Here is a heart who truly understands! A beautiful song that speaks of honesty and comprehension of what Dr. Martin Luther King meant to our world. A great song about an incredible champion and hero for human rights and dignity. Thank you, Don Henry, for telling it the way it needed to be told.
One of the best written songs ever, never fails to get chills hearing it. On par with "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" by Randy Newman, and "In My Life", by Lennon and McCartney. Don's relentlessly brilliant, I think the best songwriter in a town chock full of great writers.
Don, thank you so much for coming to Portland with Craig to bring beautiful tunes to us and give me a reason to come out at night twice a year, no matter what the weather's like. Such a treat and I found your CD on Amazon, just need to bring it with me next time you're in town so you can autograph it for me, pleazzzz.
The song references reformers throughout history- from Martin Luther challenging the corrupt papacy in the 16th century (which began the Reformation - check your history books). It also references Mahatma Ghandi and Jesus Christ - who challenged common beliefs in a non-violent way. Dr. Martin Luther King's philosophy was much the same. I'm confused about the Disney reference, as MLK was assasinated on April 4m 1968, which was a Thursday, not a Sunday, when the Disney show was on Sundays,
Walter Cronkite did preempt TV shows occasionally so it could have been Disney....although this may not have actually happened.. (writers license) The Cronkite verse isn't about his assassination but about MLK marching somewhere and interrupting a kid watching tv.
Definitely writer's license. I think what this did is help those of us who were children then put it into a time frame and context we could identify with and remember well. The impact of Mr. Conkrite interrupting "regularly scheduled programming" to bring news of this magnitude is conveyed well in this song. To reference Disney also conveys to me that the warm, comfortable, familiar life we knew was being broken into by outside influences, we were coming of age and realizing there was a bigger world with issues and problems that had to be dealt with.
@ignitetheknown I hate to burst YOUR bubble, but I don't think so. You need to listen to the song more carefully. I seriously doubt Martin Luther of the Protestant Reformation appeared on anyone's television set considering they didn't have television sets during his time. There are too many references in the song appropriate to Dr. King.
Not just a wonderful songwriter,but a terrific human being. It's a pleasure and and honor to say that I know Don Henry.
Here is a heart who truly understands! A beautiful song that speaks of honesty and comprehension of what Dr. Martin Luther King meant to our world. A great song about an incredible champion and hero for human rights and dignity. Thank you, Don Henry, for telling it the way it needed to be told.
One of the best written songs ever, never fails to get chills hearing it. On par with "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" by Randy Newman, and "In My Life", by Lennon and McCartney. Don's relentlessly brilliant, I think the best songwriter in a town chock full of great writers.
Just hearing this today for the first time. Definitely want my children and grandchildren to hear this. I look forward to hearing more of his music.
Wonderful song to hear, again, on this MLK day.
Beautiful!
We're SO looking forward to having Steve, Craig and Don at our new venue... glad you'll be able to be with us!
Hey Don,your capo's showin'. Love & appreciate you & your work. Peace Now.
Got ALL(?) his albums. Love the reaction when people first hear his songs.
Don, thank you so much for coming to Portland with Craig to bring beautiful tunes to us and give me a reason to come out at night twice a year, no matter what the weather's like. Such a treat and I found your CD on Amazon, just need to bring it with me next time you're in town so you can autograph it for me, pleazzzz.
Getting ready to see Don with Steve Seskin and Craig Carouthers in Jan 13. What artists!
The song references reformers throughout history- from Martin Luther challenging the corrupt papacy in the 16th century (which began the Reformation - check your history books). It also references Mahatma Ghandi and Jesus Christ - who challenged common beliefs in a non-violent way. Dr. Martin Luther King's philosophy was much the same. I'm confused about the Disney reference, as MLK was assasinated on April 4m 1968, which was a Thursday, not a Sunday, when the Disney show was on Sundays,
Walter Cronkite did preempt TV shows occasionally so it could have been Disney....although this may not have actually happened.. (writers license) The Cronkite verse isn't about his assassination but about MLK marching somewhere and interrupting a kid watching tv.
Definitely writer's license. I think what this did is help those of us who were children then put it into a time frame and context we could identify with and remember well. The impact of Mr. Conkrite interrupting "regularly scheduled programming" to bring news of this magnitude is conveyed well in this song. To reference Disney also conveys to me that the warm, comfortable, familiar life we knew was being broken into by outside influences, we were coming of age and realizing there was a bigger world with issues and problems that had to be dealt with.
I've got a note for note guitar tab of it, not sure how I'd get it to you once I had the okay from Don...
@ignitetheknown I hate to burst YOUR bubble, but I don't think so. You need to listen to the song more carefully. I seriously doubt Martin Luther of the Protestant Reformation appeared on anyone's television set considering they didn't have television sets during his time. There are too many references in the song appropriate to Dr. King.
You need to listen better, this is entirely a song about MLK.