The Great Mandala

I was watching a video of Lilith Fair yesterday, and I was very struck that all the artists said they were surrounded by music in their early years. Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin, Emily Saliers & Amy Ray, all the others, every single one. Their parents played them tons of music and it stuck and it got into their heads and it worked its magic. 

 

I was raised listening to Peter, Paul & Mary, The Kingston Trio, John Denver, Simon & Garfunkel, as well as lots and lots of folk Mass and church music. Harmony has great power for me.

 

I listened to this one again today. I remember the first time I really listened to the words, as a young teen. It affected me so powerfully then, and now. I guess it's no wonder that I grew up to be a belated hippie peacenik, despite my conservative Republican parents. What the hell did they expect? 

 

I love this version, with Richie Havens and Peter Yarrow. 

 

The Great Manadala (Wheel of Life) 

 

So I told him that he'd better shut his mouth
And do his job like a man.
And he answered "Listen, Father,
I will never kill another."
He thinks he's better
than his brother that died
What the hell does he think he's doing
To his father who brought him up right?

 

Take your place on The Great Mandala
As it moves through your brief moment of time.
Win or lose now you must choose now
And if you lose you're only losing your life.

 

Tell the jailer not to bother
With his meal of bread and water today.
He is fasting 'til the killing's over
He's a martyr, he thinks he's a prophet.
But he's a coward, he's just playing a game
He can't do it, he can't change it
It's been going on for ten thousand years

 

Tell the people they are safe now
Hunger stopped him, he lies still in his cell.
Death has gagged his accusations

We are free now, we can kill now,
We can hate now, now we can end the world
We're not guilty, he was crazy
And it's been going on for ten thousand years!

 

Take your place on The Great Mandala
As it moves through your brief moment of time.
Win or lose now you must choose now
And if you lose you've only wasted your life.

 

Songwriters: Albert B. Grossman / Mary Allin Travers / Peter Yarrow

The Great Manadalla (Wheel of Life) lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc