Sutapa Ghosh, my longtime friend who is a film producer and the Founder/Director of the Indian Film Festival of Houston, called one afternoon in 2003, asking, “Do you know a good lyricist?” She was leaving for India the next day to meet with the world-reknown Indian pop singer Sonu Nigam to discuss a music project with him.
I responded that I couldn’t think of one on such short notice, so she said, “How about if you do it?” Little did she know that for many years, I wrote lyrics and parodies for college, women’s groups, and just for fun. She was surprised when I quickly answered “Okay.”
It’s easier for both members of the team when the melody is written first. Sutapa said that Sonu would compose the music after he saw my work. She said that it was a song about peace and she’d need it as soon as possible—preferably in a few hours.
Before sitting down to do my assignment, I took our two dogs for a walk along the bayou to clear my head. I immediately began writing when I returned home. Many of my projects involved trying to bring understanding that would lead to peace, so the words flowed easily. The song was done in about an hour. Had this not been my first attempt, and with such a short deadline, I would have edited the first two lines to improve it, but still, it expressed how I felt.
Before faxing what I had written, I called Sutapa to read her the lyrics. There was complete silence when I finished, leading me think that she didn’t like them. I held my breath until she said, “Wow.”
Sonu composed a beautiful, almost Middle Eastern melody and sang it with a Buddhist chant subtly sung under the chorus. That was the first of 8 songs we eventually wrote together for his first English language album “Spirit Unfolding.” Sutapa produced the CD and famed percussionist Brent Lewis was the co-producer.
The words are as relevant today as they were then—perhaps even more so. We need to heal the divisions that exist and recognize the humanity of each person.
TO BUDDHA’S SHELTER I GO (PEACE)
by Ellen Goldberg and Sonu Nigam
We live with such perils very real
It’s time we reflect upon the ways for us to heal
The world has many problems everywhere
It’s hard to keep our spirits up and easy to despair
Although we speak in different tongues please try to understand
Diversity’s a quality that helps us to expand
Though bound’ries separate us, we share some hopes and dreams
The diff’rence that’s between us is seldom what it seems
(Chorus)
Don’t dwell on what divides us and tears our worlds apart
Let’s tolerate each others’ views, let’s find it in our heart
To learn from one another, the lessons we should teach
Peace could be within our grasp if only we would reach
Each of us has beliefs by which we live
Let’s try to give respect to all and forgive
For kindness is a virtue we should seek
The stranger who’s among us we may meet
Extend the hand of friendship and turn from hate to love
To bring about the vision of the white symbolic dove
Before we change the world my friends, there’s one thing to be done
All of us must change ourselves, the task has just begun
(Chorus)
Don’t dwell on what divides us and tears our worlds apart
Let’s tolerate each others’ views, let’s find it in our heart
To learn from one another, the lessons we should teach
Peace could be within our grasp if only we would reach, If only we would reach
Produced by Sutapa Ghosh
Co-produced by Brent Lewis
Copyright 2003