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Forty Miles

from Singing on the Wind by Anne Lister

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Written for the Gulf War. As this album went into production (1999), sadly all too relevant for the Kosovars. As I upload this to Bandcamp (2021) there are still far too many people forced to flee their homes. As an optimist, I hope one day it will be out of date.

lyrics

Forty miles of sadness, a line of desolation
All the world's madness, standing in a row
My father and mother, my sister and my brother
All the world's children now should weep with you.

There's no power or glory in a people's suffering
No front page story, no exclusive scoop
Fathers are crying, their children are dying
All the world's journalists now should scream for you.

No pitched battle in a war against starvation
A dying child's rattle, the ragged heap of grief
Your father's bank account and your sister's business lunch
All the world's economists now should work for you.

So fill your car with petrol and think about a holiday
Don't worry about the oil wells - we've rescued them each time
Your brother's future and your mother's pension book
All the world's planners are looking far ahead.

Forty miles of people - how many million heartbreaks
Don't change the channel - don't dare look away
One country's genocide, the whole world's suicide
Don't you think it's time we tried to find a better way?

credits

from Singing on the Wind, released August 5, 2021
Anne - 12 string guitar

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all rights reserved

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about

Anne Lister Wales, UK

Anne is best known for her song "Icarus", recorded and performed by a number of different singers, including Martin Simpson and Nic Jones. "Astrolabe" is her ninth solo album.

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