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Calls in Conflict

from NorthStream by Christina Nordstrom

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Calls in Conflict

One version of the traditional folk song, The Cruel War, has a verse where, after “Johnny” agrees that his love may go to war with him, the young woman in the song is actually shot and killed in battle. (Am I the only one that didn’t know that women served in combat in the U. S. Civil War fighting right alongside men?) At the time when I was thinking about working on an arrangement for the song, the world news reported that a woman in a U. S. Army supply unit was captured in the first Iraq war. As I often do when considering writing a song, I started “trying on that soldier’s mother’s shoes.” What might have been their conversation before she enlisted in the Army? Could the mother support her daughter’s decision to join the war effort?

lyrics

Calls in Conflict

Just got the call that she’s leaving on Sunday.
Go tell her children, they’re waiting to know.
See if her brother can drive to the station,
but, please understand that I just cannot go.

I begged her not to enlist in the Army.
She was determined to prove to herself
that for the conflict she’s equally worthy.
But, what does that cost? What’s a life worth?

They say: “If war is the answer [we need a new question]” –
a praxis of peace where we join other hands;
a doctrine of Love’s non-resistance to evil –
evil that’s sanctioned by church or this land.

She accused me, said I’m not patriotic.
I knew her challenge still spoke of her youth.
But it’s precisely for love of this country:
“... do justice, love kindness, walk humbly [in Truth].” (Micah 6:8)

Just got the call – she’s returning tomorrow.
Don’t tell the children; in time they will know.
But help them remember how she used to love them.
I love her still, though I must let her go.
Help them remember that she’ll always love them.
I love her still, as I now let her go.

credits

from NorthStream, released January 26, 2017

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Christina Nordstrom Boston, Massachusetts

In addition to three solo albums (Songs for the Journey Home, Kids’ Songs, and North Stream) this collection written by Chris Nordstrom includes two projects and a single recorded by Earth Harmony: Field Work (Nordstrom, Ted Mello, Michelle Glidden), Earth Harmony Sampler (Nordstrom, Ted Mello, Ric Bailey), and Rock, Paper, Scissors (Nordstrom, Ric Bailey, Michelle Glidden, Bruce Joy). ... more

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