THE GREAT MANDALA - Peter Yarrow & Richie Havens video free download


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Duration: 04:59
Uploaded: 2011/04/15

THE GREAT MANDALA (The Wheel of Life) - Peter Yarrow

So I told him that he'd better shut his mouth

And do his job like a man.

And he answered "Listen, Father,

I will never kill another."

He thinks he's better

than his brother that died

What the hell does he think he's doing

To his father who brought him up right?

Chorus:

Take your place on The Great Mandala

As it moves through your brief moment of time.

Win or lose now you must choose now

And if you lose you're only losing your life.

Tell the jailer not to bother

With his meal of bread and water today.

He is fasting 'til the killing's over

He's a martyr, he thinks he's a prophet.

But he's a coward, he's just playing a game

He can't do it, he can't change it

It's been going on for ten thousand years

(Chorus)

Tell the people they are safe now

Hunger stopped him, he lies still in his cell.

Death has gagged his accusations

We are free now, we can kill now,

We can hate now, now we can end the world

We're not guilty, he was crazy

And it's been going on for ten thousand years!

Take your place on The Great Mandala

As it moves through your brief moment of time.

Win or lose now you must choose now

And if you lose you've only wasted your life.

Comments

8 years ago

Kingscrib

This throws me back in time, to my buying 'Album 1700'. This song? I love it now, as then. I played it over & over on my old, single-album phonograph. (before I bought my first stereo) This version with Richie couldn't be more beautiful or evocative of that time in history.

9 years ago

simonsbuddy

Does anyone know when/where this was recorded?

9 years ago

ericynot

Damn you, Peter Yarrow! I saw this performed yesterday on a PP&M PBS special, and now I can't get it out of my mind. I even woke up in the middle of the night last night and the song was playing in my head. Help me!

9 years ago

Billy Sheppard

I miss Richie Havens today.  I didn't know him, but I heard him sing at McCabe's Guitar Shop once.  I think I'm not the only person who thinks of him as a friend because I saw him sing once in a small venue.  I saw Peter Yarrow at S.F. State once in the student lounge.  How can singers to that?  That can't happen on TV.  I miss you, Richie!  (Richie Havens died in April of 2013.  R.I.P.)

9 years ago

Debby Schaefer

And if you lose, you're only losing your life. 

9 years ago

Joy Cring

This is hands down, the absolute best version of this song! You could not have found two better voices to bring out the feeling in this song. 

9 years ago

Deborah Fishman

thanks this can be played today  for all the lives lost on american soil

9 years ago

Neil Spear

aai first saw this on PBS. I also have the record,(Does that age me?) I have to agree with Richie. It is the best protest song, and the best song Peter ever wrote. Peace.

9 years ago

Gerry Cross

great song...sad...

9 years ago

Crewmax42

Wow. A wonderful  friend taught me this song back in the " day", but I have never heard it done so beautifully. Thanks, Harley.

9 years ago

DaveDaShrubber

I still haven't been able to find Richie Havens singing 'I Dig Rock and Roll Music' anywhere on YouTube.

9 years ago

Mollie Brower

My all time favorite protest  song by two of my favorite singers.  I was privileged to see Richie Havens at Woodstock.. Peter Yarrow is such a gifted song writer and vocalist.  I could listen to this over and over and over again!  RIP Richie.

9 years ago

SteveonLI

we are free now.  we can kill now.  one of the best songs i know!  i just recorded a version on keybd on yt and i hope you will check it out 

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