By David Coy
Sunrise
With all the sorrows and grief we are experiencing, it increases our sorrow and grief exponentially whenever we see violence against fellow human beings. It reminds me of a time in the late sixties that is so apropos to our current time and divide in our country. W. Earl Brown wrote a beautiful song at the request of producer Steve Binder that was sung by Elvis in 1968 in response to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. The song is most notable because of its direct quotation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The lyrics to the song give a message that needs to be repeated today almost as much as Matthew 7:12 – “So in all things, do to others what you would want them to do to you.”
An excerpt of the song says, “There must be lights burning brighter somewhere, Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue, If I can dream of a better land, Where all my brothers walk hand in hand, Tell me why, oh why, oh why can’t my dream com true, oh why. There must be peace and understanding sometime, Strong winds of promise that will blow away the doubt and fear, If I can dream of a warmer sun, Where hope keeps shinning on everyone, Tell me why, oh why, oh why won’t that sun appear. We’re lost in a cloud, With too much rain, We’re trapped in a world, That’s troubled with pain, But as long as a man has the strength to dream he can redeem his soul and fly….” It has been said that when this song was recorded the backup singers cried and one of the singers said, “Elvis has never sung with so much emotion before. He means every word.”
Words and actions have consequences, and we have said and done too much that is negative, false and unloving. There would be so much less heartache if we would prefer others before ourselves and speak truth to our neighbor.
This is Sunrise Aftercare, sunrise@sfdcares.com.
