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Added: May 12, 2008
From: amyraasch
Duration: 4:8
WHAT INSPIRED THIS SONG & LYRICS: This is a first draft of a song I didn't mean to write. It just happened. Three things you should know:1. My best friend, who is half Iraqi, half American, wrote a hit one-woman play, "Nine Parts of Desire" (which you should go see this week if you're in Chicago). One of the characters is a 13 year-old Iraqi girl who talks about how they used to sleep on their rooftop at night, to escape the heat. They can't do that anymore.2. "Exposure," the New Yorker article about American soldier Sabrina Harman, "the woman behind the camera at Abu Ghraib." We were all horrified by those images, so I was struck by the article's account of her kindness to the Iraqi people at Al Hillah (before she was sent to Abu Ghraib) -- particularly the children. They would run to her and crawl on her lap, and she did everything she could to make them smile. The article described a kind of naivete that she maintained, which rides the line of insanity. (P.S. - She is not to be confused with Lynndie England. Google them both for more info.)3. Homeless - I live in Venice, CA, and the homeless are part of my daily life. Unfathomable sadness, addiction, mental illness -- I often wonder what their stories are, why they ended up on the street. Many of them are veterans. I thought about my uncle, a Vietnam vet who to this day won't talk about it. Then I imagined someone like Sabrina Harman after the war, after prison, after all of the press, having to go back to "normal" life, and failing. Her shield of insidious naivete ultimately collapses in on itself.THE ROOFTOPS OF BABYLONCopyright 2008 Amy RaaschStand outside the old drugstoreIn a tattered green coat I kept from the warLean my bike against the glassForget why I cameThere's no one to askThey loved me at Al HillahOld men brought me teaKids gave the thumbs upTold me how they used to sleepOn rooftops at nightTo deal with the heatWhere do I belong?Home seems strange and farThey told us to stay strongSo these kids could see the starsShining on the roofs of BabylonYou'd have thought the crumbling streetsTo look at their smilesWere miles of beachAsked me, could they see my gun?I snapped a quick pictureSomeone called me "Mom"Speakers blared the call to prayerI rested my eyesMy mind white as airOnce we got to Abu GhraibIt was mortar o'clockWhile in mosques they were prayingWhere do I belong?This time it's gone too farThe nights are black and longExplosions block the stars From shining on the roofs of BabylonLet me take your picture so I can recallYour stories in the skyWe'll pretend it's safe to lie on our backsLike Eden never diedStand outside the old drugstoreThe sign flips to "CLOSED"The man locks the doorSomeone whispers, "She's a freak.It's people like herMake our country weak."Where do I belong?My heart throbs like a scarHow could it go so wrongWe just tried to free the starsTo shine onTo shine onTo shine on the roofs of Babylon
Channel: Music
Tags: amy bob desire dylan griffin iraq nine of parts patty raasch tracers war
Rating: 5.00 (9 ratings) Views: 1023' favoriteCount='2 Comments: 16
singingbabe26 Says:
May 12, 2008 - This was very beautifully sung. And yes the way things used to be. Everything points to Jesus' return now
hum97 Says:
May 13, 2008 - Wow.Super powerful and timely too.Thanks for this.
amyraasch Says:
May 14, 2008 - Your comments are poetry. Merci.
amyraasch Says:
May 14, 2008 - Thank you so much.
amyraasch Says:
May 14, 2008 - It is so helpful to hear that it is impactful. Truly, I lose perspective. Thanks so much for weighing in.
singingbabe26 Says:
May 14, 2008 - your welcome
CliffBetweenTheLines Says:
May 16, 2008 - This one wasn't my favorite, although its still very good. Musically I liked it, and the lyrics were constructed well, I think it was the subject matter. Probably just me.
harleynanda Says:
May 16, 2008 - Amy, this is an excellent composition. Your insight is quite remarkable and is usually only characteristic of vets who never really came back from the jungles or the sands, but still have that '1000 yd stare', and you've expressed this perspective in a very touching and tangible manner. This is a great song, and everything else as well (playing, singing, production). Put this in my favorites and will rotate it into the feature. This song feels like post Nam era in early '70's. Excellent.
CommentSense Says:
May 16, 2008 - People walk alone, humming hymns in their heads with no one to atone, for the sins committed were so not their own, in traumatised stupors they feel the stones thrown. And who is to blame, faces I cannot see in formless fashion they look down on me, as I feel the pain of crimes I didn't commit, devils of freedom and insanity, and people walk alone, traumatised stupor with no place called home, you see them daily, you question their minds, if they were to tell you, you'd have a hard time... yea.
ouisida Says:
May 19, 2008 - Wow. This is a very powerful song. I was very moved by the tale of best intentions going so terribly wrong. We as a country will bear the burden of wrong-footed political leadership for a long time. Let us not forget those who took the heat of disasterous decisions. Regardless of your own personal politics, let your humanity shine for those who's lives have been tarnished, damaged and lost.
amyraasch Says:
May 19, 2008 - Michael, that means so much to me. The song kind of took me someplace, and to know it is communicating in the way you describe really helps. Thank you!
amyraasch Says:
May 19, 2008 - I am so honored and thrilled to receive such a heartfelt, poetic response. Thank you!!
amyraasch Says:
May 19, 2008 - Thanks, Cliff. I figured this one had the potential for controversy. I even hesitated to send it to my best friend (of Iraqi heritage). Ultimately, my hope is to humanize this situation. Thanks for listening!
CliffBetweenTheLines Says:
May 19, 2008 - I've relistened to this song from a different place and mindset and find that I like it better. Especially, I more clearly see the contrasts you built into the lyrics, something that's almost a hallmark for you and which I love. Five stars from me :)
slowhand1954 Says:
May 25, 2008 - Very Lovely, An excellent composition, and very heartfelt lyrics. Thank you for a great song.Peace,Allen
nhpbob Says:
Jun 1, 2008 - Tonight I catch up on your songs of the last 2months!Because you posted the lyrics, I had to read those first by doing my slow scroll so that I can only see the lyrics as you sing them. Then...as the song is very lovely and haunting (and how perfect on the first early hot night in NYC where one would be tempted to sleep on a rooftop)...I had to watch the video. It's great to see your eyes roll a little as you sing your lyrics and strum your chords. THAT'S a singer/songwriter!
driftingtheworld Says:
Jun 9, 2008 - dear amy you have inspired me in more ways than you know... will explain when the time is right but in the mean time what camera do you use? and what mircophone? If you don't mind sharing that, wonderful talent,real joy...
amyraasch Says:
Jun 10, 2008 - It keeps me going to know that something I've done is inspiring -- thank you. I've been recording on a borrowed Sony Mini DV Cam. The mic is an A-48 ADK from the "Vintage Valve Series." All of the vocals on my album, "Love or Inertia" were recorded using this mic. We tested it against several other excellent mics, and this one turned out to be the best. Larry of ADK is a super nice guy. Highly recommend.
driftingtheworld Says:
Jun 10, 2008 - Iv'e been writing for 20 years, I know where you are headed. You will be surprised if you keep reaching where I think you could be next year even. It's one thing to be the artist and all the work involved with just that and a songwriter, you do both at a high level! isn't life funny sometimes for they both take so much effort and long term focus. Well if you need contacts let me know, if not good luck and keep being strong for you are close, it's just around the corner! Thanks for getting back!
RockOneTime Says:
Jun 15, 2008 - very interesting, good tone
fingercheese Says:
Jun 30, 2008 - Awesome...
guitar62751 Says:
Jun 30, 2008 - Awesome job, Amy! Very talented! 5***** I caught you from Larry's Borg Show.Stu
AstridVonAij Says:
May 12, 2008 - This song just punched me in the stomach. I think it will leave the most beautiful bruise. Brilliant.xo- Astrid