sade - kiss of life (tiktok version loop)

You are welcome to download and share "Tattoo":
A song about the Holocaust. Chosen by the government of the Netherlands to represent their country during the European celebration of the 50th year since WW II ended. Admired by Elie Wiesel. And now, a slap in the face to Trump and his administration, who don't dare utter the word "Jew" or the phrase "anti-Semitism" as they pretend to care about Holocaust Remembrance Day. 
To my friends who say "His son-in-law is Jewish. It's okay." I say - it is NOT okay. It is a disgrace. Steve Bannon is drafting the executive orders for our country, while the  ostensible leader of the free world spends his time complaining on Twitter and watching TV. 
I remember riding in a cab with my former manager forty years ago, when I was twenty-five. The newscaster commented that gay people should not be permitted to teach in the schools, and my manager said "They shouldn't be allowed around young children. Absolutely correct." 
In confusion, I said "But... I'M gay." And her response? "Oh, but you're one of the 'good ones'."
There will always be those who say "Oh, but you're one of the good Jews" "the good blacks" "the good gays". Do not believe that will exempt you from the knock in the night.

TATTOO
(Janis Ian)

Her new name was tattooed to her wrist
It was longer than the old one
Sealed in the silence with a fist
This night will be a cold one
Centuries live in her eyes
Destiny laughs over jack-booted thighs
“Work makes us free” says the sign
Nothing leaves here alive
Tattoo

She steps out of line to the left, and her father to the right
One sides a cold, clean death. The other is an endless night
Gold from a grandmother’s tooth. 
Mountains of jewelry and toys. 
piled in the corners, mailed across the borders
Presents for the girls and boys.
Presents for the girls and boys
Tattoo

It gets darker every night
Spread-eagled out among the stars, she says
"Somewhere in this tunnel lives a light
"Still my beating heart
"I have never known a man
"What man will want me now?
"Am I still alive, somehow?
"If I can survive, somehow
"Tattooed"

Soldiers from the other side liberated them at dawn
Gave her water, gave her life. She still had all her clothes on
She lived until she died. Empty as the autumn leaves that fly
Surgeons took the mark, but they could not take it far
It was written on her heart
Written on her empty heart
Tattooed

Breaking Silence

Tattoo

Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter, sent me an unfinished lyric from Woody's archives. I took one look and thought "This was made for me". Woody's mom and mine had a lot in common; the first to give us instruments, the first to believe in our talent. It's a privilege to have finished the lyric and added the music, and I thank Nora and Arlo for allowing me free use of both.
I HEAR YOU SING AGAIN
(Woody Guthrie/Janis Ian)

If I could only hear my mother sing again
If I could close my eyes and hear your voice as then
All the friends and family
would sing along with me, 
and set your spirit free

In my heart I hear you sing again
Every note as natural as then
When I sing those songs
with family and friends, 
in my heart I hear you sing again

I know the troubled times that turned your hair to grey
and all the tears and sorrows followed to your grave
but deep within the heart of hunger, 
there were always melodies
passed from you to me
 
CHORUS

And it's a long, long road I've come
since my mother's songs were heard
but the child I can't outrun
still hangs on every word

In my heart I hear you sing again
Every note as natural as then
When I sing those songs
with family and friends, 
in my heart I hear you sing again
In my heart, I hear you sing again

© Rude Girl Pub. (50%)/Woody Guthrie Publications. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.

Strictly Solo - final mastered

I Hear You Sing Again

A conversation linked to Short Story  The hand that feeds

Voices of Bua's dead parents Cú and Bríd

Fergal Canton

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