Friday, December 21, 2012

Peace on earth



The snow lays on the ground here this morning. Nash was backing the pickup out into the street, headed for work, when I opened the front door; the McFarland Christmas tree, brightly lighted; and the season has turned into winter --- but most significantly, toward spring.

Church bells will ring out here and there this morning in memory of those slain a week ago in Newtown, Connecticut.

This lovely remembrance, performed Dec. 15, is a collaboration between the Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus and children of the Creative Planet School of Arts. It incorporates the 1941 carol "The Little Drummer Boy" and a counterpoint, "Peace on Earth." The combination was introduced during 1977 for joint performance by the late Bing Crosby and David Bowie.

Here are the lyrics:

Chorus
Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A new-born king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

Children: Peace on Earth, can it be
Chorus: Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Children: Years from now, perhaps we'll see
Chorus: A new-born king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Children: See the day of glory
Chorus: Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Children: See the day, when men of good will
Chorus: To lay before the king pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Children: Live in peace, live in peace again
Chorus: Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
Children: Peace on Earth,
Chorus: So to honour him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Children: Can it be
Chorus: When we come

Children & Chorus: Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can

Children: I pray my wish will come true
Chorus: Little baby pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Children: For my child and your child too
Chorus: I stood beside him there pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Children: He'll see the day of glory
Choir: I played my drum for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Children: See the day when men of good will
Choir: I played my best for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
David: Live in peace, live in peace again
Children: Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
Choir: Peace on Earth,
Children: And he smiled at me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Choir: Can it be

Now, can all of God's children --- of countless colors and cultures, many faiths and none, gay and straight, all around this wonderful world of ours, say, "Amen"?

1 comment:

Ken said...

Who would have thought that David Bowie and Bing Crosby could sound so good together?