Willie Nelson

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Hear “A Peaceful Solution” by Gary E. Andrews

Gary E. Andrews recorded a version of “A Peaceful Solution” never to be taken for a lullaby. Gary belts out his lyrics self-accompanied on his hard-strummed guitar.

Gary Andrews makes no bones about where he stands and sings “A Peaceful Solution” clearly indicating his point-of-view. The upbeat dynamic rhythm he chose provides an insistent unignorable vehicle for his message.

He starts with a reference to the origination of “A Peaceful Solution” by mentioning ‘road to Coachella.’ It was on the road to The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on his birthday in 2007 that Willie Nelson wrote and first recorded “A Peaceful Solution.”

In this first part Gary asserts the positive foundation of peace, law and freedom. He also takes a very patriotic position, clearly supporting the best the United States of America can be.

This reference to a road becomes echoed later in the song by the ‘road to Armageddon.’ At this point Gary presents us with grim pictures resulting from forsaking peace for violent means.

Now in the second part Gary continues to paint a picture of transformation with his lyrics. A vision of a kinder and more peaceful world enters the song.

Then, for a third time Gary references a road in the song with ‘road to somewhere.’ Now the song takes a turn toward indicating a more optimistic ending, a peaceful resolution.

Here Gary indicates a possible future scenario. In this part Gary closes the narrative loop by again referencing the founding fathers of the United States of America.

If we stick to the guidance provided in the founding documents of the United States of America then peace and abundance will return to the land. This simple story makes the answer to today’s issues seem obvious.

Gary Andrews really put some thought and work into crafting his version of “A Peaceful Solution.” He read much into the song that perhaps might not be obvious to all. Then Gary carefully created a narrative version of his understanding that he could sing.

I appreciate what Gary Andrews has done. He took the song along on a journey from the beginnings of our country to a glorious peaceful future.

Thank you Gary Andrews. Your version of “A Peaceful Solution” will help spread the message and understanding of a peaceful resolution.

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

Why are you passionate about creating peace?

I was born in the mid 1900’s, shortly after a dreadful World War. War has sullied the world all my life, taking people from building their own lives to serve causes they know nothing about and wouldn’t support if they did. I hope for something better for the future. Children should have better dreams than I had as a child, better hopes than I did watching older boys graduate high school and go off to war, some not returning.

How long have you been working for peace?

As a teenager we used the two-fingered ‘vee’ peace sign as a greeting. You could see total strangers, flash the peace sign, and be instant friends, joined in peace. I’ve spoken for peace, protested for peace, begged for peace, argued, written, sang and pontificated for peace.

What motivates you to work for peace and the environment?

The misleadership of government and commerce to ignore man’s documented effect in the environment makes rational people work to counter it. Peace and environmental stewardship are far more profitable and productive for the masses of humanity than war and environmental degradation, which only benefits a few, leaving a negative legacy for future generations.

While they mislead us to fight among ourselves, Mother Nature fast approaches tipping points that challenge man’s survival. We can survive if we can refocus human energy on adapting to the changing environment. The Choctaw teach, “Think of the impact of your actions on seven generations to follow.” Wise words, from Earthmen.

Why have you chosen the path of Art for Peace?

My psychology is 99% attuned to the arts, according to a test I once took. No matter the cause, an artful mode of response supplies great promise for success. By the arts we are civilized, softened, attracted to aspire to our higher selves, and to reflect that outward to the betterment of our fellow man.

Art enlarges our humanity, crosses our cultural differences, and all the other ways in which we are different, to enable us to see how we are alike. Art for peace is a natural alignment.

What are your ideas for peaceful solutions?

I’ve been trying to bring back the peace sign for many years. Children pick up on it quickly. But we need legal prohibitions against the Congress abdicating its singular authority to ‘declare’ war, surrendering it to the Executive branch. It has no Constitutional authority to surrender that authority, but apparently that needs legal strengthening to prevent what is happening in Iraq from happening again.

I’m sorry to address this latter subject in what you’ve asked to be kept positive. You may delete it with my blessing. But it seems impossible to address peace without addressing war. The yin-yang of peace and war can hardly be taken apart. We may artfully focus on peace but war is an inevitable counterpart which insinuates itself into the matter and demands our attention.
Peace.
www.garyeandrews.com
www.myspace.com/humancommercialresources

Hear “A Peaceful Solution” by Gary E. Andrews

Share This

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.