Songs grandparents grew up with are needed now
BY PAT HANSON, PH.D.
I just took an OLLI (Osher Life Long Learning Institute) adult education class on music icons of the 60’s. This one focused on Dionne Warwick singing popular songs written by Burt Bacharach like What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love.
With the news of so many families being evacuated from their homes and/or losing them completely because of fires or floods from hurricanes; it is more important than ever for us to discuss with grandkids music that not only mirrors the times but gives them some positive memories and hope for the future. When talking with children we might engage with them to change a word or two of the lyrics as I did below to make them less about broken-hearted love songs and more about grieving loss and healing.
Its the only thing that there’s just to little of,
What the world needs now is love sweet love,
No, not just for some but for everyone,
Lord we don’t need another mountain,
There are mountains and hillsides,
Enough to climb
Enough to cross, enough to last till the end of time,
What the world needs now is love sweet love,
Its the only thing that there’s just to little of,
What the world needs now is love sweet love,
No, not just for some but for everyone,
Lord, we don’t need another meadow,
There are cornfields and wheat fields,
Enough to grow
Enough to shine,
Oh listen lord, if you want to no,
What the world needs now is love sweet love,
Its the only thing that there’s just to little of,
What the world needs now is love sweet love,
No, not just for some,
Oh but just for every every everyone
Is love sweet love (is love)
What the world needs now (oh)
Is love sweet love (is love)
What the world needs now (oh)
Is love sweet love (is love)
Songs Grandparents Grew Up With Are Much Needed Now
Walk on By …
If you see me walking down the street
And I start to cry each time we meet
Walk on by, walk on by
Make believe
That you don’t see the tears
Just let me grieve ,,,
And walk on by (don’t stop)
…walk on by (don’t stop)
…walk on by.
Do You Know the Way to San Jose
Do you know the way to San Jose?
I’ve been away so long. I may go wrong and lose my way
Do you know the way to San Jose?
I’m going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose
I’ll Never Love (Walk) This Way Again
A fool will lose tomorrow reaching back for yesterday
I won’t turn my head in sorrow if you should go away
I’ll stand here and remember just how good it’s been …
Hold on, hold on, hold on
A House is Not a Home
… a chair is not a house and a house is not a home
a room is a still a room, even when there’s nothin’ there but gloom
… a chair is not a house and a house is not a home
When there’s no one there to hold you tight
And no one there you can kiss goodnight
I’ll Never Love Thus Way Again
A fool will lose tomorrow reaching back for yesterday
I won’t turn my head in sorrow if you should go away
I’ll stand here and remember just how good it’s been
And I know I’ll never love this way again
I Say a Little Prayer
The moment I wake up
Before I put on my makeup
I say a little prayer for you
While combing my hair, now
and wondering what dress to wear, now
I say a little prayer for you
Forever, forever, you’ll stay in my heart
and I will love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
I say a little prayer for you
ABOUT THE AUTHOR – DR. PAT HANSON
Pat Hanson. Ph.D. is a seasoned health educator, public speaker, and workshop facilitator. She is the author of Invisible Grandparenting: Leave A Legacy Of Love Whether You Can Be There or Not. She lectures nationally on Aging Positively and is a columnist for the magazines: Crone: Women Coming of Age and GRAND
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