Story Behind The Song
After listening to numerous news stories of mothers losing their sons in this war, and learning about the history of the area i.e. that no other war has been won in this area, I was inspired to write this song.
Song Description
This is a song about the futility of the war in Afghanistan
Song Length |
4:00 |
Genre |
Folk - Contemporary |
Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
Mood |
Poignant, Incensed |
Subject |
War, Protest |
Similar Artists |
Bob Dylan |
Language |
English |
Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
Where the Giant Poppies Grow
By Sleepless Psyce
We teach them how to ride their bikes and later drive their cars,
We help them with their school work, we say reach for the stars
They say "now come and join us and be the best that you can be"
"Cause There's no greater honour, than to fight for your country"
Will somebody please explain to me 'cause I really need to know,
Why do we send our young men where the giant poppies grow?
Once poppies were for remembrance of those who fell before,
But now they're a symbol of what's to come, the death of many more
We send them off to fight a war, where no other wars been won before,
What do the politicians think they know,
Is reason for sending our sons to sleep where the giant poppies grow?
We sent them off to school so they learned to read and write,
Then they went to college to have a better chance in life,
Then the army enlisted them "to make them into men"
Posted them off to Afghanistan; some never to return again.
So will somebody please explain to me 'cause I really need to know,
Why do we send our young men where the giant poppies grow?
Once poppies were for remembrance of those who fell before,
But now they're a symbol of what's to come, the death of many more
We send them off to fight a war, where no other wars been won before,
What do the politicians think they know,
Is reason for sending our sons to sleep where the giant poppies grow?
So what do they say to a mother about the death of a beloved son
Who died in a land far away in a war that couldn't be won
They justify it by saying "well it's for the greater good"
But 'Greater Good's' a saying that I've never really understood.
So will somebody please explain to me 'cause I really need to know,
Why do we send our young men where the giant poppies grow?
Once poppies were for remembrance of those who fell before,
But now they're a symbol of what's to come, the death of many more
We send them off to fight a war, where no other wars been won before,
What do the politicians think they know,
Is reason for sending our sons to sleep where the giant poppies grow?
So please tell me I really need to know,
Why are our children dying in the land where the giant poppies grow?