Rest in Peace, Senator Kennedy

I admired Ted Kennedy so much. I need not add more to the beautiful and heartfelt tributes from this weekend. They stand quite well on their own as a testament to how special he was. I will simply suggest watching this, perfection in performance, a wonderful tribute to the man. Listen to the words, or read them below. It is no wonder that Teddy loved this song, it had so many parallels to his own life story.



Unfortunately, the beginning of the performance is not recorded here. Brian talked about how he and Teddy would greet each other, always singing Broadway show tunes. It somehow does not surprise me that one of my favorite Broadway performers and one of my favorite politicians knew and liked one another.

There are other recordings of Brian Stokes Mitchell singing this song on You Tube, but I don't think any of them can compare with the time and the place and the emotion of this one.

The song, as many people already know, was written by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion for the musical Man of La Mancha.

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star