From the recording The Goddess
When living under a religion-driven regime which dictates personal choices instead of people themselves making the choices (sound familiar?), what’s a mother or a family to do?! If one cares to research the subject, they will find a disturbingly extensive body of information on the subject of so-called ‘honor killings’.
Over twenty years ago my friend Electra came to me with the narrative of this tale and invited me to write some music around it. This is what showed up, a kind of experimental amalgam of part song, part story, and part cinematic ‘soundstage’ as the carrier vehicle. Given the relevance between the message of ‘Yasmine’ and the ongoing human/womens’ rights issues facing us today, I thought it was time to present Yasmine to the world once and for all.
Lyrics
Yasmine
It is unfortunate for Yasmine to have been born in a place and time
where the strictures of the Koran and the Saudi code apply
for Yasmine finds herself with child
and for this she must pay with her life
Yasmine remains fully aware of what she must do…
Yasmine go the way of the underground
Yasmine never look back
Yasmine go the way of the underground
Yasmine never look back
Yasmine contact the underground messenger
who is holed up in the El Fundo Ganoob Hotel in Taiz
he await the word
…and the camels cruise by with the Arabs on top
the Arabs, they are chewing the narcotic Khat
it helps them forget their troubles…
Yasmine go the way of the underground
Yasmine never look back
Yasmine go the way of the underground
Yasmine never look back
Yasmine, go under
Yasmine, she sail over
go under
Yasmine, she sail over
Yasmine go the way of the underground
Yasmine never look back
Yasmine go the way of the underground
Yasmine never look back
sail away
Yasmine, go under
Yasmine, she sail over
go under
Yasmine, she sail over
sail away
Yasmine is the silent promise
she carry the seed of hope
George Wallace & Electra Briggs
© 2007 Celestial Songs (ASCAP)