Lyr Add: New topical song, from today's news

Subject: Lyr Add: ONE SOLDIER CRIED (Bob Clayton)
From: GUEST,Songster Bob
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 12:32 AM

This is from today's news. I'm not going to expand on the news, or explain it, because if a song needs explaining, it's not complete. So tell me if this needs more detail.


One Soldier Cried

[tune: Lady Mary, also called Palace Grand]


They came to the olive groves, weapons ready and cocked.
Show us the ones who attack, or prepare yourselves for a shock.
These trees that you hold so dear, your families' treasure and pride
Will be the price that you pay for all of our soldiers who died.


The farmers with children and wives could not answer the call;
To inform would put them at risk; the invaders cared not at all.
So a century's growth of great trees, tradition, and pride in their own
Were condemned to destruction and death, by a force that no pity had shown.


The bulldozers came with their roar, to take out the trees of the town.
The hope of the poor farmers there, with a crash came tumbling down.
As music at high volume played, the hopes of a people were crushed,
For we will be foes to them if they become nothing to us.


Among the soldiers that day was at least one who saw with his heart
That the orders that caused this sad scene were enough to set him apart.
Amidst the tears of the poor, and the Army man's duty and pride,
One lone soldier could see, and that one lone soldier cried.




Copyright ©2003 Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New topical song, from today's news
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 12:57 AM

I really like it, Bob, but not having seen or heard today's news, I wouldn't know where it meant, specifically. I can guess it was somewhere in Israel or Palestine, though? Not sure it matters, though, as the message comes through...woodman spare that tree... very sad.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New topical song, from today's news
From: Clean Supper
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:29 AM

It sounds like Palestine to me, where the olive trees are much more dear to their owners than most people I know hold their own forests to be. It is a very tragic song but, possibly, not entirely crushing. I would like to hear it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New topical song, from today's news
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 07:26 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New topical song, from today's news
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 02:28 PM

Except it's not Palestine, it's American soldiers in Iraq. Winning Hearts and Minds. Here's a post about it on another thread.

This only makes any sense as an action intended to undermine the occupation and strengthen opposition to it continuing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New topical song, from today's news
From: Songster Bob
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 01:46 AM

That's correct, it is Iraq. It's also against the Geneva convention to assign collective guilt in this way. I now can see why the Bush administration has been so gung-ho on backing out of international courts, waiving war-crimes laws, etc. They knew what they would be getting us into.

I may rewrite a little more, then, so that the message is more clear. I don't like my favorite line, unfortunately, so it may have to go (it's the only one that changes from third to second person). Such is the fate of the writer, I guess.

Bob