Pro life concert musician - song suggestions please!

[ocuinn]

Hello,

I am an amateur musician who has been asked to play a concert at our local March for Life. I am inclined to play Irish/Bob Dylan/Stan Rodgers type music.

I need to gather a list of folk type songs to play. I do not want to play contemporary Christian music and hope to find songs (lively and reflective) with a powerful message.

I am seeking pro life songs and, in particular, songs which highlight pro life within the context of the beauty of family.

I wish to relate the pro life message indirectly rather than directly as I feel people relate to that more.

Please provide suggestions.

Thank you

 

[ocuinn]

Any suggestion?

 

[littlefield]

There’s a great country song “All Because Two People Fell in Love” that comes to mind…

 

[littlefield]

Another country song - “There Goes My Life.” Any country song can be played folk style with no problem.

 

[ocuinn]

I listened to those songs. Thank you for the suggestion.

They are a little too direct in message. From my perspective they are not very well written songs. I like songs to be a little more metaphorical, allegorical.

I am coming to understand this may not be the best way to get ideas because music is very personal and what I like will only come from me.

The following song is very much like what I would choose. The song is about a woman who chooses to travel the open road rather than settle down. It is told from the perspective of a man who loves her. However, the words could very much reflect the thoughts of a young father who longs to be involved in the decision being made by the girl carrying his child.

youtube.com/watch?v=UU9HGvfXJkc

The words “For yours was the open road, the bitter song, the heavy load, that I couldn’t share but the offer’s still there”. It allows the listener to transfer their own meaning to the song and provides a very powerful message.

 

[littlefield]

I know what you mean about wanting it to be subtle and not in-your-face. There are hundreds of pro life songs out there, mostly by Christian rock groups, but very few that are simply pro family or life-embracing.

The country songs I suggested are by no means favorites; in fact, I don’t really care for those two singers personally (I’m a Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash fan like my daddy). I just thought I’d throw those out there because they were the first to come to mind and some songs can be adapted to fit a purpose.

I’m a huge fan of folk music (Bob Dylan, Baez, etc. etc.) but I just couldn’t find anything that fit your description. Unfortunately, as much as I love this genre, marriage/family/babies/life just aren’t themes you run across much. It’s either love or protest!

 

[littlefield]

I like this one a lot. youtube.com/watch?v=3bRDum9dJPw

It’s a song about the dark night of a soul and how lonely we can feel when dealing with the consequences of our past actions. But it encourages you to move forward. This could be applied to the regret of abortion and the need for reconciliation.

“That Lonesome Road”

Walk down that lonesome road all by yourself,
Don’t turn your head back over your shoulder.
And only stop to rest yourself when the silver moon is shining high above the trees.

If I had stopped to listen once or twice, if I had closed my mouth and opened my eyes.
If I had cooled my head and warmed my heart, I’d not be on this road tonight.

Carry on, never mind feeling sorry for yourself.
It doesn’t save you from your troubled mind.

Walk down that lonesome road all by yourself,
Don’t turn your head back over your shoulder.
And only stop to rest yourself when the silver moon is shining high above the trees.