Reference

Topic: 

About the Song

The lyrics of this song are derived from a comment Pete Seeger made to a reporter from the Washington Post around the time of his being honored by the Kennedy Center. He was asked a question about what it meant to sing folk songs. He said he didn't really like the term "folk song".  The reporter said "I don't really get it. You're the quintessential folk singer. What would you call them instead?" He replied "I call them all love songs."

I call them all love songs, 'cause that is what they are
Love, though the road be smooth or rough
Love for this crazy world and all humanity
Still we know love alone is not enough

C G Am Em / Am G F - / Am G Am Em / AmG FEm G - (AmG FEm G - )

It's about the workers in solidarity
And about their singing on the line
A song about their dream to make a better world
Like a beacon through the night, we let it shine
A hope for the planet, the home that we all share
That we may strive to heal the damage we have done
A lament about wrong of war & standing to defy
Or a song about the peace that we have won.

C - F Em / Am G F - / C - F Em / F - G -
Am G F C / Am G F - / Am G F C / AmG FEm G -

It's the struggle of poor people just fighting to get by
And the greedy who take more than their share
It is sung for the ones who help to feed body and mind
Of their brothers & their sisters anywhere
A song about walkin’ not just talkin’ as we go 
Remembering the good things that we do
A song about standing with & for each other now
For we know love is not enough to see us through

A song about searching, searching for the truth
And about the things that are unknown
A song about freedom & the struggle that goes on
A story of the place you call home
A song about the river ever flowing to the sea
From the mountains in the north, forever tall
A dream of Clearwater & the wind that fills her sails
It's a song about a song about us all

- lyrics & music by Terry Leonino & Greg Artzner (c) 2014 authors. Used by permission.

Recorded on Magpie's 2019 "A Tiding" album.

written January 28, 2014 - for Pete Seeger, May 3, 1919-January 27, 2014