Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 24, 2026
The Songs & Artists of Youth & Senior Years
Music, both the sounds and the lyrics, were woven into my youth, working years, and now elder years. Today’s Sunday’s writing will present five of my forever songs. Most Sunday Letter readers were too young, or not even born, in 1966 when Joan Baez came out of my transiter radio or on tv news in a protest march singing “With God on Our Side.” Joan’s voice is needed today as we search for God’s blessings in a world in need of His love.
- Joan Baez, 1966, “With God On Our Side.” Bob Dylan wrote this verse of the use of God to justify atrocities and war beginning with the American Indian through the violence in America to Vietnam. Baez led my generation in protest of social protest and the fight for justice. Dylan ebded his verse with “If God is on our side he will stop the next war.” Baez’s voice is needed today.
2. Pete Seeger, age 94 in 2014 sang “Forever Young.” There is a video of Seeger with his banjo walking and playing surrounded by 4th graders from Rivertown Elementary that is hopeful, playful, with encouraging lyrics to climb our ladder to the nearest star and may our hands be busy creating a better world. “Forever Young” ends with a 4th grader saying, “You are never too old to change the world.”
3. Playing for Change, “Stand by Me” and “Everyday People” are two favorites. This global multimedia project creates positive change through education, art, and music. Begun in 2002, each song includes eight to ten artists from the countries and cultures world-wide. There have been 1,200 participating musicians supporting Playing for Change and their Foundation. This is about goodness and joy.
4. Vince Gill, “Go Rest High on That Mountain.” Gill wrote the song in 1993 to recognize the death of his brother Bob. Since he first recorded the song, it has given comfort and inspiration to generations of grieving individuals and families. Gill is often joined by his wife Amy Grant and others on the Grand Ole Opry stage. This has become especially special because of Hope and Healing Place in Amarillo.
5. John Prine, “Jesus, The Missing Years,”1992. Prine begins with “West Bethlehem is no place for a twelve-year-old boy.” Prine’s satirical, humorous style gave verse to the unrecorded years of Jesus’s wandering, mistakes, his experiences before emerging on the biblical pages at thirty-three. All believers would like to know of these missing years. But then again Jesus is about faith, not facts. Prine died during Covid.
These five forever artists and their music can be easily found on You Tube. Enjoy your own special artist, song and sound.
Roy, feeling the beat, hearing the sound, both then and now.
Pete Seeger was a favorite of mine, as was folk music in general. And Pete was a Unitarian.
Good to have your Comments
Very helpful
I learn from you and so many others.
Pete is a forever hero…..I was encouraged to engage injustice by hispower and energy
Welcome…..
The 1960 folk songs can be a most powerful and positive statement and a stance not only for the 60’s but they apply still today for truth, justice, and a solid stance for dignity, for the rule of just laws as they apply for the dignity of all human beings no matter their race, identified gender, their religion, or their nationality. Our constitution and our country is under attack to undermine the constitution of our founding fathers & mothers. We the people have a duty and responsibility as law abiding citizens to raise our voices to insure justice and truth as defined in our constitution is the rule of the land.
Excellent letter Roy. I will be taking deep dives on these suggestions. I am old enough to remember them all. But I am young enough to have chased other interests and lost touch with them.
Your letter reminds me that I heard With God One Our Side out of context. I was too young to understand the war and why our boys were there.
Baez in 1966 a clear voice and message
Good Comments…..listen on….preach on
Great letter and thoughts Roy.
Loo found this little ditty on instagram.. Karla Davis: ” Love like Jesus”. catchy….
Thanks for these suggestions. Happy Sunday.
i remember early dorm days
Music from all rooms….and loud
My feet still move,. as does my heart.
I will search You Tube for all of these. I am certainly old enough to remember all these artists. As you know I was a music major for many years but I did not listen to much “ pop music” my focus was on Classical music, much of it in a foreign language. So I missed so much of the popular music. I was also very involved in Church music because of my upbringing. Every time I hear “ Go Rest High On That Mountain,” a tear comes to my eye. Thank you for the reminders, I will listen and learn from your choices.
Maurine….music of the 60’s and 70’s grew mw up.
Very little classical.
Chamber music ticket holders in Amarillo
Amy Grant’s story is hero stuff.
I continue to learn and enjoy…..
Great selection, thanks for curating!