Here’s a little song from the American singer and protest song writer David Rovics. This one is called Jenin,’ and is about the troubles in Palestine under Israeli oppression ad invasion.
Jenin by David Rovics
Lyrics;
Child, what will you remember
When you recall your sixteenth year
The horrid sound of helicopter gunships
The rumble of the tanks as they drew near
As the world went about it’s business
And I burned another tank of gasoline
The Dow Jones lost a couple points that day
While you were crying in the City of Jenin
Did they even give your parents warning
Before they blew the windows out with shells
While you hid inside the high school basement
Amidst the ringing of church bells
As you watched your teacher crumble by the doorway
And in England they were toasting to the Queen
You were so far from the thoughts of so many
Huddled in the City of Jenin
Were you thinking of the taunting of the soldiers
Or of the shit they smeared upon the walls
Were you thinking of your cousin after torture
Or Tel Aviv and it’s glittering shopping malls
When the fat men in their mansions say that you don’t want peace
Did you wonder what they mean
As you sat amidst the stench inside the darkness
In the shattered City of Jenin
What went through your mind on that day
At the site of your mother’s vacant eyes
As she lay still among the rubble
Beneath the blue Middle Eastern skies
As you stood upon this bulldozed building
Beside the settlements and their hills so green
As your tears gave way to grim determination
Among the ruins of the City of Jenin
And why should anybody wonder
As you stepped on board
The crowded bus across the Green Line
And you reached inside your jacket for the cord
Were you thinking of your neighbours buried bodies
As you made the stage for this scene
As you set off the explosives that were strapped around your waist
Were you thinking of the City of Jenin
Who is David Rovics?
David Rovics is an American Folk singer, Song writer and Musician from Portland, Oregon. His material is very politically orientated and he travels the world regularly on tour, armed with a setlist of protest songs that he’s written.
What do you reckon?
Well, what did you think of that then? Did you enjoy it? Or isn’t it your cup of tea? Either way, we’d love to read your thoughts and opinions on this song in the comments below. Here at Collective Jukebox, we just love a bit of debate and discussion on music and more especially, the stuff shared here. So please feel free to elaborate in as many words as you need.
Better still, why not join us? If you love sharing music with others whilst discovering new stuff, then this is the place for you. We are the world’s Number One Online Music Community and we’re always keen to welcome new members and hear your favourite tunes. It’s completely FREE and always will be. So just click the button below to join us. See you Inside!