Tapestry

Beautiful

You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You’re gonna find, yes you will
That you’re beautiful as you feel

Waiting at the station with a workday wind a-blowing
I’ve got nothing to do but watch the passers-by
Mirrored in their faces I see frustration growing
And they don’t see it showing, why do I?

You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You’re gonna find, yes you will
That you’re beautiful as you feel

I have often asked myself the reason for the sadness
In a world where tears are just a lullaby
If there’s any answer, maybe love can end the madness
Maybe not, oh, but we can only try

You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You’re gonna find, yes you will
That you’re beautiful as you feel

Carol King

She came to Hobart last night and gave all of us “oldies” a thrilling concert. (Of the 4,000 people swaying and singing nostalgically in their chairs, maybe 50 were under 40.)

A true elder, Carol King carries her message of love for each other and for this earth to many appreciative people. She reminds us that there is no age where one retires from activism or gives up on trying. And the words from her many songs that held us together in the 70’s are just as relevant today.

Obviously, the above photo is a tapestry of people who are not in my generational age group. These are some of the 31 fifteen year old Steiner school students from the mainland who were waiting for me this morning when I arrived back from my overnight trip to Hobart.

I greeted them with: “You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart.”

Beyond that, my aboriginal friend Harri led the students in a day long ritual of talking up mother earth and finding the specialness and beauty that was unique to each one of them. They were sent out in search of seven objects representing: “who they were, happiness, sadness, love, fear, peace and conflict”. Then, using jute, string and other fasteners, they bound the seven gathered objects together into a single talisman.

Simple, yet powerful and meaningful. Just like Carole King’s music.

At one point we gathered around the Peace Fire and, just like last night, raised our hands to the sky in appreciation for the love that surrounds us constantly. The words spoken and sung by Harri might have been different from those of Carol King, but the message was universal.

Harri spoke about what the Earth sings to us each and every day. Let me try to translate:

When you’re down and troubled
And you need some loving care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend

If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
soon you’ll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name
And know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there

Ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend
When people can be so cold
They’ll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don’t you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again
winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend

Carole King— You’ve Got A Friend