Obscure Musical Lyric for the week of January 5, 2009

Good morning music fans and "welcome back my friends to the show that never ends" at least until I retire which won't be any time soon. I had a great two weeks off celebrating Christmas and the New year with family and friends. I took time to rest, relax and just be. It was good. I trust you all had a pleasant Christmas and may the New Year bring you peace, joy, good health and happiness.

I'm going to have several themes this year with the obscure lyric thing, probably on a monthly basis. For the month of January I'm planning on looking at the themes that I have wished for you and my family: peace, joy, good health and happiness. The world is in a bleak state and peace can be achieved if we choose to achieve it. It must start with me, not with me expecting someone else to start. I must defer to others, I'm not talking about being a doormat, though.

Here is this weeks lyric:

Oh you know you've got to find a way

to bring some understanding here today

picket lines and picket signs

don't punish me with brutality

The song was chosen by Rolling Stone as one of the top 100 songs ever. The song was released in 1971, yes I know it's old, but it is timeless. It speaks of the singers and writers plea for peace both on the world stage and the personal stage at home. The singer (who was also given co-writer status even though he did not write it) has left us tragically. The singer was quoted as saying, "If I was arguing for peace, I knew I'd have to find peace in my heart".

I would like to know the following:

The name of the song:
The singer:
The writers of the song:
The label it was first released on:

Have a great week, may this start to the New Year bring about opportunities for peace and may that peace start with each one of us individually. I'll try to bring some hints on Wednesday.

Happy New Year