Pete Yarrow graduated from New York City's High School of Music and Art, now called LaGuardia High School. His singing career began after graduating from Cornell University, in 1959.[1] Soon, Yarrow met Noel "Paul" Stookey and Mary Travers in New York City's Greenwich Village, center of the mid-20th century American folk music revival. By 1962, Warner Bros. Records released the trio's first album, the eponymous Peter, Paul & Mary. The album remained in the Top Ten for ten months, in the Top Twenty for two years, and sold more than two million copies. The group has toured extensively and recorded numerous albums, both live and in the studio. In October of 1969, Yarrow married Mary Beth McCarthy. He has two adult children. In 2000, he founded Operation Respect.
On behalf of Operation Respect, Yarrow has appeared, pro bono, in areas as diverse as Hong Kong, Vietnam, Bermuda, Croatia, South Africa, Egypt, Argentina, and Canada. In all, the program has been presented to many educational leaders and more than 10 million children. In some form, the project has reached nearly 1/3 of all elementary and middle schools in America, at least 20,000 schools, in all.
In 2003, a Congressional resolution recognized the Yarrow's achievements and those of Operation Respect. The Congressional Caucus gave him a standing ovation.[2] In August 2006, he met with representatives of 35 organizations, including the League of Cities, the Academy of Education, Americans for the Arts, and Newspapers in Education, to unite them in a commitment to “...shifting the American educational paradigm, to educating the whole child, not just in academics, but in character, heart, social-emotional development. As we Jews say, `let him be a mensch first; everything else will work out'".
Yarrow has appeared as a performer on 61 various albums, including his daughter Bethany's 2003 CD, Rock Island.
Weave Me The Sunshine
Peter Yarrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shine on me again
They say it grows on the bank of the river of suffering
Shine on me again, and
[Chorus:]
Weave, weave, weave me the sunshine out of the falling rain
Weave me the hope of a new tomorrow, fill my cup again
If only I could heal your sorrow
I'd help you to find your new tomorrow
Shine on me again
[Chorus]
I've seen the steel and the concrete crumble
Shine on me again
The proud and the mighty all have stumbled
Shine on me again
[Chorus]
Only you can climb that mountain
Shine on me again
If you want a drink from the golden fountain
Shine on me again
[Chorus]
Peter Yarrow's song Weave Me The Sunshine is a call to hope and a beacon of light in times of darkness. The opening lines introduce the tree of loving, a metaphorical image that implies the possibility of love and hope growing even in the most difficult times, like a tree that grows on the bank of a river of suffering. The repeated request for the sunshine to shine on the singer again reinforces the need for hope and light in times of hardship.
The chorus is a hopeful plea for the weaving of a better future, one that is full of sun and free of sorrow. The metaphor of weaving is powerful, as it suggests the possibility of creating something new out of something old and broken. The falling rain represents the struggles and challenges that life can bring, but the hope of a new tomorrow, represented by the sun, can be woven from these challenges and difficulties.
The second stanza reinforces this message of hope by acknowledging the crumbling of steel and concrete, which represents the breakdown of traditional societal structures and power structures. The powerful and the mighty, who may have been thought to be invincible, have stumbled, showing that no one is immune to the difficulties that life can bring. Once again, the plea is made for the sunshine to shine on the singer.
The final stanza is a call to action, a reminder that we must all take responsibility for creating the future we want. Only we can climb the mountain and reach the golden fountain of a better future. Once again, the singer asks for the sunshine to shine on them, reinforcing the need for hope and the possibility of staying optimistic and resilient in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that the tree of loving
There is a belief that love can grow and exist like a tree
Shine on me again
May positivity and happiness come into my life once more
They say it grows on the bank of the river of suffering
Love may flourish in difficult times
[Chorus:]
A repeating chorus that emphasizes the desire for hope and positivity
Weave, weave, weave me the sunshine out of the falling rain
Create something bright and positive out of something negative and dreary
Weave me the hope of a new tomorrow, fill my cup again
Bring me hope and positivity for the future, rejuvenate me
If only I could heal your sorrow
Expressing a desire to help someone find happiness and positivity
I'd help you to find your new tomorrow
A willingness to support someone in finding a brighter future
[Chorus]
Repeating the refrain of the song, emphasizing its message
I've seen the steel and the concrete crumble
Even structures that seem strong and permanent may fall apart
The proud and the mighty all have stumbled
No one is invincible, everyone faces hardship
[Chorus]
Reiterating the need for positivity and hope in the face of adversity
Only you can climb that mountain
The individual alone is responsible for overcoming challenges in their life
If you want a drink from the golden fountain
If you desire something positive and beneficial, you must actively pursue it
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus to continue emphasizing its message
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER YARROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind