Pete's Farewell Song

[alterfurz]

To My Old Brown Earth

[Ninga]

1. Thank you so much alterfurz, for posting this gorgeous and soulful song.

Made me cry...

[classof56]

2. Oh, my...such a beautiful and moving song.

And Pete's words...do they ever touch the soul!

There will never be another Pete Seeger. We have been truly blessed to share the Earth with him. Thank you for posting!

Peace and blessings.

[Paka]

3. Thank you for that, alterfurz

I feel privileged to be on Planet Earth during his lifetime. Such a giant of a man, he represents the best of everything that is good and decent. May his songs and his spirit live on.

[ReRe]

4. K&R

Absolutely, stunningly poignant. RIP, dear Pete.

[JDPriestly]

5. Just thought I would mention that Pete Seeger was Unitarian-Universalist.

When I heard this song, I suspected that. But this interview confirms it.
His reason for joining his church is very much like my reason for becoming a Unitarian -- music. The church I joined while I was in college practiced Bach chorales for the Sunday service. That was my idea of religion.

Here are his words:

My mother was briefly a member of the Unitarian Church. I actually joined the Community Church [a Unitarian-Universalist church] on 35th Street, in New York, because I had a chorus and we needed a place to rehearse. [My wife] Toshi thinks it was very dishonest of me to join a church simply because I needed to rehearse the chorus. But I’ve been on good terms with them ever since. And sung for them occasionally. And if I ever sing at all now, I would do it down there.

What are your religious or spiritual beliefs?

His Spiritual Beliefs
I now feel that there must be microscopic electromagnetic waves that come out from our brain. All I know is that I’m not the only person who will be thinking of somebody and all of a sudden the telephone rings, and it’s that somebody. My wife also, when things are lost, sometimes can close her eyes and fix her mind on that thing and try and visualize it, maybe it’s a key or a notebook. And she finds her feet moving, and she follows her feet moving and she puts her hand on the key or notebook. Nobody knows for sure. But people undoubtedly get feelings which are not explainable and they feel they’re talking to God or they’re talking to their parents who are long dead.

I feel most spiritual when I’m out in the woods. I feel part of nature. Or looking up at the stars. [I used to say] I was an atheist. Now I say, it’s all according to your definition of God. According to my definition of God, I’m not an atheist. Because I think God is everything. Whenever I open my eyes I’m looking at God. Whenever I’m listening to something I’m listening to God.

I’ve had preachers of the gospel, Presbyterians and Methodists, saying, “Pete, I feel that you are a very spiritual person.” And maybe I am. I feel strongly that I’m trying to raise people’s spirits to get together.

http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Music/2006/08/Pete-Seegers-Session.aspx

[2banon]

7. Amen to that Pete! Kindred Spirits we are...

Thanks for posting that interview JD...

[trusty elf]

6. very touching

[2banon]

8. K&R'd

[FailureToCommunicate]

9. For a human being who gave so much to his Earth, this is his hymn of

what he wants to give back. Most of us can only raise our voices, and hope to continue down the -sometimes difficult -path he started us on.

Farewell Pete.
You made so many lives better,
cheered the hearts of generations of children.
It was a privilege singing along with you

Grant me, and all of us, the strength and courage to keep on "strugglin on..."
singing a 'Seeger song'


My life goes on in endless song
Above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?