We all saw those planes flying into buildings
Blowing up thousands of innocent civilians
There's a tidal wave of grief rippling out from ground zero
And when it crashes down it's going to kill more innocent people

And all the murderous rage in my reptile brain
Wants me to join in the fray and kill and hate
But my soul knows violence is a two edged blade
With no handle that stabs our own hand as we rage

Turning red looking for revenge
Turning white paralyzed with fright
Then turning blue as depression buries you

I saw Ghandi die hugging his assassin
Chanting the name of God with love and passion
He kept the peace while he was being clubbed
He changed the world with a real fierce love

And Holy War is an oxymoron
When love is in your heart you just go on and on
And make the best of what is left
Pick up the threads and weave a stronger web

Turning red as you fight to mend
Turning white as you surrender to the light
Then turning blue as the healing water flows through

I saw Tibetan monks who were prisoners of war
They had their whole culture raped and destroyed
And they're grinning, sleeping sound and laughing with joy
They pray for Chinese torturers they have transformed horror

I know the rest of us are not all that different
We're all made with the same strength but it may have gotten hidden
It may take a tragedy to dig it out
But once you know your golden soul you lose all doubt

You turn red a fire in your head
You turn white flooding with light
You turn blue and the truth comes shining through

And Jesus was gone when they rolled back that rock
His soul transformed his body and left a snapshot on that cloth
He took the worst that this world has to offer
And calmly rose above it all showing us what is possible

And Satan was a fallen angel
And Jesus kept Judas at the table
Their passion play couldn't be made alone
Good and Evil both have a role

Turning into Noah's broad rainbow
Turning into a melting pot of soul
The Dove of Peace flies after the storm

I wrote this song a couple of months after the 911 attacks. I was somewhat shocked by the seeming abscence of a peace movement in the chaos that's ensued. Granted, there's never been such a gut wrenching and evil attack on US. But I guess I expected to see more active advocacy for peace and alternative responses. I guess it boiled down to the fact that most people are more utilitarian and flexible in their ethics when push comes to shove. Our ideals and principles of non-violence have a tendency to fly out the window when WE are personally under attack. This hesitancy with peacful idealism I thought was particularly evident when U2, in the benefit concert played the very beginning of "Peace on Earth" and then quickly switched to "Walk On" before they reached the deep meaningful and moving content. Then, I thought for sure they'd play it at the SuperBowl when the names of all the 911 dead were scrolling over their heads- The plea for peace and an end to terrorist tit for tat "They're calling names out on the radio" would have been a perfect lyrical match But they launched into their most popular song "Where the Streets Have No Name" A total disconnect and a missed opportunity to collectively move away from anger and flag waving to healing. But then it was the Stupor Bowl...what was I thinking? And why was I watching...Deeper Questions emerge. Did they play it at the Grammy's? I was working and missed them. It's such a powerful song. Anyways, when I wrote this song I couldn't sing it for several weeks without crying. It was good therapy as I was getting very dispirited by the war abroad and at home. We had a parallel trauma process going on with the drug addicts I work with. Many of them have severe PTSD and they got triggered and went off the deep end after 911. Now, things are settling down and I'm back to believing in peace and I can sing my song more stridently. Especially now that I've been dreaming about nuclear bombs. Peace