Wedding Song (There Is Love)

Paul Stookey

      Paul Stookey, of the Folk band Peter, Paul and Mary wrote the above tune for the marriage of his friend and fellow troubadour, Peter Yarrow.  Inspired by the biblical verse of Matthew 18:20, he was the best man at the wedding.
     Shortly after his Christian conversion, Stookey was asked by Yarrow to "...bless our wedding with a song". According to Stookey "the melody and the words [of "Wedding Song"] arrived simultaneously and in response to a direct prayer asking God how the divine could be present at Peter’s wedding." Drawing almost word for word from the bible passage Matthew 18:20, the original lyric is "I am now to be among you at the calling of your hearts; rest assured this troubadour is acting on My part. The union of your spirits here has caused Me to remain for whenever two or more of you are gathered in My name, There am I...There is Love." Concerned that guests at the wedding might misinterpret his intention, "I" was changed to "He", in both recorded and performed versions until 1990 when the original lyric was 'officially' restored.

Couple Praying Before The Wedding