Deborah Chan
The Wedding Song (There Is Love) is a popular wedding song written by Paul Stookey for his ex-bandmate Peter Yarrow's wedding to Marybeth McCarthy. Stookey, who initially found fame in the American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, wrote the song as a wedding gift to the couple. He performed it at Yarrow's wedding in 1969 and later recorded it for his first solo album, 'Paul and', in 1971. Stookey claims that the song was divinely inspired, and as a result, he does not consider himself the author. The song has been covered by many artists over the years and is often performed at weddings, solidifying its place as one of the most beloved wedding songs of all time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for writing the song | Paul Stookey wrote the song as a wedding gift to his bandmate Peter Yarrow and his wife Mary Beth McCarthy |
| Date of release | 28 June 1971 |
| Date of performance | 18 October 1969 |
| Songwriters' inspiration | Divine inspiration |
| Songwriters' intention | To bless the wedding ceremony |
| Songwriters' belief | The song was not written by him but was instead "given" to him |
| Songwriters' action | All profits from the song are donated to charity |
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What You'll Learn
Paul Stookey's bandmate Peter Yarrow was getting married
Paul Stookey, born Noel Paul Stookey, is an American singer-songwriter and activist. He was a member of the 1960s folk trio, Peter, Paul and Mary, along with Peter Yarrow and Mary Travers. In 1969, Stookey's bandmate, Peter Yarrow, was getting married to Mary Beth McCarthy, the niece of 1968 presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy, for whom the group had campaigned.
Peter Yarrow asked Stookey to be the best man at his wedding, and Stookey decided to write a love song as a wedding gift to the couple. This song became "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)", which Stookey first performed at St. Mary's Church in Willmar, Minnesota, for Yarrow's wedding. Stookey has described the song as divinely inspired, and as a result, he does not consider himself the author and has donated all profits from the song to charity.
"The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" was included on Stookey's debut solo album and was also released as a single, reaching number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has become one of the most popular wedding songs of all time, being covered at countless weddings and influencing many traditionally religious artists to write songs that could cross over to the mainstream. Stookey has continued to work as a solo artist and activist and remains the last surviving member of Peter, Paul and Mary following the deaths of Mary Travers in 2009 and Peter Yarrow in 2025.
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Stookey was asked to be the best man
Stookey's prayer was answered in the song's opening lyrics: "He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts". Originally, Stookey had written "I am now to be among you", but his wife, Betty, pointed out that people might misinterpret the line and think he was claiming to be God. Stookey agreed and changed the lyric to "He".
Stookey performed the song at Yarrow's wedding in October 1969, and the couple insisted that he record and release it on his first solo album. Stookey was reluctant to pursue a solo career, but eventually agreed. The song was recorded in 1971 and became a hit, topping the charts upon its release. Stookey maintains that the song was divinely inspired and, as a result, he does not receive any royalties for it. Instead, all profits from the song are distributed to various charities.
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He wanted to write a love song as a wedding gift
Paul Stookey, also known as Noel Paul Stookey, wrote the classic love song "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" as a wedding gift for his bandmate Peter Yarrow and his bride-to-be, Mary Beth McCarthy. Stookey and Yarrow were part of the American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, and when the band broke up in 1970, Stookey decided to write a song for Yarrow's wedding as a gift.
Stookey's creative process for the song was influenced by his religious beliefs. He prayed for divine inspiration and guidance on how God would manifest himself at Yarrow's wedding. The answer to his prayer is reflected in the song's opening lyrics: "He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts." Stookey's original lyric was "I am now to be among you," but he changed it to avoid any misinterpretation that he was referring to himself as God.
The song was first performed at Yarrow's wedding in October 1969 and was later recorded and released as a single in 1971. It became a chart-topping hit and has since become one of the most popular wedding songs of all time, covered by numerous artists and performed at countless weddings. Stookey considers the song to be divinely inspired and, as a result, has donated all profits from the song to various charities through the Public Domain Foundation.
The song's compositional origins and success showcase Stookey's talent and his ability to create a lasting impact through music. "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" not only celebrates the love of a newlywed couple but also their union with God, making it a meaningful and beloved part of many wedding ceremonies.
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The song was inspired by God
Paul Stookey, also known as Noel Paul Stookey, wrote the classic wedding song "There Is Love" for his bandmate Peter Yarrow's wedding to Marybeth McCarthy, the niece of Senator and one-time presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy. Stookey was the best man at the wedding and wanted to write a love song as a wedding gift to the couple.
Stookey has stated that the song was divinely inspired and that he feels he did not actually write it. In an interview with the Songfacts Podcast in 2024, he said that he originally wrote the line "I am now to be among you," but changed it to "He is now to be among you" after his wife, Betty, expressed concern that people would misunderstand the meaning and think he was presuming to be God. Stookey also said that he prayed for God's presence at the wedding and asked how He would manifest Himself, and the answer is found in the song's opening lyrics: "He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts."
Due to the song's divine inspiration, Stookey does not consider himself the author, and as a result, the song's copyright is owned by the Public Domain Foundation, and all profits from the song are distributed to various charities. Stookey has said that he prayed and was "given" the song, and all he did was "allow the pencil to move across the page." The song celebrates the love of a newlywed couple and their union with God.
The song was first performed at Yarrow's wedding in October 1969 and was later recorded and released as a single in June 1971 from Stookey's debut solo album, "Paul and." It topped the charts upon its release and has since become one of the most popular wedding songs of all time, being covered at countless weddings.
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Stookey changed the lyrics after his wife's input
Paul Stookey wrote "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" for his bandmate Peter Yarrow's wedding to Marybeth McCarthy, the niece of a senator and a one-time presidential candidate, Eugene McCarthy. Stookey was asked to be the best man at the wedding and decided to write a love song as a wedding gift to the couple.
Stookey originally wrote the lyrics: "I am now to be among you". However, just one hour before the wedding ceremony, he sang the song to his wife, Betty, who pointed out that people might misinterpret the line to mean that Stookey was presuming to be God. Stookey considered this and changed the lyrics to: "He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts". The song was then performed at Yarrow's wedding, and Stookey's wife encouraged him to record and release the song on his first solo record. Stookey felt that the song was divinely inspired and, as a result, did not feel that he was its author. Therefore, he did not include his name as the songwriter on the record or sheet music and chose not to receive any royalties from the song. Instead, he donated all profits from the song to various charities.
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Frequently asked questions
Paul Stookey, born Noel Paul Stookey, is a songwriter and singer who initially gained fame as part of the American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary.
Paul Stookey wrote "The Wedding Song" as a gift for his bandmate Peter Yarrow's wedding to Marybeth McCarthy, the niece of senator and one-time presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy.
Paul Stookey has stated that he was given the song through divine inspiration. He prayed for God's presence to manifest at Peter Yarrow's wedding, and the song's lyrics came to him in response.
Paul Stookey wrote "The Wedding Song" in 1969, shortly before Peter Yarrow's wedding on October 18 of that year.
Yes, Paul Stookey first performed "The Wedding Song" at Peter Yarrow's wedding in 1969.
