Teaching Justice Through Children’s Music

Teaching children the values that lead to empathy, caring and compassion through music.

Jeanne Torrence Finley June 27, 2017

Hugworks Children's Network website home page, a cartoon beach scene with a large bee reclining in beach chair.

Like many who care about peace and justice, I’ve often pondered how children can be nurtured in the values that lead them to have a social conscience. Recently I found an answer in a surprising place—in music for hospitalized children produced by the Hugworks Children’s Network (HCN), a project of the nonprofit KidLinks. This music not only helps children cope with illness and difficult circumstances, its messages can help any child develop a hunger for justice.

Hugworks was founded over 30 years ago by Jim Newton, who is a clergy member of the Central Texas Conference. After seminary, Newton became an itinerant singer/songwriter whose main audience was youth groups and campus ministries, but that changed after he sang in a children’s hospital and discovered the power music has to make a difference for children who are hospitalized or have special needs.

We take the gospel message and translate it into everyday language that is available to everyone, regardless of whether they have our particular take on theology or spirituality or whether they have none.

Jim Newton

With input from child life specialists, medical staff, kids and their families, he and his partner in this project, Paul Hill, began to write music that helped children develop self-esteem, express feelings, cope with loss, value friendship and diversity, learn cooperation and teamwork, and respect others. When Newton recorded his first CD he invited Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, and Mary) to be producer and third partner. Although CDs of Hugworks music are available for purchase, all of them (now over 120) and some with animations are available online at www.hugworkschildrensnetwork.com.

Because of hospital requirements and because Newton, Hill, and Stookey want to reach the widest possible audience, these songs speak of love of neighbor without using religious language. Newton says, “We take the gospel message and translate it into everyday language that is available to everyone, regardless of whether they have our particular take on theology or spirituality or whether they have none.”

Newton affirms that the messages in KidLinks’ songs on Hugworks Children’s Network reach far beyond the specific needs of hospitalized kids and their families. He says, “Our songs are all about caring and that has benefits interpersonally within families and friendship groups, but it also has benefits nationally and globally.”

As I’ve been listening to these songs, I hear in them values that lead to empathy, caring, and compassion — qualities that are precursors of a social conscience.

Just One (You Never Know)

Some songs, such as Just One encourage cooperation and teamwork:

I found a block, made of wood
Just one block is not much good
No, you can’t do much with one it’s true
One more one and then there’s two
Twice as many as before
A couple more and then there’s four

If we can only keep this going
The number will just keep on growing
And there’s just no way of knowing
What that one might become

Maybe a tower as tall as you
Or a castle for your teddy bear
Just one block and a whole lot more
Could build a bridge from here to there
…Oh, you never know
…Oh, you never know

[instrumental]

Bridge:
Just one voice can sing a song
But when others sing along
We can take our voices higher
Suddenly we’ve got a choir

I said one word
One kind word
“Not much can come from that,” I heard.
No, you can’t say much with one, it’s true…
But one more one and then there’s two
Twice as many as before
A couple more and then there’s four

If we can only keep this going
The number will just keep on growing
And there’s just no way of knowing
What that one might become

Maybe a call just to say hello
Or a talk with a troubled friend
One kind word and a whole lot more
Might pave the way for peace again
…Oh, you never know
…Oh, you never know
…Oh, you never know

Like Brand New

Like Brand New not only encourages cooperation but also care for the earth.

Let’s fix up this old house, this old house, this old house
Let’s fix up this old house and make it like brand new
It may take a little time. There’s just so much to do.
We may need a little help, but let’s begin with me and you
Let’s fix up this old house and make it like brand new.

This old house ain’t perfect but it’s beautiful to me.
This old house is still my home. There’s no place I’d rather be.
And we can make it even better if we each will do our part.
Let’s not wait another day to start.

Let’s fix up this old house, this old house, this old house.
Let’s fix up this old house and make it like brand new.

Replace the broken window pane, repair the roof, unclog the drain.
Let’s paint the door and when it’s dried we’ll hang a welcome sign outside.

This old world ain’t perfect but it’s beautiful to me.
This old world is still my home.
There’s no place I rather be.
And we can make it even better if we each will do our part.
Let’s not wait another day to start.

Let’s fix up this old world, this old world, this old world.
Let’s fix up this old world and make it like brand new.
It may take a little time. There’s just so much to do.
We may need a little help, but let’s begin with me and you.
Let’s fix up this old world and make it like brand new.

Earth Is Our Home

Earth Is Our Home teaches care of the earth.

Take a little time this morning
Just to watch the rising sun
Listen to the quietness
Before the day’s begun
Let your heart be calm
And see with eyes brand new
The beauty that this world holds for you

Chorus:
This earth is our home, treat it with care
The land, the plants, the water and the air
Oceans, the mountains, creatures great and small
This earth is our home, one and all
Now it’s time to take some time
To plan for future days
And pledge ourselves to seeing
That the beauty always stays
Let our hearts be strong
And let our deeds give birth
To protecting all the beauty of this earth

Chorus

Take a little time this evening
Just to watch the fading light
Taste the coolness of the air
And listen to the night
Let your heart be calm
And see with eyes brand new
The beauty that this world holds for you

Chorus

Wouldn’t It?

Wouldn’t It celebrates diversity and friendship.

Blue’s the color I like best
Except, of course, for all the rest
Orange, yellow, red and green
And all the others in between

Wouldn’t it be a shame if all the colors were the same?
It wouldn’t be very fun if there were only one

I like chocolate ice cream best
Except, of course, for all the rest
Vanilla, peach and bubble gum
Strawberry, cherry, grape and plum

Wouldn’t it be a shame if all the flavors were the same?
It wouldn’t be very fun if there were only one

Fall’s the season I like best
Except, of course, for all the rest
Summer sun and Winter snow
And Spring when all the flowers grow

Wouldn’t it be a shame if all the seasons were the same?
It wouldn’t be very fun if there were only one

You’re the friend that I like best
Except, of course, for all the rest
And when all is said and done
We could be friends with everyone

Wouldn’t it be a shame if we were all the same?

Wouldn’t it?