Walking. Germantown.
International Migrants Day.
Unite 75 – Daara J Family
Immigrant – John McCutcheon
Ave Que Emigra – Gabby Moreno
The Migrant Worker – Jim Croce
Gourma – Etran Fintawa
Take Me to Cleveland – Robert Neustadt
No Geography – The Chemical Brothers
Look in Their Eyes – David Crosby
Why We Build the Wall – Hadestown
La Jaula de Oro – Los Tigres del Norte
Alien – Gil-Scott Heron
Cages – Redbait
Bad Hombres y Mujeres – Antonio Sanchez
La Frontera – Lagartijeando, feat. Minuk
Migration – Jonny Lipford
The Dreamer – Jackson Browne
My Only Home – Unchained XL, feat. Genesis Elijah & Femi Ashiru
A Safe Place to Land – Sara Bareilles, feat. John Legend
Running – Keyon Harrold, Andrea Pizziconi & Jasson Harrold, feat. Running feat. Common & Gregory Porter
Amor Migrante – Elena & Los Fulanos
Go Tell a Bird – Maya De Vitry
Beyond the Border – Bhi Bhiman
Godspeed – Radney Foster
Where We Are – Diana Jones
Migra – Santana
Immigrant Eyes – Willie Nelson
The Immigrants – Gabby Moreno & Van Dyke Parks
Deportees – Sweet Honey in the Rock
Immigrants (We Get the Job Done) – K’naan, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC & Residente
Refugee King – Liz Vice, feat. Hannah Glover
No Human Is Illegal – The Wakes
Category Archives: Music
18 December 2022
Filed under Advent, Antiracism, Current Events, Exercise, Human Rights, Louisville, Music, playlist, United Nations
Christmas in the Trenches
As the holy day approaches, a number of people are asking, “What is your favorite Christmas song?” A variation is “What non-religious holiday song that moves your spirit?
Recognizing the amazing amount of wonderful holiday music, whether intentionally religious or intentionally non-religious, that exists, I believe my answer would be the same.
Thanks to the Rev. Essie Koenig-Reinke (my daughter-in-love), pastor of Dickey Memorial Presbyterian Church, here is a brief reflection on the song that is my answer. This was originally written for the church’s Advent devotional.
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Micah 4:3b)
“My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.”
So begins ”Christmas in the Trenches” by singer-songwriter John McCutcheon, a song about the 1914 Christmas Truce told through the eyes of Tolliver, a fictional British soldier.
On Christmas Eve in the filth and muck of the trenches along World War I’s Western front, peace broke out.
Most accounts say it began with German soldiers singing Christmas carols. Others joined. And almost in a collective impulse, many German, British, and French soldiers put down their weapons and met in No-Man’s Land.
They sang, shared photos, told stories, and traded gifts from care packages. Some reports speak of makeshift soccer games played on Christmas Day.
Peace did not last as “with sad farewells we each began to settle back to war.”
The war raged until November 1918 and did not end war—wars and conflicts have followed to this day.
Still the Christmas Truce was a wondrous moment. of peace and and promise and possibility, of hope and justice.
Those themes resonate each year at the manger. They echo through Jesus’ life. He invites us to live into them—at Christmas and through the year.
May we so do.
Check out this call for a 2022 Christmas Trues in Ukraine.
Filed under Advent, Current Events, Family, Human Rights, Music
15 December 2022
Walking. Germantown.
Anniversary of Assassination of Sitting Bull.
Sitting Bull’s Medicine Song – Kevin Locke
2 Live & Die on the Plains – Frank Waln
Ghost Dance – Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble
Sitting Bull’s Memorial Song – Lakota Thunder
For My People – Litefoot
Now That the Buffalo’s Gone – Buffy Sainte-Marie
Assinboine: Warrior Death Song (for Sitting Bull) – Native Americans Songs and Dances of the Sioux, Apache, Kiowa, Hopi, Navajo, Cree, Seminole and Others
The Prayer – SupaMan
Aiionwatha Forgives (World) – Joanne Shenandoah
Life Surrounds Me – R. Carlos Nakai
Wovoka – Redbone
Lakota Forever – Brulé
Ghostdance – Bill Miller
Filed under Antiracism, Human Rights, Louisville, Music, playlist
AdventWord 2022 – December 13 – #stranger
Another challenging word. I try to heed the words of Tommy Sands:
Let the circle be wide ’round the fireside
And we’ll soon make room for you
Let your heart have no fear, there are no strangers here,
Just friends that you never knew
But there are definitely people I have not met. There are people I don’t know. There are people I hesitate to meet. I confess that. I try to work at that.
Photo: May 17, 2014; Central Park, New York, New York
10 December 2022 – Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day
Rise Up – Andra Day
Just One Candle – Abraham Jam
Wavin’ Flag – K’naan
Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Give Peace A Chance – Aerosmith Feat. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars
When the Ship Comes In – The Pogues
White Man’s World – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Victor Jara’s Hands – Calexico
This Land – Gary Clark Jr.
Mothers Of The Disappeared – U2
Imagine – Willie Nelson
Is This the World We Created…? – Queen
Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Among the Believers – Little Steven
The Dreamer – Jackson Browne (feat. Los Cenzontles)
Get Up Stand Up – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Los Madres Cansadasas – Joan Baez
Dead Man Walkin’ – Bruce Springsteen
Not In My Name – John McCutcheon
Hammer and a Nail – Indigo Girls
Wedding March – Walter Rinaldi
Talkin’ Bout a Revolution – Tracy Chapman
Wonder – Natalie Merchant
Know Your Rights – The Clash
Solidarity Forever – Pete Seeger
One Song – Archie Roach
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan
You Got to Run (Spirit of the Wind) – Buffy Sainte-Marie & Tanya Tagaq
Wake Up – Rage Against the Machine
Dear Mr. President – Pink (feat. Indigo Girls)
Libertad – Los Miserables
No Human Is Illegal – The Wakes
If I Had a Hammer – Emma’s Revolution
Which Side Are You On – The Freedom Singers
Lives in the Balance – Richie Havens
Deportee – Arlo Guthrie & Pete Seeger
Redemption Song – Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer
Our Precious Mothers – Bear Fox
One (Hu)’man One Vote – Johnny Clegg & Savuka
The Times They Are a Changin’ – Nina SImone
Fight the Power – Public Enemy
Jerusalem – Steve Earle
The Cellist of Sarajevo – A Lament in Rondo Form for Solo ‘Cello, Op. 12 – Yo-Yo Ma
What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
A Change Is Gonna Come – Christine Anu
Call It Democracy – Bruce Cockburn
Canticle of the Turning – Princeton Seminary Choir
We Will Not Stop – Tom Chapin (feat. The Chapin Sisters)
Freedom – Beyoncé (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Woke Up This Morning – Mary D Williams
Everyday People – Sly & The Family Stone
Pastures of Plenty – Woody Guthrie
Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down – Eric Bibb
Hallowed Be Thy Name – Iron Maiden
Uncle Carl – Aaron Lacombe
Edge of America – Annie Humphrey
Ella’s Song – Sweet Honey in the Rock
How Can I Keep from Singing – Eva Cassidy
Residential Boarding School Song – Cheryl Bear
John Brown’s Body – Peter LaFarge
Harriet Tubman/Steal Away
Stand Up – Cynthia Erivo
Get Together – Keb’ Mo’
Peace, Love, and Understanding – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Let’s Make a Better World – The Blind Boys of Alabama
American Skin – Bruce Springsteen
Following the North Star – Rhiannon Giddens
Save the Children – Gil Scott-Heron
Peyote Healing – Robbie Robertson, Verdell Primeaux & Johnny Mike
Filed under Exercise, Human Rights, Music, playlist, United Nations
4 December 2022
Walking. Gym in the apartment.
Cry of a Tiny Babe – Bruce Cockburn
Don Oíche Úd I mBeithil (That Night in Bethlehem) – Quadriga Consort
One Holy Night – Red Nativity
The First Noel – Over the Rhine
Away in a Manger – Karla Bonoff
Ave Maria – Stevie Wonder
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Philadelphia Orchestra
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Folk Like Us
Twelve Days of Christmas – Philadelphia Brass Ensemble
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – David Qualey
We Three Kings – Robert Mirabel
Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – Angélique Kidjo
What Child Is This – Puff Johnson
Angels We Have Heard on High – Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Filed under Advent, Louisville, Music, playlist
AdventWord 2022 – December 4 #delight
At the end of Eric and Essie Koenig-Reinke’s wedding.
It has been a while.
But delight lasts a long, long time.
Photo: 8 June 2022, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA
Filed under Advent, Family, Louisville, Music, playlist, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
3 December 2022
Walking Old Louisville. Walking in the apartment.
Celebrating Sera Chung’s birthday.
Remembering Buddy Monahan on his birthday.
Remembering Bob Brashear on his birthday.
Remembering the Eureka Rebellion in Australia.
Holy Disorder – Sera Chung
FIREMOUTH – Sera Chung
Pie Jesu ver. On the Rocks – Sera Chung
The Calling ver. The END – Sera Chung
Brave New World – Sera Chung
The Rite of Letting Go – Sera Chung
This Is What Love Must Feel Like – Sera Chung
Architects of December – Sera Chung
BIrd – Sera Chung
Peace Anthem – Sera Chung
Canticle of the Turning – Princeton Seminary Choir
Revolution – Kirk Franklin & The Family
Rock and Roll All Nite – Kiss
Boomer Sooner – The University of Oklahoma Marching Band
All Walls Must Fall – Robert Brashear
Listen – Robert Brashear
Cross of the South – Seona McDowell
The Land Belongs to Them – John Munro, fear. John Schmann
Republic – John Munro, feat. Eric Bogle
Spirit of the Land – John Munro, feat. Kat Kraus
Filed under Exercise, Friends, Louisville, Music, playlist
27 November 2022
Walking. Gym in the aparment
Cru of a Tiny Babe – Bruce Cockburn
Christmas in the Trenches – John McCutcheon
Christmas Must Be Tonight – The Band
The Bushes of Jerusalem – Tommy Sands
The Rebel Jesus – The Chieftains
Aguinaldo Jibaro – Pepe Castillo
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Nashville Christmas Orchestra
Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella – Rosemary Beland
There Is No Rose of Such Virtue – Sting
The March Of The Kings/Hark The Herald Angels Sing – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
O Christmas Tree – Paul Pike And Medicine Dream
Good King Wenceslas – The Roaches
O Little Town of Bethlehem – The Choir
All I Want for Christmas – david m. bailey
Filed under Advent, Exercise, Louisville, Music, playlist
Don’t Forget Where You Come From -Archie Roach
I knew he would not be around forever.
No one ever is.
But Archie Roach endured so much.
He seemed indestructible.
Part of the Stolen Generations.
An orphanage.
Two foster care placements.
Fourteen years on the street after the death of his mother.
Alcoholism.
The death of Ruby Hunter, his wife and musical partner when she was 54.
A stroke.
Lung cancer.
Surgery.
Activism on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Through it all, Archie Roach made his way with a song.
He entered my life through the radio. Driving in the Richmond area, many years ago, NPR broadcast a story about him which featured clips from his songs.
I was hooked and began collecting his music.
His songs spoke with power and passion of this life, his pain, his joy, his family, and his people. Brutal and tender, universal and personal, his songs spoke to me.
He did not forget where he came from but he used his experiences to lament what had been and dream what might be.
Today, I learned that Archie Roach died on July 30 of this year.
I grieve today. Listen to his music. And add some more, almost completing my collection.
Archie Roach will dominate my playlists for a couple days. I will take to heart some lyrics from “One Song,” a song released in February 2022.
Thank you for sharing your gift, your wounds, and your heart, Archie.
Remember well what we have told you
And don’t forget where you come from
Mother Earth will always hold you
And you are born of just one song
I will remember.
Archie Roach. Presente!
Filed under Antiracism, Music
Along the Graybeard Trail 