by Elaine Ernst Schneider
"She watches from the bay
With a look of dismay
on her face,
Her eyes fixed on the storm,
The fire raining down on you.And I wonder if she cried
For the pain she feels inside.
Will she help us make a stand
Against terror in our land?She stands out on the sea,
A symbol of freedom for you and for me.
The torch she holds in hand
Lights the path for the visits to our land.And I wonder if she cried
At the violence in our skies.
And I wonder of she cried
For all the people that have died.
And I say, "Yes. Oh, yes. She cried."
And I say, "Yes. Oh, yeah.
She cried for you; she cried for me.
Lady Liberty."Sorrow fills our land
From death and destruction brought on by a man.
Does she think we can survive
The rage and hatred brought on by these times?And I wonder if she cried
For the years we've let slip by.
And I wonder if she can
Keep us constant in our plans."Dear Lady, don't you cry.
Once again we grow strong and unite
For freedom in this land.
Hand in hand we can build it up again."And I wonder if she cried
From the pain she feels inside.
Will she help us take a stand
Against terror in our land?
And I say, "Yes. Oh, yes. She cries."
And I say, "Yes. Oh, yeah.
She cries for you; she cries for me.
Our Lady Liberty."
Dan Myers
Still reeling in the aftermath of an aggressive attack by terrorist forces, America has found ways to fight the pain, bury her dead, and ward off future evils. While government officials and grass roots patriots work side by side to protect, justify, and rebuild, songs of tribute flood U.S. airwaves. Candles glimmer. Guitar strings resonate. Voices join together to find outlets for our sorrow and resolve for a brighter future.
Dan Myers, the lead singer for Relative Minor, recently penned and debuted "Lady Liberty," a musical ballad expressing a gamut of emotional issues from the pain of loss to the hope for better days. The song has been heard nationally, and even as far away as Japan. Dan and Relative Minor began in central Pennsylvania, dubbing themselves a "No Holds Barred Rock 'n' Roll Band." Well, certainly no holds were barred with "Lady Liberty." Dan's rendition of the song is poignant and exact.
Americans have always had their songs of the times. "Yankee Doodle, "Star Spangled Banner," "Over There," "Remember Pearl Harbor"--all songs on American lips when faced with what seemed insurmountable odds. And let's not forget the songs that encouraged and brought hope, like "Sunny Side of the Street" from Depression days.
September 11, 2001 is a day that will be etched in American hearts for many years to come. I answered the phone to hear the panic-stricken voice of my high school daughter who was calling from school. "Mom?" she queried. "Our country is under attack. They're telling us at school that terrorists toppled the towers--that's the economy. And then they hit the Pentagon--that's our defense. What will we do?"
I thought for a moment. "My darling daughter," I began, "Do not forget in what country you live. This is America. They can knock down our economy but they cannot crush it. Americans are smart and there are no doubt off-site backup files to replace those that were demolished. And as for the Pentagon? Well, they can destroy records but they cannot take the plans from the minds of the great men who created them in the first place. Go back to your class and remind them that they are Americans." She hung up the phone and did just that.
I would add just one thing to what I told my daughter--You can't take the song out of an American's heart. Whether it's 1775 in the company of George Washington, on a ship with Frances Scott Key during the War of 1812, in 1917 on a Good Friday morning in April, or from the clearing smoke of Pearl Harbor, Americans have always had a song. Take heart. Light a candle and sing out for America.
Sing America is an excellent collection of American songs. Artists Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Leann Rimes, and Cher contribute patriotic favorites. Order it from Amazon.com.
To find out more about Dan and Relative Minor, go to www.geocities.com/relativeminor2000
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Elaine Ernst Schneider is a freelance writer and music teacher. She has been writing since high school and has published articles, songs, and children's work. Presently, Elaine is a curriculum author for Group Publishing and Managing Editor for www.lessontutor.com.
