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Songs by Peter Sagar
Here are a number of songs on themes connected to the work of A Living Tradition. All songs written, performed and sung by Peter Sagar. All songs (except Beauty of Northumbria, Ebbs and Flows and Everybody's Waiting) were produced by Frank Kay, who also played keyboards*, bass and lead guitar. Many thanks to Frank for all his excellent work!
*not on Beauty of Northumbria, Ebbs and Flows, Remembering, Brave New World or Everybody's Waiting
All songs (c) copyright Peter Sagar
Enjoy!
*not on Beauty of Northumbria, Ebbs and Flows, Remembering, Brave New World or Everybody's Waiting
All songs (c) copyright Peter Sagar
Enjoy!
Remember the Call
A reflection on the beautiful words in the Sermon on the Mount
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The Long Walk
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A song about the many great human rights stories found in Newcastle City Centre.
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Learning My HistoryA song about wanting to learn my history, rather than a history imposed on me about people i can't relate to...
The Cry of the UnheardIn 1740 Tyneside was rocked by a terrible hunger as corn became scarce and prices rose sharply. The people asked if anything could be done to relieve their misery, but were told there wasn't. This song tells the story - and what happened next.....
We Are StrongA song celebrating the Pitmen's Great Stand of 1765, a pivotal moment in the development of Northeast regional consciousness and an identity based upon principles of solidarity, fairness and social justice and the earlier 1731 strike by the Tyne Water Men and the Wear Water Men..
The Price of CoalA song about the link between the deep coal mining in Northeast England and the coal trade with London.
The Steep Road
The Cooperative Movement in Northeast England was huge and helped people to develop an alternative society, based on solidarity, fairness and tolerance. In 1873. there were more members of the Cooperative Society per head of population in Northeast England, than in any other region of the country. To find out more about it, please listen to The Steep Road!
The Beauty of NorthumbriaThe Beauty of Northumbria - a song about how beautiful Northeast England is and celebrating life in our region.
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The Lady Waits
A song about Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi. It was written and recorded when she was still under house arrest. The people of Burma are still waiting for real freedom and democracy. This song was written and recorded in 2005. It now serves as a sad reminder of what Aung San Suu Ki once stood for. It is certainly not an endorsement of her recent policy towards the Rohingyas.
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The Sanctuary Song
A song about being an asylum seeker searching for a safe place to live...a place of sanctuary
Searching
My Father's HouseA song about how people in old Durham mining villages reacted to being forced to leave their homes in the 1950's and 1960's as part of the Durham Development Plan
RememberA song about remembering all those suffering human rights abuses today.
Time for a Change
A song about somebody going to hear Rev James Murray on a cold winter's night
The Note
Due to the activities of thugs hire by the mineowners, establishing a trade union in the mines
of North-east England in the 19th century was often a very dangerous business. One tactic was to quietly pin a note to a pit prop, when nobody was looking, to encourage men to join the union. Set Them Free
Tyneside was a centre of anti-slave trade and anti-slavery activity in the late 18th and earky 19th centuries. This song celebrates this.
Silencing the Drumbeat
In the 1930's Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists hoped they could make the North-east a 'storm centre' of fascist activity. The people of the region had other ideas.
The Outsider
The Outsider - a song about how all people deserve love - no matter who they are - or what people might think of them.
Love Will Blossom
Love Will Blossom - a song inspired by the work A Living Tradition has done with the Roma Community - see the Roma page under the Community heading.
Love Is So StrongA song about remembering how important love is, including love for those who are often forgotten and
how powerful and strong love can be My ChildWhen uprisings take place and brutal dictators are swept away they are usually accompanied by much rejoicing.
But what of those families who have lost children during the uprising? Everybody's Waiting
A song about what happens when people wait for somebody else to do it all.....
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The Genteel Rebel
Women from North-east England played their part in the struggle for female suffrage
The Heavens Cried
When unemployment in Jarrow reached 80% in 1936, 200 men from Jarrow marched to London to ask for a steelworks for the town and a chance to be treated with dignity. All went well until they reached London and the Houses of Parliament.
There It Goes Again
This song reflects on the work of writers who documented the difficult times in North-east England between the First and Second World Wars.
Waves
The successful integration of communities such as the Irish and the Yemenis into North-east life shows that it can be a hospitable and friendly place to those who are new to the region. Long may that tradition continue.
You Are Not Alone
Around the world people sit in prisons for nothing more than the peaceful expression of their views. This song remembers and pays tribute to them.
Ebbs and Flows
A song about life's ups and downs......
The Streets Don't Have To
A plea for warmth and compassion .....even on the cold, dark streets of winter.....
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Remembering
A short instrumental dedicated to the memory of my mother and my brother David.
Brave New World
A song written after watching a television programme about the beautiful art produced by pioneers who went into
the 'empty' American West in the 19th century. But weren't there people already living there?
the 'empty' American West in the 19th century. But weren't there people already living there?
The Defence Counsel Said
A song written in response to a comment by the Defence Counsel of the Guildford Four at their appeal in 1989.
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A song about the life of Jalloh Ibrahim.
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Song For Jalloh
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SeedsA short song about a beautiful Holocaust themed sculpture at St Aidan's College at Durham University. Such a great piece of art can plant seeds of hope and love into someone's heart...
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Stories and poetry about human rights
Click on the links below to read stories and poetry about human rights' issues. See also the page on the work at the Millin Centre for details of the publication by A Living Tradition - a book of stories, poems and articles entitled Tales From the Real World.
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The Heaton PioneerAlexander Wilkie lived from 1850 to 1928 and in 1906 became Scotland's first Labour M.P. Before that, he was secretary of the associated Society of Shipwrights, formed in Glasgow in 1882 from there it moved to Tyneside. Wilkie lived in Heaton and kept his house there even after becoming an M.P. for Dundee. he returned there after standing down form parliament in 1922 and died there on 2nd September 1928.
The Story of Filep KarmaClick on the link to the right to read a short story about the West Papuan human rights activist Filep Karma. This story is inspired by a painting about Filep Karma in the excellent collection of portraits in the Black Portraits by Paul Piercy. Go to http://theblackportraits.org/ for more details.
Poetry
Here are some poems about life today
Here is a poem examining some of the reasons for social conflict today - and some hope that it can be ended....
And here is a poem written in reply to those who write letters to newspapers bemoaning recent social changes....
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Emily's story
Click below for a short story about the Suffragette martyr Emily Davison.
Here is a reflection of some of the great people from our region's past
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What has changed?
Here is a reflecdtion on the Arab Spring uprisings, written by Barbara Hickman from Kirkbymoorside Amnesty Interntaional Group, after a workshop, led by Peter Sagar of A Living Tradition, in York at the AIUK NE and Yorkshire Regional Conference.
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Two Letters - a quick reminder that many people are suffering in these hard times and that suffering is suffering is suffering and there is a great need for compassion for all.
Everybody's Waiting - a poem about people needing to do things to change their lives and not just wait for things to happen.
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Janet Makes A Discovery. On a cold Winter's day, Janet finds a destitute asylum seeker - and at the same time discovers herself.
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There are those who say that Multiculturalism doesn't work - but is that true? |
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A Reflection on War.......and Love
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Forgetting It All | ||
A short poem reflecting on the heritage of struggles from the Northeast's past and where we are now....
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A poem about coming to the Northeast
Please see below a short poem about coming to the Northeast from far away and the barriers people can find when they come here...
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Remembering Srebrenica
In May 2017, Peter Sagar from A Living Tradition took part in a delegation from the National Union of Teachers to Sarajevo, Srebrenica and Tuzla. On Thursday 6th July 2017, Peter spoke on behalf of the NUT at the Remembering Srebrenica event at City Library in Newcastle. Here is the text of his speech:
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