American folk musician and much loved Melanie Safka passed away peacefully on Tuesday last (January 23rd 2024), her family have announced.
The song featured hereunder is more than just a catchy tune. The lyrics express a powerful reflection on the challenges and injustices people face in the political world around us. “They’re only putting in a nickel and they want a dollar song”, and “We’re only putting in a little to get rid of a lot that’s wrong”; these words remind us that voices should never remain silent. To this end in 1970, Melanie, (featured to perform on day 1) ,was the only artist to ignore the court injunction banning the infamous Powder Ridge Rock Festival, of Middlefield, Connecticut, U.S., same scheduled to be held on July 31st, August 1st and 2nd of that same year.
Nickel Song.
Vocals: American Singer-Songwriter Melanie Safka. Lyrics:Melanie Safka
Nickel Song.
Well, you know that I’m not a gambler, But I’m being gambled on. They put in a nickel and I sing a little song, Da, da, da, da, da. They put in a nickel and I sing a little song. Well, I don’t mind that they’re lucky, But it seems that they always win, And gamblin’ is illegal in the state of mind I’m in. And if I had a nickel for each time that I’ve been put on, I would be the nickel man and I’d sing a nickel song. They’re only putting in a nickel and they want a dollar song, Oh, Lord, they’re only putting in a little and they want a dollar song. Well, you know, I don’t know so many things, But I know what’s been goin’ on, We’re only putting in a little to get rid of a lot that’s wrong, And if we had a nickel for each time that we’ve been put on, We’d all be the nickel man and we’d sing a nickel song. You know, they’re only putting in a nickel, And they want a dollar song. Oh, Lord, they’re only putting in a nickel, And they want a dollar song. Well, you know that I’m not a gambler, But I’m being gambled on, They put in a nickel and I sing a little song. Da, da, da, da, da.
END
Known to her fans by the performing name of Melanie; Melanie Safka was born on February 3rd, 1947, in the Astoria neighbourhood of Queens, New York City. Bothered by being classed as a “beatnik” by her classmates while attending Long Branch High School, she ran away to California and following her return to New Jersey, was transferred to Red Bank Regional High School. She graduated in 1964, though she was blocked from attending her commencement exercise, due to an overdue library book.
Melanie later studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, landing gigs at coffee houses and folk clubs in Greenwich Village, during New York’s then booming folk scene of the 1960’s. Same era saw the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem [from Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, famed for their Aran jumpers and widely credited with popularising Irish traditional music], rise to become the eleventh best-selling folk musicians in the United States.
She met her future manager, producer and husband, Peter Schekeryk in 1967. They married in 1968 and when Columbia Records, who produced her first two singles, refused to allow her to record an album, she
Pre-deceased by her husband Peter in 2010; sadly, the much loved American folk musician passed away peacefully on Tuesday last (January 23rd 2024). Her children Leilah, Jeordie and Beau Jarred announced the news on Facebook yesterday, Wednesday. To date the cause of her death has not been fully confirmed, however her representatives mentioned in passing that she was suffering from an illness.
Melanie Safka was understood to be recently working on her 32nd album featuring cover songs; titled ‘Second Hand Smoke’.
Vocals: American contemporary folk artist Tracy Chapman. Lyrics: American songwriter Tracy Chapman.
Baby Can I Hold You.
Sorry, Is all that you can say, Years gone by and still, Words don’t come easily, Like sorry, like sorry. Forgive me, Is all that you can’t say, Years gone by and still, Words don’t come easily, Like forgive me, forgive me. But you can say baby, Baby, can I hold you tonight? Maybe if I told you the right words, Ooh, at the right time you’d be mine. I love you, Is all that you can’t say, Years gone by and still, Words don’t come easily, Like I love you, I love you, But you can say baby, Baby, can I hold you tonight? Maybe if I told you the right words, Ooh, at the right time you’d be mine, Baby, can I hold you tonight? Maybe if I told you the right words, Ooh, at the right time you’d be mine. You’d be mine. You’d be mine.
Vocals: American singer-songwriter and author Rachel Platten(From her album, ‘Wildfire’, 2016). Lyrics:Joy Williams; Jack Antonoff; Matthew Morris; Jon Levine, and Rachel Platten.
Stand By You
(Even if we can’t find heaven, heaven, heaven, heaven) Hands put your empty hands in mine, And scars show me all the scars you hide, And hey, if your wings are broken, Please take mine ’til yours can open too, ‘Cause I’m gonna stand by you. Oh, tears make kaleidoscopes in your eyes, And hurt, I know you’re hurting but so am I, And love, if your wings are broken, Borrow mine so yours can open too. ‘Cause I’m gonna stand by you. Even if we’re breaking down, We can find a way to break through, Even if we can’t find heaven, I’ll walk through hell with you. Love, you’re not alone, ‘Cause I’m gonna stand by you, Even if we can’t find heaven, I’m gonna stand by you, Even if we can’t find heaven, I’ll walk through hell with you. Love, you’re not alone, ‘Cause I’m gonna stand by you. Yeah, you’re all I never knew I needed, And the heart, sometimes it’s unclear why it’s beating, And love, if your wings are broken, We can brave through those emotions too, ‘Cause I’m gonna stand by you. And oh, truth I guess truth is what you believe in, And faith, I think faith is having a reason, And I know, know love, if your wings are broken, Borrow mine so yours can open too, ‘Cause I’m gonna stand by you. Even if we’re breaking down, We can find a way to break through, Even if we can’t find heaven, I’ll walk through hell with you. Love, you’re not alone, ‘Cause I’m gonna stand by you, Even if we can’t find heaven, I’m gonna stand by you, Even if we can’t find heaven, I’ll walk through hell with you, Love, you’re not alone, ‘Cause I’m gonna stand by you. I’ll be your eyes ’til yours can shine, And I’ll be your arms, I’ll be your steady satellite, And when you can’t rise, Well, I’ll crawl with you on hands and knees ’cause I, I’m gonna stand by you. Even if we’re breaking down (Hey), We can find a way to break through (Come on), Even if we can’t find heaven, I’ll walk through hell with you, Love, you’re not alone, ‘Cause I’m gonna stand by you. Even if we can’t find heaven (Hey), I’m gonna stand by you, Even if we can’t find heaven, I’ll walk through hell with you, Love you’re not alone, ‘Cause I’m gonna stand by you, Love you’re not alone. Oh, I’m gonna stand by you, Even if we can’t find heaven, (heaven, heaven, heaven), I’m gonna stand by you.
Vocals: American singer and songwriter, the late John Denver(1943 – 1997). Lyrics: American folk singer-songwriter, the late Edward Potts McCurdy(1919 – 2000).
Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream.
Last night I had the strangest dream, I never dreamed before. I dreamed the world had all agreed, To put an end to war. I dreamed I saw a mighty room, And the room was filled with men, And the paper they were signing said, They’d never fight again, And when the paper was all signed, And a million copies made, They all joined hands and bowed their heads, And grateful prayers were prayed, And the people in the streets below, Were dancing round and round, And guns and swords and uniforms, Were scattered on the ground.
(Sing it with me) Last night, I had the strangest dream, I’d never dreamed before. I dreamed the world had all agreed, To put an end to war.
(Sing it again) Last night I had the strangest dream, I’d ever dreamed before. I dreamed the world had all agreed, To put an end to war. I dreamed the world had all agreed, To put an end to war.
There’s a light that burns within you, that illuminates your soul. They say its always been there, steady bright and in control. It’s the guiding spirit that drives you, as you live your life each day, Shining a light on the darkest paths, as you walk along the way. It’s the light outside the shadows, a lonely life can cast, But if you look to feel it, the darkness will not last. There’s a light of love within you, that illuminates your face, A gentle warmth that surrounds you, when your heart is in that place. The brightness of the spirit, and all the love you share, Embracing it with a passion, nurturing it with care. Within the light is life’s meaning, things close to the heart believed, A summation of your life time, and all things you perceived. Live the life within you, let the light shine through, Sharing it with others, embraced by love so true. The light that burns within you, the warmth of life’s desire, Let it shine on brightly, true keeper of the fire.
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