Scattershot Symphony #18

Welcome to:
Scattershot Symphony
The Music of Peter Link
(That’s me.)

People ask me, “Why “Symphony? You’re not a classical composer.” Well, Wikipedia defines “Symphony” as: an extended musical composition most often written by composers for orchestra – often presented in several movements.
And so, I bring you the music of a lifetime of composition – often presented in several movements. That’s the nature of these podcasts – a scattershot look at a lifetime of music …

So, strap on them headphones.
We’re 90% music with just a smattering of commentary.

So for god sakes,
(Crowd)
Turn it up!

This week being the eighteenth episode of this podcast, I prefer to let the music do the talkin’. However, if you need to know more about me, please visit Wikipedia.com – Peter Link.

This episode is entitled
“Is Anybody Listening?”

Welcome to this Special Event podcast. Thanks for listening. What is a Special Event? Let’s just define it for now at this juncture as some sort of musical presentation that takes you, the listener, beyond the confines of a podcast. In the future we will bring Scattershot Symphony Special Events to you at an accelerated pace. This means that, as time goes by, there will be more and more of them — Concerts, Musicals, Webcasts, and even Musical Mini Series.

Our first Special Event premiers today, and in addition to this podcast that you are now listening to, after listening, you may now, not only hear songs and commentary from the Is Anybody Listening? Concert, but then, if you like, you are invited to watch any of the individual songs of your choice in performance through the Watchfire Music YouTube Channel. On top of that, you are also invited to attend the full New York concert right from your easy chair in living color for no charge.

So let’s call today’s podcast, among other things, a Special Event Taster. Put your napkin on and grab your knife and fork. There’s a feast about to be served.

Just imagine a musical experience designed to lift your thought to a higher sense of awareness countering the downward pull of negative energies we all encounter in the world today. Well, ya’ don’t have to imagine. You can now be there.

Is Anybody Listening? is a clarion call to the world to pay attention. Once we’ve got your attention, we take an in depth and inspiring look at how these issues can be dealt with spiritually by inspiring mankind to live in a higher state of consciousness.

What are these issues? They are the things that we read about in the headlines every day. Racism, Me Too, Police Brutality, Shootings, Disease. The things in life we must all overcome.

Is Anybody Listening? was designed as a concert piece that premiered, live from New York in 2016 at the Sheen Center, where it received rave reviews and standing ovations. The production featured the award-winning performances of Jenny Burton and Julia Wade along with a cast of 7 top NY vocalists and the music of Yours Truly. We videotaped the last two shows … so what you will hear today are some of the songs from the live sound track from those two performances.

OK, let’s go. Our first offering is the title song. We begin by eavesdropping on a telephone call — a typical argument between two people clearly not listening to each other — the root of all our problems today.

Is Anybody Listening?
Performed by the Entire Company
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

Betty (V.O.)
Yeah, well Arthur, here’s what I really wanted to tell you. I think that …
Arthur (interrupting)
Honestly Betty, I just don’t want to hear it! You don’t even …
(She hangs up on him.)

We listen best in silence.
But in the rush of our lives, in the noise of our every day, we become immune to the cacophony around us. And instead, we strap on those headphones …

and listen to the music …
We listen to the music!
But do we hear it?
Yeah, we hear it,
but do we listen?
Listen up, people!
Bring on de Bass
Rhythm guitar
The clav
Piano man
Memphis horns

Now listen to the …
Listen to the …
Listen to the voices in your head
Listen to the things your daddy said
When upon his lap you sat
And wondered at his mustache

Were you lis’ning?
Listen up!
Is anybody listening?
Is anybody listening?
C’mon give it up people
Listen up people
Can you hear me?
Ya’ got to listen with your heart and soul

Listen to the way it used to be
When you sat upon yo’ daddy’s knee
Hangin’ on his ev’ry little word
He was sayin’

Listen to his voice inside yo’ head
Listen to the things yo’ daddy read
When upon his lap you sat and wondered at
The tales he told that set your mind on fire
Were ya’ lis’nin’?

Yeah!
Did ja’ listen when Jiminy wished upon a star?
Did ja’ really listen when you went
To Where The Wild Things Are?
Did ja’ listen to Goodnight Moon?
Or when that crazy little mouse saved that mighty lion?
Or when a hot Prince Charming
Saved that chick from dyin’

Yeah!
Yeah way back then we hung on ev’ry word
But now ain’t nobody knows what they heard

Is anybody listening?
Is anybody listening?
C’mon give it up people
Listen up people
Can you hear me?
Ya’ got to listen with your heart and soul
Listen to the butterfly wings and their flutterings
Through the air
Listen with your eyes
Listen with your soul
Listen with the wholeness of your being

Oh
Later on about high school things began to change
Everybody yellin’ at us what we could
And could not do
We tuned out an’ we just shut down
At last we got outta the house an’ left it all behind us
An’ now we pay no mind to all things that remind us
Yeah way back then we turned an’ walked away
An’ now ain’t nobody hears what we say

Is anybody listening?
Turn back on your mind
Is anybody listening?
You’re runnin’ out of time

Jump on the moment
Do you hear me?
Live in it
People do you hear me?
Ya’ got to listen with your heart and soul
Listen to the pertinent things
And to paupers and kings be there

Listen to all creation
Listen to your imagination
Cuz that will take you anywhere

Listen up
Listen up
Listen to the …
Listen to the music!

Listen to the rhythm of yer shoes
Listen to the brainchilds of yo muse
Even in the funk that’s in yer blues
There is music
Yer in the music

Listen to yer breathing as you move
Listen to the backbeat of yo’ groove
Listen to yer soul an’ baby you’ve
Got the music

Is anybody listening?
Anybody, anybody
Is anybody listening?
Check it out!
Is anybody listening?
Ya’ gotta simply stop an’ listen
Is anybody listening?

Is anybody listening?
Ya’ want us to turn it up?
Is anybody listening?
OK, we’ll make it a little louder …
Is anybody listening?
How’s dat?
Is anybody listening?
Loud enuf?

Is anybody
Anybody
Anybody …
Listening?

I imagine a woman working late at the office. By the time she leaves, the city streets are dark, there’s not a cab in site, her apartment’s not far, just 12 city blocks. Hmmm, not many people out an’ about. Turning the corner into an even darker street, she thinks to herself, “Wow, maybe I shoulda waited longer for a cab …”

How Are We Raising Our Sons?
Performed by Julia Wade and the Women of the Cast
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

Walking home
From streetlight to streetlight
Heartbeat to heartbeat
Watching the shadows
Holding God’s hand
And knowing I walk not alone

Yet anxious
These butterflies here in the pit of my stomach
Are turning my heart to stone

And the fear that comes over me
On the window, tapping
Chilling me down to the bone
Should never have breathed
Its cold breath on my shoulder
Following…
Following me home

Breathless I wonder
Why is this happening?
What have I done to deserve…?
No! The fault is not mine
They are the ones
Mothers and fathers
People of earth
How are we raising our sons?
How are we raising our sons?

[Interlude]

Passing by
The boys on their lunch break
Whistling and taunting
Courage in numbers
Having “their fun”
With me as I stare straight ahead

Such cowardice
Though I wonder which one of them
Might have presumption
To actu’lly follow me home

And the thought that burns into me
Is that how can any man
Take just whatever he wants?
And why be so spoiled
And so disrespectful
Casting stones
And following me home?

Sadly I ask you
Why must we bend to you?
What have we done to deserve…?
No! The fault is not ours
You are the ones
Mothers, and fathers
Look to yourselves
How are we raising our sons?
How are we raising our sons?

Look to yourselves
Look to your children
Look to the things that are taught
This attack on my innocence
Is the essence of avarice
So look to the things in your thought

Look to yourselves
Look to your children
Look to the things that are taught
This attack on my innocence
Is the essence of avarice
So look to the things in your thought

Look to yourselves
Look to your children
Look to the things that are taught
This attack on my innocence
Is the essence of avarice
So look to the things in your thought

Before all that we live for comes undone
Look upon these
And ask yourselves, please
“How am I raising my son?”

One can never be certain about the future. However, one thing is absolutely, irrevocably certain. There will be change.

Rap #4
Performed by the Entire Company
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

Change is what’s called for
Change is imperative
Progress is a joke without change

However

Change is onerous
Change is awkward
Yeah change brings a mountain of strife
But Life sits at a standstill without change
An’ thank God

Change is the law of life
Ever’body talkin’ ‘bout changin’ the world
Ya’ oughta put them changes up on the shelves
Cuz all you do-gooders out there got it all wrong

First we gotta be changin’ ourselves
That’s right
First we gotta be changin’ ourselves
Before we go changin’ de world
First we gotta be changin’ ourselves

First we gotta be changin’ ourselves
Yeah
First we gotta be changin’ ourselves
Before we go changin’ de world
First we gotta be changin’ ourselves

When dealing with the subject of change in our world we turn to one of the most powerful songs ever written on the subject — Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A’changin’. He wrote it as a folk song. Here, we do it as a Gospel Anthem.

The Times They Are A-Changin’
Performed by Jenny Burton and Cast
Music and Lyrics by Bob Dylan

Come gather ’round people
Where ever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’

Change change
Change change
Change change
Change change

Come writers and critics
Who prophesy with your pens
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who that it’s namin’
For the loser now will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’

Come senators congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside and it’s ragin’
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’

Change
Oh oh oh
Change
Oh oh oh
Change
It’s a change of life

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you don’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin’
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are
The times they are
The times they are a-changin’
Yes the times they are a-changin’
Change
Oh oh oh
Change
Yes the times they are a-changin’

How do we start? How do we change the world’s consciousness? We start with ourselves. We start by listening — listening in the stillness of our own consciousness.

A Still Small Voice
Performed by Julia Wade and Cast
Adapted from 1 Kings
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

There is something in the stillness
Calling softly to me
Even though I’m all alone
And the sound is like nothing
I’ve ever heard or seen
And it’s calling from the deep unknown

Then the mountains move
And the cold wind roars
And the fire fills the sky
But temptation always passes by

Leaving something in the stillness
Calling softly to me
‘Woman don’t you run and hide
You shall not be afraid
You can trust in me
If you listen to the voice inside’

“When the mountains move
And the cold wind roars
And the fire fills the sky
The temptation always passes by
If you listen to me’

It’s a still small voice
Oh a still small voice
Oh a still small voice
Calling to me

It’s a still small voice
Oh a still small voice
Oh a still small voice
Calling to me

There is something in the silence
When I quiet my mind
And the water’s rolling over me
And the hush it is endless
And the song runs free
And the voice is like a melody

And the time shall come
When the choice is made
And the voice deep inside
Will stay with me and be my guide
Through the waters ahead

It’s a still small voice
Oh a still small voice
Oh a still small voice
Calling to me

It’s a still small voice
Oh a still small voice
Can you hear it?
It’s a still small voice
Calling to me

Can you hear it calling?

Racism. “the belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially, so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another.” Racism.

The writing is there on the wall
Where it always has been

South Africa
Performed by Jenny Burton and Cast
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
Zulu translations by Jimmy Mgwandi

We come from Soweto
We come from a great confusion
We come from the ghetto
We look to South Africa
We look to South Africa

We come from Zimbabwe
We come from the streets of Harlem
We come from a new age
We know where the times have gone
So we go where the lines are drawn

We come from Botswana
We come from a deep frustration
We come from Atlanta
We look to South Africa
We look to South Africa

Ah there I see in the great Serengeti
The hope of our ancestors
Standing before me
I see in the ancient still mountains
And shining blue waters
The strength of Mandela
And still in the shanties of Cape Town

The voices of children sing
“Power to the people” amandla awaytu
“Power to the people” amandla awaytu
“Power to the people” awaytu

We come from Uganda
We come from the mask of slavery
We come from South Central
We look to South Africa
We look to South Africa

And now we look to the slums of Pretoria
To show us the way
As the straw shows the way of the wind

For there in the mood of South Africa
Lies a measure of truth
The writing is there on the wall
Where it always has been

We come from the bread lines
We come from the blackboard jungles
We rise from the confines
Impelled by the hand of God
We look to South Africa

Ah there I see upon Kilimanjaro
The souls of our forefathers
Standing before us
The mem’ries of Medgar
And Malcolm and Martin
Run deep in our blood
The fires of apartheid
Still burn through the tears screaming
“Power to the people” amandla awaytu
“Power to the people” amandla awaytu
“Power to the people” awaytu

We come from Soweto
We come from the Zulu nation
We come from the ghetto
We look to South Africa

Oomzahntsi Africa
We look to South Africa
Oomzahntsi Africa
We look to South Africa
Oomzahntsi Africa
We look to South Africa
Oomzahntsi Africa

Amandla awaytu
Amandla awaytu
Hiee hiee hiee
Ah su gah mahn!
Geen goo bah nee me
Nah gahn gah
Pahn dleh gko baba
Gee ah bongah weh baba
Gee nee geze
Oom zahn tsi Afreeca

We come from the bread lines
We come from the blackboard jungles
We rise from the confines
Impelled by the hand of God

We come from Soweto
We come from the Zulu nation
We come from the ghetto
We look to South Africa!

Before Covid, the leading issues of concern in our world were the Environment and Water. After Covid, the leading issues of concern return — to the Environment and Water.

Water
Performed by Brian Collazo, Freedom Bremner, and Jonathan Singletary
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

The very same water in the apple you eat
May have fallen as rain
Half-way ’round the world
Or could have been used
A hundred million years ago
By a mighty mama brontosaur
To bathe her baby girl

Omi omi omi
Lenia

The very same water
That is wetting your lips
May have flowed through the streets
Down in New Orleans
Or flowed down the cheeks
And spilled upon the piano keys
As the brilliant Tchaikovsky sat
And wrote his Pathétique.

Did ja’ know that
Here on this rock
As we journey through time
We live by the grace of water
For it bears within its essence
This miracle of life
And infuses this life into the world

One part oxygen
And two parts hydrogen
Put ’em both together an’ whadda you got
Clean
Clear and cool
Pure water

[Interlude]

Yes the very same water
When you’re scrubbin’ the floor
May have once cooled a bluebell
In the morning sun
Then swam the Amazon
From the Andes to the waiting sea
Then it fought the Great Chicago Fire
In foiled futility

Water and man
Since time began
Go hand in hand
Yes they do

Yes the very same water
That grows the cocoa bean
And brings the sweet taste of chocolate
To the hungry world
May be the mystery
That carries forth the seed of life
As it brings to pass the life and times
That spring from you and me

Knowing now that
Here on this rock
As we try to find our way
We live by the grace of water
For it bears within its essence
This miracle of life
And infuses this life into the world

One part oxygen
And two parts hydrogen
Put ’em both together an’ whadda you got
Clean
Clear and cool
Pure water

Water
Water
Life giving water
We drink it
We swim it
It powers our world
We bathe in it
We travel it

One part oxygen
And two parts hydrogen
Put ’em both together an’ whadda you got
Clean
Clear and cool
Pure water

Water
Life giving water

Water
Life giving water

Water
Life giving water

Water
Life giving water

This was a concert, oddly enough, that had four endings — four powerful songs that sent our audiences out into the night thinking deeply about what they each could do to change our world for the better.

A remarkable thing happened on opening night in New York. When the concert was over, hardly anybody left the theater. The audience actually stayed on for a couple of hours longer talking about what they had just experienced and what they each could do about it. Finally, the theater owner had to kick everyone out because the usher staff wanted to go home. The audience continued their conversations out on the sidewalk in front of the theater.

Here is one of the four songs that were to wrap up the evening.

Let Love Find The Way
Performed by Julia Wade
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

Standing in the shadows
Wondering what happened
Nothing but heartache
Defines this moment of life
Looking for a reason
Looking for a rhyme
It’s all over
You’re through
So where do you go from here
And what do you do?

And if you lose your faith in man
And find your life in disarray
And question how it all began
And why you went astray
And looking back you wonder
If you had only worked from love
And left regrets to yesterday
And let love find the way

[Interlude 1]

Where would you be today
In a quiet space
In a holy place
If you only had worked from love
And let love find the way

[Interlude 2]

Then heart to heart and eye to eye
The bond between becomes restored
And all is well in one accord
When you let love find the way

Could it be so easy
Could it be so simple
Faith is the answer
It defines this moment in life
God is in your corner
Can you just accept that
It’s God’s moment
Not yours

So if you sail the mighty deep
And find yourself adrift at sea
With those around you in your keep
Afraid of what might be
And as you’re slipping under
While all around you weep in fear
Just turn to God in your dismay
And let love find the way

Remember it’s God’s moment
So let love find the way

You’ll find two of the other closing songs either in the full concert or presented individually in video on the YouTube Channel — Don’t miss them. They are both powerful statements of solution. Jenny Burton and Cast singing Who Will Heal The World and the entire cast performing Revelation.

The fourth closing song was eventually cut from the show, not because there was anything wrong with it, but because, well, there was just too many endings.

I rediscovered this song when going back through my files and doing the research for this podcast. I have only a rough mix of it — meaning that it is not a “finished” or “mastered” recording. It’s a bit raw for my blood, but it does capture the spirit of the experience and is a piece of music that I someday hope to finish completely.

Though it is a ruff mix, since it is a live, probably rehearsal recording, and most Live Recordings are usually a bit rough to begin with, I’ve decided to take a deep breath here and give this song its due — that is, to let it finally be the closing song for SOMETHING. In this case, this podcast. So here ya’ go …

Is Anybody Listening? (Reprise)
Performed by the Entire Company
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

Simply stop and listen
Is anybody listening?
Is anybody listening?
Ya’ want us to turn it up?
Oh is anybody listening?
OK, we’ll make it a little louder…
Is anybody listening?
How’s dat?
Loud enuf?
Is anybody listening?

Is anybody
Anybody
Anybody…
Listening?
Is anybody listenin’
Is anybody listenin’
Is anybody listenin’ Hmm?
Listen up people
Listen to the music

Listen to the things that make a difference
To your world

Open up your heart to all the things that touch you

Listen to the energies in the air
Listen to the broken hearted
Listen to every little sound
Yeah every little beat of the butterfly wings
And the kinds of things
That you never really listened to before

Listen to the empty space
Between each breath you take
Listen to the holy place
Listen to the love you make

Love will show you the way
It’s there in the soul of you
Talkin’ ’bout love that lives in your heart
And carries you through
If ya’ listen to the love that shows you the way
It’s there in the soul of you
Talkin’ ’bout love that lives in your heart
And carries you through

Then listen to all creation
Listen to your imagination
Cuz that will take you anywhere
Listen to all creation
Listen to your imagination
Cuz that will take you anywhere
Listen to all creation
Listen to your imagination
Cuz that will take you anywhere

You
Each of you has to choose

One hand holds the power to step up
One hand holds the power to lay back
You must have the backbone to decide

Do you want it
Do ya’ really, sir
Do ya’ think you got the guts to go through this fire
Can you do it
Can you really, ma’am
Do ya’ think you got the stuff to take it up higher
Higher

Aaaaaaaahhhhhh
Is anybody listening?

Aaaaaaaahhhhhh
Is anybody listening?
Is anybody
Just anybody
Is anybody listening?

Is anybody listening

So there you have it.

Scattershot Symphony Episode 18. The first Scattershot Special Event.

Next, Episode 19:
Songs From The Trunk – A Little Unfinished Business.
Join me in looking at and listening to some older, but promising material that begs to be reworked, brought up to date, and developed further— just like the song you just heard. We’ll even give you a link to write in and share your thoughts on your favorites and even throw me a thumbs down if you like. I’m not asking you to collaborate, mind you, just seeing if there might be some beginnings that might work for people today!

Now, to complete the Special Events experience, if you want to view the individual Videos of the Songs you’ve heard, plus all those others you did not hear today, simply go to: Watchfiremusic.com/podcasts and click on Episode18 where you will not only find the videos of each separate song, but also the full concert. That’s Watchfiremusic.com/podcasts and click on Episode18.

Also, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts … etc.

A grateful nod goes to our stalwart cast of Is Anybody Listening? Who, loyalists all, performed, danced and sang far beyond the trials and tribulations of the day. Freedom Bremner, Brian Collazo, Tanesha Gary,
Elle Green, Solange Prat, Jonathan Singletary, and
Anne Fraser Thomas. Also, of course, to Julia Wade and Jenny Burton who lead us so magnificently. Also to Margaret Dorn and Celisse Henderson for Vocal Arrangements.
Thank you, to all!

A very special thanks also to Stuart Barefoot, our Associate Producer for all your invaluable knowledge and good vibes.
And a posthumous thanks to Ludwig Van Beethoven for your opening 4 bars.

Julia
(over playout music)
This podcast is presented with loving care by the staff at Watchfire Music. If you liked what you heard, we got lots more where that came from. In the meantime, you can find the songs you just heard on watchfiremusic.com. There you can purchase the singles or albums and have access to all the lyrics. Also, there you will find all previous podcasts and future scheduling.

If you just became a Scattershot fan,
tell your friends and Stay tuned!