Thoughts on Music’s Power

When Emma’s Revolution performed on January 27th the anniversary of Pete Seeger’s death, Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow talked about the impact of Pete’s songs, his dedication, and his commitment to help us be a singing nation again. Sandy said, “We’re celebrating who he is for the whole world.”

They appeared on Daily Antidote of Song created by Washington Revels and Carpe Diem Arts where host Jo Rasi described, “We’re singing and hoping in a new way.”

Pat talked about her evolution as a songleader as she discovered, “What is this music that helps people do things in this world?” She said that Pete declared, “You have to believe in the impossible in order to move into the direction of something new.”

As they talked, they also honored Toshi Seeger. Pat reported that Pete had said to her, “If I’m the train, Toshi is the engine.” The poster here shows them both. Each winter since his death I’ve organized a Pete Fest where performers share songs by Pete. This is a poster from our last event.

When I was teaching a graduate course for teachers on including music in the classroom at Lesley University for fifteen years, I summarized the work as “Music Belongs to Everyone.”

We spoke of linking with each other, not ranking, so that everyone felt welcome to bring their voice. Here’s a list of some of the amazing things possible with songs.

Songs provide clues on how to live and be yourself in hard times.

Songs encapsulate how someone gathered courage.
This gives others a map.

Through a song, you can meet people from any time period.

Through a song, you can meet people from any place in the world.

Songs bring forth truths. They name what should never have happened.

This means songs give a way to hold onto truth at a heart level.

Songs bring the knowledge that down deep we care for each other’s welfare.

Songs lead us to a common source.

Many years at the Pete Fest of Pete Seeger's songs we include his song from 1974, “Precious Friend.” It closes with these words:

I’ll keep plugging on.

Your face will shine through all our tears.

And when we sing another little victory song
Precious friend you will be there, singing in harmony.

Precious friend you will be there.