IN THESE TIMES
(c) 2008 - noel paul stookey
rev 071107
there's a warning in the wind that comes wailing through the trees
a depression in the shoreline left by the pounding seas
there is a lesson in the drought that brings a country to its knees
in these times...
we are dancing with disaster when we live beyond our needs
and pretend our hungry souls are not related to our greed...
life's a journey. but it's not about the speedin these times...
in these times...we must be mindful of the gift in these times...use our hands and hearts to lift the fallen spirit in this land planting flowers in the sand reaching out a helping hand in...these...times
as the perfect storm approaches and the gale around us roars no longer can we close our eyes and hide behind our doors: our choices fewer now by what we've chosen to ignore in these times...
the ship of state is drifting; it's getting hard to steer it's a complicated issue but the direction's pretty clear 'each of us' is how we're gonna get to there from here in these times...
in these times...we must be mindful of the gift in these times...use our hands and hearts to lift the fallen spirit in this land planting flowers in the sand reaching out a helping hand in...these...times
(instrumental)
in everything that's living there's a promise of a Love planted in the seeds below and in the stars above we must listen to its message; become faithful stewards of these times...
in these times...we must be mindful of the gift in these times...use our hands and hearts to lift the fallen spirit in this land planting flowers in the sand reaching out a helping hand in...these...times in these times...we must be mindful of the gift in these times...use our hands and hearts to lift the fallen spirit in this land planting flowers in the sand reaching out a helping hand in...these...times
BIOGRAPHY
Though he moved to New York City at the age of 20 to be a photographer, Noel Paul Stookey soon found that other opportunities beckoned there. Swept up in the burgeoning arts scene in Greenwich village, his buoyant style and Midwestern affability quickly found him work as a master of ceremonies, comedian and sometime singer and songwriter. “Those were exciting times,” he recalls. “I would only wish that the same environment of artistic exchange and freedom could be made available to more young artists and performers today.”
In his fourth decade as the “Paul” of Peter, Paul, and Mary, Stookey’s music continues to challenge, encourage and entertain. His music has spanned a spectrum from, “DIG ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC,” his 60’s satire on pop trendiness, to one of the best loved solo records, “THE WEDDING SONG,” which reached the top 30’s of the pop charts in the early 70’s. (The later was of special significance to Noel, not only because it represented a musical gift to Peter Yarrow on his wedding day, but also because it was among the first songs written following his Christian conversion in 1968).
Stookey’s passionate beliefs have been an impetus for his own personal activism. “Ultimately, we’re all responsible for putting our beliefs into action,” he says. His visits to Central America and his support for the sanctuary movement, which shelters the refugees of political oppression, his song “EL SALVADOR,” based on the experience of clergy in that nation during the 80’s, has been called a stirring call for human rights.
That spirit has guided both his words and his actions. After creating "THE WEDDING SONG,” for example, Stookey assigned the publishing rights from the song to The Public Domain Foundation, which has donated nearly 2 million dollars to charities in countries around the world. The organization, now guided by his daughter Elizabeth Stookey Sunde, has expanded into the sponsoring of Music To Life (MTL) songwriting contests; “soundtracks for advocacy..." says Noel.
In February and May of 2007, Noel traveled to Tokyo, Japan for television appearances, press conferences and performances (perhaps the most notable being at the Prime Minister's residence) of his composition "SONG FOR MEGUMI;" a haunting ballad expressing the loneliness and grief of separation caused the parents by the political abduction of their thirteen year old daughter by North Korea. His CD release in that country continues to raise financial support for the Families of the Abductees.
Those familiar with Noel's solo work in the context of Peter Paul & Mary will welcome the release of FACETS; his first solo studio recording in 20 years. The 12 track CD, which became available in November of 2007, contains, in addition to the title tune, selections previously unrecorded ("BE REAL," "REVOLUTION (1x1)," "MY FUNNY VALENTINE," "BY MYSELF") as well as three instrumentals which feature his classic picking style. Most recently, Stookey's energized performance of his song "IN THESE TIMES" (available for free download on the web) is drawing attention both musically and visually. Though many of Noel's performances are regularly seen on YouTUBE, they have been primarily in the context of his work with the Peter, Paul and Mary trio. This, his most recent piece, is a solo music video dedicated to the STEP IT UP ecological movement.
In May of 2008, Noel and daughter Elizabeth hosted ten MTL finalists as they presented their music in a showcase at the Kerrville Folk Festival. The foundation has also supported Musical Instrument “Petting Zoos” for communities and on the horizon creating a radio disk jockey resource providing access to ‘music for social change.’
More information on Noel can be found at:
http://www.noelpaulstookey.com/
For more information on The Public Domain Foundation please go to:
http://www.pdfoundation.org/
Hi Paul, I wanted to extend my heartfelt condolences on the passing of Mary Travers, she was indeed a bright spirit and a rare talent who did so very much to improve our world, best wishes and blessings in this time of sorrow
Yay, I'm very glad to be your friend!! :-D I made the trip to see you and Peter in Philadelphia last weekend. It was truly wonderful. Thanks for continuing to inspire me and countless others with your powerful message and music. God Bless, Maggie Simon (Milwaukee, WI)
'<br />you are a candle<br />whose flickering flame<br />fills the darkness<br />with such brilliance<br /><br />that the sun sets<br />in awe and the moon<br />and the stars are<br />aglow in wonder.<br /><br /><br />candle...<br />(c) jim cole 11072006
Come join us in our Cause! Please help us spread the word by recruiting friends and adding an Eternal Circle badge to your profile to show your support!
Greetings, I have a deep appreciation for your individual and Peter, Paul and Mary works. it's an honor to be among your circle of friends...Best wishes for health and success in 2009...PEACE throughout the world...Jeff Chambers
Hi there Noel! I love your music. I had a cassette tape of Real to Reel from the 1970's that I used to listen to all the time....so I just repurchased that album via iTunes, so you are now on my iPod.
Thank you for adding me as a MySpace friend. Please also consider becoming a fan of mine on www.reverbnation.com/chrishartzog, where you can access “Fan Exclusive” MP3 downloads and listen to streaming music from thousands of other artists.
I support autism awareness. Our daughter is on the autism spectrum, so I definitely know first hand what other parents might be experiencing. My official web site, www.chris-hartzog.com, is there to help raise awareness of autism and other brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. My site is dedicated to writing and recording music to help us finance the long term care of our daughter.
