Ray Korona & Pete Seeger







*Listen to this Song Now!



CLICK HERE to listen to "Toys for Peace.mp3"!





HOW THE SONG CAME ABOUT

(Transcribed from video interview with Ray on goodnewsbroadcast.com at the Pete Seeger Tribute for his 88th Birthday, May 3rd, 2007)



Ray tells us that when he told Pete about our Bridges of Peace Toy Drive Project at all the schools in Sayreville to help the kids of Iraq through our US military, Pete said..."you know, if Woody Guthrie were around, he would write a Ballad about this" and Ray told him "Well, Pete, you and Woody were pals, why don't you do it" and Pete said "well, I think we should do it together". They then rolled up their sleeves on the spot and stated it. Pete then asked.."Ray, what exit off the Turnpike is Sayreville, NJ anyways?" and Ray said.."it's not exactly off the turnpike and Pete said "well, that doesn't really matter"...and that is how the song started.





About the Song by Ray Korona:



After playing music for a Bridges for Peace celebration, Ray Korona told friend and fellow performer Pete Seeger (Legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee & Bruce Springsteen's inspiration for his latest CD "We shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions") about how the organization collected toys from local school children for US soldiers to give to children in Iraq. Believing that a ballad could help spread this story far and wide and inspire others to work for peace, they wrote Toys for Peace. Ray sings the song and plays guitar; Pete provides an energetic banjo accompaniment and sings on the choruses; Ivice and Ellen Davidson sing harmony, and Barry Kornhauser drives the rhythm with his bass.



If you want to help get the story around... play the song for your friends; get your community radio station interested; tell everyone to visit us at www.bridgepeace.org to learn how you can get involved.





If you would like to run a Bridges of Peace Drive, Click Here to learn how!







Lyrics:



TOYS FOR PEACE by Ray Korona and Pete Seeger







Take the turnpike through New Jersey



Where it meets the Garden State.



If you take Exit 11 there instead of going straight,



You can visit Sayreville where Diane, a mother of two,



Saw what war can do to kids



And did what she had to do?







chorus: Because we have got to learn



to live in peace some day.



Maybe soldiers with toys, not guns,



will find a better way.







She said school children in Sayreville



Should give a toy or two



To the children in Iraq. They have so very few.



Diane?s neighbor Karen agreed



And soon a movement grew.



Would the schools go along?



What else could the school board do?







repeat chorus







So they set up big containers



In the schools in Sayreville.



It really was inspiring how quickly they would fill.



Sara brought her favorite doll.



She told her not to cry.



Soon she?d have a new best friend.



She kissed that doll goodbye ?







repeat chorus







The colonel said, ?Let?s do it!



Yes, we will try your plan.



Our soldiers can give out toys



In Iraq and Afghanistan.?



Those soldiers loved to meet the kids.



They hope their visits increase.



When you make a child smile



You build a bridge to peace.







repeat chorus and verse one







Visit



www.raykorona.com for information on how to obtain a copy of the song on CD or in .mp3 format.















Ray Korona Band - The new CD "The Safe Thing to Do"

Music for Peace & Luv

Copyright © by Bridges of Peace - (9298 reads)