Crayons and Paper

Crayons and Paper
09/22/2005
by Tom Flannery copyright 2005

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I've been asked to provide music for an upcoming documentary by Chicago filmmaker Bruce David Janu
dealing with the genocide happening right now in Sudan. This song deals with extraordinary crayon
drawings made by some 170 children from the Darfur region. You can view the drawings here.

We welcome your comments.

Helicopters in the sky
mounted guns and mother's cry
if this is war please tell me why
we're the only ones allowed to die
give me crayons and paper
I'll draw what I see
if I close my eyes
can you still see me?

Again we all scatter at night
in daylight hope to reunite
the prayers I do recite
maybe we should all re-write
give me crayons and paper
and let me rest my head
then I'll draw you pictures
where nobody is dead

shades of color
shades of gray
the birds fly in
but they don't stay
the blood in red
the guns in black
can't draw the screams
you should know that...by now

If I could draw you my eyes
so you could see from the inside
all the colors would collide
can you say you really tried?
give me crayons and paper
and when my trembling hand
stops all it's shaking
I'll draw you my land

shades of color
shades of gray
the birds fly in
but they don't stay
the blood in red
the guns in black
can't draw the screams
you should know that...by now

give me crayons and paper
I'll draw what I see
if I close my eyes
can you still see me?