What Did I Miss? (My Iraqi War Diary, Part 2)

Lyrical Tease
What did I miss? Nothing much:
People still get born, and then they get old,
while OJs’ search for the killers has grown pretty cold.
What did I miss? Nothing much:
the Macarena, and Double Dutch, nothing much.

Credits:
Words & Music,
Performance,
Production: Rob Frail

Awards

5/31/07 Finalist American Songwriter Magazines’ Lyric Contest, July/August 2007

Back Story

In early June, 2003, my bandmate Tom and I were reading the paper while having pizza before a rehearsal. We came across an article about a man in Iraq who had just emerged from the living room wall of his parents home, to which he retreated 21 years ago, after Saddam Hussein ordered his execution for supporting an outspoken Shia cleric. His name is Jawad Amir, and he often passed the time by listening to the radio (see photos at the link above).

After emerging from the wall after 21 years, his mother felt like she had given birth to him again.

The weekend before, I attended a screening of ‘Gigantic,’ the movie biography of They Might Be Giants (one of our favs), which was very inspiring, esp. the part where they wrote a song a day for their Dial-A-Song service. So I was on big a songwriting kick.

After reading the article, I said ‘now that’s a song!’ and by the end of July, it was. The result was a playful, Talking Heads kinda thing. My girlfriend at the time, Elisa, suggested I add a serious verse, and that’s why there’s a 3rd verse. It adds a nice balance, don’t you think?

Lyrics

Verse 1
I am Jawad Amir, I’m here to testify I spoke against Saddam, so he said I must die.
I fled to my parents, and after writing my will, I climbed into a wall near the window sill.
It’s been 21 years living inside my wall, hoping for the day that Saddam would fall.
The US invaded and the Guard all ran; my legs are a little stiff, but here I am.
I’m feeling OK, but answer me this:

Chorus 1
What did I miss? Nothing much: People still get born, and then they get old,
while OJs’ search for the killers has grown pretty cold.
What did I miss? Nothing much: Madonna, Brittany, Yanni, Cher, The Smiths, & The Cure,
Techno, Rap, New Age, & The Stones ‘last’ tour.
What did I miss? Nothing much: the Macarena, and Double Dutch,
Nothing much, nothing much, nothing much, nothing much.

Verse 2
You’d think that living in a wall is a curse, but it beats an Iraqi prison (or even worse).
I fixed it up with curtains and some building caulk; if my neighbors couldn’t see me, then no one could talk.
You’d think there’s not much freedom withiin 2 1/2 feet, but I had my Koran, and something to eat.
Some people call me the Ann Frank of Iraq; I’m just glad they didn’t bomb my block.
I’m feeling OK, but answer me this:

Chorus 2
What did I miss? Nothing much: a few presidents, and maybe a pope, they fixed the Hubble telescope.
What did I miss? Nothing much: the Yankees won it 4 years in a row, but the subway series was a no-go.
What did I miss? Nothing much: they got these computers and gadgets and such,
Nothing much, nothing much, nothing much, nothing much.

Chorus 3
What did I miss? Much too much: some dissidents smashed, some Kurds were gassed.
What did I miss? Much too much: sorry to say some dear friends have passed.
What did I miss? Much too much: your little baby girl became a doctor last year.
What did I miss? Much too much: your best friend Ahmad has disappeared.
What did I miss? Much too much: there’re just so many with whom we’ve lost touch.
It’s just too much, it’s just too much, it’s much too much, it’s much too much.