about
HERETIC
Cultural terrorism has existed throughout history. It is an attempt to eradicate a people’s shared identity and to rewrite history to serve the aggressor’s often distorted ideology. ‘Kill the culture, kill the voice’. This piece was inspired by the tragic reports in 2015 of the destruction of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra by ISIS, and their brutal murder of Khaled al-Asaad, the 82-year-old Head of Antiquities at the site. Despite being interrogated for a month by the jihadis, Mr al-Assad refused to disclose where he had hidden some ancient treasures. He was subsequently beheaded in front of his family, his body was mutilated and hung from a column in the central square. However, the song also contains a message of hope that, one day, displaced peoples can return to their homelands and way of life. Yet they remember the past and the terrible sacrifices people have made. Empires rise and fall. Ideologies are replaced. But the healing power of love of endures.
lyrics
Let the desert claim the land
Bury memory beneath the sand
Let the wind consume at last
Cut the thread break the past
Hands and feet but hearts not bound
Black flags flying all around
With careless cries the cruel rejoice
Kill the culture kill the voice
Chorus
But there was a time
When we lived here and loved here
We sang our song raised our voices high
Our story together
Defiant guardian proudly stands
Save the treasure the ancient land
Conceal emotion with no dissent
The anguished tears of our lament
Chorus
You yourself are lifetime
We will live anew
Golden in the sunlight
Keeper of the truth
Move the people move the stone
Old ways old life New fear new throne
Come the dawn we live to see
A victory claimed in misery
Pray to the sky as hope is gone
The broken lands fall one by one
Mindless view no time no trust
The temple gardens in the dust
Distorted theory blinded lies
The weeping ruins testify
Destroy the myth that cannot be
Rewriting truth and history
There will come a time
When we return here and love here
We’ll sing our song raise our voices high
Our story forever
You yourself are lifetime
We will live anew
Golden in the sunlight
Keepers of the truth
credits
from
Rise and Fall,
released February 22, 2020
John Holden - Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Programming
Oliver Day - Guitar solo
Nick D’Virgilio - Drums
Simon Fitzpatrick - Bass
Sally Minnear - Vocals
That Joe Payne - Vocals
Vikram Shankar - Piano & Keyboards
license
all rights reserved
