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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!

We Are Strong

A 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. 

The Price of Coal

A 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 Northumbria

The Beauty of Northumbria - a song about how beautiful Northeast England is and celebrating life in our region.

The Lady Waits

A song about Burmese pro-democracy leader 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.

The Sanctuary Song

A song about being an asylum seeker searching for a safe place to live...a place of sanctuary

Searching

This is a song about the experience of Roma in the Holocaust and since then and hopes for them to have a better future in Newcastle and other parts of Northeast England. 

My Father's House

A 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

Remember

A 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.

No Evidence/Rivers Coloured Red

No Evidence. There is mounting evidence that asylum seekers returned from the UK to the Democratic Republic of Congo are being imprisoned, raped, tortured and even killed on return. This song documents some of what happens.  For more details of this issue go to the Articles page and look for the report Unsafe Return by Catherine Ramos.

Rivers Coloured Red explores the plight of child soldiers in the DRC. Cath Higgins is the accordionist and backing singer.  Thanks Cath!

Please also see the campaigns page to see how you can help stop asylum seekers being returned from the UK to torture and death in the DRC.

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 Strong

A song about remembering how important love is, including love for those who are often forgotten and 
how powerful and strong love can be  

My Child

When 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.....

Freedom Bell

A song about the yearning for freedom and the fact that we can all play a part by using our freedom to help others to gain theirs. Ring that freedom bell!

The Sun Will Shine

An uplifting song of hope!

One Person

A song about three heroes of human rights: Nazi Hunter Simon Wiesenthal, Peter  Benenson, the founder of Amnesty International and Dr Cynthia Maung, who established the Mae Tao Clinic on the Thai/Burmese border. It is also a reminder of the difference we all can make.

Love Thy Neighbour

A song about some much needed compassion for asylum seekers

The New Trees

A song about how some new trees get accepted in a forest...or is it really about humans? You decide!

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.....

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 Defence Counsel Said

A song written in response to a comment by the Defence Counsel of the Guildford Four at their appeal in 1989.
A song about the life of Jalloh Ibrahim.


Please see the online book from the Star and Shadow in the community section for more details.

Song For Jalloh

Seeds

A 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...

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.  

The Story of Filep Karma

Click 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
at_the_airport.pdf
File Size: 7 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Here is a poem examining some of the reasons for social conflict today - and some hope that it can be ended.... 
letter_to_the_newspaper.pdf
File Size: 79 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

And here is a poem written in reply to those who write letters to newspapers bemoaning recent social changes....
alt_letter_to_the_paper.pdf
File Size: 72 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

the_story_of_filep_karma.pdf
File Size: 49 kb
File Type: pdf
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Emily's story

Click below for a short story about the Suffragette martyr Emily Davison.
emily_davison_story.pdf
File Size: 123 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The Dance of Despair

Spending  an evening at the ballet, with Catherine and Rachael, Janet sees a deeper meaning in a new dance than her friends do.  To see it for yourself, click on the story to the right...
the_dance_of_despair.pdf
File Size: 182 kb
File Type: pdf
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writing_history.pdf
File Size: 7 kb
File Type: pdf
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Here is a reflection of some of the great people from our region's past
meeting_people.pdf
File Size: 76 kb
File Type: pdf
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what_do_you_see.pdf
File Size: 70 kb
File Type: pdf
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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.
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.




alt_two_letters.pdf
File Size: 62 kb
File Type: pdf
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Everybody's Waiting - a poem about people needing to do things to change their lives and not just wait for things to happen.
what_has_changed.pdf
File Size: 84 kb
File Type: pdf
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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.
janet_makes_a_discovery.pdf
File Size: 106 kb
File Type: pdf
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Picture
alt_everybodys_waiting.pdf
File Size: 70 kb
File Type: pdf
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There are those who say that Multiculturalism doesn't work - but is that true?

multiculturalis1.pdf
File Size: 181 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

A Reflection on War.......and Love

at_the_cold_cracked_mirror.pdf
File Size: 70 kb
File Type: pdf
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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....
forgetting_it_all.pdf
File Size: 186 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

For Human Rights Art see separate page
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