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FULL LYRICS BELOW
An upbeat song that hopefully summarises and celebrates the principles of Catholic social teaching. It sounds especially good with a choir singing the response parts. These parts are enjoyable to sing, as you'll hear from the laughter at the end of the audio. (The extra vocal parts are included in the music notation - see resources section below).
I wrote this song for the 'Turning Point' Conference in Adelaide, October 1991. The conference was organised for the centenary of Rerum Novarum, an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891.
Background Information:
The last Sunday of September is designated by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference as SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY. On this day, the social justice aspect of Christian teaching and action is to be emphasised at Masses. And on this day every year the Bishops release their annual Social Justice Statement, as they have done since 1940. In the statements we see the application of the Church's social principles to critical issues of the day.
The Rerum Novarum papal encyclical (1891) discussed the relationships and mutual duties between labour and capital, as well as government and its citizens. Of primary concern was the need for amelioration of "the misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class." Rerum Novarum is considered a foundational text of modern Catholic social teaching.
(Compiled from online sources)
lyrics
THE COMMON GOOD
For the good of all of the people,
Especially the battlers / children / nungas
Not just the ones with power and wealth
But for the common good.
We believe that each person is a seed of the Godhead
Every life is sacred, a bright flower to be.
One Earth for all, there's plenty for sharing
One livelihood for the common good.
CHORUS:
If we look at the world now in the light of the Gospel
Through the eyes of Jesus on the side of the poor
What do we see? A Cross and a Rainbow,
Blood on the wood for the common good.
For the common good. For the common good.
Blood on the wood for the common good.
The purpose of Government is the good of the people.
We are the measure, not profit and loss.
Better than gold, the prize of the Kingdom:
One life that stood for the common good. CHORUS
The God of compassion is calling us over
The borders of hatred, oppression and fear.
This world is one - let's peace it together.
We can and should (we can and should)
For the common good. CHORUS
Words & Music by Peter Kearney
Nunga is a term of self-reference for many of the Aboriginal peoples of southern South Australia.
credits
released September 13, 2019
First published 1993 as one of twelve tracks on Peter's CD 'THE COMMON GOOD
RELATED RESOURCES:
Available through Peter Kearney's Online Store:
1. PDF MUSIC for the song 'For the Common Good’. Link: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/566438
2. CD-ROM: The 'music book' for the whole album 'The Common Good' it is available as a cd-rom containing pdf scans of the original book (now out of print) + cover. Link: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/554039
3. CD-AUDIO: The cd for the whole album 'The Common Good’ (that song + 11 other songs) is still available. Link: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/356148
RECORDED at ABERGELDIE STUDIO, Mittagong
Produced and arranged by Peter Kearney and Kenny Miller
LEAD VOCALS: Peter Kearney and Helen Archer
CHOIR: Chris Anstiss, Helen Archer, Bob Bickle, Anne Donaldson, Chris Donaldson, Madge Kearney, Paul Kearney, John Markota, Christine Tilley, Heather Tromp
PAUL ACLAND: drums
PETER ACLAND: electric lead guitar
RAY BROWN: electric bass
PETER KEARNEY: acoustic guitar
Peter Kearney is an Australian songwriter and singer. His early folk-hymns 'Fill My House' & 'The Beatitudes' are
internationally known. He has written many other songs of justice and peace, songs for children, and a musical-narrative on St. Francis of Assisi. His published recordings include 153 original songs.
LINKS BELOW are for Peter's:
- Website
- Online store
- Facebook Artist Page....more
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