God bless the grass that grows thru the crack.
They roll the concrete over it to try and keep it back.
The concrete gets tired of what it has to do,
It breaks and it buckles and the grass grows thru,
And God bless the grass.

God bless the truth that fights toward the sun,
They roll the lies over it and think that it is done.
It moves through the ground and reaches for the air,
And after a while it is growing everywhere,
And God bless the grass.

God bless the grass that grows through cement.
It’s green and it’s tender and it’s easily bent.
But after a while it lifts up its head,
For the grass is living and the stone is dead,
And God bless the grass.

God bless the grass that’s gentle and low,
Its roots they are deep and its will is to grow.
And God bless the truth, the friend of the poor,
And the wild grass growing at the poor man’s door,
And God bless the grass.

Words and music (hear the song) by Malvina Reynolds (1900-1998).

Pete Seeger describes his first visit with Malvina Reynolds:

It was in 1947, at a hootenanny in Los Angeles, a middle-aged woman asked if she could speak to me. “What is it?” says I. “Well, I need more time than we have here.” Next day she came to where I and my small family were staying, and said “I’d like to try doing what you do–sing for unions, for people trying to do something good in their corner of the world.” I said, well you don’t get rich but you meet all sorts of wonderful people. I probably told her to get on the phone when she read the papers about something interesting going on, and tell ‘em she had a song which would hit the spot for their meeting. She was 46 or 47, had a shock of beautiful white hair. I was 28; I remember thinking “Gee, she’s kinda old to get started.” I had a lot to learn. Pretty soon she was turning out song after song after song! (from a letter to C. H. S. dated 13 February 2006)

E. Y. (Yip) Harburg, lyricist of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” had it right when he explained the emotional force a song and lyrics must possess to penetrate a listener’s heart:

Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.

Malvina’s songs certainly meet this criteria. This beautiful song of hope, once heard, will never be forgotten. Remember its message on those bleak days as a ray of sunshine from an enlightened soul.

Image ~ above right ~ Verdant Meadow, Santa Cruz Mountains.

If you enjoyed this song, listen to Thank You Mother by Santa Cruz Woody.

A musical offering this week . . .

Making sure your volume is raised, click the arrow below to hear Morning Song.

Close your eyes and for two minutes observe what images and sentiments this melody evokes.

Enjoy your morning!

Composition and pianist: Viktoria Vidali.

Image rt ~ Dawn, Cowell’s Beach, Santa Cruz, California.
Thumbnail image ~ Sunrise at Anchor, Santa Cruz Wharf.

If you’re drivin’ down the road
You’ll miss the gnomes and the fairies
And you won’t get a chance
To eat the yummy blackberries.

So take a tip from me –
Throw away your keys –
Stop and feel the sun
And hear the whispering breeze.

Dave “Woody” Wood has been Singing For Peace (the name of his first album) and working for social justice most of his life. Whether in the Midwest and environs or out in sunny California, his sonorous voice, accompanied by acoustic folk guitar, bridges our common humanity and reaches our hearts with a message of love. In It’s Magic (above), he’s challenging us to take time to notice the miraculous beauty around us.

We first met Woody at a local fundraiser for Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. My husband tapped this tall, bearded man in a wide-brimmed straw hat on the shoulder and said,

“You look like an interesting person!”

to which Woody responded,

“Thank you … can I sing you a song?”

And in that crowded Veteran’s Hall above the noise of enthusiastic political supporters, we were first introduced to Woody’s transformative music, a cappella.

Lyrics and melody hold prominent places in his work. Take his song (excerpt), Thank You, Mother:

Sparkling streams
Dancing butterflies
Red-headed woodpecker
Dashing through the sky.

Clouds so white
Skies sapphire blue
Winds caress the leaves
Whisper ‘I love you.’

Thank you, Mother
For giving me birth
Thank you, Mother
For all life on earth.

Thank you, Mother
For giving us birth
Thank you, Mother
For all life on earth.

Listen to the full song:

Though he sings here of Mother Earth, at his mother’s recent memorial service, he personalized this for her, bringing tears to the eyes of all present. Each of his songs has a compelling story behind it that he shares with his audience wherever he performs.

Pinot noir grapes in Woody's Branciforte Creek Vineyard

Aside from singing and being an all-around-great person, Woody is a pre-eminent grape grower. His Branciforte Creek 2005 yield received the Double Gold Medal in the 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and highest national wine honors. One critic waxed lyrical in her description of this pinot noir:

His wine wants to dance in your mouth, swirling every color of scarf in the wind and turning the perfect pirouette, over and over again. The aromas are so earthy, with that hint of mushroom … plus lovely blackberries and strawberries.

So if you’re in Santa Cruz and happen to see a small blue mini-van with a bumper sticker reading:

I’M ALREADY AGAINST THE NEXT WAR

you’ll know it’s Woody … and you may even remember a few bars from his song about magic and

… the yummy blackberries.

Please contact: imagesforrenewal@gmail.com to purchase Woody’s CD.

If you enjoyed this, you’ll want to read Woody’s lyrics to Que Bonito El Mundo.

(How beautiful is the world)
Lyrics and song by Dave “Woody” Wood

Cherry blossoms
Are raining down from the fruit trees
Like lovely pink snow
With a gentle, warm breeze.

Que bonito el mundo
Que bonito el mundo.

Listen to nature
Hear how she sings
And remember the best things
In life are not things.

Que bonito el mundo
Que bonito el mundo.

Just last week were born
Two pretty sheep
They dance and they prance
In the air as they leap.

Que bonito el mundo
Que bonito el mundo.

Let go of your troubles
Your stress and your strife
Think of each day
As a gift in this life.

Que bonito el mundo
Que bonito el mundo.

Crystal clear Sierra waters
Cascading down
The feel of soft earth
As my feet touch the ground.

Que bonito el mundo
Que bonito el mundo.

All the diamonds I need
Glisten on the ocean
‘Peace, friendship, and gratitude’
Share these emotions.

Que bonito el mundo
Que bonito el mundo.

Now it’s the morning of harvest
Grape clusters and dew
Soft fog hugs the mountains
My, what a view!

Que bonito el mundo
Que bonito el mundo.

Won’t you give me my flowers
While I can still smell them
If someone is living
And you love them, please tell them.

Que bonito el mundo
Que bonito el mundo.

If someone is living
And you love them, please tell them.*

* The songwriter’s best friend’s only daughter died in a car crash while this song was being written. These last lines were written in her honor.