Words and Music: Randall Effner
Vocals: Sara Effner
Guitar: Randall Effner
Erhu: Jin Pang
Something is tragically amiss in a country when one can be singled out and attacked as a threat to the ruling regime&9s existence simply for being a good person who lives according to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Such is the case in Communist China, where Falun Gong practitioners have been brutally persecuted since 1999. Moreover, after promising the world it would improve its human rights record if allowed to host the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese regime then used the Olympics as a pretext for ramping up its efforts to eradicate Falun Gong.
This song portrays the anguish and suffering of family members who have been torn apart over nine years of persecution. Although we are highlighting only a few stories here, in fact there are hundreds of thousands of similar cases, and we urge everyone to get involved and support efforts to free these innocent people.
Sign petition here: http://sites.google.com/site/helprescueourmothers/petition
The inspiration for this song came from a touching letter published on the Clearwisdom website that was written by a practiitioner in the United States to her mother, imprisoned in China. Also, we&9d like to thank Ms. Jin Pang, a graduate student at Missouri State University, for contributing her skills on the traditional Chinese instrument, the erhu. Jin has a special reason for joining us, as her mother, Cao Junping, and her aunt were both arrested right before the Olympics. Jin has not been able to contact her mother since she was taken away by the police in July of 2008.
Lyrics:
Dear Mother, when I fell asleep last night
I dreamed we were sitting &9neath a shade tree
Your smile was so real and so bright
I heard you say, "Don&9t worry about me."
The Autumn Festival was held today
Reminding me of all my precious loved ones
And how we spent this joyous holiday
Eating moon cakes at our family home in Dunhuang
Chorus
But you are still in China, and I am overseas
When will the labor camp let you come home
If I could only hear some news it would put my mind at ease
Six months of silence fills my heart with pain
Oh how I long to see you once again.
If you renounced your faith they&9d set you free
But Mother you would take a righteous stance
And say that you&9ll believe eternally
In Truth, Compassion and Forbearance
Dear Mother you were always there for me
How I wish that I could be there for you
But our hearts are united &9cross the sea
Which gives us both the strength to make it through
Repeat Chorus
But you are still in China, and I am overseas
When will the labor camp let you come home
If I could only hear some news it would put my mind at ease
Six months of silence fills my heart with pain
Oh how I long to see you once again.