My Piece of a Song for Peace

I was thinking today that there aren't very many new holiday songs (Christmas or otherwise). I gave myself the challenge to write one. It was kind of a silly thing to do

really, considering that I had a lot of work to do, and because I'm a born again Buddhist.

In any case, hours later, I was exhausted, way behind on work, and I had part of a song. I've yet to play the melody on an instrument other than the one in my head. But in there it sounds sort of acoustic guitar-like, or maybe it's piano.

If I ever play it, it'll be played on a slightly out of tune autoharp, because that's the only instrument that I own now, and it's a bear to tune. It's like tuning a 36 string guitar, with creaky, rusty tuners.

But, without further ado:

(Imagine wind chimes blowing in the breeze as the intro.)

If I could, I would, I'd write a song.

I’d write the catchiest tune, so that you’d sing along.

So would you, and you, and you.

If I were much braver, I’d walk in your shoes.

I’d see both sides of each battle, and I’d always lose.

So would you, and you, and you.

Then I’d love your father, my mother, your wife.

I’d grieve every lost baby and every lost life.

So would you, and you, and you.

This is my piece, just a piece of a song for peace.

With the gift of your memories, your heart, your sight:

I’d see it’s not due to hatred, but for love that we fight.

So would you, and you, and you.

With our love for our countries, our families, our gods:

We have much more in common than we have at odds.

So do you, and you, and you.

Dear brothers dear sisters, I plead, I implore.

We could all live in peace just by loving a bit more.

So could you, and you, and you.

This is my piece, just a piece of a song for peace.

(This is where I'll play a bitchin' autoharp solo in the video. I'll be flailing the thing over my head, then wrestling it to the floor, strings snapping, maybe play a couple of measures with my teeth.)

Well now I’ve done it. I’ve started this song.

Trade a pen for your rifle, and please write along.

Yes you, and you, and you.

This is our piece, just a piece of a song for peace.

I've spoken my peace. I’ve done my best.

Now I'm counting on you to write all the rest.

Yes you, and you, and you.

This is our piece, just a piece of a song for peace.

This is our piece, just a piece of a song for peace.

(Fade to wind chimes in the breeze)