The Clarks record Elvis Costello/Nick Lowe classic for Tree of Life fund
The Clarks, one of Pittsburgh’s most popular bands, have responded to the tragedy at Tree of Life synagogue by recording a cover of “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding,” the powerful Nick Lowe song, made famous by Elvis Costello in 1978, that pleads for harmony in “troubled times.”
All proceeds from the sales of the single, which is available on streaming services, will go to Tree of Life synagogue.
“Always loved [the song] ... both the Brinsley Schwarz version [Lowe’s former band] and the Elvis version,” says Clarks guitarist Rob James. “We’d been playing it at live shows starting the middle of this past summer, inspired, unfortunately by how horribly people have been treating one another. It seemed to take on a new light in the darkness of insanity that thundered at all of us with the tragedy of the shooting.”
The Clarks began working on it on Oct. 30, three days after the shooting, at The Church Recording Studio with producer Dave Hidek, and had a final mix by Sunday morning, mastered by Garrett Haines at Treelady studios. Chris Preksta was happy to let them use his artwork.
The song was sent to their management in New York City early Monday.
“They appealed to the various digital outlets to expedite the upload with no guarantees that it happen before the end of this week and might even take as long as early next week to post,” says Mr. James. “To our surprise, it appeared almost everywhere by late afternoon [Nov. 6]. Less than a week.”
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Costello’s cover as the 284th best song of all time. That same year, it was used as part of the allstar jam on the Vote for Change tour.
‘(WHAT’S SO FUNNY ‘BOUT) PEACE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING’
As I walk through This wicked world Searchin’ for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
And each time I feel like this inside,
There’s one thing I wanna know:
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding?
And as I walked on Through troubled times My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong And who are the trusted? And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony. ‘cause each time I feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding?
So where are the strong? And who are the trusted? And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony. ‘cause each time I feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding?