The appearance of Martin Sheen on Saturday's show and especially his rendition of "How Can I Keep From Singing" (Listen) brought in a number of letters from listeners. Anna wrote: "I was driving home through the beautiful rolling hills in Northwestern Illinois and when Martin Sheen chanted the hymn of lamentations, I was profoundly moved and had to park off the roadway to assimilate this extremely moving moment. He honored the people of Burma and their struggles and made us all aware through his song to value freedom and those who are dying to fight for theirs."
And Anne G. wrote: "I was truly moved by his hymn singing and his dedication to the cause of peace."
Ruth O. wrote: "It was so nice to hear Martin Sheen tell his story, and how he got started in social justice. I was moved to tears by his heartfelt singing of that beautiful hymn."
And Peggy P. up in British Columbia wrote: "I heard Martin Sheen singing 'I Cannot Keep From Singing' on your show and was transfixed. It had such a haunting beauty, and his singing had such a honest simplicity, it was a perfect match (especially not being overpowered by musical accompaniment). I was so happy to listen to the rebroadcast to hear his heart-stirring rendition again."
It certainly was a stirring moment. There was a torrent of applause and then Maria Jette came onstage with tears in her eyes afterward to sing her song, and so we had to exchange a few inane remarks, and I had to remind myself NOT to say that I was frankly a little sick of the song having heard Martin rehearse it sixty times that afternoon in his dressing room. He is a great guy, though, and I was glad for him having that big moment. Of course when a megastar like him comes on the show, it's our obligation to harass him a little and make fun of his hair and write dumb stuff for him to do ("Captain Ahab don't want rehab") but in the end Mr. Sheen shone and bravo for him.
Dear Mr. Keilor,
I want you to know that I cannot get Martin Sheen's moving solo performance out of my head. It reminded me that those of us who came of age in the '60's were supposed to make the world a better place - considering the shape the world is in at the moment it is clear there are ample opportunities to renew our dedication to that task.
Gratefully yours,
Mical K. Buck
Hesperia, Ca.
Posted by Mical K. Buck | October 2, 2007 10:47 AM
Dear Mr. Keillor,
The inspiring words sung by Mr. Sheen differ very substantially from those in the hymn books. I shall transcribe them, although you might consider putting them on the show's page, and I should like to know who wrote them.
Thank you.
David Gray, Concord, Massachusetts
Posted by David Gray | October 2, 2007 4:03 PM
Fantastic! As Shean sang this grand old hymn from the Moody & Sankey Hymnal I was moved to tears. Lovely!
Forest McNeir
Gretna, Louisiana
Posted by Forest McNeir | October 2, 2007 6:13 PM
Martin Sheen reminded us fellow Catholics that the main role of our religion in daily life is social justice. How can each of us contribute? This hymm continue to roll in my head and makes us want to move to action. How can we get a copy of this to forward to others?
Posted by Byron | October 4, 2007 3:04 PM
Mr. Sheen has a wonderful Irish tenor voice, saved for public airing of an old hymn at the perfect moment. By the second stanza, it had the unexpected power of a mother lifting the full weight of a Ford Explorer from the chest of her beloved child. Sublime.
Posted by Jay Moor | October 5, 2007 4:08 PM
I have listened and appreciated "A Prairie Home Companion" for so many years and have repeatedly have been entertained, amused & had my thoughts provoked.
While the show and Garrison has touched my soul over the years, Mr Sheen's simple song of support for his fellow man simply took it to place I have not achieved with a life of christian parochial schooling ever thought it could go.
I hit the internet and learned more about the situation in Burma than a man learns when he has just been diagnosed with a terminal disease....all of a sudden the immediacy of this and other domestic & Global situations hit me like Truman said when Roosevelt died "I don't know if any of you ever had a load of Hay fall on you, but that's how I feel..."
Thank You!
George
Posted by George Hartung | October 28, 2007 10:39 PM
Mr Keillor
My wife and I have enjoyed Prairie Home Companion for many years. It is a Saturday evening ritual and I could go on and on, but will not. I am writing to say it has been many a year since we have been as moved by a single song, sung by anyone, as we were by Martin Sheen this past (12/29) Saturday evening. He just got better and better as he sang until his marvelous climax.
If there is any way you (and he) could put that out on a CD, perhaps as NPR fundraising promos, or whatever, I believe it would be very well received.
Thanks for all the wonderful Saturday nights. Keep
them coming.
Tom & Marie Guilderson
West Warwick RI
Posted by Tom Guilderson` | December 30, 2007 6:31 PM
Please thank Garrison and Martin Sheen for the moving rendition of "How can I keep from Singing?"
It would be a beautiful dream to have Mr. Sheen's voice, in all it's depth and sincerity, on CD. I wept and my spirit soared again with hope and faith upon hearing the rebroadcast, and I was so gratified someone else recognized the value of this priceless performance. What precious words of faith rendered by a voice of depthless warmth. Utter Americana on behalf of the nations! Martin Sheen, PLEASE make a CD of hymns and songs of this calibre. Profits could go to the cause! Melinda 228-497-5255
Posted by mellinda lemmon | January 27, 2008 11:36 PM