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A FRIEND IN THE MIDDLE EAST

from DEMOS by Rick Berlin

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Watching ’The Mauritanian’ (true story) about Mohamedou Ould Slahi, an Arab who’d been picked up and airlifted to Guantanamo, mistakenly, tortured into making a false confession, and stuck for years without ever being charged. Because of the work of his lawyer, Nancy Hollander, he was finally released, I was blown away both by the story, but by Slahi in particular, who is an incredible human being, funny, determined and decent even though he suffered egregiously at the hands of our government. You can watch clips of the man after his release, laughing and making jokes. Just this great guy. Near the end of the movie, he explains how he was able to forgive the USA and his tormentors quoting the word in arabic, which, translated, means both freedom and forgiveness (in one word). Stuck with me.

lyrics

A FRIEND IN THE MIDDLE EAST

I don’t know what it’s like
livin’ over there
i don’t know what t wear
if i even care
should i try mascara
cover up my head
i would like t meet ya
get t know ya better

it aint about da Nile
it aint about the sand
it aint about the camels
i just want t be yr friend

someone said
the other day
the word ya say for freedom
’s exactly like the word that means
forgiveness when ya mean it
there is so much I could learn
from you n you from me
let’s go find a hookah pipe
in an afternoon
by the Red Sea

it ain’t about religion
it ain’t about god
yr eyes so deep n pretty
say everything ya are

I don’t know what it’s like
livin’ over there
i don’t know what t wear
if i even care
should i try mascara
cover up my head
i would like t meet ya
get t know ya better

it aint about da Nile
it aint about the sand
it aint about the camels
i just want t be yr friend
it ain’t about religion
it ain’t about god
yr eyes so deep n pretty
say everything ya are

credits

from DEMOS, released November 18, 2012
GBand Selfie

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Rick Berlin (now playing w/ THE NICKEL & DIME BAND) image

Rick Berlin (now playing w/ THE NICKEL & DIME BAND) Jamaica Plain

A giant on the Boston music scene. His colorful songwriting + strong stage presence have influenced countless other artists since the early 1970s. He continues to make music w/ intelligence + integrity, building an international reputation around his knotty, singular piano playing, straight-from-the-heart singing and a style of character-based songwriting that's drawn comparisons to Waits + Cohen ... more

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