T. R. Ritchie
©1995
https://www.trritchie.com/
Kaitie says:
I learned this song in 2016 while training at the Ubuntu Choirs Network and it is one of those songs that just seems to catch me when nothing else seems to make sense. I suppose that’s really what it’s about.
In 2017 I wrote to T.R. Ritchie’s people to ask for any deeper information and their blessing to share this song. His partner, Tracy Spring, wrote back with heartfelt enthusiasm, some additional information, and sheet music. Here’s an abridged version of what she shared.
All I can tell you about it is that he recorded it on his 1995 release, Homeground.
StB is one of his most accessible and most loved songs. He’d be pleased to have it sung… everywhere… especially now.
There is a documentary out, completed a year ago [2016], about his work. “TR Ritchie: An American Songwriter”. It’s available from www.TRRitchie.com
…Yes, versions do vary, and those versions morph even further as they pass from person to person.
Attached, a .pdf of StB that I put together to accompany the Rise Again songbook. It was the best I could do, based on what I heard more often than not.
Lyrics:
People say to me: You must be crazy,
How can you sing in times like these?
Don’t you read the news? Don’t you know the score?
How can you sing when so many people grieve?
And people say to me: What kind of fool believes
That songs will make a difference in the end?
By way of a reply I say: A fool such as I,
Who sees a song as somewhere to begin.
A song is somewhere to begin
To search for something worth believing in.
If changes are to come
There are things that must be done.
And a song is somewhere to begin.
People say to me: You must be crazy,
How can you dream in times like these?
Don’t you read the news? Don’t you know the score?
How can you dream when so many people grieve?
And people say to me: What kind of fool believes
That dreams will make a difference in the end?
By way of a reply I say: A fool such as I,
Who sees a dream as somewhere to begin.
A dream is somewhere to begin
To search for something worth believing in.
If changes are to come
There are things that must be done.
And a dream is somewhere to begin.
People say to me: You must be crazy,
How can you love in times like these?
Don’t you read the news? Don’t you know the score?
How can you love when so many people grieve?
And people say to me: What kind of fool believes
That love will make a difference in the end?
By way of a reply I say: A fool such as I,
Who sees love as somewhere to begin.
Love is somewhere to begin
To search for something worth believing in.
If changes are to come
There are things that must be done.
And love is somewhere,
And dreams are somewhere,
and a song is somewhere to begin.