I was watching the news from Gaza
And I fell asleep on my chair
And when I woke up from my slumber
A young girl was standing there.
She said, My name is Rivka
They killed me because I’m a Jew
I died in the ghetto of Vilna
In nineteen forty two.
The ghetto was like a prison
They wouldn’t allow us to leave
Some said they were going to kill us all
We didn’t know what to believe.
That day I wore my new red dress
My bubbe had made for me
And in that crowded ghetto
It made me feel proud and free.
I looked up at the soldier
I looked him in the eye
I forgot to bow my head down
And so I had to die.
He smashed my head with his rifle
Because I was too bold
I was killed in the Vilna ghetto
When I was seven years old.
And then out of the darkness
A young boy’s gaze met mine
He said, My name is Mohammed
My country is Palestine.
I’ve lived all my life in Gaza
And the only time I feel free
Is when I go down to the harbour
And feel the wind from the sea.
That day I went with my cousins
We ran down to the beach to play
Then the soldier fired a shell at me
And blew my life away.
They want to crush our spirits
They want us to be afraid
Locked up in the prison of Gaza
The prison that they have made.
To them our lives don’t matter
They force us to live in a cage
I was killed on the beach in Gaza
At eleven years of age.
They don’t think that we deserve freedom
Or belong to the human race.
Mohammed, my brother, said Rivka,
This world is a cold, cold place.
Mohammed, my friend, my brother,
Let us leave this world of war.
Then each took the hand of the other
And then they were seen no more.
But I saw spokesmen and politicians
Lining up to speechify
And every word was a hypocrite
And every word was a lie.
I saw children still being slaughtered
The monster must have its fill
While the people with power sat on their hands
And supplied the weapons that kill.
I weep for the people of Gaza
And they are weeping still
And I curse the ones who do nothing
And encourage the monster to kill.
Thank you for this and for your lifetime or truth and song, Leon.
You’re a true hero to so many of us! Now let us continue the fight…
Hi Leon…
I’m writing from Seattle, USA. I shared a stage with you at Vancouver Island Music Fest about 10 years ago. Dick Gaughan was there as well.
This is a great song — beautiful lyrics. Your work is consistent and clear. thank you.
hello Leon
This is Rory Mcleod here in Scotland, It will Be lovely to
Meet you for a cuppa one day for a blether. I played harmonica for you back in the 80’s at Topic Studio. I’m still
Making songs, glad to hear you are too. Last time I heard you was via JVL on
Line gig. ( Jewish voice for Labour) Go well, mate. Or can I call you uncle? 😊👍
Really enjoying “Where Are The Elephants?”
Found this interesting:-
“Dating back to the early days, Leon has periodically seen anthologies of sheet music published, rounding up the bulk of his recorded compositions – and more besides..”
https://lrsc.weebly.com/songbooks.html