SoNG 007 "Beth's Song"

Video: Seneca Army Depot truck gate, August 1, 1983 - Women's Video Collective
Music: Helen and Hershe from Peace Camp Sings, 1986 - produced by Sorrel Hays and Marilyn Reis

BETH'S SONG: A PEACE DYKE BALLAD
by Helen Freedwomon AKA Helen Chaya

"I wrote this song in 1986 after Beth, a woman at Greenham, stood trial for trespass and "destruction of property." Some of the words were based on things she said in the courtroom."
~ Helen Chaya


When you rape the earth you rape my body.
I can feel her trembling in my soul.
As you rip her roots you clog my Lifestream
with your poison weapons of control.
You say you only follow orders,
it's just your job a day's routine.
To kill and justify the murder
as you guard and drive your Death Machine

Chorus:
Your strength is an illusion.
Your lies are an intrusion
on my life my Sacred Space.
And the words we've written on your Doors to Destruction
might be wiped clean but their truth can't be erased.

You'd rip me open like a test site.
Colonize my body like the land.
With the law protecting your need for the might
to make sure we know who's in command
Then you dare to say I damage property
while you destroy and damage lives
And you may swear to God I'm guilty
but I say it's you who's being tried.

The truth is stronger.
Women are stronger
than any force you exert
Ours is the power of the wind and the water
love for our sisters
and our love for the Earth.

And you think you're gonna stop me
with your laws you walls your prison bars.
But as I rise up in this struggle to be Free
I'll expose your lies for what they are.
And I'll be back to cut your fences
each hole Restoring Sacred Ground.
Cut through your lies and pretences
'till all the Walls of Fear come down.

The truth is stronger.
Women are stronger
than any force you exert
Ours is the power of the wind and the water
love for our sisters
and our love for the Earth.

*Remember when you first heard this song? Remember times you sang it or heard it sung? Share your story with the rest of us by commenting on this here blog. Click on "comments" below, write what you have to say in the box, click on "other," write in your name, skip the "your web page" (unless you have one...), type in the letters of the "word verification" (so advertising machines don't bombard us) and then click on "publish your comments." YOU DID IT! If that doesn't work for you, you can always email us at peacecampherstory@yahoo.com!