Coming up to Earth Day, this playlist at https://vimeo.com/showcase/10344071 shows three lyric videos designed for easy listening/viewing of all three in series. No ads. The songs, by W. Mick Gibbs and NeighboursBand.ca, hope to contribute to understanding and action on today’s earth issues.
SongStories
Control
CONTROL written by W. Mick Gibbs is the third of three NeighboursBand.ca lyric video pre-releases leading up to Earth Day. Is Mother Nature out of control? Or is it us? She will adapt quickly based on physics and biology. Can we adapt fast enough? Mother Nature will survive. Will we?
Trees
TREES is a love story for Canada’s forest ecosystems, and the trees in them and trees everywhere. TREES is the second NeighboursBand.ca pre-release towards Earth Day. This is for the future and Sadie, one of the NeighboursBand.ca daughters, written by her father W. Mick Gibbs.
Climate Change
It’s coming up to another Earth Day, and NeighboursBand.ca is featuring three songs that comment on our relationship with nature. CLIMATE CHANGE explores the confusion between climate change awareness and prompt action.
Neighbours Band Winter Collection
Spring is at least a month late this year in Canada. But it’s time to close out the Winter collection of pre-releases. As well as going through the SongStories Blog, you can view/listen to the 7 songs in the winter collection in a playlist here:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/10338305
The playlist is a nice way to hear/see all seven songs in a continuous series. No ads. Enjoy!
Winter Song
It’s April. In Canada, that’s a struggle between winter and summer, with spring days once in a while. There might be heat one day and blizzard the next night. Winter Song is about getting through the tough times supporting one another. It features lyrics by Barry Hodgson, who often travels from Quebec to Vancouver Island – seeing much of our Canadian weather smorgasbord. Music and singing is Neighbours John Little – a multi-talented lead/bass and mandolin player. Enough of winter – its time for spring. But there is beauty there!
God I Want to Sing You a Lullaby
Neighbours is not a gospel band. But all of us have a spiritual side. It’s Good Friday. The Christian God is one of the most famous fathers in the world, and he is crying today.
Many spirits in the world try to point us towards good, whether through organized religion or simply our awe for our world and its life. Whatever your higher spirit, some days they could use a lullaby.
Why Do We Have To
If Night in Ukraine (re-released today) is about courage and defiance, Why Do We Have To (Say Goodbye) is the flipside of sadness and grief in the face of separation.
The song is relevant to Ukraine. But the original was written for two dear friends.
Rob Hobby (deceased 2022) was a lifetime friend who we saw one Thursday night and who was suddenly gone within days. He introduced me to fishing, kayak building, storytelling, and good humour. A late-in-life back to the lander, he was living off-grid and innovating on his 30 acre lakeview retreat in the BC Interior. I regret never getting there, but heard many stories. Rob raised Ted and Kara with spouse Pat, and they are out changing the world with his pride and blessing.
The other person in the back of my mind is Ron Reid – a dear brother who is very much alive and active, while being at very high risk. A fish and wildlife grad from U of Guelph and recently an honourary Doctorate, he has dedicated his life with spouse Janet to conservation causes, founding the Couchiching Conservancy. Thanks, Ron, for being my guiding star in environmental causes. You will live forever!
All of us – Ukrainian, Russian, anyone anywhere in the world – are losing someone. If we keep them in our hearts, we don’t have to say goodbye.
Night in Ukraine
It’s April 5, 2023 and it still goes on. We’re re-releasing Night In Ukraine now that we’re more online.
February 25th 2023 means a full year of war in Ukraine. My spouse is of Ukrainian Canadian heritage. The tragedy strikes deep here, but is nothing compared to the suffering there. Wherever you are – fighting for peace – or fleeing for peace – this song is in support of you and Ukraine getting through this nightmare.
Love In This Bar
Love In This Bar became a song tribute by the Neighbours Band to the strong community spirit of rural Montana – and neighbourhood bars and pubs everywhere. A chance stop by for supper bumped in to an annual rodeo afterparty. Everyone was there – all creeds, colours and cultures – and they all celebrated being together again. It was an honour to witness.
This REEL version for social media is to honour our local Lantzville Pub – a key part of our heritage here on Vancouver Island. Neighbours Band is a gang of friends – and love having a good time with our friends at Lantzville Pub. From Saint Patrick 2023.