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#40 START FROM WHERE YOU ARE

by Peter Kearney

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Dorothy Ann Soper
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Dorothy Ann Soper Live in the present. Yesterday has gone, tomorrow is but a dream, so we only have today. With a mental illness I find this is my petition to my Lord and Saviour every day.
John 14:6
kazzamack
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diridding
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paulcos
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rylstone
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saltytim
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mareet
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Scroll down to see FULL LYRICS & CD/MUSIC Information.

NOTES: The writing of 'Start from Where you Are' was originally commissioned by the Sydney Catholic Communications Centre during the International Year of Peace. It was intended for television broadcast and so I wrote the song as if I was addressing someone slumped in front of 'the box' after watching the evening news - mostly bad news.

Unfortunately, the broadcast of the song didn't happen - I forget why, perhaps for budgetary reasons. But anyway, here is the song. It was originally included on my album 'The Year of God's Favour?'
*****

lyrics

START FROM WHERE YOU ARE
I see you sitting in your room
You’re thinking: what kind of world is this?
Peace is like the stars - seems so far away.

Why don’t you start from where you are, do what you can do.
There’s a whole lot of changes that can only start from you.
You may be only small, of everyone the least
But yours could be the milligram that tips the scales to peace
And yours could be the all important patch of ground
Where first we gained a foothold and turned the world around.

I know the news is mostly bad -
This world it seems a sad old place.
Peace is on the run - are we in a losing race?

Why don’t you start from where you are, do what you can do.
The most important changes have started with a few.
If you use the skills you have, hope will find release.
If you join your hope to others’ hope the movement will increase
All round the world there’s people choosing to believe
That peace might just be possible - you don’t have to naive.
Why don’t you start from where you are
Do what you can do today.

You hear a million words a day -
They’re selling you the same old lie.
But peace is like the pearl money cannot buy.

Why don’t you start from where you are, do what you can do.
There’s a different way of thinking, very old but ever new:
Share the things we have, love our enemy
Yes, calling from the centre, the God of life decrees
The little child is more important than the king
And until we start to act that way we’re just dangling from a string.
Why don’t we start from where we are
Do what we can do today.

Words and music by Peter Kearney

*****

credits

released June 12, 2020
RELATED RESOURCES:
1. Make Me a Song. Double CD (contains 'Start From Where You Are' and 35 other PK songs). LINK: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/356147
2. The Year of God's Favour? Custom-CD. LINK: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/356149
3. The Year of God's Favour? Music Book. LINK: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/553817
4. Start From Where You Are - PDF Music. LINK: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/570888

THE RECORDING:
Recorded in HAV Studio, Bundanoon. Sound engineer - Graeme Armitt. Produced by Peter Kearney in consultation with Madge O'Brien and Claire Parkhill.
Backing vocals by CLAIRE PARKHILL, HELEN ARCHER and LOUISE GORE.
Lead vocal & guitars PETER KEARNEY

The PHOTOGRAPH on front of 'The Year of God's Favour? album is of Patricia (Pattie) Newman. Photograph taken in Redfern by Marie Grunke

COPYRIGHT © 1988 Peter Kearney.
This song is registered with One License, APRA and AMCOS.
Church and school licences through 'One License'.
E: info@onelicense.net

SEE ALL SONGS posted so far: peterkearney.bandcamp.com

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Peter Kearney Mittagong, Australia

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:
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- Facebook Artist Page. ... more

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