The Story behind the song Love Thy Neighbor. Good morning and Good afternoon to the planet-:) Its sunday and still Calypso History Month in T&T. So, some regilious sentiment coupled with cultural historical insight should be a resonable combination for most parties-☺ Lion has re-recorded Love Thy Neighboron numerous occations and changed some of the lyrics to suite the occasion. It is a song that he personally liked. The song was also used as the main sound track and theme song in the very popular British TV series called “Love Thy Neigbour” ca.1970. The show was about West Indian immigrants living in working class East End London. https://youtube/watch?v=8LSyn-S00YI Lion penned this song in 1941 after meeting some Southern racists at a trendy bar in New York city. He was out together with his Jewish girlfriend and he was the only black person at the bar, something he instinctively knew was not very wise predicament. Anyway let Lion tell you the story himself via his manuscript, Lion: After I had finished doing a show at the Waldrof Astoria Hotel, New York, (It was a charity show, and lots of popular artistes gave their services free). A friend of mine, a Jewish girl, invited me to go to a place called the Palisade. I had never been there before and I accepted the offer. If I remember rightly, it was a pleasure garden and was situated either by or across the River. This took place in the early forties. When we got to the Palisade we saw a nice, quiet little Pub and decided to go there for a drink. As we entered we noticed that a few fellows were playing Darts while others were playing billiards. Somewhere in a corner there was a Juke-box and a fellow about five feet ten leaning on it. He was starting at my friend and me. When we finished listening to the records, one of which was “Love The Neighbor ” by Bing Crosby, he came over to our table, stood there for a few minutes gazing at my friend and then asked her, pointing at me, “Is he your boy friend?” She looked up and said “None of your business”. This answer seemed to have annoyed him, so he turned to me and said in a scornful tone of voice, “Why don’t you leave the lady alone, she is not your kind”. Seeing that I completely ignored him he tried to start an argument and threatened to forcefully remove me form the pub. At this point the barman intervened and warned him that he would be removed instead if he should start any trouble. I was then told that he was a southerner. This incident inspired me to write a song, so when I returned home I borrowed two lines form the song by Bing Crosby that fellow had been listening to and composed this: If this proverb you will understand You will lend your brother a helpful hand. (Repeat). Whether you are white, pink, blue or black, You have got to reach the six feet of earth and that’s that. So whether you agree, or you should disagree, Still whether you agree or you should disagree, Still I’ve got to side seriously with Bing Crosby, Singing life would be easier, and time would be breezier, If you love your neighbor. I can speak with Biblical veracity, That love is a passion sponsored by the Divinity, And so we all should endeavor assiduously, To walk in the path of virtue and humility. For he that humbleth himself shall exalted be, And humbled will be he whose failing is vanity. So whatever we do, we should keep in mind this view, That the other man is worth quite as much as, or even more than you. And life would be easier, and time would be breezier, If, you love your neighbor. We all know there is ideal happiness above, Which arises from the presence of brotherly love. So if of the joys of heaven you’ll like to partake, This is an example you should strive to emulate. Resist all temptations and refrain from strife, And try to lead a noble and an upright life. And you must learn, to make the best of what you earn, And strictly learn to leave your brother’s property alone. And life would be easier, and times would be breezier, If, you love your neighbor. The verses continue: https://youtube/watch?v=ZKNOfOrO8aY
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 11:56:55 +0000