What Sylvia Tyson said

Last night I went to the Estelle Klein tribute at Hugh's Room in Toronto. Estelle, who passed away recently, had been a lifelong supporter of folk, roots and acoustic music in Ontario, a founder of Mariposa, and a friend to musicians everywhere.

A stellar cast of performers and speakers -many of them winners of the Estelle Klein award for contributions to folk music - honoured Estelle's life and gifts in many marvellous ways, and it was a moving thing to be there.

One of the highlights was hearing Sylvia Tyson sing "You Were on My Mind." Such a brilliant song! The first she ever wrote, I believe, and it went on to sell a million copies and is now burned into the collective Canadian consciousness. I heard that song in my cradle, I swear. I challenge anyone to hear it and not sing along.

I took a moment to thank Ms. Tyson for the acceptance speech she had given a couple of weeks ago, when she received the Estelle Klein award herself at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference in Guelph. That simple and profound speech moved me to tears, and I told her so.

What Ms. Tyson said should be required reading for every artist in this country. With a lifetime of commitment to music and to a better world behind her, she's earned the right to tell it like it is, and she does.

Click here to read a copy of the speech in Word format. You'll understand what I mean. Whatever you may think of the recent US election results, or the state of the world in general, know this: truth and beauty and freedom and love and all the music that expresses them are alive, and well, and on the rise.

The world will be a better place for it.