On March 6, my band Iraqis in Pajamas is releasing a new album, ‘Til You Can Dance Again, in tribute to the victims of the Oct 7 massacre. The album started with this song as a poem in my journal. I was in such a traumatized head space and shut down that while I started writing the song in October, I could not finish it.
Then a series of experiences and contemplations led me to break free from the grip of despair, and suddenly an album full of songs gushed out of me like Niagra Falls. Below are the lyrics for this song, and in the audio clip above, you can get a preview of the song with my full band – our first stab and arranging the music! Disclaimer: The recording is VERY ROUGH, includes a metronome, and is an unmixed, unmastered version. It’s inviting you into our process of creating new music!
If you’d like to help me raise the $5000 I need to produce the album, please consider becoming or upgrading as a KHAZZOOM patron, and please let your friends know about my Patreon page!
Dear Hostages
As the world rallies to celebrate your desecration
I will not forsake you
My instinct is to deprive myself of oxygen
Because you are underground
And I will not forget you
But I know that you would dance
In the sun
If given the chance
So now I rise up
And dance for you
Beat the vibrations
Of my heart
Into this drum
Send them across the world to you
Dear Hostages
As the world rallies to celebrate your desecration
I will not forsake you
As I fall asleep
In my warm soft bed
I lie awake
Thinking of you
In the cold hard tunnels
With your captors
Horrified
What are they doing to you
I feel it in my body
Standing not only with
But inside you
But I know
It’s not helpful
To self-destruct
For me to go down too
Dear Hostages
As the world rallies to celebrate your desecration
I will not forsake you
So I will write you love songs
That I hope
You’ll one day read
Frolic in the colors
Of trees on fire
Shedding splendid leaves
Run through the waves
Of the ocean
My dog running next to me
Amplify my celebration of Life
With the prayer that
You’ll soon be free
Dear Hostages
As the world rallies to celebrate your desecration
I will not forsake you
©2023 by Loolwa Khazzoom. All rights reserved.