Adel
Your brothers have outgrown you, your sister's no longer a girl,
But your father is the very same man who drove you out of your home.
Now they raise your up on the shoulders of your fathers, they carry you on an ecstatic crowd
And the beating of the drum makes you think your heart stopped - you wish it could, you wish it was allowed
Oh Adel where were you when your future was decided,
where were you when your past was retold,
What were you doing when they lied to the world?
Not yet born, not even your mother's hand to hold.
يا نجمة الشرق, لا اغني عن الحب
That night, when the spies made you the chosen one you dreamt of crumbling walls
And the house collapsed around your head and your father's domain did fall.
Mouths open, words stifled with a cry when a prodigal son finally reappears,
How could they know none would be ready, preparing for too many years.
Oh Adel where were you when your future was decided,
where were you when your past was retold
What were you doing when they lied to the world?
Not yet born, not even your brother's hand to hold.
يا نجمة ال شرق, لا إغني عن الامل
و أرض الأرجوان تلالات بجروحه
Take your father by the hand, let no one speak
Gaze out across the garden you fought so hard to keep
And take solace in your heart, for your struggle is yet to be won
When you could be he who'd drive others out, fear the father you could become
Oh Adel where were you when your future was decided,
where were you when your past was retold
What were you doing when they lied to the world?
Just an angry boy, searching for a namesake in a stone.
Lights from the Colonies
There are not so many fools, and it's not a callous lie
So please don't scorn him when you see him cry
The ancient town by night he wanders in his sleep
It is so quiet you can almost hear the mothers weep
And the lights from the colonies shine in the blue
What is this life with another man breathing over you?
He said I have stepped out from my door so many times before
But never has a place sent me reeling to the floor
And nothing I can say can bring meaning back here
And not a single word you utter can stop me shedding my tears
We will burn the papers in fires of conceit
Tell me friend do you not recognise the call to the street?
There are not so many fools, and it's not a callous lie
So please don't scorn me when you see me cry.
Forget Baghdad
Steal away before the dawn, don't dare to wait a while
A stone wall echoes the call while you stand trial.
This jasmine night behind a veil masks fire and fear
Play hide and seek, their secrets keep
Weep bitter tears.
And slowly the rope swings, slowly the wheel turns,
How quickly the heart bleeds, how slow you are to learn
Where will it sink to sleep and rest the embattled figures below
What lies beneath beggars belief, how far will you go?
Forget the Baghdad you wish was there, it never was
When your back was turned old Baghdad burned
Only ashes and dust.
And slowly the rope swings, slowly the wheel turns,
How quickly the heart bleeds, how slow you are to learn.
Magazine Birds
Strength in friends when day and night are one
Friendship in strangers to replace the sun
Understanding that patience is gold
Gold in faith, is this all foretold?
Sun in the oranges and the memories start
Taste the rays when you pull the segments apart.
Babylon tongues voice hope and doubt
Wishing upon wish we'll soon be out
Pacing the corridor, got to be strong
As chaos unites us into one song
Magazine birds made for a breeze
Rustling paper
Feather and leaves.