Wandering Soul Tribute HJD 12/31/43 - 10/12/97

 

"Wandering Soul -

In this magic hour of softening light

The moments in between the day and the night

The instant when all shadows disappear

The distance in between the love and the fear

There's a longing deep within the wandering soul

It's like the half that understands it once was whole

Like the two who only dream of being one

Like the moon who's only light is in the sun

There's a danger in forever looking outside

You start to believe that all your prayers have been denied

And you'll forget the sound of your own name

Thus begins the suffering and the pain

I wanted an answer, I wanted a way

I wanna know just what to do and what to say

I wanted a reason, I wanna know why

Can there never be heaven right here on earth and peace inside

Inside my heart, deep in my soul

Within each part, and in the whole

There's a promise in the journeys of the mind

You begin to believe that there are miracles you will find

And that someday you'll remember who you are

The seed within a bright and shining star

It's like a flame that lives within a hungering heart

That only awaits the gift of love for it to spark

Into a fire that burns forever, endlessly

Like the river that can't help but meet the sea

In this magic hour between the dark and the dawn

In the space between the silence and the song

Suddenly the mystery is clear

That love is only letting go of fear

Love is the answer, love is the way

Love is in knowing just what to do and what to say

Love is the reason, and love is the why

And love is in heaven right here on Earth and peace inside

Inside your heart, deep in your soul

Within each part, and in the whole

Love is the answer, love is the way

Love is in knowing just what to do and what to say

Love is the reason, love is the why

And love is in heaven right here on Earth and peace inside."

-John Denver

1994 - Love Is The Answer - Windstar Note

“I wrote these words during one of the darkest times in my life. I believe them now more than ever. During the past several months, my wandering soul has taken me to some of the most varied places on Earth.

This Spring, I had the opportunity to be one of the first entertainers to appear in concert in Vietnam since the war.

Everywhere I go I see the need for love. So many places need healing, so many hearts are broken; and yet more than ever, I am inspired by the capacity of the human spirit to transcend grief and sorrow, to believe the world, in fact, can be a better place.

The people of Vietnam, with the incredible warmth and friendliness I experienced from them, seem to me to exemplify that spirit.

It is hard to maintain that perspective amid the tragedies through the world... and yet we must.

One of the ways to keep love alive is to stay in touch with the natural environment- the wild living places on Earth. Some of the places where Love is most difficult to find are those places where the forests are gone, the birds no longer sing, the waters are poisoned, and the skies are brown with the effects of human pollution.

Wild Place

We must protect the remaining wild places and restore others. Much of this good work is underway. I applaud and encourage those of you who are involved. All of these special wild places are part of Mother Earth.

This thought came to me with a feeling of tender appreciation this past May on Mother’s Day. I was thinking about what motherhood means. Mothers epitomize ‘always being there’. I happened to be in Hawaii at the time of these thoughts - in one of the most beautiful, nourishing places I know.

Maui waterfall

Under natural waterfalls, I felt completely overwhelmed by a feeling of love from within. So then I wrote a song called “Mom’s Place” - about that place I go to know that I am loved. Mother Earth is the place from which there comes a constant, unrelenting ability to nurture. She is the life force that sustains us all.

Windstar Conservancy Land

Windstar remains committed to caring for Mother Earth and the health of the human family. I invite you to join me for this year’s Choices for the Future Symposium in Aspen at the wonderful music festival tent in the glorious Rocky Mountains.

And, while you’re here, take the time to get to some of the nearby wild places. Be sure to spend time outside and get a sense of nature.

Maroon Bells

Your heart will sing and your body will know the wisdom of the peace and love that come from nature. And you will know that you are in “Mom’s Place” and you are loved.”

Peace!

John Denver