The Wedding Song (There is Love)

"The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" is a popular song, written and recorded in 1971 by Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary and first performed at the wedding of Peter Yarrow. The song was featured on Stookey's first solo album, "Paul and...", in 1971, and was moderately successful as a single. This song is a celebration of the love felt by a newly married couple and the joy of knowing that God is present in their union:

:"He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts. ... The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain, for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name, there is love." In an article for Guideposts Magazine, Stookey wrote that the song came through him originally in the first person, Jesus speaking through him ("I am now to be among you/At the calling of your hearts/Rest assured this troubador/Is acting on My part"). The "troubador" was, of course, Stookey. However, Stookey felt that people might misunderstand, might consider him arrogant or they might be confused, so he, with God's permission, he felt, changed the lyrics.

"The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" has become a radio airplay favorite and a wedding standard, and has been recorded by many other artists over the years. Petula Clark had a minor pop and adult contemporary chart hit with her 1972 cover, as did Mary MacGregor in 1978. The Captain & Tennille also covered the song for their 1976 album "Song of Joy"; it was to have been the album's fourth single after the top-five hits "Lonely Night (Angel Face)," "Shop Around", and "Muskrat Love," but the release of the single was cancelled.fact|date=July 2008 Bradley Joseph also arranged an instrumental cover version on his 2006 album, "Piano Love Songs".

Paul Stookey created a charity organization called The Public Domain Foundation to receive the royalties from "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" and distribute them to charity. The organization's web site states that it has donated over $1.5 million.

External links

* [http://pdfoundation.org/ The Public Domain Foundation]