Story Behind The Song
Just back form France right before ISIS struck
Song Description
As above
| Song Length |
3:38 |
Genre |
Folk - General, Folk - General |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Moving |
Subject |
World, Justice |
| Similar Artists |
Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Paxton |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
Arab Fall
By R. Mack Harrell
Our fishing boat flailed in a November gale
We were two moons from beer in Piraeus.
The ship, she laid low with a full cargo hold
The winds had the deck hands a'prayin'.
When out of that mess came a cry of distress
From a bark that was barely seaworthy
A doomed open boat that could not stay afloat
As fifteen foot waves overtook her...
Arab Spring brings Arab Fall...
The ill will that rides on this November wind
Could be the end... of us all...
There were shouts from afar praising Allah Ahkbar
And some tiny heads bobbin' and sinkin'.
We threw out our nets and two dozen life vests
In the gale there was no time for thinkin'.
When evening fell on that watery hell
Our catch was ten women with young ones
They say that the Med never gives up her dead
But that day she gave twenty full pardons.
Arab Spring brings Arab Fall...
The ill will that rides on this November wind
Could be the end... of us all...
Safe passage ran short, they were seized in the port
Police greeted us over foghorns
In tent camps they'll wait for the visas and dates
To start their lives over in Dearborn.
Those families we raised from that watery grave
Did we save 'em to die in detention?
Will they learn to hate in a brand new failed state
As we brood 'bout terror prevention?
Arab Spring brings Arab Fall...
The ill will that rides on this November wind
Could be the end... of us all... (repeat)