Welcome to an insightful conversation with the remarkable Peg Luke. Today, we’re privileged to explore the depths of her latest release, “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” a composition that transcends the boundaries of mere music, offering solace and serenity in a troubled world. Peg Luke‘s artistry resonates with profound emotion and spiritual depth. Join us as we unravel the inspiration behind her soul-stirring melodies and delve into the spiritual journey that fuels her creativity.
- Congratulations on the release of “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep”! It carries a deeply emotive tone. Could you share the story behind this song and its significance to you?
When I was a little girl growing up in a small Midwestern steel town, I remember my parents coming into my bedroom just before I would fall asleep and we would say this prayer, “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take”. It became one of my staples growing up and I loved praying these special words with my parents each night. The words are straightforward and with our current climate, they ring so true.
- “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” seems to invite listeners into a moment of quiet reflection. Can you speak to the atmosphere and mood you aimed to create with this song?
To me “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” is a bedtime prayer, but honestly, I feel you can put it in your “pocket” and carry it with you throughout the day and “pull it out” when you need some solace, some silence. I think this prayer evokes calm, respite, and peace. This was my sole intention when I composed it.
- How do you feel your latest releases differ from your previous work “Benediction,” both sonically and thematically?
The difference between “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” and my “Benediction” is first found in the message. “Benediction” is based on the well-known John 3:16 scripture, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” and “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” is based on a children’s night time prayer. “Benediction” is more of a statement piece whereas, “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” is more cosmic, more magical. Now, I won’t say that “Benediction” doesn’t have magic associated with it, but it is more direct. “Benediction” presents as more factual. Both tunes are meant to evoke love, positivity, light and stir up your soul, as it were. I feel I have achieved this goal in a special way.
- Were there any specific moments or experiences that served as catalysts for the creation of “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep”?
I feel our current world situation led me to compose “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep”. I find a simple children’s nighttime prayer can be so powerful when looking at the complexities of our world right now. I believe prayer can be a unifier, not a divisive action. I could not think of anything more important at this moment to find a simplistic prayer set to a simple musical melody to create a sense of peace, a sense of wholeness. We all need this in one way or another right now.
- The song’s lyrics convey a sense of peace and trust in the divine. Can you discuss how your own experiences with prayer and spiritual practice influenced the lyrical content of the song?
As you may know, I was diagnosed with a very rare and painful autoimmune disease several years ago. It has been fatiguing, unpredictable, and life-changing. It has created this huge space of days where I don’t feel well enough to get up and keep going. Sometimes, I want to just give up but my faith has kept me going. The belief that I still have something important and positive to give to this world takes over just as I think my life may be over. This beautiful light of positivity in my darkest moments opens up a lot of time for spiritual contemplation and prayer. My music will never leave me, so in a very miraculous way these tunes have arisen in my soul with the beautiful text and I write them down and present them to whoever is in need. God is not done with me yet!
- What challenges did you face while working on these latest projects, and how did you overcome them?
It’s something I can’t really explain to you in words. I step outside of myself and let my soul, my truth, my belief take over. The reality of my life is truly a stepping stone. To become quiet, to let yourself hear what God may be telling you to do, this IS the magic in my music. Whatever the challenge of the day, the moment it becomes washed away by turning my life over to my Higher Power.
- What do you hope listeners take away from your music, especially from your latest releases?
I am currently reading a wonderful book about Celtic Christianity titled ‘Sacred Earth Sacred Soul’ by John Newell and it describes the Sacredness of all of us. The book describes the beauty that lies within each and every one of us. I hope my music can do the same. Perhaps, that is one of the most important things I hope the listener can take away from my music. My music on the whole is meant to wake up your inward light, which all of us have. My music is meant to fill us with love and hope for a better tomorrow. My music is meant to help us find healing and joy in the midst of a tremendously broken world. My music, I hope, will help us slow down and make us be able to look within ourselves and know that we exist for a reason, that we are important, that we matter and that we can be “whole” once again.
Through “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” and her other masterpieces, Peg Luke continues to inspire hope, healing, and introspection. Her unwavering faith and dedication to her craft is a light in tumultuous times. We extend our deepest gratitude to Peg for sharing her insights and experiences with us, reminding us of the enduring power of music to uplift the soul and illuminate the path to inner peace.
Listen to “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” here:
