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Memento Mori: Not Only Peter and Paul will Miss Mary.
I've had a couple of hard months losing heroes. The eminent historian John Hope Franklin died in late march. I'm teaching a course celebrating his life and work. Then it was Eunice Kennedy Shriver. I wrote a note on her which slipped off the front page before anyone much noticed. Shortly after, Teddy Kennedy passed; his death occasioning criticism from those who found his life not spotless enough to suit them, as well as praise for the efforts he made across his very long career.
Yesterday Mary Travers died. One of the the army of "folk" who fought the good cause with melody and lyrics for more than a generation. She was 72, a victim of leukemia, not old by today's standards of old. I don't know anyone who had anything particularly malicious to say about Mary, though members of her craft have been ridiculed around here from time to time. Buit I want to remember her today, publicly. And I hope that the aholics will dedicate the jukebox to her this evening.
Yesterday Mary Travers died. One of the the army of "folk" who fought the good cause with melody and lyrics for more than a generation. She was 72, a victim of leukemia, not old by today's standards of old. I don't know anyone who had anything particularly malicious to say about Mary, though members of her craft have been ridiculed around here from time to time. Buit I want to remember her today, publicly. And I hope that the aholics will dedicate the jukebox to her this evening.
IF I HAD A HAMMER (The Hammer Song)> words and music by Lee Hays and Pete SeegerNo moment of silence please. No moment of silence for a singer. A moment of song, a moment of joyful noise, a moment of not worrying about whether it's good enough for anyone to hear. Thank you for your life, Mary.
If I had a hammer I'd hammer in the morning I'd hammer in the evening All over this land I'd hammer out danger I'd hammer out a warning I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters All over this land
f I had a bell I'd ring it in the morning I'd ring it in the evening All over this land I'd ring out danger I'd ring out a warning I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters All over this land
If I had a song I'd sing it in the morning I'd sing it in the evening All over this land I'd sing out danger I'd sing out a warning I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters All over this land
Well I've got a hammer And I've got a bell And I've got a song to sing All over this land It's the hammer of justice It's the bell of freedom It's the song about love between my brothers and my sisters All over this land
When Day is Done
When the day is done
Down to earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done.
When the day is done
Hope so much your race will be all run
Then you find you jumped the gun
Have to go back where you began
When the day is done.
When the night is cold
Some get by but some get old
Just to show lifes not made of gold
When the night is cold.
When the bird has flown
Got no-one to call your own
Got no place to call your home
When the bird has flown.
When the games been fought
You speed the ball across the court
Lost much sooner than you would have thought
Now the games been fought.
When the partys through
Seems so very sad for you
Didnt do the things you meant to do
Now theres no time to start anew
Now the partys through.
When the day is done
Down to earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done
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No "Puff the Magic Dragon"?
September 17, 2009 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I always preferred "I'm In Love With a Big Blue Frog", myself.
Song Lyrics:
I'm in love with a big blue frog,
A big blue frog loves me.
It's not as bad as it appears
He wears glasses and he's six foot three.
Well, I'm not worried about our kids,
I know they'll turn out neat.
They'll be great lookin', 'cause they'll have my face,
great swimmers, 'cause they'll have his feet!
Well, I'm in love with a big blue frog,
A big blue frog loves me.
He's not as bad as he appears,
He's got rhythm and a PhD.
Well, I know we can make things work
He's got good fam'ly sense.
His mother was a frog from Philadelphia
His daddy an enchanted prince.
The neighbors are against it and it's clear to me
And it's prob'ly clear to you
They think value on their property will go right down
If the family next door is blue.
Well, I'm in love with a big blue frog
A big blue frog loves me
I've got it tattooed on my chest
It says P.H.R.O.G. (It's frog to me!)
P.H.R.O.G.
(I B Emerson)
September 17, 2009 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for this, amike. Peter Paul & Mary were constantly playing on the stereo when I was growing up. You can rest assured they'll be playing on the juke tonight in the chat room.
September 17, 2009 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, amike, for paying respects to a beautiful lady with a beautiful voice and conscience.
September 17, 2009 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ditto regarding Ripper's post. LisB is right. We did listen to a lot of Peter, Paul and Mary and I especially loved an album of just Mary. Great songs, great words and wonderful memories.
September 17, 2009 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Between our loss of Mary and the loss of Jim Carroll, I am weary. Jim Carroll was a hero of mine from the time I was 12, and May was a heroine of mine since I first heard her sing on my mother's turntable at three years old.
September 17, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those are people who died, died...
September 17, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Grew up listening to my mom's Peter Paul and Mary records. She had them all. I was always fascinated with the one album that had them dressed as mafia-like criminals. Loved their music. No Wiggles for me.
September 17, 2009 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Amike, now I can weep another hour. Listening to her all day. Half a century of hearing someone with the same consistent message,
a message of love
a message of compassion
a message of acceptance
September 17, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
In her memory I suggest we all use our hammers now in the most constructive and proactive way to ensure positive HCR is achieved and that we ensure our government moves forward with needed political reform!
Thanks amike.
Rec'd.
September 17, 2009 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I remember being thrilled to see Peter, Paul, and Mary at anti-Vietnam War rallies in DC.
September 17, 2009 7:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I, too, tlees.
How could we forget this?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8U6Oh9uSY8
Or this, which seems to be the essence of her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUKB3PxG-0E&NR=1
September 17, 2009 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well my tears are not over a wasted life that is for sure.
So much fun to watch her Belle, determination and righteousness. Ha
September 17, 2009 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for these ww- great tribute to one hell of a woman!!
September 17, 2009 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
The song will never die - the singer lives on...
September 17, 2009 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you all. Thanks for sharing the memories and the sentiments. We need to keep this aspect of our character burnished and bright--especially in savage and cynic times.
September 17, 2009 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
My husband and I were college students at a Peter, Paul, and Mary concert at Bowling Green State University in March of 1968.
Paul was doing his solo bit and enjoying the applause when Peter and Mary ran on. They kind of cut off the audience and were talking to him very excitedly. Peter motioned the audience quiet and stepped up to the mic to say, "Lyndon Johnson has just announced that he will not run again."
Everyone enjoyed the joke and laughed. He had to repeat it. And then Mary leaned in to say "It's true!" She was bouncing up and down and so excited that people finally believed. The whole place roared and erupted in a spontaneous, jubilant version of "This Land Is Your Land." It was a great night in a tough year.
September 17, 2009 10:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
... and then we got Nixon - bummer :)
September 18, 2009 2:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
That would have been March 31st .. because I remember getting up on April Fools morning, seeing a political cartoon of LBJ making a phone call to Bobby Kennedy saying "Bobby, I've decided not to run" - all the while staring at a calendar. ..... And then on the front page was the same story as a news item! Many of us joined Mary in glee ...... not realizing that the next president would be a Nixon, not a Kennedy.
September 18, 2009 8:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is it not a wonderful that such a beautiful thing as the marvelous melodies their voices created together should have such power for so many years? Even when it seemed hokey the gentle power of love that emanated from their music could not help but draw people to them and to their message. I think their sound will live on long past the three of them or any of us and it gives me hope.
September 18, 2009 3:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Me too. Last night I played video after video--back to the days of black and white television, forward to when Mary had gained in pounds what Peter and Paul had lost in hair. I loved it all, and sang along, to the astonishment of my cats.
September 18, 2009 7:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for the post and quick trip back to that time ....... and for the thought of being able to go to college (I'm assuming) and study John Hope Franklin!
September 18, 2009 8:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is indeed the case. My seniors will be investigating aspects of his life, his writings, and is contributions to the civil rights movement, and I expect to publish their papers electronically. Wish us all luck.
September 18, 2009 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
The very first record I owned, I was in the 4th or 5th grade and my parents bought me a little portable turntable record player and a Peter, Paul and Mary LP.
I wore it out.
I will always miss her.
September 18, 2009 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for this amike. I recall childhood memories in which I learned to care about issues of social justice via lessons taught through song in three part harmony.
"Love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land!"
As an aside, it seems to me the teabaggers could use a little more singing and a lot less hate at their rallies, no? Glen Beck may inspire people, but it is an appeal to their worst instincts. Peter, Paul and Mary filled our hearts and our souls and made them sing. There is a difference.
I will miss her, but have been singing through all my days.
September 18, 2009 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I certainly agree with that. But what songs could they sing? If I remember correctly Micheal Flanders and Donald Swann wrote a funny song lamenting the lack of an English National Anthem. I'm only reminded of it here because of what they said about the Welsh: They sing too loud, too often, and flat. I'd probably assign that to the right as well...If we could teach them to sing our songs, the hate would deflate, I'm sure.
September 19, 2009 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink