Lyrics

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Peace Out -- by Judy Sebern Beachy

Over the next few weeks, we will be launching a comprehensive lyrics section, which will span all of the albums Peter Himmelman has released throughout his lengthy, critically acclaimed career. The image to the left was painted by Judy Sebern Beachy for the upcoming Westminster Fine Arts Fall 2005 art show in Des Moines, IA. The topic of the show is: War and Peace, Grace and Reconciliation. Judy chose to focus her artwork on peace; and you will notice that into her painting, she has incorporated lyrics from Peter Himmelman's song Been Set Free. As we prepare to rollout this new area of the site, it seemed fitting to introduce this section with Judy's artwork, her commentary on the painting, and of course, all the lyrics to the song.

About the Painting:

Peace between nations is important to me, but in this chaotic world, I have also been striving to find my own personal peace. War doesn't just happen. Peace doesn't just happen. These are choices which we make. My painting explores how an individual's; or a family's; or a congregation's, or a country's chosen intentions and beliefs will manifest into a given experience. Some may call this "karma." Others might say, "you reap what you sow."

My painting is entitled Peace Out. This is a closing salutation used often by some of my friends.The words in my painting come from a song by Peter Himmelman entitled Been Set Free, the lyrics for which are written below.

-- Judy Sebern Beachy

Editor's Note: For more information on Peter Himmelman and his music, please refer to the home page of this site, http://himmelfans.org, and to http://peterhimmelman.com

Been Set Free
From the album Skin (1994)

I been drivin'
Sixteen hours
This rain is like a metronome
And on my radio
They're talkin' 'bout Jesus
Talkin' all about comin' home
Well I don't know a thing about it
I close my ears and live without it
You can hear too much when you're alone

Like children's voices
And lovers moanin'
Or a dry wind blowin' through a river bed
All these memories
Well they're all wrapped up
Like a ball of yarn inside my head
Now a semi's movin up behind me
It's headlights they all but blind me
But it's funny, for the first time I can see

I have believed in money
But all I got was greed
I have believed in vengeance
But all I did was bleed
I have believed in fame
But fame turned its back on me
If I had only believed in love
I could have been set free

I often wonder
Does it matter
Or is this all a worthless joke
Are we just atoms
Conceived in silence
Awaiting our turn to fly like smoke
I'd do anything to lay beside you
I'd bring you all the things that I denied you
I'd say the words I
Seldom spoke

I have believed in money
But all I got was greed
I have believed in vengeance
But all I did was bleed
I have believed in fame
But fame turned its back on me
If I had only believed in love
If I had only believed in love
If I had only believed in love
I could have been set free