Union Songs

John Lennon

A song by Jack Warshaw©Jack Warshaw 2010

John Lennon imagined there could be no religion
Blown down in New York City as he stepped from his door
He wanted to live in a world without fear
With freedom to dream we can make love not war

But it’s not safe, no it’s not safe
It’s not safe to be a Muslim in this free country

It was just last year, not many miles away
This young man living in a poor part of town
Decay all around him, nothing to believe in
Is there anyone out there who can turn him around?

Then one day he met a young band of believers
Who looked to a Prophet to guide them each day
He followed their path and soon was converted
They all came together to talk and to pray

When the cops found out he’d converted to Islam
They vowed he’d regret betraying his kind
Under suspicion, maybe even a terrorist
He has to be watched and the law’s on our side

From the Secret Service an order was issued
Electronic tagging to keep him from flight
Detained like a prisoner, doors closed all around him
Control and confinement by day and by night

The months passed so slowly, time almost stood still
No sign of a crime was ever made known
Then came the day in the depths of despair
He made his escape and went on the run

He knew that so soon they were bound to trace him
So he went to the law to turn himself in
They jailed him and charged him with breaking the order
And left him to guess when his trial would begin

The day finally came, the judge gave his verdict
Dismissing all charges, he was free once again
And if John Lennon’s ghost is watching from somewhere
Let’s hope that his life was not given in vain

Notes

Many thanks to Jack Warshaw for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection

Jack provides the following background:
The Guardian 22 February 2008. The high court today quashed a control order restricting the movements of a British convert to Islam on the grounds there was "no reasonable suspicion" that he was planning to travel abroad to engage in terrorist activity.
Cerie Bullivant, 25, from Dagenham, Essex said he was pulled into "the depths of despair" after MI5 alleged that the order was necessary because of suspicions that he planned to travel to Iraq or Afghanistan. Mr Justice Collins, sitting at London's high court, lifted the order, which had been imposed under anti-terrorism laws. He said there was "no reasonable suspicion" to support the order.
Lawyers for Bullivant had argued the accusations were "baseless" and that he was the victim of an abuse of power.Towards the end of last year, Bullivant attempted suicide while being held in Belmarsh prison.

See more of Jack Warshaw's work in this collection.

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union songs..........a selection by mark gregory