Peace Through Music

Peace Through Music

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Let Us Open Our Hearts, by Amma

I recently learned about Amma, the hugging saint from India. I've been touched by her words in The Language of the Heart. Here is one of her meditations:

Let Us Open Our Hearts

We are not isolated islands,
we are connected links in a chain.
Each kind word, each smiling face,
each good action benefits our neighbor,
our community, our nation, and our world.
Let us pray and meditate together,
and we shall reach the shore of peace,
spreading the sweet holy fragrance of Love
and vibrations of unity and harmony.
Turning our minds to the supreme Consciousness,
let us open our hearts and chant the words:

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

May all beings everywhere be happy.

-Amma

Regarding religious beliefs and differences, I also like this meditation from Amma:

There Is Only One

There is an infinite power independent of 
and transcending every created thing.
That power is God, and there is only one.

Christians call God Christ;
Muslims call God Allah;
Hindus call God Shiva, Krishna, Mother - 
But all are the same God.

The supreme Self says, However
you conceive of me, I am there.

-Amma

I grew up Christian and was a strong believer into adulthood, however, there came a time when those beliefs no longer resonated with me. I felt lost for a few years, yearning for a connection with the Great Beyond and knowing that there is something bigger and greater out there, but not knowing how to connect with that Essence. It is through messages like these that I have found peace, knowing that however I try to connect with the One, it is ok. Sometimes I feel like this Essence/Spirit is a culmination of all the positive energy of humanity past, present, and future. But we didn't create ourselves, so I suppose it is also the Source of this energy. I don't feel I need to know or understand the details...they just get in the way. The real message is spreading Love and Peace and being caring and generous towards others. We are all human, and our differences are less than our similarities. If we can embrace compassion instead of intolerance and fear, we will go a long way toward a better future for all... Love and Peace, Jennifer



Saturday, October 1, 2016

Love Never Dies :)

Hello, :)

I wrote this song a few years back in honor of my father. I believe it speaks truth about the enduring power of love and that this might touch other people's hearts as well, so I've decided to make it public. I'm still working on the accompaniment. For now, bear with the pauses in between singing and imagine an accompaniment in your heart. :)

Love Never Dies

Peace to all, Jennifer

Sunday, February 21, 2016

The GV Community Sing Along was a success! :)

Hello! :)

Today was the Global Voices Community Sing Along at Schlow library in downtown State College. We had a very nice turn out - especially since almost all of the PSU women's basketball team joined us! Thanks for coming ladies! I enjoyed the event and hope everyone else did too. :)

Peace, love, sing! -Jennifer







Tuesday, December 15, 2015

2/21/16 Global Voices Community Sing Along! :)

Peace, Love, Sing! A Global Voices Sing Along

Date: Sunday February 21, 2016
Time: 2:30-4:00 pm

Location: Schlow Library
Ages: mostly adults, age 10 and up is ok (younger children can come with parents, if need be)

Description: The Global Voices Sing Along is open to anyone who wants to make a joyful noise. Please come to sing about world peace and show our love for the world and each other. We will be singing along with recordings of popular peace and freedom songs. Come and bring a friend! We hope to see you there! :)

*In the posts below you will find the lyrics and recordings to the songs we will be singing.*

Disclaimer: If the song refers to God or "mankind" - please feel free to insert your own beliefs/words. The goal is to sing about world peace, and sometimes very nice songs include a reference to God. 

I really like the Starfish Story below - it reminds me that touching the world one person at a time is very significant - because it's exponential! :) 
Share a smile and some kindness today, and watch it spread!
 



GV Sing Along Lyrics and Recordings



What A Wonderful World


I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed the day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
But they're really saying is I love you.

I hear baby's crying and I watched them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
Yes, I think to myself what a wonderful world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM


Ooh Child
By The Five Stairsteps
Ooh-oo child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh-oo child
Things'll get brighter
Ooh-oo child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh-oo child
Things'll get brighter
Some day, yeah
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
Some day
When your head is much lighter
Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter
Ooh-oo child
Things are gonna be easier
Ooh-oo child
Things'll get be brighter
Ooh-oo child
Things are gonna be easier
Ooh-oo child
Things'll get be brighter
Some day, yeah
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
Some day
When your head is much lighter
Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter
Some day, yeah
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
Some day
When your head is much lighter
Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmpU_73CXxU

Global Voices
Theme Song


We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a
brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me!

From: “We Are The World” by Michael Jackson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI

 

GV Sing Along Lyrics and Recordings



We Shall Overcome

By Zilphia Horton, Guy Carawan, Frank Hamilton, Pete Seeger
                                                                                                            


We shall overcome, we shall overcome
We shall overcome someday
Oh deep in my heart, I do believe
That we shall overcome someday

We'll walk hand in hand, we'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand someday
Oh deep in my heart, I do believe
That we shall overcome someday

We are not afraid, we are not afraid
We are not afraid today
Oh deep in my heart, I do believe
That we shall overcome someday

We shall overcome, we shall overcome
We shall overcome someday
Oh deep in my heart, I do believe
That we shall overcome someday

Without recording:

We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace
We shall live in peace someday
Oh deep in my heart, I do believe
That we shall live in peace someday




Let There Be Peace On Earth
By Vince Gill

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.


Imagine
By John Lennon
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRhq-yO1KN8

GV Sing Along Lyrics and Recordings



Blowin' In The Wind
By Bob Dylan

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, how many times must a man look up
Before he can really see the sky?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld6fAO4idaI
  

Music Is My Ammunition

By Playing For Change 


The songs of my ancestors still ricochet through the wind, And the smoke is rising through the words I and I sing. Music is my ammunition; I fire down Babylon! The songs of my ancestors still ricochet through the wind, And the smoke is rising through the words I and I sing. Music is my ammunition; fire down Babylon! Imprisonment, poverty and Babylon's system; We've been suffering all this time (all this time) I and I keep on chanting down 'Till our children will face The front of that line The songs of my ancestors still ricochet through the wind (through the wind), And the smoke is rising through the words I and I sing. Music is my ammunition, lord; I fire down Babylon! The songs of my ancestors still ricochet through the wind, And the smoke is rising through the words I and I sing. Music is my ammunition, lord; I fire down Babylon! Peace and dignity are not very far out of our reach It just comes down (just comes down) to what I and I choose to teach Truth and honesty will free our hearts And free our minds (free our minds) So then our children can live together as one 'Till the end of time The songs of my ancestors still ricochet through the wind, And the smoke is rising through the words I and I sing. Music is my ammunition, lord; I fire down Babylon! The songs of my ancestors still ricochet through the wind (through the wind), And the smoke is rising through the words I and I sing. Music is my ammunition, lord; I fire down Babylon! Music is my ammunition; I fire down Babylon! Music is my ammunition; I fire down Babylon! Music is my ammunition, lord; I fire down Babylon





 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcLhrHHekC4

If I Had A Hammer

By Peter, Paul and 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, uh
If 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, oh
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 song of out a warning
I'd sing out love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land, oh
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 a song about love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land
It's a hammer of justice
It's a bell of freedom
It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTvr79Oe5w8


Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

By Pete Seeger

Where have all the flowers gone,
Long time passing,
Where have all the flowers gone,
Long time ago,
Where have all the flowers gone,
Picked by young girls every one,
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone,
Long time passing,
Where have all the young girls gone,
Long time ago,
Where have all the young girls gone,
Gone to young men every one,
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young men gone,
Long time passing,
Where have all the young men gone,
Long time ago,
Where have all the young men gone,
Gone to soldiers every one,
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the soldiers gone,
Long time passing,
Where have all the soldiers gone,
Long time ago,
Where have all the soldiers gone,
They've gone to graveyards every one,
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the graveyards gone,
Long time passing,
Where have all the graveyards gone,
Long time ago,
Where have all the graveyards gone,
Gone to flowers every one,
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?