American Masters

("I Am Willing" by Holly Near) There is a hurting In my family And there is sorrow In my town I was trying to say to myself why is it that we don't have a word for what people like me believe? I was trying to see if I could write about it in a song, and it kind of came down to I'm open and I'm willing. I am open And I am willing Oh to be hopeless Would seem so strange It dishonors Those who go before us So lift me up To the light of change May the children May they see more clearly And may the elders Be more wise I think she managed to say what is the truth, which is the peace movement and the women's movement is the same movement. We share a world view in which human beings are linked rather than ranked. I hope that we can continue to be in her presence while she performs. And I am willing For to be hopeless. For to be hopeless Would seem so strange. Would seem so strange. She's what every American should be. She's true blue. She is what you see. She cares about people, she has tremendous empathy, great integrity, you know, she wanted to stick to her roots and speak from her heart through song. Give me a mighty oak To hold my confusion And give me a desert To hold my fears Give me a sunset To hold my wonder And give me an ocean To hold my tears I am open And I am willing For to be hopeless Would seem so strange It dishonors Those who go before us So lift me up To the light of change (audience applauds)