Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Paul Stookey: Wedding Song (There Is Love)

The inspiration for today’s selection comes from the fact that it is my 20th wedding anniversary. It is only fitting that I picked a song that met with this auspicious occasion. Being that it is also One-Hit Wonder Wednesday, I selected Noel “Paul” Stookey’s 1971 hit the “Wedding Song (There is Love).”



Although Stookey contributed to a number of hits as a member of Peter, Paul, and Mary, this was his only hit single. The “Wedding Song” was written in 1969 on a flight from San Jose to Boston. In Boston, he was to be the best man at Peter Yarrow’s wedding where the song debuted.

Feeling that he was inspired by God with the melody, Paul felt that he did not justify royalties from the song and therefore set up the Public Domain Foundation which collects the royalties and distributes them for charitable purposes. While the “Wedding Song” placed within the top five of the Adult Contemporary chart in 1971, it peaked at #24 on the Hot 100.

As a mobile DJ in the 80s and 90s, I frequently played this tune at wedding receptions. It still is a popular number to sing and play at weddings and receptions over forty years after its composition.



Lyrics


He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits, here, has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is Love,
There is Love.

Well a man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
They shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.
As it was in the beginning is now and til the end
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again.
And there is Love,
There is Love.

Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
For if loving is the answer, then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
Oh there is Love,
There is Love.

Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is Love,
There is Love.

Live Version





No comments:

Post a Comment