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Hear ”The Price” Patty Ann Smith

Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute once again has the honor to feature Patty Ann Smith and this time she brings us two gems. Patty shares her version of “The Price” written by Bill Johns as well as her original poem entitled “Hope for America”.

Patty Ann Smith says, “Bill Johns and I have been in communication about his song “The Price” for the past week or so, and yesterday I finally got it recorded (my husband, Guitarist Craig Smith, did the guitar work) and I sent Bill a copy of the MP3, which he was very pleased with.

“Bill wrote and told me I could use the song anywhere I liked and we concurred that we both wanted the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute to have a copy also.

“I originally made a comment to Bill on your post about “The Price”, and Bill wrote a very nice e-mail reply to me. I loved the song from the moment I heard it and read the lyrics. I honestly believe this is one of the most significant songs of these times of this kind!

“And, one of the phrases that stuck in my mind from the post that was written about the song was this one: “…how can anyone justify destroying peace for personal profit and petty luxury?”

“I’m so proud to be singing a song written by a man who served 20 years in the United States Air Force …and wrote this wonderful heroic song “The Price”. Bill Johns song “The Price” seems to me to be the perfect catalyst “to express the urgency” of finding A Peaceful Solution.”

Hope for America (poem by Patty Ann Smith)

There’s hope for America
and a brand new day
but we have to stop being
just one way
We will be free when we
break that chain
And diversity creates peace
not pain

A good quality of life
that is healthy and free
Can only come
from you and me

When our high is
the pure air we breathe
And our joy is in
a planted tree
Then we have set
our children free
By what we do
~ just you and me

We don’t need explosions
and the fire of guns
just the fire in our hearts
that are open to love

then:

There’s hope for America
and a brand new day
There’s hope for America
and the whole world that way.

In part one of this feature, Patty Ann Smith’s passionate version of “The Price” gives us a soldier’s first hand experience of present day Iraq. I knew this song meant a lot to Patty when I first heard it.

Songs ring truer for me when the singer commits to talk to me personally about something vitally important. Patty commands my attention and keeps it throughout the entire song. The message got through loud and clear.

Near the end of the song she sings, “next time please let’s think twice”. And that got me thinking.

We could try taking the idea home first. Ask a question. Would I like this to happen to me? Or my loved ones? My home? My Country? If the answer turns out as a resounding “No” then think twice and find a new idea that promises progress and peace.

Patty spends time thinking about ways to progress towards peace. In part two of this feature Patty’s poem “Hope for America” describes ways to future peace, health and happiness by connecting to our source of life, nature.

This approach to reconnecting to nature might materialize into a practice of nurturing nature through sustainable practices and assuming stewardship roles to support, preserve and protect our source of life. This new mentality would possess an understanding that to support, preserve and protect our world delivers beneficial results now and for future generations. Peaceful solutions become the obvious choice.

As always Patty Ann we love presenting your art to the world. Thank you. And another big thanks to Bill Johns for sharing his song “The Price”.

Check out more of Patty’s thoughts, music and dreams:

http://www.rhythmsofliferecords.com/

http://www.hope4america.blogspot.com/

http://www.myspace.com/pattyannsmith

* * * * * Artist’s Statement * * * * *

Why are you passionate about creating peace?

Creating peace is the only thing I know that can bring peace.

How long have you been working for peace?

I was born “feet first” with a “dancing spirit” and what a good thing that was because from early childhood, I danced around my fathers volatile personality. If I had tried to fight him, I would’ve never made it. Peace has been an important issue to me all of my life.

What motivates you to work for peace and the environment?

To me, peace and the environment are not work. They are my “heart”. In my childhood I spent a lot of time outdoors by myself just being aware of the tiniest things in nature. Wherever I am, the trees, the plants, the small animals always give me great joy and peace.

Why have you chosen the path of Art for Peace?

In me, Art and Peace are part of the same thing:

My Art creates my Peace… and… my Peace creates my Art.

What are your ideas for peaceful solutions?

Here are two of my MANY IDEAS for peace:

1) I believe in treading on this earth lightly. I recommend getting rid of what you really don’t need “mentally and materially” ~ and keep the rest…and

2) It seems to me in my life whenever I dance in tune with nature, everything works out the way it should.:)

Hear ”The Price” Patty Ann Smith

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Tags: Arts, Peace

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