It’s hard to believe this atrocity continues. We released In The Silence just after the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - hopefully there’s a chance this unlawful conflict will end soon.
Like so many of us who’ve been watching the tragedy in Ukraine, I felt hopeless, ‘How could I help’ - so I listened to everyday Ukrainians that were interviewed, and I decided to write this song with their conversations in mind. One conversation that hit hard was with a 90 year old woman who said, “It was in the silence, the waiting, the calm before the chaos I couldn’t stand.” That would become the genesis of this song. At the end I chose the first section of the Ukrainian national anthem and played them on bells with some intentional dissonance.
We recorded In The Silence in our little home studio.
“Fill the silence with your music. Fill it today to tell our story. Tell the truth about the war on your social networks, on TV, support us in any way you can, but not in silence. And then peace will come to all our cities.” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Fredrick Brooks - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/Bass/Keys
Joy Brooks - Harmonies
Chris Pezzarello - Drums/Harmonies
Produced/Mastered by Fredrick Brooks and Chris Pezzarello
Written by Fredrick and Joy Brooks
Cover Art by Joy Brooks
This weeks prose, Whole Earth - One Breath is from one of my early journals. I thought the theme would be positive counterpoint to this weeks release.
<Click here to listen to In the Silence>
IN THE SILENCE
(For the people’s of the Ukraine)
Outside the warlord rolls - devil’s dice for innocent souls
We now hear his lowly voice
For the brave stand ready to fight
Hands joined by the power of life
And in the silence - In the Chaos - Defiance is born
Chorus
These are the victims - The innocent ones
These are the victims - of war.
As prayers rise into Kiev skies - Bombs fall the innocent die
And peace is a broken word - And here lies an empty room
A lost home - a city in ruin
And in the Silence - In the Chaos - Babies are born
Chorus
I can’t believe this - Oh I can’t believe
A bullet flies - steals away the years
Memories rise turn to tears
And in the Silence - In the Chaos - Sorrow is born
Chorus
Ukraine National Anthem (bells)
© Fredrick and Joy Brooks 2022
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Whole Earth - One Breath
Speak of flowers, blue skies
Of going forward with regard for each other
This is the voice that speaks to us all…
You may ask
“Of what value do you hold?”
When it’s known we share hearts, bodies, and souls
We run together as time rages its imperfect storm
We should listen to the voice of unyielding youth
That cries from our common beginnings
© Fredrick Brooks