heaven right here

When I went home to visit family this holiday, my grandparents had a wonderful surprise. My grandmother, in her 88th year and feeling more tired and weak each day, had written a lively rouser of a protest song! As a Christmas present to her, my grandfather invited folk singer Larry Long to their house to put the words to music. I am thrilled and proud to say, the result was fantastic.

Here are the original lyrics (the recorded version will be included on Larry Long's forthcoming album - we'll see whether he uses the version with my grandma singing back-up):

I talked to God the other day,
And one thing God made clear
"You say you love heaven
And you want to go to heaven.
Why don't you have yourself
A heaven down here?"

"But I wanna get to heaven,
Wanna sit on a cloud,
Wanna dance and sing and laugh out loud."
"Don't be silly," the Good Lord said,
"Heaven's here and now, not when you're dead.

"Heaven's no more exploitation,
Freedom from all domination.
Heaven's the beauty of the earth,
Perfect joy in each new birth.

"So do away with corporate greed,
Give clothes and shelter to those in need.
Stop the war, feed the poor,
And we'll have a little heaven right here."
(audience: "Right here, right now!")
Yes, we'll all have heaven down here.