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The Soldier's Lament

from The Sleepy Hollow Years by Sleepy Hollow

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This started out as a guitar song, but I decided to record the acoustic part on harp - a more ancient and evocative (and unusual in rock) instrument. The middle part is a "battle' between acoustic and electric instruments, representing conflict between the more developed world and the more traditional nations.

Lyrically, this was a reflection on the conflicts between the Muslim Middle-Eastern nations and Western (mostly Christian) world. This conflict has been going on since before there were Muslims and Christians. Our leaders like to divide us on ethnicity, religion, and culture, but in reality the conflict is often about land, resources, and "glory" - and those who make the decisions to fight and gain from the wars often keep themselves as far from the front lines as possible. Particularly senseless is the concept of one, omnpotent God that somehow isn't the God of all people, and doesn't have the power to kill those he doesn't like Himself - surely religious war only makes sense if your a polytheist or your God is too weak or indifferent to act on Its own?

lyrics

Blood on my hands, of a man I've been told is my foe
Although, not long ago, I knew nothing of his people's ways
And this man, before now, had known none from my land
But was taught by his elders he must hate all those of my kind

In a time not long past, a great empire we feared
With this land in its shadow, in risk of becoming a part
So our king sowed the seeds of dissent in this land
Finding those who sought conflict and selling them weapons of might

They've been told we break laws made by the One God Himself
If he's the One God of all, did he not make this man and I both?
If God's strength knows no bounds, why leave justice to Man?
Could it be that our kings use God's name for their own godless ends?

When a new king arose in this strange foreign land
He made plans to keep his kingdom's wealth in his own nation's bounds
And his people knew joy, in their own nation's health
Until one day a dagger of strange make cut their king's reign short

While the lords sit at home counting gold gained from foreign lands
Squeezed by their agents using methods now outlawed
The poor men of each nation must now be locked in fight
Knowing nought of each other but the sight of his blood

In the fields of the slain, all the blood's formed one pool
From soldiers of both sides who shall never return to their homes
In the towns near the war, even children were killed
While our kings and lords, safe at home, secretly plan the next war

credits

from The Sleepy Hollow Years, track released October 31, 2010

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Matt Schwarz Bridgewater Township, New Jersey

Matthew H Schwarz moves between (and combines) the musical genres of classical, progressive rock, traditional and original folk, and heavy metal. His main instruments are guitar, harp, and flute. Sheet music can be found at www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/matthew-h-schwarz-sheet-music/3006990. ... more

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