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Mark Shepard Sings

A Life In Song: 4 Decades of Original Music

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March 18, 2015 · Christmas, Empowerment Songs, inspirational songs, Life In Song 2000's, Seasonal Songs, Songs of Transformation

323 Children of the Drum


DEK collage 72 horiz cropAbout this song: (lyrics below)

Every year at Christmas time I would ask for a drum.

Every single year…

However, my mom was a 2nd grade teacher. So every year she intercepted my urgent letters to Santa Claus asking for a drum. There was no way she was going to come home after a long day dealing with noisy kids and listen to me bang!

So she expertly “sold” me on learning to play the flute (“because they need fifes in the fife and drum corps”), then the piano (Because “you know Mark, the piano is a percussion instrument! See all those hammers in there? They are banging on those strings…”) then guitar, (“Mark your father has a guitar sitting unplayed in his closet. Go get it and learn how to play it. After all son, the guitar is a RHYTHM instrument”), then French Horn (“Mark they have plenty of drummers in the band but they NEED French horns!)…

And so I learned to p57408413.CRW_3835lay the flute and the piano and the guitar and the French horn…

It wasn’t until I was in my mid thirties that my son Andrew (8 at the time) ended up in an after school program on African Drumming… After picking him up from school one day I asked the teacher if I could join the class!

To make a long story short, I apprenticed myself to an incredible African drummer named Kevin (Kazi) Oliver…

Soon I became OBSESSED. I lived and breathed drumming so intensely that I began to carve my own HUGE drums out of Sycamore logs and writing songs on the drum and added storytelling… eventually I started doing my drumming and storytelling programs for elementary, middle and high schools all over New England and the Hudson Valley…

of course there’s a lot more to THAT story which I’ll share another time…

Dedicated to my friend Kevin (Kazi) Oliver.

Children of the Drum

Song #323   |  11/27/01, 9/27/02   |  CD: Thirsty For The Sky

He was born in Trenton NJ , where the boom-box ruled in the streets
He was born in Trenton, NJ , But he lived for an older beat
Kevin wanted a drum for Christmas, Kevin wanted a drum,
Kevin wanted a drum for Christmas, Kevin wanted a drum

I was born in suburbia just, wondering what I was worthy of
I was born in suburbia, with a passionate rhythm love
I just wanted a drum for Christmas, I just wanted a drum
I just wanted a drum for Christmas, I just wanted a drum

Refrain:
Play on my brother, Play on my friend
Play on my brother, We are brothers of the drum

Kevin joined the marines for music. They said he could march in the band
Kevin joined the marines for music, But they put a gun in his hand
I got a job just to pay the rent and, Soon I felt like a rat in a race
I got a job just to pay the rent but, My dream still showed on my face

Refrain:

Life somehow brought us both together to the beat of an African drum
Life somehow brought us both together 2 souls playing as one
Sometimes it takes a while to live the dreams you had as a kid
Sometimes it takes a while to live, but aren’t you glad that you did…

Last Refrain:
Play on my brothers. Play on my friends
Play on my sisters. We are Children of the Drum

Kevin wanted a drum for Christmas, Kevin wanted a drum
I just wanted a drum for Christmas, I just wanted a drum…

Copyright 2001-2015 by Mark Shepard. All Rights Reserved. ASCAP

Comments or Questions? Click Here (I read and respond to every one)!

Filed Under: Christmas, Empowerment Songs, inspirational songs, Life In Song 2000's, Seasonal Songs, Songs of Transformation

Previous Post: « 321 Spirit In A Body
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Some reviews & testimonials

Never fails to move me…

Your incredible music never fails to move me. Thank you, Mark.

Paula

Total awesomeness!!!

‘Let’s Run’ is MY FAVORITE so far.. I LOVE THIS ONE.. great job.. total awesomeness!!! I thank Jana Stanfield for introducing me to your gifts. I am grateful.

Merril

Enjoying your songs so much…

Hello Mark. I am enjoying your songs so much! I’d love to see you play live somewhere.

Marianne

I loved the song and listened to it 3 times….

Hi Mark, I just had to tell you this. I emailed my 3 granddaughters the song you wrote who are sisters with the youngest being 11 years old, has cerebral palsy and is very smart, is able to talk, very funny, uses a computer, is able to write, now is learning to play drums, emails me ‘Thanks. I do.’ I loved the song and listened to it 3 times.

Gail Russ

Love your lyrics!

Love your music! Love your lyrics!

Robin Bridgeford

Brilliant!

Brilliant! I LOVE seeing the words to all these beloved songs, thanks!

Mary F.

They love (your song) and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

My name is Cecile. I teach kindergarten at OMSD. I had the pleasure of using your song Together We Can Change The World to help my students make a difference in this wonderful world! They love it and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

Cecile Arvizo

Been singing the chorus since the first day I heard it…

I sh*t you not when I say I’ve been singing the chorus to Honest Rock since the first day I heard it. I sing this every single day. Many times a day. Seriously. It’s like a mantra to me. It soothes me:-)

Gene Moore

You write some great songs!

Hi Mark, You write some great songs! I really enjoyed listening to all of them on Spark and Flame. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the good work! All the best.

Susan

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album…

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album. I hear so many different influences and styles woven throughout the songs, really keeps it interesting from start to finish!

Dan Z

I Love listening to all your songs…

Mark, you really are an amazing songwriter! I Love listening to all your songs and sitting in the creative aura they create!

Cheri

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred…

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred and dear as a faith community.

Gina Sullivan, Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph

Your song was just perfect to start my day…

Mark, your song ‘Freedom (It’s Been  Long Road)’ was just perfect to start my day. I LOVE IT!  Thank you, Thank you.  Blessings to you and much gratitude for your musical gift.

Judy

You have put a grown man in tears…

Mark, this song and message really hit home for me today. You have put a grown man in tears. Thank You for what you do. Sometimes I think you sound kind of cheesy, and then others, I think you are a genius, and I’m beginning to realize that you actually care about helping people. So hard to “get out of your own way” sometimes…thanks for the reminder.

Jeremy

For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love…

Dear Mark, THANK YOU for sending *Spark & Flame*!!!! This CD certainly is a compilation of Conscious Love Songs! As I listen I am transported to memory after memory past, present and future, fulfilled and unfulfilled. I was flooded with many different emotions. I cried, laughed, held my breath and also breathed deep heart-centered breaths of connection to the Divine. I feel joy, grief, sadness, compassion, love, awe, freedom, kindness, gratitude and appreciation. For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love, releasing, acceptance for what was, what is and who I am. Knowing that I am enough and that I am Divinely Loved.

J

Just awesome…

Your music is taking over my life and it’s awesome!

Eric

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