PEACE AT LEAST - ROTARY CONNECTION (MINNIE RIPERTON)

[JayRemington18]

the song length is 4:20 aha very fiting

[SidBarnes1941]

" the actual line is..."If he gave toe to the kids"

[drummerrearl]

APIECE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR!!!!! 

[wkbbrat]

I think the line is: He's an institution/ We like it like it is/ What would ever happen

If he gave some to the kids!

I may be wrong, but that's what I used to sing & it makes sense to me (we dont want those kids getting high) lol, anyway, it's great to hear this again after so many years... and in the middle of Summer :-)

[hotskel2546]

Respond to this video...  Here's what I always thought the lyrics were. He's an Institution. We like him like he is. What would ever happen if he gave dope to the kids?

[shaywib]

@hotskel2546 I thought it was Who needs an institution? / We like him like he is / What would ever happen / If he gave some to the kids

[gfred611]

I've been smoking mistletoe ever since I heard this song! One of my favorites

[Renaissanceman1000]

This song is available on a rare CD. I purchased the entire album on CD but you can also get this single "Peace at Least" on separate Christmas compilations. Type Peace at Least by Rotary Connection into your search engine and you should find something or some collector. Ciao!

[Renaissanceman1000]

I know the lyrics. The hook says...,He's an institution, we/ they like him like he is...what would ever happen, if he can't talk to the kids?....Those are the lyrics for that part. Let me know if you need more. Basically, the question is, since Santa is such a well known holiday and worldwide institution, we may not want to prevent him from doing what he's done for generations because what would happen if we stopped all the children of the world from greeting and looking forward to Santa Claus?

[Gaylel1]

This is very bittersweet here. This song is one of the underrated songs and is seldom played, es[ecially on R&B formats. Minnie was a phenominal talent. She did not live long enough to see her daughter, who is doing well with her comedy career and a regular on SNL.

[sbussoletti]

Does anyone have the lyrics?

[zosothebelly]

@sbussoletti Could it be "If it gets you - to the tears"? Actually, I don't have the lyrics, but I love this song, and not only for the humorous topic XD

[sbussoletti]

what are the words right after what would ever happen? I can't make them out

[sbussoletti]

what are the words after what would ever happen? I can't make that out

[bd072749]

It's not Christmas at my house until I play this, from 1968 to 2010 and onward

[jmohan23]

"I know why...I know why...the cat is stoned".

"Look at him...I know he's high"

Too bad I only listen to this very-cool song at Christmas time....

Thanks so much for sharing this with everyone!...................Ja­n

[stevieplez2]

Great the way he vocally gyrated the words "he smokes" in such rythmical support of the melody.... that way it got radio play and didn't get banned LOL ... Santa smokes mislte toe and so do I.... LOL LOL LOL

[stevieplez2]

Yo this song is so soulful and powerful it takes me back to when we really felt the christmas spirit with family, the songs today could never give you this feeling that I had when this was out when I was a child ..

[reggie6363]

santa smoking that stuff good love it good vocals minnie is truly missed.

[reggie6363]

love this drug references minnie was great miss the old days love singing this today.

[reggie6363]

@reggie6363 sydney barnes and george clinton was song writing partners in the early 60's for revilot and golden world no surprise both of them joined psychedelic groups

[das255]

I am a rotary connection fan. minnie riperton, shuggie otis, otis redding, patrick adams, yeah!!

[oldiehappy40]

yes hftws, and wearing it out!!! what powerful leads!!!! WOW!!!!

[MsTexas73]

Everyone should have a peace at least once a year! LOL!!!

Just priceless.

[RamonaFromPomona]

With all the distasteful music that has been produced the past few years, this song is a pleasure to listen to.... Merry Christmas..

Santa

[kpitt1204]

I used to live to ehar this at Christmas time. The song was already old, but I loved the voices. As a kid I thought they were saying HE'S SO COLD. I would have never understood that he was STONED.

[sidneybrns]

Does anyone know where I can get rotary connection albums on vinyl. Does anyone know of anyone who is a rotary connection FAN? Please inform.

[hotskel2546]

There's plenty of Rotary Connection vinyl (45's & 331/3) on ebay

[thrclws]

my uncle turned me onto them around 70, and also hawiian buds.....

[EBONYQUEEEN]

@sidneybrns try ebay or amazon

[FettuciniFlipcam]

@sidneybrns I'm a huge Rotary Connection fan. I may actually still have a copy of the Xmas LP still in the plastic, if you might be interested. Contact me thru my youtube account. Am I reading this correct that you are/were on of the members of the band, Sidneybrns? And Minnie Ripperton's brother? Very cool. Love The Rotary's stuff. I have a few albums still around in my vinyl collection.

[hftws]

My pops Sidney Barnes, singing with Auntie Minnie....WOW!!!

[MsMerising]

Always number one come December on our family turntable/iPod. Salud! R.I.P. Perfect Angel :) Mx

[skwidwriter]

Thanks for posting! I have more Rotary Connection on vinyl but haven't heard this one in, literally and I hate to say it, 40 years.

[gfred611]

anyone have the lyrics to this? Great song and my new favorite C'mas tune. I have it now on a RT cd!

[yungwun89]

lol im puffin on that mistletoe right now

[michelle2837]

ah yes santa claus and drugs everybody gets high heh heh

[MsTexas73]

*GRIN*...I'll NEVER be able to see Santa the same way again...LOL!!!

Thanks for posting this one!

[jjjjjjjjjjjggwwej]

i love this so much because the feel of the music and the subject of lyric dont fit at all! but thats what makes it so great!

[LisaHurley]

gives me goosepimples!

[musicdragon75]

This song rules! I get on youtube just to hear them. Minnie especially! And this song is genius, it makes sense! :D

[rodgerbrnx]

I love anything she does!

[krizalid25]

me to!!!!

[rashidland]

... Charles Stepney was a GOD amongst mortals in the music industry ... Rotary Connection & Earth Wind & Fire had the most sophisticated, complex jazz/soul/funk/R&B arrangements in music history ... and the GREAT Mr. Stepney was at the epicenter of BOTH of those legendary bands ... Maurice White was never the same after Mr Stepney passed ... my god, imagine how much greater EWF would have been, had MR Stepney lived past his work on Earth Wind & Fire "Spirit" (their best lp)...

[bob4this]

This is why I love you tube! What great memories.

[yerkeskid]

I heard this song every year around christmas on WDAS-FM in Philly. REmarkable and classic tune!

[phillyroxx]

yessir this is definately a philly classic!!!

thank you so much hotskel2546, since they banned this song It's been over 25 yrs since I heard this tune. Thank god for youtube!

[yerkeskid]

They banned this? Is it because of supposate drug use?

[Damali5610]

phillyroxx is so right - this song used to be played all thru the holidays then it was banned. I just watched Minnie Riperton on Unsung and hearing about Rotary Connection reminded me of this classic tune. Love it

[pcash59]

No doubt Bro. this is definitely Phillyt all the way ,along with the Salsoul christmas.

[stevieplez2]

@phillyroxx WOW is that why I haven't heard this since like 1976

[DaYuMu6ft7]

Sang yall.... Miss you Minnie

[joe6239]

for years @ xmas i have been remembering some of the lyrics of this song. i was going nuts telling people that you have to hear this song from the late 60's and not being able to share it. now i've got it. thank you

[msbadu2003]

Minnie's so underrated

[kpitt1204]

I live to hear this on the radio every Christmas season. Brings back great memories from childhood. For years, I had no idea who sang this song.

[hotskel2546]

Glad you found it and I'm also happy there are others out there that have heard it before.

[babydv]

This is my first time to listen to this song, though I've been Minnie's fan for many years...!

Thank you for posting such a great song!! ;)

Is this song available on CD or DVD?