Gregg Breinberg: Chorus director, guitarist
Chorus members: Sophia, Anthony, Nayeli, Ana, and Ariana – thank you all!

From Janis: Here are the five PS22 Chorus regulars that could be gathered online this summer to participate in the Better Times Project. A fan of mine mentioned in a Facebook post that it would be great to have them here, so I managed to contact ther teacher and arranger, Gregg Breinberg, who enthusiastically joined. Special thanks to PS22 for allowing this usage, since it’s very much out of the ordinary for them! When Gregg put it up on their own Youtube page, he included this lovely note:

“When this world learns to live as one, oh better times will come” – Janis Ian…. So recently, I was dumbfounded to see a message in my inbox from the legendary Janis Ian, whose ‘Between the Lines’ album was one of the first CDs in my collection back in my early high school days! Apparently she wrote a beautiful song to help inspire us through the upside-down times we’re living in now called ‘Better Times Will Come’. Her mission: to spread this sorely needed message through as many voices as possible, and asked if PS22 would participate. As soon as I listened to Janis’s stark a cappella version, instant chills, the song embodying the precise sentiment that demanded an encore performance from PS22. So I gathered up whatever chorus members I could find and, as you will see, the five children who participated certainly shouldered the weight of the task mightily!! More like a PS22 Chamber Group than a PS22 Chorus performance I suppose, but whatever you call it, it’s undeniably touching. I’m grateful to the kids, their families, and to Janis for making it happen….”

BETTER TIMES WILL COME
(Janis Ian)

Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come

When we greet each dawn without fear
knowing loved ones soon will be near
When the winds of war
cannot blow any more
Oh, better times will come

CHORUS

Though we live each day as our last
we know someday soon it will pass
We will dance, we will sing
in that never-ending spring
Oh, better times will come

CHORUS

“Better Times Will Come” words & music by Janis Ian; © Janis Ian 2020. All rights reserved; international copyrights secured. Used by permission