Randall Williams: Let it go
In 1953, a white-haired woman sold all her possessions, and began walking tens of thousands of miles around the United States for peace. She called herself Peace Pilgrim, and she walked for almost thirty years. She was fed and sheltered by the people she met, and many commented how she changed their lives. We may never know how many people have been touched by her example. It’s basically the same stuff that Jesus was saying to his followers -- go about your work, just let go, and trust that you’ll be taken care of.
Check out the related Radical Acts:
TRAVEL without a wallet
SELL what you have — give to the poor
LYRICS
By Randall Williams
With the shirt on her back,
She walked almost thirty years
With just a pen, some letters, and a comb.
She didn’t want for meals,
For family or friends,
For all she ever needed on the road.
She let it go.
“Take no scrip,” he said,
Let love take you in,
Feed you and offer you a home.
He tried to keep them up all night
One last time,
Then he turned on his heels and let it go.
He let it go.
I’ve met people on five continents
And the thing that doesn’t make much sense,
It seems that they’re more free, the less they own.
They let it go.
I look around at stuff I own,
The ways that I fill up my home -
I wonder if it keeps the fear at bay.
What about the ones who walk,
Who live the life, not just the talk,
Maybe I might do the same someday,
If I just let it go.
Musician’s website: http://www.facebook.com/randallwilliams
Posted on Friday, June 1st, 2012 at 7:00 pm | Follow responses with the RSS feedTopics: Music
A friend sent me an interview with Peace Pilgrim, which was the first time I had heard of her. What an inspiring life to be shared with the world! I will certainly send this on to many friends who will, in turn, send word on to others. This is the way it has to be: each one finding the response to the cry for peace in our own thoughts, and then sharing with as many others as come to us. For quite a few years I was cycle touring and meeting many others on the road. It was such a peaceful way to live and be with others,- however short the time – with the only need to share peace and joy with them. I’m sure there are many others who travel the world with the only desire to be at peace with everyone they meet along the way.
Thanks Randall! Another beautiful, soul-inspired work of art! :)
Randall, I met you at The Leaves in Dallas a few years ago and loved learning about your music and how you were impressed as a youngster by a book about Amelia Earhart. The spirit of adventure certainly has inspired your music in a beautiful way.
Just a note about Peace Pilgrim – I have several items about her and loved how she walked the country promoting peace. I taught peacemaking to children in a private school in the ’80s and found that they were so receptive to how the gentle way of love, when put into practice, brings peace and harmony into their lives. Thank you for being a peacemaker, as is evident in your music. Much love, Bea
Randall,
Once again, you sing straight to my heart. I love this song so much. I have the book spoken of above and it is very inspiring to read. I think one of the main responsibilities of parents should be to help teach their children to let go of material things, not collect them! I love the line about ‘the less we have the happier we are’ (paraphrase).
Thank you!!! And thank you to the organizers, producers, and sponsors of the Weekly Musician podcast! It is such a treasure that artists get to share their inspiration and love and insight and so many people get to listen and pray right along with the artist. Each contribution is a prayer and everyone participating (and sharing their favorites) elevates of human thought. Thank You Time 4 Thinkers!!!
Just had to say how beautiful both the words and the voice are in this song. Thank you.
Actually I met Peace pilgram years ago in Edwardsville, Illinois at a local peace gathering. She was very impressive, walking for peace and just watching to see where her meals and basics would be taken care of. She was gentle and yet very strong in her convictions, not over powering, gracious and filled with joy. Thanks for this reminder. Your song is lovely; as they all are. Fun running into you in Portland this past spring.
Wow Margaret. That’s amazing. So glad you came here to share!
In your background information, I loved to read that she was white-haired – a good reminder that it’s never too late to do the good you haven’t yet done. :-) I love the way you encourage the spontaneity of the Christ with “Let it go.” I wrote a bit about Peace Pilgrim a few years ago, “…there are those individuals who transcend the influence of a cultural paradigm and change the world, one personal decision at a time…Peace Pilgrim…believed world peace could be an outcome of individual inner peace, that inner peace is possible, and that through discipline it can be achieved…(She wrote) ’There is a magic formula for resolving conflicts. It is this: Have as your objective the resolving of the conflict, not the gaining of advantage… Among mature people war would not be a problem - it would be impossible…We people of the world need to learn to put the welfare of the whole human family above the welfare of any group’ (Pilgrim, 41, 43).” At the website Robin Cooper shared, you can get a free copy of her book. Thanks again, Randall Williams.
Beautiful song to answer materialisms loud cries.
Hey buddy…
This is lovely…so lovely. Peace Pilgrim is such a sweet example of walking your heart. I love the line, “I look around at stuff I own, the ways that I fill up my home -I wonder if it keeps the fear at bay.”
I am going to spend some time in stillness with this question.
love you, k.
Just beautiful Randall……………the less we own the more freedom we have.
So true. Thank you for your soul filled lyrics and music.
Exquisite
Peace Pilgrim’s is quite an interesting and inspiring story. You can watch some of that story here. http://www.peacepilgrim.org/htmfiles/sagevideo.htm
The warmth and soul of these instructions sung… touches deeply and jostles all the things I’m wanting to let go in the mental sphere as well as attached to home. Beautiful. I’m grateful for this!
I read this and I think, if I meet someone like her, would I know it? Would I be ready and willing to offer her food or shelter?
This alerts me to be watchful from the other side–the side of the people whose lives she aimed to touch, and be ready to entertain an angel such as her.
I hear ya, Susan. I’ve had a number of really profound moments with folks that just about nobody pays attention to, just sitting with them, hearing their stories. And yet, I’m sure there are so many that I miss and just pass by.
What a wonderfull song ! And wonderfull lyrics ! People has just to “let everything go ” ! Let go the material desires ! Beautifull ! Thanks !
Randall:
Again you touch the depths of my heart with your lyrics, and make the tears flow with your beautiful musical compositions. Bless you, and thank you so much for all that you express so well.
This song really touches my heart. Beautiful expression of Soul. Beautiful lyrics. Just real.
Let it go, brother. Let it go. The theme really resembles one put to music by @Justinbelote with It’s About Good.
Check it out: http://itsaboutgood.bandcamp.com/track/freely-give
this is such a beautiful song, thanks.
there are many ways to “let it go”, and to me the most important is to let go of the material desires. I have found when I do that, I wind-up having all i need anyway.
thanks for putting such a wonderful message to music.