 Want an e-mail when there's something new? Join the e-mail news list today! songs & lyrics The Fire This Time (Mizna, Issue 1, Volume 3, 2001)  The title of this song, The Fire this Time, is taken from a similarly titled book by James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time. This song was written as the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel approached. The song as a whole is about the reality behind the tourist face of the nation state of Israel. The second verse was inspired by the juxtaposition of scenes from Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem next to reality in the West Bank. The third by an Israeli Ministry of Tourism poster campaign in the London Underground. The final verse recalls 1948 and the international community's part in this whole mess. The word, "stand", in the chorus is an English translation of the Hebrew word used to describe how the Biblical prophets used to receive revelation from God which they would then use to speak the truth to the Biblical people of Israel, and is a lamentation. "Shalom alechem, Y'Israel" means "Peace be on you, Israel." While this is, in fact, a song with music, it was published in Mizna, an Arab-American cultural journal, as an annotated poem. Final version of lyrics: Saturday, May 16th, 1998 The Fire This Time (Mizna, Issue 1, Volume 3, 2001) Like burnt out life on a distant sun The scorched stones of an era gone Play tourist mime. And all around the cold-eyed stare From camps and prisons made to bear The fire this time. The glories of their past recaptured With street sign names for all their masters In mantric feast. And echoing from across the street Another screaming human bleats For his release. Does anybody still stand in your midst? Or did you crush and push them down to feel? Shalom alechem, Y'Israel Tight bellies in short skirts Gazing dazed at what they raised In Christian disneyland. There's raised and razed. Don't be dismayed at all the extras' ways - Just watch the pretty girls. Sinuous and sleek, Pulsing with intent all week For one real moment in time. Truth meets them in the bar And takes them to his car To free their little minds. Does anybody still stand in your midst? Or did you crush and push them down to feel? Shalom alechem, Y'Israel I stand before a long-limbed girl Stretched out on Eilat beach Her warm poster smile And all the while my scream is lost In the tunnel, shouting "What's the cost In body miles?" The million dollar word machine That lies to save the freedom dream Runs ceaselessly. Though long ago the vision died Somewhere in between Shatila's cries And Sabra's plea. Does anybody still stand in your midst? Or did you crush and push them down to feel? Shalom alechem, Y'Israel Can you see it through their eyes That their gods have paralysed To give them greater power? That life has been denied And Death he took them for a ride In their finest hour. O and petulance flows! While the book it came from glows, Time bomb from the start And Hertzl, blame and boxcar trains Run noisily on Western shame The salted heart. Does anybody still stand in your midst? Or did you crush and push them down to feel? Shalom alechem, Y'Israel
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