In Memory of Pete Seeger

Heroes walk through life carrying their torches to light the pathways of others. Saints walk through life as living beacons for others. Anon.

How utterly important are the words from the Book of Ecclesiastes:

 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

The world lost a true Saint. Pete Seeger leaves a vacuum in our society that only his legacy will be able to fill. He and his beloved wife fought the good fight for 70+ years. He eschewed the “good-life†of comfort and convenience, sought out and confronted cruelty and injustice. I saw him on an old video and he mentioned that his publisher had recently called him and asked if he could come up with another hit song like, “Irene Good night.†He laughed, but later was reading his, “Good Old Book†and the words and music emerged into a hit as famous as “Irene.â€

The words have been around for thousands of years, perhaps because of their poignant, timeless message. Even so, the truly great folksingers are dieing off and with them the life-style and music that they represented. Fewer and fewer people sit around campfires and sing the great old folksongs. It makes me really sad!

Rest in peace noble champion of the downcast, downtrodden, and victims of injustice. You have run the good race and fought the good fight.  

 

Turn! Turn! Turn!”

To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together

To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing

To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time of peace, I swear it’s not too late!