Happy 94th Birthday, Pete Seeger!
May 3rd is Pete Seeger’s birthday … and we’re pleased to be able to help celebrate his 94th with this brand new song written and performed by his sister Peggy especially for the milestone. Check out the song below … then sing it and share it!
Peggy writes: “I’ve always marveled at Pete’s ability to get people to sing together. This song, made for his 94th birthday, was recorded with my son Neill & his sweetie, Kate, is a bit of an extrapolation on that skill of his. I do hope he likes it — but whatever his reaction, I’m sure he will join in on the chorus. Happy birthday, Pete!”
words & music by Peggy Seeger © 2013
vocals, piano, banjo: Peggy Seeger
oboe, vocals: Kate St. John
bass, vocals: Neill MacColl
recorded by Neill MacColl
Lyrics:
A bunch of rocks, sittin’ on a hill
Doing what rocks do, sittin’ still
On a stone nearby there’s a lanky man
With a longneck banjo in his hand
Now normally rocks don’t do a thing
But one by one they begin to sing
Chorus:
It’s Pete, It’s Pete
Strummin’ his banjo, stampin’ his feet
That lanky man goes down your street,
What do ya know, you’re singing
Now down in the cemetery folks don’t move
They just lie there in their groove
Sittin’ under a tree there’s a lanky man
With a longneck banjo in his hand
Now normally dead folks don’t say a thing
But ghostily the voices begin to sing
(Chorus)
There’s a place nearby not far from here
Where folks can’t talk and folks cant hear
Here he comes that lanky man
With a longneck banjo in his hand
Like an angel choir, like birds on the wing
All these folks begin to sing
(Chorus)
Raise your voice, loud and sweet
Feel that rhythm and tap your feet
Turn, turn hear the banjo ring
The whole wide world begins to sing
Saint Peter will smile when Pete comes along
And God himself if he’s singing a song
(Chorus)