Can You Imagine

Can You Imagine? This title is taken from a commissioned work premiered by Vancouver Children’s Choir in December 2001. It was dedicated to Nadia, a ten year old girl from Afghanistan, who lived in Faizabad refugee camp in 2001.

(1)
Can you imagine a land far away,
A land without love and a land all in ruin?
Where streets are all rubble, no children at play,
Can you imagine a land so far away?

(2)
Can you imagine a life full of fear,
A life with no parents and a life all in ruin?
No visits with granny, nor friends we hold dear,
Can you imagine a life so full of fear?

(Chorus I)
Cry out! Let’s cry out for freedom!
Let’s cry out! Let’s cry out for justice!
Cry out! Cry out! We’re in this together,
We can help all the children to…
Cry out! Cry out! And tell all our friends,
A NEW TIME is at birth…

(3)
Can you imagine no music all day,
A day with no dancing or singing with friends?
Other harsh rules, no kite flying at play,
But can you imagine no music all day?

(Chorus II)
Cry out! Let’s cry out for freedom!
Let’s cry out! Let’s cry out for justice!
Cry out! Cry out! We’re in this together,
We can help all the children to…
Cry out! Cry out! We’re all in this family,
Our family’s called Earth, so let’s…
Cry out! Cry out! And tell all our friends,
A NEW TIME is at birth…

(4)
There’s no need to imagine a land far away,
Children without love, full of fear and in ruin.
There’s no need to imagine they struggle everyday,
Cause this is no fable, a land not so far away.

(Chorus III - Final)
Cry out! Let’s cry out for freedom!
Let’s cry out! Let’s cry out for justice!
Cry out! Cry out! We’re in this together,
We can help all the children to…
Cry out! Cry out! We’re all in this family,
Our family’s called Earth, so let’s…
Cry out! Cry out! And tell all our friends,
A NEW TIME, A NEW TIME is at birth…
Cry out! Cry out!
Cry out! Cry out!