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Sacred Song

by Peter Mayer

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about

This is a commission written for my friend Sam Daley-Harris. The song is based on Sam's favorite quote by George Bernard Shaw (included below). Special thanks to Sam's wife Shannon Daley-Harris for reaching out to me with the idea of writing a song for Sam, a man who has done so much good in the world. It was an honor!

“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” ~George Bernard Shaw

lyrics

SACRED SONG standard tuning

Life’s not a note long
Life is the whole song
That played long before me
And will after I’m gone
Life is no match flame
Life is a great blaze
The fire animating you and me

So while I live my life
I’ll carry that torchlight
And hold it way up high
Through every dark night
I will take my turn
Keeping that flame burning
And seeing it delivered to the next in line

CHORUS:
This is my true joy
To use my one voice
And with all of life, join
In that sacred song
With every step, sing
And whenever I can, bring
Another along

And from that firelight
I’ll take a bright spark
To give a passerby
With a hopeless heart
A bright spark for courage
For love and for service
To kindle a purpose that the heart can find

CHORUS: This is my true joy…

And by the time I’m done
I want to be used up
Just a vibration
In that sacred song
And say that I lived
And gave what I could give
Keeping it strong

I want to live life
Like it’s a torchlight
And hold it way up high
Through every dark night
I want to take my turn
Keeping that flame burning
And seeing it delivered to the next in line

credits

released May 17, 2023
Words and Music written by Peter Mayer.
All parts (Acoustic Guitar, Vocal, Bass) performed and recorded by Peter Mayer.
Mixed by Peter Mayer.
Mastered by Randy Gildersleeve at GilderSound Studio, Forest Lake, MN.

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all rights reserved

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about

Peter Mayer Stillwater, Minnesota

Minnesota's Peter Mayer has been singing and songwriting full-time for 25 years, performing in venues across the United States and beyond. He writes songs about science, nature, and spirituality. His work has been included in song books, church hymnals, and folk radio playlists across the country. Peter has eleven albums to his credit. He lives in Stillwater, Minnesota. ... more

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