Just about a month ago, one of my music posts featured Playing for Change, a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music.  I first discovered them thanks to our friend Ellen who had sent me a song by them to lift my spirits, which it certainly did!  Today, September 21^st, is the 8^th Anniversary of Playing for Change Day, and I am going to veer away from my usual 2-3 paragraph tidbits about a song, and tell you, instead, just a bit about this awesome organization.

The origins, according to the Playing for Change website …

In 2005, Mark Johnson was walking in Santa Monica, California, when he heard the voice of Roger Ridley singing Stand By Me. Roger had so much soul and conviction in his voice, and Mark approached him about performing Stand By Me as a Song Around the World. Roger agreed, and when Mark returned with recording equipment and cameras he asked Roger, “With a voice like yours, why are you singing on the streets?” Roger replied, “Man I’m in the Joy business, I come out to be with the people.” Ever since that day the Playing For Change crew has traveled the world recording and filming musicians, creating Songs Around the World, and building a global family.

The true measure of any movement is what it gives back to the people. We therefore created the Playing For Change Foundation, a separate 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to building music and art schools for children around the world, and creating hope and inspiration for the future of our planet.

And about Playing for Change Day …

PLAYING FOR CHANGE DAY was created in 2011 to unite the global community through the power of music. On Playing For Change Day, communities will gather as musicians and music lovers from all over the world to perform on stages, street corners, schools, yoga studios, and cafes all with the goal of bringing music into the lives of young people. Over the last 7 years, thousands of musicians and music lovers have joined the effort, changing the world one heart and one song at a time.

To date, PFCF has created 15 music schools across 11 countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, Mali, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand, Morocco, Mexico and Argentina. Each week more than 1,200 young people attend free classes in dance, instruments, music theory, and languages, all taught by qualified local teachers. We are constantly working to strengthen our existing programs and to expand our programmatic reach worldwide.

Projects also help meet essential needs of the larger community, including the provision of aid such as food, clean water, medicine, clothes, books, school supplies, solar energy, computers, and other modern technology. Over 15,000 people have been impacted by the Foundation’s community development and empowerment efforts throughout our program regions and beyond.

Every program teaches children about their own heritage and cultural traditions and connects them in dynamic ways with other children around the world. Local leadership ensures that programs evolve in ways that are most relevant to the needs of children and their communities.

In a world where there is so much hatred, bigotry and divisiveness, I find using music to bring people together is an amazing idea, and thus, to celebrate Playing for Change Day 2019, I am featuring one of their songs.  But first, I would also like to commend the person who turned me on to Playing for Change, our friend Ellen, for yesterday, she and a friend traveled to Boston to participate in the Global Climate Strike, and … I’m just so proud of her!  She deserves a two-thumbs-up!  Way to go, Ellen!!!  👍👍 And now … Playing for Change …

Stand by Me
Playing for Change

This song says, no matter who you are,
No matter where you go in your life
At some point you’re going to need
Somebody to stand by you.

Oh yeah! Oh my darlin’ stand by me!
No matter who your are, no matter where you go in life
You gon’ need somebody, to stand by you.
No matter how much money you got, or the friends you got,
You gon’ need somebody, to stand by you

When the night has come, and the way is dark,
And that moon is the only light you see.
No I won’t be afraid, no I-I-I won’t be afraid
Just as long as the people come and stand by me.

Darlin’ darlin’ stand by me, ooh stand by me Oh stand
Stand stand by me C’mon stand by me stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Well should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry, no I won’t she’d a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

Oh darling, darling stand by me, oh stand by me,
Oh please stand, stand by me, stand by me.

Oh darling, darling stand by me, oh stand by me,
Please stand, stand by me, stand by me.
Oh baby, baby

Oh darlin’ darlin’ stand la la nomie
Ooh stand la la nomie, O stand O stand stand
Stand by me c’mon stand by me, stand by me.
Stand la la nomie, oh won’t you stand, la la nomie,
Oh stand la la nomie, stand by me, c’mon stand by me.

When the night has come, and the way is dark
And the moon, is the only light you see
I won’t be afraid, lala nomie, I won’t be afraid
Not as long, not as long as you stand by me.

Songwriters: Ben King / Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller
Stand by Me lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Raleigh Music Publishing, Spirit Music Group, Universal Music Publishing Group