Kathy lives in San Leandro, CA in a commune and is the mother of Michael (1970-1982), Melanie (1972) and twins Nicolas and Cassandra (1985). Her primary life partner Dean Dierschow (familiar as her most devoted roadie) lives there with her in a wonderful ongoing courtship. She was very involved in the antiwar movement in the sixties and sang in Kansas City for the first Moratorium. She has appeared as filk GOH at almost every filk convention and many regular SF conventions as well.
Pegasus Awards
* 1989 - Best Filk Song - Arafel's Song (Tree of Swords & Jewels) (With Mercedes Lackey)
* 1989 - Best Writer/Composer
* 1991 - Best Love Song - Velveteen
* 1993 - Best Writer/Composer
* 1994 - Best Filk Song - Drink Up the River
* 1996 - Best Filk Song - When Giants Walked
* 2004 - Best Writer/Composer
Albums
* Songbird - Off Centaur (cassette OCP-??) 1982
* On a Bright Wind - Off Centaur (cassette OCP-??) 1984
* Bamboo Wind - Off Centaur (cassette OCP-54) 1985
* Plus Ca Change - Thor Records (cassette FK1003) 1988
* Plus C'est La Mme Chose - Thor Records (cassette FK1006) 1990
* Made By Magic - with Zander Nyrond, Dandelion Digital CD DD-005CD, 1994
* My Favorite Sings - Prometheus Music CD, 1999
* Plus Ca Change / Plus C'est La Mme Chose - DragonsGate Music CD 2000
Behold
Kathy Mar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take all your newborn children out beyond the city blaze
And raise your children overhead to sable skies above
Present them to the universe, and say to them with love:
Chorus: Behold, my child, the only thing that's greater than you are
The sable field of distant space, afire with every star
Behold it in humility, but never lose your way
There is no greater goal for them than swimming seas of space
I hope that, for the future's sake, they grow in truth and grace
Remembering the lessons learned on this poor misused earth
To be the stewards to the stars and the planet of their birth
Words and music: Kathy Mar
Copyright 1982 Kathy Mar
The lyrics to Kathy Mar's song Behold reflect a powerful message about the importance of intergenerational connection and cosmic humility. In the first two lines, Mar references the tribal ritual of presenting newborn children to the universe, a tradition that has been passed down for generations. In this ritual, the community takes the children beyond the city blaze and holds them up to the sable skies above, offering them to the universe with love.
The chorus of the song contains the most poignant message, with the lines "Behold, my child, the only thing that's greater than you are / The sable field of distant space, afire with every star." Here, Mar encourages parents to teach their children to approach the vastness of space with humility, acknowledging the power and mystery that lies beyond our planet. At the same time, she also encourages children to work towards exploring and understanding the universe, with the line "You'll walk upon that sable field of distant stars one day."
The final verse of the song emphasizes the importance of stewardship, reminding children that their ultimate goal should be to become responsible caretakers of both the stars and the planet they call home. "Remembering the lessons learned on this poor misused earth / To be the stewards to the stars and the planet of their birth" conveys the idea that our understanding of the universe and the connections we make across generations can inspire us to take care of both our own planet and the wider cosmos.
Overall, Behold is a moving call to action for parents and children alike, urging us to connect more deeply across generations and to approach the universe with both humility and awe.
Line by Line Meaning
As in the tribal ritual passed down from ancient days
Similar to a ceremonial routine that has been handed down from generation to generation among tribes since olden times.
Take all your newborn children out beyond the city blaze
Take all children out of the city, beyond its reach and boundaries, after they are born.
And raise your children overhead to sable skies above
Lift your children overhead, looking up to the black night skies.
Present them to the universe, and say to them with love:
Introduce your children to the universe and express your affection towards them.
Behold, my child, the only thing that's greater than you are
See, my child, the only thing that surpasses you is the vast and infinite universe.
The sable field of distant space, afire with every star
The sable or black field of space, far away, but shining and brightened by numerous stars.
Behold it in humility, but never lose your way
See it with modesty, never losing your path or guidance.
You'll walk upon that sable field of distant stars one day
One day, you will journey and step on the black sky, among numerous distant stars.
There is no greater goal for them than swimming seas of space
There is no grander objective for children than exploring and venturing through the vast space.
I hope that, for the future's sake, they grow in truth and grace
I wish that, for the sake of future generations, they mature and develop with honesty and poise.
Remembering the lessons learned on this poor misused earth
They must acknowledge and bear in mind the teachings they have learnt on this planet, which is misused and abused by humans.
To be the stewards to the stars and the planet of their birth
To become guardians of the stars and the planet where they were born.
Contributed by Alexandra M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.