In the "Shameless Self-Promotion" department, may I nominate one of my own??   Noel (Paul) Stookey recommended that I reserve it for child advocacy/activist groups because it is - in his words - a too in-your-face hard-hitting song about child abuse for the general audience.

Around 20 years ago, a young girl in New York City died of prolonged physical abuse by her adoptive father. It had been ignored by all of the adults (especially her teacher) who coulda/shoulda/woulda done something "if only they'd known" . . . I was a teacher in Upstate NY at the time, as well as the mother of a small child, and I was haunted by the story for years. I finally processed my response in a poem that became the following song. The child was Lisa Steinberg, and her death led to New York State's Mandated Reporter Law for all teachers.

PLEASE, SOMEONE SEE, SOMEONE CARE. C. 1991 Mary Bryan   

I picked up the paper this morning,
And my heart ached as I started to read.
A poor child lay dying, too weak for crying,
Her spirit about to be freed.
    But as I read on I was captive
    To the story of bruises and scars.
    Sheer disbelief turned to anger and grief
    For the child who'd been treated so hard.
And the worst part was nobody'd noticed.
Not one person heeded the signs, as
Day after day, they went on their way
And she suffered, time after time.

Refrain 1:
    And her young voice cried,
    "I'm so alone - - Is anybody out there?
      Don't just pass by while I suffer and cry - -
      Won't someone see, someone care?
      Please, someone see, someone care!"

I turned on the TV this evening.
The poor child will suffer no more.
But what about those who are still in the throes
Of abuse that we choose to ignore?
    Would you please give me just one good reason,
    Can you come up with one good excuse
    To stay uninvolved 'til this problem is solved
    And an end put to childhood abuse?

Refrain 2:
    While their young voices cry
    "We're so alone - - Is anybody out there?
      Don't just pass by while we suffer and die - -
      Won't someone see, someone care?
      Please, someone see, someone care."

For several years that was the complete song. But after Noel's critique, and feedback from some others, I've written a third verse and Refrain that I do with the aforementioned children's advocacy and/or religious groups.

Instrumental break, followed by:

We are called to be light in the darkness.
We are called to proclaim the Good News.
Eyes and ears open, we're called to be hope
In a world we can change if we choose.
    Can we take off our blinders and earphones?
    Can we risk tuning in to their pain?
    Or, will our mindless pursuits and our blindness,
    Betray them again and again?
   
Refrain 3:
    When their young voices cry "We're so alone - -
    "Is anybody out there?"
      Let's not just pass by while they suffer and die.
      Let's let them see that we care.
      Please, let them know that we care.