Carly Sheehan: A Nation Rocked to Sleep

[paineinthearse]

Received by email from local peace group. Did a search of all DU forums, but did not see a prior post.

I did a little googling and found the original source to be from http://www.angelfire.com/sk3/spkhntrca/Casey.html, CASEY'S PEACE PAGE, which appears to be run by "Auntie", either a member of the Sheehan family or a family friend. =========================================================

A Nation Rocked to Sleep
By Carly Sheehan
Sister of Casey KIA 04/04/04
Sadr City, Baghdad

Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
The torrential rains of a mother's weeping will never be done
They call him a hero, you should be glad that he's one, but
Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?

Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
He must be brave because his boy died for another man's lies
The only grief he allows himself are long, deep sighs
Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?

Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
They say that he died so that the flag will continue to wave
But I believe he died because they had oil to save
Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?

Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?
The leaders want to keep you numb so the pain won't be so deep
But if we the people let them continue another mother will weep
Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?



Common Dreams 6/16/04 - http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/views04/0616-07.htm

Listen: mp3 audio file - 2.2 MB

chords - http://dolphyn.com/songs/Dolphyn/ANationRockedToSleep

edit: Added source, graphic & links to mp3 & chords.

[mourningdove92]

1. NOMINATED, through tears.

[skylarmae]

4. that makes two of us

WOW!

[glarius]

2. Beautifully said.....

:cry:

[Cyrano]

3. The saddest part is that our criminal in chief will never shed a tear

for any victim of his insanity.

[tk2kewl]

5. I did see this here last week, but I don't see any reason

not to post it every day. :cry:

[wake.up.america]

6. No, the idiot just wants to continue on with his life.

The President of the United States cant't be bothered.

A Freeper will need someone to help her/him sometime and Bush won't have the time. Don't be surprised.

Boy, Bush's kids must be totally screwed up.

[Toots]

7. I wonder...Do the cries of Iraqi mothers count?

:-(

[paineinthearse]

8. A Nation Rocked To Sleep - guitar chords

http://dolphyn.com/songs/Dolphyn/ANationRockedToSleep

A Nation Rocked To Sleep
Words: Carly Sheehan (see Casey's Peace Page)
Music: Brett Garrett (November 2004)
Listen: mp3 audio file - 2.2 MB - http://dolphyn.com/songs/Dolphyn/a_nation_rocked_to_sleep.mp3

Cindy Sheehan, the mother of Casey and Carly, read this poem at the Green Festival in San Francisco. I thought the words would lend themselves to music, and I was moved to create a song using Carly's words.

G D C D G Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
G D C D Em The torrential rains of a mother's weeping will never be done
G D C D Am They call him a hero, you should be glad that he's one, but
G D C D G Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?

G D C D G Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
G D C D Em He must be brave because his boy died for another man's lies
G D C D Am The only grief he allows himself are long, deep sighs
G D C D G Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?

G D C D G Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
G D C D Em They say that he died so that the flag will continue to wave
G D C D Am But I believe he died because they had oil to save
G D C D G Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?

G D C D G Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?
G D C D Em The leaders want to keep you numb so the pain won't be so deep
G D C D Am But if we the people let them continue another mother will weep
G D C D G Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?

G D C D G Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
G D C D Em And have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
G D C D Am Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
G D Have you ever heard the sound?
C D C D G Do you hear the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?

[PatrioticLeftie]

9. Beautiful

Simply beautiful

[Missy Vixen]

10. I tried to read this poem aloud to DH

a few nights ago. I couldn't even make it through the first few sentences without bursting into tears. I still can't read it without crying.

That said, I hope the poem is read far and wide. Carly's words show those of us who've never felt that pain a smidgen of what the loss of Casey must be like for her and for their family.

Julie

[paineinthearse]

11. Sent to several Cambridge-area folk musicians

Getting wonderful feedback. Many will be working this song into their playlist and helping spread Cindy's story.

[LibraLiz1973]

12. beautiful. true. and so sad