♫ Peace Train ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under History, music, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary

Yesterday’s music post, the Rascal’s “People Got To Be Free”, led to this one today!  Our friend rawgod tells me that this one was ‘just there’ in his head, a natural sequel as it were.  Happens that I agree.  I have posted this one twice before … once in 2019 and once in 2020 … and both times, I noted that it was so very appropriate for the current times.  Two years ago, it was the Christchurch mosque attack, today it is Russia’s war against Ukraine. Here we are two years later and it is still the perfect song for the day.  Perhaps it always will be.  Namaste.

A National Remembrance Service for the victims of the Christchurch mosques terrorist attack, and all those affected by it, was held this morning.  Yusuf Islam, better known to the world as Cat Stevens, performed his 1971 song, Peace Train, and I cannot think of a more appropriate song for the solemn occasion.

yusuf-islam

Yusuf Islam – 29 March 2019

One of my readers, Anne, suggested it might be a good song for my music post, and I fully agree.  Thank you, Anne, for this perfect suggestion.

Prior to performing, he delivered a short speech, dedicating his appearance “to the families who lives were snatched away in that evil carnage while they were worshipping in the mosque two weeks ago,  To those shining souls whose lives were snatched away in that moment of madness may peace be upon them. Peace in this world may take a bit longer.”

Peace Train
Cat Stevens

Now I’ve been happy lately
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
Oh, I’ve been smiling lately
Dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be
Someday it’s going to come

‘Cause I’m on the edge of darkness
There ride the Peace Train
Oh, Peace Train take this country
Come take me home again

Now I’ve been smiling lately,
Thinkin’ about the good things to come
And I believe it could be,
Something good has begun

Oh Peace Train sounding louder
Glide on the Peace Train
Come on now Peace Train
Yes, Peace Train holy roller

Everyone jump upon the Peace Train
Come on now, Peace Train

Get your bags together,
Go bring your good friends, too
‘Cause it’s getting nearer,
It soon will be with you

Now come and join the living,
It’s not so far from you
And it’s getting nearer,
Soon it will all be true

Oh Peace Train sounding louder
Glide on the Peace Train
Come on now Peace Train
Peace Train

Now I’ve been crying lately,
Thinkin’ about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating,
Why can’t we live in bliss

‘Cause out on the edge of darkness,
There rides a Peace Train
Oh Peace Train take this country,
Come take me home again

Oh Peace Train sounding louder
Glide on the Peace Train
Come on now, Peace Train
Yes, Peace Train holy roller

Everyone jump upon the Peace Train
Come on, come on, come on
Yes, come on, peace train
Yes, it’s the peace train

Come on now, peace train
Oh, peace train

Songwriters: Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam
Peace Train lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management

17 thoughts on “♫ Peace Train ♫ (Redux)”

  6. Pingback: PEACE TRAIN ( Redux ) |jilldennison.com | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal

  7. I’m a huge fan of Cat/Yusuf and have all of his albums. I saw him in concert in 2009 and was delighted to find that his warm tones were as good as ever. A great song, from a wonderful album. Sadly, I think its message will never cease to be relevant.

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  8. There is only one perfect song to follow Peace Train, Jill, but I will not post it here today. It is, I believe, your most played song, by John Lennon: Imagine. This is the world we all want to see created, where war amnd hate are replaced by love and mutual respect.
    One step to that world is another song from John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band. I ask all your readers to listen to it now:

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    • I agree, and I would dearly love to post “Imagine” yet again, but I think I’ve probably worn it out for now. I do think that in that song Lennon envisions the closest thing possible to a perfect world, but I now know we will never see such a world in our lifetime. As for “Give Peace a Chance” … while I agree with the premise, I don’t care at all for the music

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      • The song is effectively used at the end of the movie, The Strawberry Statement, about how a student accidentally gets involved in a college takeover, way back in the days colleges and universities were taken ovrr by their students. Being who I am, it is one of my all-time favourite movies. Great music, great story, decent acting, and an ending that is impossible to forget. Add the bit of comedy, and the movie should have won awards, but due to its subject matter it barely made a dent.
        It used to be free on YouTube, but since it no longer is I will just post the end of the movie. Please remember, this scene is fiction. But it is honest in how many college takeover were brought to an end in the 60s. Warning: gratuitous violence.

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