Monday, March 31, 2014

Don't Frack My Mother!, Condolences


Got this on the Vermont anti fracking/anti pipeline listserv...
Yes a few artists did this artful piece....
You know, we in Poorer Vermont are facing the same monster,
Fracking gas, fields of ugly, leakable, endless pipeline,
Serving those big corporations
We believe should not have the powers to
Blow toxins into dinosaur fossils
And suck what finite amount of it some will profit from,
Some will suffer by,
Some will spread the word...yeah that's about my speed.






Rip to Noel Sheppard, blogger who I followed on Twitter.
I felt powerless as he posted what treatments he was forced to take
Facing new challenges every day.
My prayers are for his family and friends,


Sunday, March 30, 2014

Travelogue for the Universe: revenue blues

As we ponder the taxes,
Wanted to rerun my
Old song...


Travelogue for the Universe: revenue blues: revenue blues some call it taxes, some cannot pay, some call it revenue, to hide what they say, some want to shirk them, others pay thei...

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Psalm Challenge 149

Psalm 149

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
149 Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the church of the saints.
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their king.
Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the timbrel and the psaltery.
For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt the meek unto salvation.
The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their beds.
The high praise of God shall be in their mouth: and two-edged swords in their hands:
To execute vengeance upon the nations, chastisements among the people:
To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron.
To execute upon them the judgment that is written: this glory is to all his saints. Alleluia.
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)by Public Domain

Pheasant at Large

Pheasant Memories

He caught
our eyes
& ears

Now he is back
Or perhaps never left,
Surviving this
Awful nasty winter.

I saw him in a few snowless patches.
The camera taking a break
Archives work.

Saw a Vulture today.
Grasping at any subtle sign that
Spring is coming.
Hope...

Friday, March 28, 2014

Friday Night Musik

Friday Night Musik

And searching for Cafe Society, Societe, 

Twittersphere

Virtualized Society,

Yesterday waa still searching for the right selection for Friday.

Tuned into imus on WABC live (on line)
 Broadcasting From NYC.
Heard this beautiful tune from Elton John, link from yt
Distilling the spirit of NYC.
This concert just after 9/2011,
A powerful concert.
Currently Spanish Harlem suffers after an explosion
Eclipsed by the missing plane,
Like the mudslide, too real, too sad, victims too poor.


My mind drifted to Jesse, always, thinking of NYC.
Sometimes imaging him and me catching a bagel & lox at a deli
While he triple parked.

I had gone over some thoughts about why New Yorkers
Are cautious twitterers.
Weiner is number 1...his faux pas exposed the exposure,
Twitter likewise reflects the society you live in.

Better table this and get posting...
Happy Friday!


Thursday, March 27, 2014

From before the flood

I couldn't think of a better way to share some photos we took
At a Woodstock, Vermont concert
 Levon Helm concert a few years ago.
Bow Thayer & the Perfect Trainwreck led the concert.
Idyllic beauty, Vermont Summertime.
The day before Irene hit and made much misery....









Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Donny Hathaway - A Song For You



Beautiful...
Link on yt

Donny has perfect timing.
Dedicating this post to my husband Fred...<3 p="">

Monday, March 24, 2014

March 2014

March forges on,

Snow, then cold & clear,
Biting
Winds straight south then reverses
Heading straight north.
Close to zero °f last night.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Multiple Sclerosis Research: MS is preventable: can we ignore the evidence?


Browsing Twitter,
I love Shift MS....
The UK has a lot of people with MS,
Socialized medicine system,
Committed Doctors, staff, researchers.
Thought for Sunday I would post some updates, info
On my other hobby,
Living with the MonSter...


First am posting some art
That comes with rest.
Total brain rest.

What role is my
Temporal Lobe
Playing?

Mom makes
Me think,
Was her art
A need to
Record
History?
After her mother,
 Fanny,
 passed on
Did she see the urgency
 As the veil
Drew near?

MS, the ankle biter.

My dream






Dad
Halfway home,
We both have had our atmospheric damages.
  insults to our bodies
Think of the neurological system as one big solar system.
What if the moon went away?


Now for science du jour




Multiple Sclerosis Research: MS is preventable: can we ignore the evidence?: Can vitamin D supplements prevent MS? I wish I knew the answer. #MSBlog #MSResearch "Mouse Doctor posted on the observation that...

…my notes: Yes, sunscreen overused in the north country. One year I broke my arm in the month of  March. A doctor I worked with said not to use sunscreen in winter in Vermont.
Or if a burn might happen, get at least 10-20 minutes skin exposure to sun per day before putting screen on...meg

Last and not least,
A link from the UK to explain Multiple Sclerosis to kids.
I found it very informative and understandable...
Thanks!

http://digestingscience.co.uk/#

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - He's Mine, Memories & Train (1964) & Psalm Challenge 148



Psalm Challenge...
I knew Sister Rosetta Tharpe knew the right words..
the audience,
curious intellectuals,
some destined to be old atheists,
not on this train..
I <3 p="" rosetta...="" sister="">

Psalm 148

Psalm 148

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
148 Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high places.
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light.
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens: and let all the waters that are above the heavens
Praise the name of the Lord. For he spoke, and they were made: he commanded, and they were created.
He hath established them for ever, and for ages of ages: he hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all ye deeps:




Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy winds which fulfill his word:
Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars:
10 Beasts and all cattle: serpents and feathered fowls:

11 Kings of the earth and all people: princes and all judges of the earth:
12 Young men and maidens: let the old with the younger, praise the name of the Lord:
13 For his name alone is exalted.
14 The praise of him is above heaven and earth: and he hath exalted the horn of his people. A hymn to all his saints: to the children of Israel, a people approaching to him. Alleluia.
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)by Public Domain


Amy Helm

Amy Helm.......

With The Woods Bros
and Handsome Strangers...
perfect for Saturday...

Hey, subscribe to her social sites...

www.amyhelm.com


Friday, March 21, 2014

Seal - A Change Is Gonna Come [Official Music Video] Friday Nacht Musik




For Friday,
as I near my 56th birthday,
a skin shedding,
a change gonna come.
Seal,
Stellar performance
of an old favorite....
perfect for the first days of spring...


Likewise in my
Search for Cafe Societe,
btw
Seal is in....

tgif

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Gaz updates

Feelings,

Nothing more than feelings,
that #Fracking is no good...

Emails,
Nothing more than Emails,
Trying to go through them is like pulling teeth.

Still more determined now than ever.
Was called an #enviro on twitter,
it weirded me out.
Who cares,
nothing more than feelings...

Fred's favorite variation:
Peelings,
nothing more than
Peelings...

Here are pertinent selections from the stop the pipeline list...

stay focused mary, it's just what the frackers want.
is this waterworld?
suddenly I envisioned them blowing up the underground
tripping an earthquake
like Pompeii.

Surprise,
Public Radio likes frackers...
and thinks people should give up their property:


From Bennington Banner, a link...

we monktonites don't take kindly to calm down....
ewww.


From 350.org
an email I got:

Last Friday, over 2 million comments against Keystone XL were delivered to the State Department, sending a very clear message that opposition to the pipeline remains strong. Now it's time to prepare our closing argument.
Below is an invitation to an action in Washington DC from the Cowboy Indian Alliance of ranchers, farmers and tribal communities along the pipeline route. The event is called Reject and Protect, and the key day will be April 27th, when we will march with the Alliance from their camp to the White House. It will likely be one of our last chances to send a message to President Obama about Keystone XL.
I can’t imagine a better way to make our closing argument against Keystone XL than standing alongside the pipeline fighters who will be on the front lines should it move forward. Once you've read the letter, click here to RSVP to be there on April 27th for Reject and Protect: act.350.org/signup/rejectandprotect/?source=350
So: mark your calendars for April 27th -- and start making plans to converge in DC. Details are still forthcoming -- for now, sign up to let us know you're interested, and we'll be in close touch in the coming weeks.
Yours,
Duncan

http://act.350.org/go/4849?t=2&akid=4299.984210.3wqj4t
On April 22nd, our alliance of pipeline fighters — ranchers, farmers, tribal communities, and their friends — called the Cowboy Indian Alliance will ride into Washington DC for the next, and perhaps final, chapter in the fight against Keystone XL.
On that day, we will set up camp nearby the White House, lighting our fire and burning our sage, and for 5 days, we will bear proud witness to President Obama’s final decision on Keystone XL, reminding him of the threat this tar sands pipeline poses to our climate, land, water and tribal rights. Throughout those 5 days, we will show the power of our communities with events ranging from prayers at Sec. Kerry's home and an opening ceremony of tribes and ranchers on horseback in front of the White House.
On April 27th, we invite our friends and allies against the pipeline to join us as we conclude our camp and march once more to the White House for our final, unmistakable message to President Obama. Our community of pipeline fighters just sent 2 million comments against the pipeline in just 30 days. We must follow this up with action in the streets on April 27th as we march with tribal leaders and individuals currently living with the risk tar sands to show all the beauty and power we represent. Everyone is needed and everyone is welcome.
With his decision closer than ever, President Obama must know what is truly at stake, and see once more the power of the alliances that have turned Keystone XL into a turning point for our movements, and for our future.
The Cowboy and Indian Alliance brings together tribal communities with ranchers and farmers living along the Keystone XL pipeline proposed route. Farmers and ranchers know the risk first-hand. They work the land every day. Tribes know the risk first-hand. They protect the sacred water, and defend sacred sites of their ancestors every day. They have united out of love and respect for the land and water on which we all depend.
This is not the first time Cowboys and Indians have come together to stop projects that risk our land and water. In the 80s, they came together to protect water and the Black Hills from uranium mining and risky munitions testing. In the American imagination, "cowboys and Indians" are still at odds. However, in reality, opposition to the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline has brought communities together like few causes in our history. Tribes, farmers and ranchers are all people of the land, who consider it their duty as stewards to conserve the land and protect the water for future generations.
The Alliance asks President Obama a simple question: Is an export pipeline for dirty tar sands worth risking our sacred land and water for the next seven generations?
On June 25, 2013, President Obama said, “Our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution.” Anyone with common sense knows the Keystone XL pipeline would exacerbate the climate crisis: an 830,000 barrel per day pipeline filled with tar sands and chemicals like benzene will make it easier for tar sands companies to dig up and burn more of the world’s dirtiest oil than they could with any other feasible alternative.
Our actions next month will show President Obama that we are living up to his call to "be the change we wish to see," and that we stand with him to say no to Big Oil. Together we will make a clear promise that if President Obama goes back on his word and approves the Keystone XL pipeline, he will be met with the fiercest resistance from our Alliance and our allies from all walks of life. Bryan Brewer, President of the Oglala Sioux, speaks for us when he says, "We are ready to fight the pipeline, and our horses are ready.”
Please join us this April to tell President Obama to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, and protect our land, water, and climate.
-The Cowboy Indian Alliance


Last but not least....

My neighbors
had an article written about them,
maybe it can touch someone who didn't understand before.




that is all for now.
again I will post a video of fall woods walk.
It is representative of Monkton, Vermont,
a pristine place.
We would like to keep it that way...
meg







Daily Bread

Daily Bread


Don't forget
Your Daily Bread,
To feed your head,
To go to bed,
Get some rest,
Do your best,
Then take a nap,
Have a snack,
Pray if you want,
Take time out if you don't,
Take a breath,
before you react,
Try not to scream,
Drop to your knees 
and 
dream.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Before the Spring


Before Spring comes
The birds roost on the trees in the hedgerow,
Sitting together,
Gently squawking, sputtering,
Cooing, 

Waiting for spring.
Maple sap ran yesterday...

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Silent Music


For the Deaf,
A little more music...
From yt

This one on my mind today.
Found I could understand the lyrics better
When they are signed,
Even though I don't
Know most of the signs.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Psalm Challenge 147


I seemed to be making it through

the Psalms,
easier to chew
one at a time,
heavy history,
Our human history.
Lessons here,



Psalm 147

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
147 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion.
13 Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 Who hath placed peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the fat of corn.
15 Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: his word runneth swiftly.
16 Who giveth snow like wool: scattereth mists like ashes.
17 He sendeth his crystal like morsels: who shall stand before the face of his cold?
18 He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: his wind shall blow, and the waters shall run.
19 Who declareth his word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments to Israel.
20 He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia.
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)by Public Domain

This week, a blizzard nailed us,
funny the snow plastered the sides of the house,
sealing all the cracks,
making it feel warmer than zero ish.
I was too tired to take photos,
hazzards of late storms.

From the archives...


Hey, Another Saturday Night...

Hey,
Another Saturday Night,
Always loved that Dead song.

Since attending a Midnight Ramble
at Levon Helm's Barn,
Saturday nights have a different meaning.

Every Saturday,
We think,
What's happening at the Barn?
couple hundred miles south of here,
Levon's Barn in Woodstock, NY.

So as I randomly zoned out to twitter feed,
Current events real time,
I ran into Marc Cohn's twitter feed...
Concert schedule, work, music, work.

And every time I see Marc Cohn's face,
I think of Levon.

Because his song so perfectly captured a time,
an era,
a moment.

The last time I posted this, one of my blogger friends asked if I was the Mary in the song...
Sweet.
I wouldn't mind.
It was a long time ago,
before cell phones and halogen lights,
and distractions of 2014.

We were listening to Levon....

From YT








hey marc...in 2008 I was 50...don't remember a blue valiant,
olive coloured fury maybe,
and my hair is blonde...
I was definitely listening to levon....

Friday, March 14, 2014

Monkton Chronicles. pipeline update....VPIRG filing

Monkton Chronicles Breaking News

Was saving updates on the gaz morass,
Then the tragedy in Harlem, aging gas lines.
How sad.

So tired this week,
Was awakened by an alert...

That's the only way I would open a 
Fracking email today
Friend Mary knew to put that in the heading.

In a nutshell,
VPIRG,
Vermont Public Research Group,
Is filing something.read on ...not competent in legalese.

Here is a link to the article explaining...


http://www.timesargus.com/article/20140314/THISJUSTIN/710179983


It is a beautiful day after all.
Thanks Mary...







Friday Nacht Musik......Train - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye

)


So funny to listen to the am radio on the internet
and
be led by knowing music afficionados
like lou ruffino
or
rufnio depending on the neighborhood you find yourself in.
This is the earliest I have selected a sure thing video for Friday.
Here goes,
Thx #LouRuffino!
Thx #Train, #YouTube,
tgiff

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Tennessee Gas Pipeline plans for Franklin, Berkshire counties generate groundswell of concern | GazetteNet.com

Tennessee Gas Pipeline plans for Franklin, Berkshire counties generate groundswell of concern | GazetteNet.com


Updates from the group....

Cookie cutter Fracker Tactics 101

Limit information,
Distort what info they give

Speak to each group separately, or not at all,
dodge questions,
use aggressive women hating land "agents"

Divide and conquer,
Then use connections at "public service board"

Cash in on apathy, fatigue, dangle gas is cheap carrot
even if the town gets none....the frackers want a Transmission route....to the big cities
Who cares about NY wetlands?
Not Tennesseans, and sure not Texans.

Force individuals to lawyer up,
waste valuable resources.



Tedeschi Trucks Band - Darling Be Home Soon

)

So rare, to stumble upon people making music, together,
that I feel Like I have known my whole life
and just found them.
Love, love this couple, and their band.
Weird, I listened to imus.com this morning,
Lost the feed for some reason.
It has started to snow, schnee...
12-24 expected, Spring "sugar snow" it is called. It is the snow which helps
provide the moisture for maple sap....
So heard I interview a guy who wrote a book about
The Allman Brothers...one of my all time favorite groups.
And they are playing the Beacon and Derek Trucks is in the band...
Ahh, That is where I heard those sweet notes before....
Fun to see where the music takes us.

Tedeschi Trucks Band - Darling Be Home Soon

)

So rare, to stumble upon people making music, together,
that I feel Like I have known my whole life
and just found them.
Love, love this couple, and their band.
Weird, I listened to imus.com this morning,
Lost the feed for some reason.
It has started to snow, schnee...
12-24 expected, Spring "sugar snow" it is called. It is the snow which helps
provide the moisture for maple sap....
So heard I interview a guy who wrote a book about
The Allman Brothers...one of my all time favorite groups.
And they are playing the Beacon and Derek Trucks is in the band...
Ahh, That is where I heard those sweet notes before....
Fun to see where the music takes us.

Train - Drops of Jupiter

)

Makes me think of mom
I thought of her when I saw
Jupiter early one morning

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Tomorrow was soon enough #Frack

 Just when I thought we voted this down....


This came in yesterday and I decided, 
Tomorrow was soon enough.

I didn't want to spoil the sparkling snow prayer.
These frackets really irritate me,
What's worse is when all the powerful men tell us
What's good for us.

http://www.addisonindependent.com/?q=201403public-service-department-officials-answer-pipeline-questions-monkton

There's more coming in all the time. Was trying to take a few days off
This clusterfrack.
So it deserves the picture that's in my head
Hearing these lying frackets
Say they're gonna take that land.


Monday, March 10, 2014

Travelogue for the Universe: Sparkling Snow





Rerun of one of my favorite poems.
We still have snow,
Lake Champlain still frozen
A few days above freezing & some sunshine go a long way
Toward making us hopeful for spring.





Travelogue for the Universe: Sparkling Snow: Sparkling Snow re-run Sparkling Snow**all rights reserved by mary gerdt It happened today, when I thought some great thoughts, th...

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Signs of spring...

No sap yet...these photos from the archives...
We were pleased to see some buckets hanging,
A reassuring sign of spring to come.









Saturday, March 8, 2014

Psalm Challenge Meets Pipeline Updates

Psalm Challenge 146

(meets pipeline updates..gotta squeeze them in as they come off the wire...
hey kids, do you know what a wire is?)

Get the gaz update out first...
Story picked up in Boston, reverberating with environmentalist, skiers, property owners
or simple Vermont lovers of which there are many.


Now for the Psalm 146,
link from public domain...

Psalm 146

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
146 Praise ye the Lord, because psalm is good: to our God be joyful and comely praise.
The Lord buildeth up Jerusalem: he will gather together the dispersed of Israel.
Who healeth the broken of heart, and bindeth up their bruises.
Who telleth the number of the stars: and calleth them all by their names.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power: and of his wisdom there is no number.
The Lord lifteth up the meek, and bringeth the wicked down even to the ground.
Sing ye to the Lord with praise: sing to our God upon the harp.
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth. Who maketh grass to grow on the mountains, and herbs for the service of men.
Who giveth to beasts their food: and to the young ravens that call upon him.
10 He shall not delight in the strength of the horse: nor take pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him: and in them that hope in his mercy.
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)by Public Domain

And some music that came to mind...
Hawker's Dream...
Beautiful link from YT.



Saturday music playing


Posting a link from yt
Really Great!


Oh, back to 5:30 EST posting,
It just feels right...meg

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Travelogue for the Universe: Lions & lambs

hey...why not post at 4:30 am?? here goes...meg


My post from 2012 just as relevant this March 2014 in the North country
and indeed many places in the U.S.

click the link...

Travelogue for the Universe: Lions & lambs: In like a Lion this year, March is my birth month. Martian horoscope, Red my color, Ram is my animal. First, Headstong, Like a Lion...


March certainly in like a Lion...

here's a link to one of my favorite lion songs...from yt...wow...
The Stellar Carolyn Wonderland...





Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Town Meeting Missed but not lost

As posted last night,
The proposed pipeline was voted down in 3 towns
On the Canadian planned route.

I was sorry I couldn't attend town meeting this year.
Finding myself feeling too sick to even go out and vote
For the first time ever.

Reminding me that we are still not adapted to the modern life,
Accommodating people where they are.

So tickled I was, to find out
Voters in 3 town said
 No to the Pipeline!
Good news

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Monkton,Vermont Breaking News: Pipeline rejected

Rejected

I appreciate the group efforts to stop the proposed pipeline...

Here are a list of press links about town meetings

Good news....

So thankful today.

So far…just copy and paste...I'll fix this later.

Seven Days:
 http://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2014/03/04/in-addison-county-voters-say-no-to-vermont-gas-pipeline


Press Republican:
 http://www.pressrepublican.com/breaking2/x1196471766/Vermont-towns-oppose-IP-pipeline

VPR: http://digital.vpr.net/post/update-addison-county-three-nos-vt-gas-pipeline

BFP: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/viewart/20140304/NEWS02/303040030/Towns-say-no-to-gas-pipeline-Underhill-to-fix-problem-of-rainstorm-inside-town-garage

Fox44: http://www.mychamplainvalley.com/story/d/story/voters-in-vt-towns-oppose-vt-gas-pipeline/36630/fhU822lHL0uDqUYzmI13ZQ

WCAX (AP story): http://www.wcax.com/story/24879851/2-towns-say-no-to-vt-gas-pipeline-idea

AP story got re-circulated a bunch of places: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Cornwall-voters-say-no-to-Vt-Gas-pipeline-idea-5287288.php

Tuesday Music Break

Surfing You Tube,
Happened upon this gem from Hugh Laurie...

Stagger Lee...

Wow


Monday, March 3, 2014

Audition

Audition




This was the drawing I was trying to post yesterday with "153".

It is a tough spot, up on stage in an empty theater,
Surrounded by intense people,
Staring at you....

Sunday, March 2, 2014

153

We rarely hear the inward music, but we're all dancing to it nevertheless. - Rumi


Ledges

153

In Junior high school  <>
and somewhat beyond,
2 years better put into a state of suspended animation or amnesic void,

I tried out for chorus,
excited at this new huge school,
full of enthusiasm,
ready to become the next Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand,
Carole King,
Peter, Paul & Mary,
Janis Joplin,
Mostly anyone but me.

Mom and Dad had a stack of records, as did my siblings,
It was the 60's.
We screamed music all summer to the stereo,
anywhere.
 There were 153 people trying out.
 Funny I still remember that number, 
like it is seared somewhere in my brain...

They could take 150.
Really.
150,
another number seared.
As I approached looking at the last Psalm, 
150,
the number yanked me like a painful string.
ouch.

When the names went up for who got in, 
could you imagine how long were the faces of the 3 who failed?
Wonder if the other 2 girls ever forgot.

The next year, I tried out again.
Admittedly I had no training, no concept of keys, tuning.
I played tuba in the Bass clef,
repetitive,
which confused me too.
Our grade school autoharp was out of tune.
But I tried.

The music teacher had me sing a song. 
She then stopped, looked up and said,
"Where were you last year?"...

That is where I am pretty sure my head spun straight around,
I did a princess turn,
and walked right out the door,
never to return.

Years later, an ember still burns for her,
that misguided teacher.
How could you have even heard 3 people?
Give them a tambourine...
a flag,
a chance.

So when Sister Rosetta Tharpe sings to
"Sing, because you are so happy,
Sing because you are so free, yes indeed...",
I think,
Freedom has its price.

And yet that doesn't keep me from singing.
We are free.