Why? (The King of Love is Dead)

"Why? The King of Love is Dead", Nina Simone's tribute to the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. inspired me to create mini-Valentines to send words of love. These are on their way.

Techniques Used:
Stamped images embossed with clear embossing powder then colored with various inks. Glue glitter rims the edges. Small heart brads added as accents. Quotes cut from small book of love.

National Public Radio provides more information about the first performance of the song.

why? (the king of love is dead)
by Gene Taylor
recorded by Nina Simone, 1967

Once upon this planet earth,
Lived a man of humble birth,
Preaching love and freedom for his fellow man,

He was dreaming of a day,
Peace would come to earth to stay,
And he spread this message all across the land.

Turn the other cheek he'd bleed,
Love thy neighbor was his creed,
Pain humiliation death, he did not dread

With his Bible at his side,
From his foes he did not hide,
It's hard to think that this great man is dead.

Will the murders never cease,
Are they men or are they beasts?
What do they ever hope, ever hope to gain?

Will my country fall, stand or fall?
Is it too late for us all?
And did Martin Luther King just die in vain?

Cause he'd seen the mountaintop,
And he knew he could not stop,
Always living with the threat of death ahead.

Folks you'd better stop and think
Cause we're headed for the brink
What will happen now that he is dead?

He was for equality,
For all people you and me,
Full of love and good will, hate was not his way.

He was not a violent man.
Tell me folks if you can,
Just why, why was he shot down the other day?

Well see
he'd seen the mountaintop
And he knew he could not stop
Always living with the threat of death ahead

Folks you'd better stop and think
and feel again
because we're headed for the brink
What's gonna happen
now that the King of love is dead?