting for the final product to be delivered.

Meantime, I went to Summersongs (www.summersongs.org) the last weekend in August and played my song, "We Will Survive," to great acclaim. My dear friend David Beede video'ed it and posted the video on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUr5Pmww7Ok

On September 11, I attended a David Roth concert. He and Penny Nichols, founder of Summersongs, both praised the album. What a wonderful feeling! They are both such excellent performers themselves, I felt honored to hear their kudos.

Now is the waiting time, till I receive my treasure.

I scheduled a CD release concert for Nov. 1 from 2-4 p.m. Many of the folks who played on the album will be there to back me up, and they'll also play a tune of their own.

Don't know what else to say. It's all very exciting!

Lyrics and Back Stories to the CD, "Full Circle"

Okay, here goes. These are the lyrics and back stories (in italics) to all the songs on the CD, "Full Circle."

Full Circle: Songs of Peace and Love by Pat Lamanna

1. SING TO THE MOUNTAINS

Inspired by attending a Gathering of Peoples Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle (www.peoplesmusic.org).

Chorus:
Sing to the mountains, sing to the stars,
Sing to your lovers, wherever they are.
In trouble and sorrow, in gladness and praise
I’ll sing till the end of my days.

I am not famous, I’m not on TV,
I am no genius, that’s easy to see.
I’m only one person, so what can I bring?
But two hands that can work and a voice that can sing.

Chorus

I am no child, but my dreams are still young,
I believe that the best songs are yet to be sung,
Of heroes and dragons, of jesters and knaves,
And the poor folk who struggle to get through each day, as they

Chorus

Sing for the everyday, sing for the strange,
For the faith to accept and the courage to change,
And the wisdom to know when you’ve made the right choice,
To stand on the rooftops and raise up your voice, as you

Sing to the mountains, sing to the stars,
Sing to your lovers, whoever they are.
In trouble and sorrow, in gladness and praise,
I’ll sing till the end of my days.

Repeat first verse and chorus.


2. PEACE PILGRIM

Born Mildred Ryder, she took the name “Peace Pilgrim” in 1953, when she began walking back and forth across the United States wearing a simple smock with the words “Peace Pilgrim” to engage people in talk about peace. She died in an auto accident on her way to a speaking engagement in 1981. Learn more about this remarkable woman, and order some of the books and tapes made available by Friends of Peace Pilgrim, at www.peacepilgrim.org. Ever since I first learned about her, I’ve been ordering copies of the small blue pamphlet called “Steps to Inner Peace,” similar to the ones she used to carry, and giving them out everywhere.
Most of the words in this song are actually hers.

Her name was Peace Pilgrim, her age was unknown,
She carried no money and she had no home.
She walked our land for twenty-eight years,
To show us we can overcome our hatred and our fears,

Chorus:
She said, “I will walk until I’m given shelter,
She said, “I will fast until I’m given bread,
I will remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace.”

Her message was simple, we’ve heard it all before:
“We cannot learn peace while we’re waging war.
Good will conquer evil, truth will conquer lies,
Love will conquer hatred, if only we will try,”

Chorus

She carried in her pockets everything she owned.
Some nights she slept on pillows and some nights she slept on stones.
One day out on the highway, she shed her robe of clay,
But the message that she carried still lives on in us today.

Chorus

The place to begin is deep within yourself,
Then you can show the way to someone else.
When enough of us have learned to live in harmony
The old ways will crumble and our love will set us free.

Chorus

3. PAINT IT PINK

I read an article in the paper. It said the following:

PINK CELLS MORE SOOTHING

BUFFALO - Why bother spending money on books and
checkers to keep prisoners under control? The Buffalo police department simply painted their cells pink...[A]ccording to police research, the pink paint soothes their aggression and makes for a more tolerable jail...

The new color scheme for the historically drab cellblock is a product of studies suggesting that the shade of pink can decrease hostility.

The American Institute for Biosocial Research said pink can "reduce physiological variables associated with aggression in subjects of normal intelligence."

The research study of the pink cellblocks cited jails
that have gove one step further -- adding pink sheets, pink toilet paper, pink
towels and pink curtains.

I began to speculate on some of the implications of this finding...

Thanks to Charlie King, Jay Mankita, and the other participants in a Peoples Music Network workshop on funny songs for their feedback, which resulted in some improvements.

In Buffalo they’ve found a way to make a safer jail,
They’ve painted all the cellblocks pink, now harmony prevails.
They cite studies scientific which prove that pink’s terrific
For decreasing animosity in some aggressive males:

Paint ‘em pink, paint ‘em pink,
You’ll get more cooperation in the clink.
Aggression tends to lessen, and that would be a blessin’
With criminals who’d kill you in a wink.

Now that article I read gave me an idea,
There are women who are struggling with abusive mates, I hear.
When their fellas lose control, women’s heads begin to roll,
But maybe there’s a way to make those beatings less severe:

Dress him in pink, dress him in pink,
Even when he’s had a bit too much to drink,
In a shirt and tie of fuchsia, he will never try to push ya,
He’ll run out and buy you roses and a mink.

Now this plan is such a good one, we should spread it far and wide,
Like to that house in Washington that has five equal sides,
If we painted it magenta, the generals would be gentla,
And to end all wars forever they might finally decide:

Paint it pink, paint it pink,
And the military appetite will shrink.
There could be much utility in reducing the hostility
Of the guys who’ve got us dancing on the brink.

Paint it pink, paint it pink,
Our future may be rosier than we think.
If it really does soothe passion, it should be the latest fashion –
Won’t the world look simply smashing all in pink!

4. THE TWO TOWERS

I don’t think this requires an explanation.

I built a tower in my heart, and called my tower Fear,
I started when I was quite small, and added more each year.
And brick by brick those walls became my prison and frontier,
And Love lay buried deep in the foundation.

I built a tower in my heart, and called my tower Greed,
Inside I hoarded treasure, far more than I’d ever need.
And gazing from the ramparts I could watch my brothers bleed,
And Love lay buried deep in the foundation.

Then one bright September day those towers came crashing down,
As poisoned arrows pierced my heart, they crumpled to the ground.
Smoke and fire filled the air, and Death was all around,
And Love lay buried deep beneath the rubble.

For many months I cursed my fate, and mourned the tragedy,
Until I came to understand: it all was meant to be.
Without those towers’ confining walls my spirit might fly free,
And Love could come crawling from the shadows.

Then slowly I began to clear the rubble from that space,
And where my towers had stood I built a garden in their place.
And God walked in my garden, and I met him face to face,
And Love bloomed in the flowers of my garden.


5. GOOD SHIP BEAGLE

In honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his great work, “The Origin of Species.” You probably already know that The Beagle was the name of the ship on whose voyage Darwin made his remarkable discoveries.

Chorus:
Take me sailing on the good ship H.M.S. Beagle
Show me the sea from whence I came,
And if I’m sister to an ape or cousin to an eagle
That’s a legacy that I’d be proud to claim.

Like most of you, I was born stark naked
And railing at a world I didn’t choose
Like most mammals, I thought it best
To dine at my mother’s breast
That’s why I’m befuddled and bemused
That there are folks who still just can’t accept it
That we’re all kin to the lizard, ant and whale
When we’ve got organs, blood and bones
Muscles, nerves and chromosomes
And in the womb we even had a tail, so

Chorus

I’ve heard that long, long ago and far away
This old universe got started with a bang
As atoms hurtled through the sky, planets formed, and you and I
Showed up the other day and joined the gang.
It’s a story I’ll be telling to my grandkids
There could be molecules of Socrates in me
Tumbling down across the ages into rocks and trees and sages
Recycling for all eternity, so

Chorus: Take me sailing on the spaceship Telescope Hubble
Show me the stars from whence I came
And if you say I’m just a speck of discarded cosmic rubble
That’s a legacy that I’d be proud to claim.

Now in my skin it sometimes feels quite lonesome
And I’m often scared that you might do me harm
But from an atom’s point of view, there is no me, there is no you
Just a whirling blur of energy and form.
It’s all about the process, not the product
That’s why I’m hopeful that someday we’ll resolve
To end all fighting, hate and war, we don’t need them anymore
Can we all just get together and…evolve?

Original Chorus


6. STORIES
I wrote this song to express my anger and frustration at the way religion is used to separate us and rationalize, even provoke, enmities among neighbors. I was concerned that it might be offensive to some, but if it is, no one has expressed that to me yet. Thanks to David Roth and his Grain of Sand class at Summersongs for excellent feedback that resulted in a complete rewrite of the third verse.

Long, long ago and far, far away, a man took a bite of an apple, they say.
He was living in Eden, a beautiful life, till he was corrupted by his evil wife,
And with that, all humanity fell,

Chorus: Oh, the stories we tell, myths, and legends, and lies,
We tell ourselves stories and then we believe them, and millions of innocents die.
We tell ourselves stories and then we believe them, and millions of innocents die.

Long, long ago and far, far away, we were slaves unto Pharaoh in Eygpt, they say.
Then the Lord brought us forth with an outstretched hand, and led us through desert into Canaan land, which he gave us forever to dwell,

Chorus

Long, long ago and far, far away, a virgin gave birth to a baby, they say.
He was nailed to the cross, so that we’ll never die, and all who believe straight to Heaven will fly, and the rest will be cast into Hell,

Chorus

Long, long ago and far, far away, Allah appeared to Mohammed, they say.
The words that he spoke became the Qu’ran, Now they must be the law of each true Muslim land, to protect us from the infidel,

Chorus

Long, long ago and far, far away, A pinpoint of matter exploded, they say.
It formed gaseous clouds, and planets and stars, and all manner of life on this planet of ours, and perhaps on some others as well,

New Chorus: We need new stories to tell, I wonder how long it will take?
Can we sit down together and talk with each other, For all the dear innocents’ sake?
Can we sit down together and talk with each other, For all the dear innocents’ sake?


7. GATHER IN THE WARMTH

This song was inspired by a conversation on the Summersongs email list. Someone posted a comment about how people don’t say “Merry Christmas” anymore. Others chimed in; some opining that it’s a good thing the holiday is generic nowadays, others disagreeing. We decided that at the next Wintersongs we’d have a song circle devoted to songs of the spirit. This is what I came up with.

Chorus: Gather in the warmth, gather in the light,
Gather in the glow of the fireside bright,
Sing a song of courage through the long, cold night,
And gather in the warmth and the light.

When the year grows old and weary and the days are short and cold,
We yearn for the comfort of the hearth.
With gifts and prayers and music and with stories of old,
We turn from the cold and the dark.

Chorus

We dress up in our finest, we decorate our homes,
Prepare a table laden with delights.
Welcome in the children from wherever they have roamed,
And gather in the warmth and the light.

Chorus

Some may call it Christmas, or Hanukah, or Yule,
Who’s to say if one of them is right?
By whatever name you call it, it’s an ancient ritual
To gather in the warmth and the light.

Chorus


8. I DON’T DO MUCH TRAVELIN’

I heard about a song contest that had three rules for submissions. 1. It had to be written recently. 2. It had to be true. 3. It had to be about traveling. This song had all those elements, but it didn’t win the contest. Oh well.

Chorus: I don’t do much travelin’ anymore, it takes a lot to get me out the door,
I used to be a gypsy till I settled in Poughkeepsie,
It’s got everything that I was looking for.

I took a leave from college back in 1968,
Stayed with friends in Berkeley, hung out in the Haight.
I woke up and headed home before it got too late,
And I don’t do much travelin’ anymore.

Chorus

Once I rambled round the world just like a rolling stone,
Fell in love in Amsterdam, and Athens, and Cologne,
When a year had ended I got on that plane alone,
And I don’t do much travelin’ anymore.

Chorus

These days I’ve got a steady job, play music on the side,
Go to church on Sunday, watch my children grow with pride.
I don’t know if I’ve changed the world, but heaven knows I tried,
And I don’t do much travelin’ anymore.

Chorus



9. AN ITINERANT FOLKSINGER

I’m fortunate to have two spare bedrooms and I love to offer them to folksingers who are passing through town. Here’s to Mark Levy, David Beede, Scott Ainslie, and all the great singer-songwriters I’ve put up – and put up with – over the years. And to David Roth, who shed a tear when he heard this song.

Don’t forget to call your wife, let her know that you’ve arrived
Safe and sound in my town.
I’ll make up the extra bed, would you like some pumpkin bread?
You’ll be well fed, as long as you’re around.

You’ve been on the road so long, singing all the same old songs,
You need a rest, be my guest.
But soon you’re grabbing your guitar, heading for Mahoney’s bar,
Where you’ll be found, as long as you’re around.

Refrain: When you get up on the stage I’ll be there in the front row,
After every song you’ll hear me clappin’,
An itinerant folksinger’s life is the life you chose,
And I’m one of those who helps you make it happen.

The concert’s done, the crowd was pleased, you sold a dozen more CDs,
And now you’re tired, but you’re still wired.
There’s still some songs left to be sung, in the morning you’ll be gone
But we’ll have fun the next time you’re around.

Refrain

So don’t forget to call your wife, tell her everything went fine
In my town, you’re homeward bound.
I’ll be making eggs and toast, while you’re waiting would you just
Play one more song…as long as you’re around.



10. UU BLUES

At the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie, we have an annual Comedy Night. I wrote this for one of those.

Well, I woke up this morning, it was rainy, dark and freezin’
I knocked on my neighbor’s door for no apparent reason,
I’ve got those UU blues, I’ve got those UU blues.
I’m gonna go out and spread the news, Lord, I’ve got those UU blues.

Well some got their Bhagavad-Gita, some got their Book of the Dead,
Some folks got commandments, we got principles instead,
I’ve got those UU blues, I’ve got those UU blues.
I’ve got those seven little clues that don’t give me no answers blues.

Well, some UUs are Buddhist, some UUs are Jews,
We might as well cover our bases, we’ve got nothing to lose,
I’ve got those UU blues, I’ve got those UU blues.
Why should we have to choose, Lord, I’ve got those UU blues.

Well if you are a pagan, you think God is everywhere,
And if you are an atheist, you haven’t got a prayer,
I’ve got those UU blues, I’ve got those UU blues.
If you like to schmooze, you might have those UU blues.

Well I’m gonna live forever, I’ll tell you the reason why,
I serve on so many committees, I ain’t got time to die,
I’ve got those UU blues, I’ve got those UU blues,
When they ask I can’t refuse, Lord, I’ve got those UU blues.

With low wages and high prices, I’m living on the edge,
I may not pay my mortgage, but I’m gonna pay my pledge,
I’ve got those UU blues, I’ve got those UU blues,
Don’t give me no excuse, you’ve got to pay your UU dues

Our coffee’s all fair-traded, our paper’s all recycled,
We’re so goddamn PC we drive hybrid motorcycles,
I’ve got those UU blues, I’ve got those UU blues.
We even drink organic booze, when we drown those UU blues.

When I get to heaven, I’m gonna sing and shout,
Gonna start picket, march and protest till they throw me the hell out,
I’ve got those UU blues, I’ve got those UU blues.
Hand me down my asbestos shoes, Lord I’ve got those UU blues.

When I meet the Deity, I’m gonna give her a piece of my mind,
Gonna ask, “Is this what you call intelligent design?”
I’ve got those UU blues, I’ve got those UU blues.
Gonna give the Lord my views, yeah, I’ve got those UU blues.

Repeat first verse.



11. WE WILL SURVIVE

A true story. It happened when I returned from the January 2009 gathering of People’s Music Network.

I pulled into my driveway to find my door wide open
I jumped into the hallway, the doorframe had been broken
I ran into the bedroom, my laptop had been stolen
I picked up the phone and dialed 911 –
At least my weekend had been fun.

I hope they liked my laptop, my brain’s external hard drive
It contained all the details of my complicated life
The minutes of the meetings, the family photographs
The lyrics and the chords to all my songs –
I’d been meaning to back up for so long.


Chorus: None of us walks safely through this world
None of us gets out of here alive
Each of us is doomed to die alone
But we ------------------------ we will survive.

They also got my jewelry, my bracelets and my bangles
My mother’s opal earrings and the hippie ones that dangled
My chains of gold and silver, I hope they all got tangled
All the presents, like the string of cultured pearls –
My daddy gave me when I was a little girl.

But I didn’t even tell you the most dreadful part of all
My little cat could not be found, she didn’t heed my call
I figured in her terror she’d dashed through the open door
And I pictured her, not knowing where to go –
All alone and frozen in the snow.

Chorus
The policeman came right over, sympathetic and polite
He dusted for fingerprints, just like on C.S.I.
A friend came by and fixed the door so I could sleep that night
We were drinking tea and having a nice chat –
When up the basement stairs here comes the cat.

They can take away my laptop, they can take my golden chains
But the memories that matter are the ones that still remain
I don’t need stuff to remember all my joys and all my pains
Consumer goods can always be replaced –
But save receipts and back up data, just in case.

Chorus



12. DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS

I wrote this for a nephew, a musician who was marrying a music teacher. I’m proud to say it was included in a compilation CD/songbook called “Summersongs Choral Songbook: 16 choral arrangements of positive, inspiring, original songs.”

May you have mornings golden and bright
May sunlight fill your days with delight
May all your stars burn steadfast and clear
Chorus: And may you have music, sweet lovely music,
Beautiful music, down through the years.

May you have flowers round your front door
May you have cats curled up on your floor
May friends drop by from far and from near
Chorus

May all your children flourish and thrive
And stand close beside you all of your lives
May you share laughter, may you share tears,
And may you share music, sweet lovely music,
Beautiful music, down through the years.



13. FULL CIRCLE

I went to Summersongs (www.summersongs.org) for the first time in 2005 partly because of its location, in the Catskills where I’d spent six summers as a camper at Camp Woodland. Woodland was a very special camp which had had a tremendous influence on my life and just to be near it was energizing. After a week at Summersongs, I realized that I had found something as close to Camp Woodland as is possible to achieve as an adult in the 21st century. As I drove away, I turned west on Route 28 instead of east, where home was, found the former site of Camp Woodland, and began to write this song. The last couple of lines need some explanation: “The light of love would shine within their spirit” is a reference to David Roth’s song, “May the Light of Love.” “The trees would be so green they’d touch the sky” is a reference to Summersongs’ theme song, “Beautiful World,” which can be heard, among other places, on Penny Nichols’ “The Voyages of Nep,” and David Roth’s “Think Twice.”
The picture on the cover of my CD was taken on the bridge at “Lake Ushy Gushy” at Camp Woodland by my friend and fellow Woodlander, Sue Rosenberg. Unfortunately, it’s not noticeable, but I’m wearing a Summersongs T-shirt in the picture.

The Esopus Creek winds down the Catskill Mountains
Soft rolling hills so green against the sky,
It’s there I spent the summers of my childhood
It’s there I learned the songs that shaped my life.

So the other day I drove into Phoenicia
Stopped in for some ice cream at the store
Then rambled dusty roads until I found it
I stood upon that sacred ground once more.

It was in that place that I first heard Pete Seeger
Sing Abiyoyo and Irene Goodnight
The first time I wrapped my fingers round a D chord
And dreamed about the songs that I would write.

Chorus:
So many years have passed, so much work and love and pain
So many things have changed, even my name.
But though each verse is different, still here comes the refrain
And my life has come full circle once again.

The Esopus still winds down the Catskill Mountains
Soft rolling hills still green against the sky,
And there are still folks singing round the campfire
I think that I could join them if I try.

They are singing for the beauty of the music
They are singing for the healing of the earth
They are filling up the lonely sky with laughter
They are celebrating life from death to birth.

And I do believe if everyone could hear it
They would look at life with new and different eyes
And the light of love would shine within their spirit
And the trees would be so green they’d touch the sky.

Chorus:
So many years have passed, so much work and love and pain
So many things have changed, even my name.
But though each verse is different, still here comes the refrain
And my life has come full circle once again.
And my life has come full circle once again.
And my life has come full circle…



Bonus Tracks: From “I Don’t Mind Failin’,” by The Raggedy Crew

This album is still available. Contact me if you’d like a copy. In addition to these three songs, there are eight others: "My Lord, What a Morning;" "I Don’t Mind Failin’;" "Plaisir D’Amour;" "Silkie;" "Dainty Davy;" "What Have They Done to the Rain?;" "Rothesay Bay;" and "To My Old Brown Earth."

By the way, the name The Raggedy Crew comes from a verse in the title song of the album:
"I'll stay down here with the raggedy crew, 'cause gettin' up there means steppin' on you, I don't mind failin' in this world."


14. KEEP HIM SINGING

I wrote this about twenty years ago, when Pete was celebrating his 70th birthday. Now, on the occasion of his 90th, it seems more appropriate than ever.

An explanation of the title: In 1961, Pete’s appeal on his conviction of contempt of Congress following his appearance before the House Un-American Activities Committee came to trial. Supporters wore red, white and blue buttons saying “Keep Him Singing.”


Chorus: Keep him singing, keep him singing,
Keep that old guitar and banjo ringing.
He hears our voice, he sings our song.
Keep him singing by singing along.

I’ll tell you of a man, Pete Seeger is his name.
His music and folk singing have earned him much fame.
And I’ll tell you a story ‘bout the life that he’s led,
The road he has taken, few may dare to tread, so

Chorus

In this land of the free he took many a bold stand,
And found himself in prison, from stage and TV banned.
But still he never wavered from the course he felt was right,
He kept his light shining like a beacon in the night, so

Chorus

Like a redwood in the forest, he stands so proud and tall,
For peace, love, justice, and dignity for all.
Now some songs come and go, and some you outgrow,
But his songs, like the river, through our lives will ever flow, so

Chorus

I’ll tell you of a man, Pete Seeger is his name.
His music and folk singing have earned him much fame.
And I’ll tell you a story ‘bout the life that he’s led,
The road he has taken, we all may dare to tread.

Chorus


15. SUNSHINE

Pete Seeger asked me to send him the words to this song – three times! It was a big hit with the kids when I sang it on the Sloop Clearwater as a volunteer in May 2008.


Chorus:
Sunshine, sunshine, always around me,
Sunshine, sunshine, I’m glad you found me.

The sun is free and it’s easily found,
There’s plenty of sunlight to go around.
So why use gas, oil or coal,
When you can get to the sun without digging a hole?

Chorus

The sun is free and it’s easily found,
There’s plenty of sunlight to go around.
So why use gas, coal or oil,
When you can get to the sunlight with half the toil?

Chorus

The sun is free and it’s easily found,
There’s plenty of sunlight to go around.
So why use coal, oil or gas,
When air pollution is a pain in the – (go right into chorus)

Chorus

The sun is free and it’s easily found,
There’s plenty of sunlight to go around.
Some say nuclear power’s the way,
But I say the answer’s as plain as day.

Chorus
(The last chorus can be sung as a round by dividing the singers into four groups.)


16. STAY WITH ME

Dedicated to Tom Kannmacher, for whom I tore up my ticket many years ago.


Chorus:
Stay with me, oh don’t you go so soon,
Stay with me, and sing me one more tune.
I am here, but soon I will be gone.
Stay with me, the night is a-comin’ on.

I been travelin’ through this world alone.
When I met you, I was headin’ for my home.
Wonder how it happens, yeah I wonder how it starts:
Two strangers find themselves reflected in each other’s hearts.

Chorus

Tore up my ticket just to be here by your side,
When all too soon, the love between us died.
When morning comes, Daddy, I’ll be on my way.
But I don’t think twice, I don’t regret a single day.

Chorus

Radio Show, and Summersongs

I was honored to be invited on Graham and Barbara Dean's radio show, Common Sense Songs, on WBCR (http://www.berkshireradio.org/) in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, it was a Wednesday evening, the night before I had to go back to work, so I only stayed from 8 to 9 p.m., rather than the whole two hours of the show. They played songs from the rough mix of my CD. I had brought my guitar but was too nervous to play any of the songs live. We had a delightful conversation, and went from talk to songs seamlessly (I thought). Although the CD had not been mastered, I thought it sounded pretty good.

We all showed up at Summersongs that weekend -- last weekend. Graham gave me a CD of the radio show -- great fun to listen to later. Also at Summersongs, Mark Dann, the genius who mastered my CD, handed me five copies of the mastered version for my approval. Although I had really hoped to have it ready by last weekend, it was nice just to have gotten this far. I gave my extra copies to trusted friends Penny Nichols, Director of Summersongs; David Roth and Sloan Wainwright, the most wonderful teachers whose professional opinions I value highly; and David Beede, a fellow camper with a wonderful ear and the ability to give feedback honestly and gently.

Listening to the CD on the way home from Summersongs Sunday night, I realized that one song was on the album twice and another had been omitted. A small error, easily corrected. The CD overall sounded great! (That is, as great as I can sound. Am I putting myself down? Maybe -- or maybe I'm just being honest with myself. Does everyone have these conversations with themselves?)

Monday, I received the proofs of the artwork. Teacher that I am, I picked up one little error: a list of contributors to the CD where one item on the list ended with a period and the rest didnt. I'm going to let that go. It will be a good practice for me. And the CD cover, too, looks great. My daughter and son-in-law did a beautiful job, and I'm so glad that they participated in the making of this.

My next post will consist of the lyrics and back stories behind the songs -- what I assume most people will come to this blog for.

On the radio

So my dear friends Barbara and Graham Dean invited me to come on their radio show, Common Sense Songs on WBCR (www.berkshireradio.org) from 8 to 9 PM this evening. For a week I practiced an hour every night, singing every song on my CD so I'd be comfortable with any of them.

I got there with my rough mixdown of songs, the master not having been completed yet. And I wound up not playing a single song live! I guess you could say I chickened out. Every time I practiced, and no matter how many times I played each song, it seemed I could barely get through one without making some mistake -- a wrong chord, forgetting a verse, saying a word wrong, hitting a wrong note. The CD is imperfect, but at least I know every mistake on it, and they're small. I didn't want to chance blanking out on the words or playing a bad chord or messing up a riff. So I brought my guitar and songs for nothing.

But I think we had a really good conversation, I got most of the points in that I wanted to, the songs were played at the right times and with the right introductions and smooth segues. Graham and Barbara were wonderful hosts and kept the conversation flowing and relevant. Maybe some of you reading this heard about it on that radio show. It was the first time I made public the fact that I'm blogging. This is more like a diary for me...until now.

I was on the phone and email about the CD cover right up until it was time to make the one and a half hour drive to Great Barrington, MA for the radio show. There seems to be a problem with the way the writing is on the spine. But my son-in-law says he can fix it. And I couldn't download the proofs that Oasis sent me so they're going to put it in the mail. How quaint.

The day after tomorrow is Summersongs! That's why I wanted the CD to be ready by now. But my friends will just have to wait. Meantime they can read this blog. When the CD is really, truly, out in the world I'm going to post all the lyrics and back stories of all the songs on the album.

Patience Is Required

I got back from a lovely 10-day vacation, thinking that the music part of the CD would be all wrapped up. My daughter and son-in-law were working on the artwork. I somewhat frantically called them before I left, afraid that the music would be done but not the art, and the CD wouldn't be ready by my target of the last weekend in August, when Summersongs would meet.

My daughter called me when I was shopping at the Farmers Market in Seattle, and again when I was boarding the plane to go home. They were working hard on getting the cover art completed, and consulting with me when they had a question. Meantime, the music wasn't getting done. So when I got home I found that the art was done in time, but the CD wasn't mastered. It wouldn't be ready in time for Summersongs after all.

But the master master, Mark Dann, wanted a little more time to make the album even better than it already was, thanks to Vito Petroccitto's expert mixing as well as his musical contributions, and those of many others. So I said yes -- what the heck, if it wasn't going to be ready for Summersongs, it might as well be as good as possible. This may be the only solo CD I ever make, it should reflect my (and Vito's and Mark's) best work.

My dream had been to have the CC done before my vacation, so I could hand out copies to my friends who put me up, fed me and showed me around their respective cities and towns. Then I had dreamed of being one of several aspiring singer-songwriters to show up at Summersongs with a new album. But it was not to be. In the long run, it won't matter. I ordered 1,000 copies; this CD will be adorning my basement for another 30 years so a month or two one way or the other won't make a difference. I swallowed my disappointment and moved on...I guess...

Now I'm trying to figure out a date for the mandatory "CD Release Party." Oy -- I don't want to think about that now!

David Wilcox on songwriting

Hi again. I don't know David Wilcox, and I'm not familiar with his work. But I read an interview with him in The Poughkeepsie Journal (Friday, July 31, 2009) and a lot of things he said resonated with me. Here are some quotes:

I guess my first goal with music is not simply starting with an idea. I love symbol rather than sign. I love music that draws me out into the next stage of what I'm going to become. The writing process has always been a wonderful adventure. I feel something in a piece of music or a phrase and follow that emotion and graduallly craft the song that way. I can write a song that's not about me but about who I might become...

Years ago, the music was the little window I got right in my life. The rest was trying to find that level of purpose and focus and sort of meaning. So through that microcosm of music, I learned the lessons of how to do everything else. It used to be very difficult. It was sort of like someone on a trampoline trying to look over a large hedge. Most of my life was nowhere near approaching the joy or presence I found in my music...

[I first picked up a guitar] when I was 18. At the time, it felt like, here is a joy that is unfamiliar. I just wanted to be around that feeling. Little by little, I started to feel like it wasn't escapist. It was the first clue in a long treasure hunt to find the joy in my life...

[Music matters because] I can get back in touch with my heart and get a glimpse of where someone finds their hope. They take me there. For me, it's a powerful glimpse into someone else's heart, especially when the song is written with that respect for the listener. I'm very grateful there is music. It saved my life.

Singing for free

Today I went to the peace vigil at the corner of Routes 9 and 9D in Wappingers Falls. It's been held every Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. since before we invaded Iraq (the second time). Pete Seeger often comes here. There was an article about this vigil in the New York Times a few years ago, after which attendance increased dramatically. It also appeared for a few seconds toward the end of the movie about Pete, "The Power of Song." Since Obama was elected attendance has fallen off. Often the counter demonstrators across the road have more people than we do.

When I arrived today there were about three people; a couple more showed up after I did. It was very hot and sunny, but it was hard to complain after the cold, rainy June and July we had. Much of the talk was about Pete because PBS had aired excerpts of the Madison Square Garden concert last May 3, marking his 90th birthday.

At 2:00 it's our custom to sing a few peace songs before going our separate ways. We started, as we usually do, with "Study War No More." Then one of the protesters, Enoch, played a great version of "Woodstock." Then we cleaned up all our signs and flags and departed.

For me, that's what singing is for -- to bring people together, to give energy and beauty to what might otherwise be a dull task: protesting. Not to show off, and certainly not for the money.

From there I went to a picnic held by my CSA (community supported agriculture) farm, the Poughkeepsie Farm Project. My folk trio, The Raggedy Crew (www.myspace.com/theraggedycrew) performed -- again, for free. Did I mention that it was very hot today? It didn't seem like anyone was listening. I find it distracting to be singing and playing when no one is paying attention, and I made a lot of mistakes. But I told myself, I have to practice playing under all kinds of conditions. Plus, some people were listening. Later, someone I hadn't even known was there told me she enjoyed the music; she was way in the back where I couldn't see her. I have to learn to concentrate better and not let negative thoughts ("nobody's listening; why am I even bothering; oops, I made another mistake but I bet nobody noticed anyway") get the better of me.

Thank you for listening.

Getting closer

Today I called Oasis (http://www.oasiscd.com/) and got a quote. Then I called Vito (www.iamvito.com) and gave him the go-ahead to send my CD to Mark Dann (http://www.markdannrecording.com/) for mastering.

Listening to the pre-mastered CD, I'm feeling very proud of myself and grateful for all the wonderful talent (other people's) that went into the making of it. And also hoping that some of the flaws I hear in my voice and guitar will be lessened in the process of mastering, which I still don't understand what it is but am led to believe that it is a sort of magic incantation that is muttered over the CD and makes it "shimmer." It all sounds like something out of Harry Potter, but whatever works.

Now I'm planning my CD release party and wondering what to do next. (Besides try to recoup the money I laid out.)