The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #93030   Message #1785610
Posted By: SharonA
17-Jul-06 - 12:27 PM
Thread Name: Harry Chapin
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SHORTEST STORY (Harry Chapin)
Captain Birdseye: The song you refer to is entitled "The Shortest Story", written in 1976 as part of his personal campaign to raise awareness about world hunger. Indeed it is a brilliant song...


THE SHORTEST STORY

I am born today, the sun burns its promise in my eyes;
Mama strikes me and I draw a breath and cry.
Above me a cloud softly tumbles through the sky;
I am glad to be alive.

It is my seventh day, I taste the hunger and I cry;
My brother and sister cling to Mama's side.
She squeezes her breast, but it has nothing to provide;
Someone weeps, I fall asleep.

It is twenty days today, Mama does not hold me anymore;
I open my mouth but I am too weak to cry.
Above me a bird slowly crawls across the sky;
Why is there nothing now to do but die?