Shed a Little Light
A national holiday was celebrated Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. An annual holiday since 1986, which celebrates the national civil rights leader and his message for equality, justice and non-violence for all.
How do we continue to uphold the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , who battled segregation and stood for racial harmony?
How do we continue to build bridges and create community for the kind of world we want to live in?
It starts with us – every individual. That ripple effect that goes out and reverberates everywhere.
For almost 18 years (mid 50s – 1968), the Baptist minister spoke through peaceful protest. I think one of the greatest songs of all time – Shed a Little Light– says it all. I’ve listened to this for years and without a doubt, it touches me each time. I hope it will for you too.
Turn up the sound loudly!
Here are the Lyrics:
"Oh, let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world
Become a place in which our children
Can grow free and strong
We are bound together by the task
That stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound, and we are bound
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps
The heart will never rest
Shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
So that we can see, oh yeah
Just a little light, oh Lord. (just a little light, oh Lord)
Want to stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh Lord (stand it on up, Lord)
Want to walk it on down
Gonna shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
Can't get no light from a dollar bill
(Don't see me no light from a dollar bill)
Don't give me no light from a TV screen, oh no, no
When I open my eyes, I want to drink my fill
From the well on the hill
I know you know what I mean
Shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
So that we can see, oh yeah
Just a little light, oh Lord (just a little light, oh Lord)
Want to stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh Lord (stand it on up, oh Lord)
Stand on up, Lord
Want to walk it on down
Gonna shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
Shed a little light, Lord
There's a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest, oh yes
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps
The heart will never rest
Oh, Let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood"
Here’s the link to a powerful performance by James Taylor and his group singing Shed a Little Light:
James Taylor - Shed a Little Light performance (TRT/ 3: 49)
Ask yourself what legacy do you want to live each day and eventually leave your footprint behind. May it foster hope and peace wherever you go.
Lisa Schneiderman is a UO member who helps people raise awareness for causes and positive messages that uplift humanity to a higher state of being.
A national holiday was celebrated Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. An annual holiday since 1986, which celebrates the national civil rights leader and his message for equality, justice and non-violence for all.
How do we continue to uphold the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , who battled segregation and stood for racial harmony?
How do we continue to build bridges and create community for the kind of world we want to live in?
It starts with us – every individual. That ripple effect that goes out and reverberates everywhere.
For almost 18 years (mid 50s – 1968), the Baptist minister spoke through peaceful protest. I think one of the greatest songs of all time – Shed a Little Light– says it all. I’ve listened to this for years and without a doubt, it touches me each time. I hope it will for you too.
Turn up the sound loudly!
Here are the Lyrics:
"Oh, let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world
Become a place in which our children
Can grow free and strong
We are bound together by the task
That stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound, and we are bound
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps
The heart will never rest
Shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
So that we can see, oh yeah
Just a little light, oh Lord. (just a little light, oh Lord)
Want to stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh Lord (stand it on up, Lord)
Want to walk it on down
Gonna shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
Can't get no light from a dollar bill
(Don't see me no light from a dollar bill)
Don't give me no light from a TV screen, oh no, no
When I open my eyes, I want to drink my fill
From the well on the hill
I know you know what I mean
Shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
So that we can see, oh yeah
Just a little light, oh Lord (just a little light, oh Lord)
Want to stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh Lord (stand it on up, oh Lord)
Stand on up, Lord
Want to walk it on down
Gonna shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
Shed a little light, Lord
There's a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest, oh yes
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps
The heart will never rest
Oh, Let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood"
Here’s the link to a powerful performance by James Taylor and his group singing Shed a Little Light:
James Taylor - Shed a Little Light performance (TRT/ 3: 49)
Ask yourself what legacy do you want to live each day and eventually leave your footprint behind. May it foster hope and peace wherever you go.
Lisa Schneiderman is a UO member who helps people raise awareness for causes and positive messages that uplift humanity to a higher state of being.
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