Links to the other 4 Juneteenth posts are at the end.
I did not start off with the intention of reflecting on Juneteenth, which just became a Federal holiday. My plan was simply to reply to an email from a fellow member of the Poor People’s Campaign about a Zoom meeting on Father’s Day.
But, my “everybody in...nobody out” musical Muse had other ideas.
Here’s his email reply about his availability for our meeting:
“ I will be on with BELLS
Happy Father’s Day”
I replied as follows:
Great...for some time now words and phrases are becoming like search criteria for my musical memory. It’s like I’m living the world of August Rush, as I’m hearing the music EVERYWHERE...
So, today, your “BELLS” retrieved this one from the vault...
Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield (08:02)
As today unfolded and I sat with where we are in this HISTORIC moment in time, I heard the pealing of other bells and chimes for freedom from years past...
Ring Out Wild Bells – Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night; [the old order is dying out]
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. [YES!!! Let it die!!!]
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause, [all the “ism’s”]
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease, [how apropos for now]
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
[His message and that of those like him have yet to be realized by the masses.
WE are that realization!!!]
Dramatic Reading (with music 04:00)
“If I had a hammer...If I had a bell...”
“We Shall Overcome” runs from 07:25-09:45. Total program time: 58 minutes.
EXTRAS
--In the interview he talks about the racism experiences of his wife of nearly 70 years – Toshi.
He also calls out what he calls “forbidden lyrics” in “This Land is Your Land”:
“There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me
Sign was painted, it said private property
But on the back side it didn’t say nothing
This land was made for you and me”
--His recommendation, if there is a world after him, “Humor may save us” AND he concludes with “DON’T GIVE UP!!!”
GET INVOLVED!!!
COME share your talents with us! Join the Poor People’s Campaign Movement...
...on this page click your state name then follow the links (email and website) and fill in the “Join the Campaign!” form to get connected.
JOIN US ON JUNE 21ST -
NATIONAL POOR PEOPLE’S & LOW-WAGE WORKERS ASSEMBLY
Date: Mon. June 21 @ 5:30 pm ET Online and live in Raleigh, NC
--use site for more info, signing up and supporting our Campaign
Links to Related Posts
JUNETEENTH-1: Poor People's Campaign: 3rd Reconstruction (3-minute read)
History of the new Federal holiday plus info on the Poor People's Campaign and it's comprehensive strategy for ending systemic injustices like poverty, racism, lack of adequate housing and healthcare, militarism and the war economy and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. JOIN ME!!!
JUNETEENTH-3: “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop...Seen the Light...and Found It's Within Me...” (3-minute read)
Using mindful music and images, we consider the necessity of balancing our actions for social justice with periods of rest and refreshment – mountaintop experiences to sustain us for our times in the valleys...
JUNETEENTH-4: Music Fuels & Moves the Movement (7-minute read)
All about the power of musicians to tell us stories to both trouble our souls into ACTION and then provide the soundtrack for them...
JUNETEENTH-5: First Examine the Shadows in our own Hearts and Minds...OR, “Don’t just DO something.. (5-minute read)
Using Richard Rohr’s wisdom about first checking our own hearts before throwing the first stone, we are invited to “inquire within.” This medication is supplemented with musician Trevor Hall’s honest, soul-bearing storytelling and Sufi mystic Iman Jamal Rahman’s joyful exploration into the mystery of suffering.
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