ADD:I was not born a refugee (Anthony John Clarke)

Subject: AJC - I was not born a refugee
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Aug 24 - 01:40 PM

Has anyone worked out the lyrics to Anthony John Clarkes 'I was not born a refugee'? There is a phone video on his facebook profile page but it's not clear enough to make out the words and |I would love to learn it.

Subject: RE: AJC - I was not born a refugee
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Aug 24 - 02:01 PM

Message him to see if he has it on sale. He is very approachable

Subject: AJC-I wasn't born a refugee
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 24 - 01:59 PM

Has anytone the lyrics (or is in close enough contact with AJC to ask him niclely) the lyrics of his song 'I wasn't Born to be a Refugee'?

https://www.facebook.com/anthonyjohn.clarke.3

Great Song.

O it seems I have to do this:

https://www.facebook.com/anthonyjohn.clarke.3

Subject: ADD:I was not born a refugee (Anthony John Clarke)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 24 - 02:29 PM

Well, maybe we can work out a transcription together.

DRAFT - I need help on this.

A conversation between Clarke and an Iranian neighbor, a qualified doctor, three children, relocated to Ukraine. He had a good life, but his house now lies in rubble. Three displaced children and a beautiful wife. He's also a classical pianist. And they're really struggling.

I WAS NOT BORN A REFUGEE
(Anthony John Clarke)

CHORUS
I would not hurt your family,
I never hijacked any plane.
I worked so hard, I learned your language,
You and me, my friend, we're just the same.

I want a comfortable house (?) every morning.
I just want to feel that I'm right (?)
I want a safe school for my three children
Perhaps just a cup of coffee with my wife.
I have to keep my head warm,
And a kitchen cupboard that ain't bare.
Healthy food upon my table
But most of all, I just wanna know that there's someone there.
CHORUS

I miss my old housecat that used to keep me company,
I want my girls for once to have new clothes;
I'd love a message from my two younger sisters,
'Cause where they are, God only knows.
I want a job that feeds my family,
I do not want a single thing for free;
And though I thank you for your kindness,
I was not born a refugee.
CHORUS


https://www.facebook.com/100034636363655/videos/pcb.1273605030470697/1064623155081768


This is a very powerful song.
Our friend, "Asia," came to the U.S. from southern Iraq when she was seven years old. She and her large family live together in a small house in a Sacramento suburb. She completed an engineering degree, and she now works as a highway bridge engineer and seems to be the primary support of her family. She's about thirty years old. She wears a hijab and drives a big pickup truck, and she oversees the work done by beefy male construction workers. She has little time to relax, but my wife takes her out hiking when she's free.
Asia's father died of cancer a couple weeks ago. I think he was 59. He wanted to be buried in Iraq, so two of his sons took him home and he was buried last week. They've all had an incredibly hard life. But we love Asia. This song makes me think of her.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: ADD:I was not born a refugee (Anthony John Clarke)
From: cnd
Date: 04 Sep 24 - 04:25 PM

A few corrections based on the Facebook link above. You got it mostly right. :)

A conversation between myself [Clarke] and our Iranian neighbor, Hassam, a qualified doctor, three children, relocated from The Ukraine. He had a good life, but his house now lies in rubble. Three displaced children; a beautiful wife. He's also a classical pianist. And they're really struggling. And this is the tenet of the conversation. He said this:

"comfortable house every morning" is right

I just want a clean bed at night

A hat to keep my head warm,

Subject: RE: ADD:I was not born a refugee (Anthony John Clarke)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 24 - 04:32 PM

Thanks, CND. I think I'd agree with most of your suggestions, but not completely with the introduction - that's why I paraphrased it. I'll leave it up for further comments, and then I'll post a corrected transcription in a couple days.

Subject: ADD:I was not born a refugee (Anthony John Clarke)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Sep 24 - 08:51 PM

I WAS NOT BORN A REFUGEE
(Anthony John Clarke)

CHORUS
I would not hurt your family,
I never hijacked any plane.
I worked so hard, I learned your language,
You and me, my friend, we're just the same.

I want a comfortable house every morning.
I just want a clean bed at night
I want a safe school for my three children
Perhaps just a cup of coffee with my wife.
A hat to keep my head warm,
And a kitchen cupboard that ain't bare.
Healthy food upon my table
But most of all, I just wanna know that there's someone there.
CHORUS

I miss my old housecat that used to keep me company,
I want my girls for once to have new clothes;
I'd love a message from my two younger sisters,
'Cause where they are, God only knows.
I want a job that feeds my family,
I do not want a single thing for free;
And though I thank you for your kindness,
I was not born a refugee.
CHORUS


https://www.facebook.com/100034636363655/videos/pcb.1273605030470697/1064623155081768

Tentatively, this is the final transcription.

Subject: RE: ADD:I was not born a refugee (Anthony John Clarke)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Sep 24 - 04:04 AM

Has anyone bought a CD or book off Anthony John? As he is a professional and depends on his craft to earn money it would be nice gesture. Just a thought :-)

Subject: RE: ADD:I was not born a refugee (Anthony John Clarke)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 24 - 03:30 AM

I am in touch with him now many thanks all.