"MAKE ME A SONG..." (2000)
A double-CD compiled from Peter Kearney's tape-albums of the 1980s and early 1990s.  A strong justice and peace collection. Songs range from 'Fill My House' and 'The Beatitudes' written in 1966 to 'What a Time to Go to War!' written at the time if the first Gulf War, 1991. See full track list below.

 Track list- Disc One
Track list- Disc Two
Project History

TRACK LIST for "Make Me a Song..." double-CD  
And brief notes on the songs

DISC ONE
Tracks 1-7 are from the 'Where Is Your Song , My Lord?' album published 1985, though the songs were written 1966-1970.
1. Fill My House. Peter's best known song/ hymn first published 1966. Bow sung in many different countries. "Fill my house unto the fullest. Eat my bread and drink my wine".

2. The Beatitudes. Also from 1966, Peter's setting of Jesus words from the sermon on the mount... "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"... etc.

3. The Song of the Lord's Travellers. Telling the story of the Israelites journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, from slavery to freedom... applying it to our world, our time.

4. A Conversation. Based on the disciples' journey to Emmaus after the crucifixion, and their encounter with the risen Jesus. "Why do you stand so crestfallen you good men of Galilee?..."

5. Resurrection. An Easter song woven with images of Spring. "Who brightens my day, lightens my load, straightens my way..."

6. Where is Your Song, my Lord? Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House with 3,000 people singing along.

7. A King in Rags. Picturing Jesus as the one who had no place to lay his head... "And I ask you- Who is the tramp? Who is the King. Who can say?"

Tracks 8-14 are from the 'Turn It All Around' (Songs for Peace and Justice) album, published 1984.  
8. A Confession to Jesus the Poor. A challenging song on our responses the the poor amongst us.

9. Isaiah 58. Peter's setting of this powerful passage. "Now I tell you the fast that is pleasing to me: to break unjust fetters, let the captives go free..."

10. The Man God Chose. Another setting from the Prophet Isaiah... the song of the suffering servant with contemporary resonances.

11. Heal Me, Help Me, Save Me. "You are all a part of one body, so you can't be healed by yourself... the voice of Jesus in solidarity with the oppressed."

12. Unless the Grain of Wheat Falls.  Based on an address by Fr. Dick Buckhorn at the graveside of a young Aboriginal man killed in racial violence. Finding hope in a tragic situation: "We're not burying a body, we plant a seed."

13. Hiroshima, Never Again! A graphic account of August 6, 1945 and it's aftermath.

14. Come Now Holy Spirit. Peter's adaption and musical setting of an ancient and powerful hymn. "Come now Holy Spirit. come now, strong like wind and bright like fire. Come through us..."

Tracks 15, 16 and 1-8 on Disc Two are from the 'Signs of Hope' album, published 1986.
15. To See the Light. A song of hope, of the light that shines in the darkness..."Like a candle or a spark dancing in the dark".

16. Signs of Hope. Written for the occasion of the Brazilian Bishop, Dom Helder Camara's visit to Sydney, at the Sydney Opera House. Based on Dom Helder's writings: "Signs of God, signs of hope in a hopeless time... there are signs of hope".

 

DISC TWO
1. John and Jesus. About John the Baptist and the one he heralded, Jesus the Christ. About baptism: "Come on everyone to the river to drown, to be tumbled and tossed, turned upside down..."

2. My Daughter My Son. Based on an episode from the Acts of the Apostles, at the Beautiful Gate. A song of mutual love. Often sung/played at baptisms, weddings and funerals. "My daughter, my son, of silver and gold I have none, but in my heart be love..."

3. Black Is. Words by Aboriginal poet, Maureen Watson, set to music by Peter. Full of positive associations to the colour 'black'... "Black is my mother's loving arms.."

4. Start From Here. Jesus weeps for Jerusalem... or could it be Hiroshima, or Sydney?

5. George Zabelka. The story of the priest who was chaplain to the air-crews that bombed Hiroshima, who later repented and became a full time peacemaker.

6. Love is Not a Crime. On Easter Sunday morning several Christians witnessed for life and peace at a Melbourne satellite facility involved in plans for nuclear war. "Don' let them say that love's a crime. Don't let them say the truth's a lie..."

7. All Aboard the Ark. A light hearted song celebrating the spirit of the L'Arche Communities (founded by Jean Vanier) which give special welcome to people with intellectual disability. "All aboard the ark, no first or second class. Everyone is welcome and the tickets are for free."

8. Lead Me to Hope. Often sung as hymn. The four verses are about hope, love, faith and peace.

Tracks 9-16 are from 'The Year of God's Favour?' album, published in Australia's 'bi-centennial' year, 1988.
9. The Year of God's Favour. A musical setting of the words from Isaiah read by Jesus to proclaim his mission: "to set the downtrodden free".

10. Rock of Ages, Uluru. About Australia- the tragedy and the hope of its story. Looking at Uluru (Ayers Rock) in cental Austalia as a symbol of truth and hope.

11. Living in this Country. In both positive and negative senses, white Australia has a black history.

12. When the Morning Comes Again. A mother somewhere in the Third or Fourth Worlds (which could be some parts of Australia) and the hope she places in her child.

13. The Promised Land. A journey through Australia's history with a recurring prayer as the chorus: "God help us all... help us find the meaning of this troubled road we go to the Promised Land'.

14. Advertising Man. An angry song, directed at the ad-man and the seductive but false dreams that he creates.

15. Letter from Risdon Prison. A reflection of the value of wilderness, from a letter written by Karin Donaldson after being arrested for her participation in the blockades to prevent the damming of Tasmania's Franklin River.

16. Start From Where You Are. A song of encouragement: "Start from where you are, do what you can do. There's a whole lot of changes that can only start from you."

Tracks 17-18 are from a limited edition tape-album release 'Makers of Peace' 1991.
17. What a Time to Go to War. A song of grief and protest, set against a dramatic soundscape.

18. Makers of Peace. Based on the time just before his arrest when Jesus wept over Jerusalem... "If only you knew the meaning of peace!"