I’d Rather Be Dancing (Rachel Corrie’s Song). By Jim Page

The words of this song by Jim Page are based on letters that Rachel Corrie wrote home to her parents, before she was crushed to death in March 2003 by an Israeli military bulldozer, which Rachel was trying to prevent demolishing the home of a Palestinian doctor. SEE () LYRICS: you know I was always the one I could never stand idly by and watch while the bullies beat up on the weaker ones I had to do something to try and I never gave up on people that we could be better somehow morality’s compass, you gave it to me I still follow it now well, I couldn’t stop thinking about it I couldn’t get it out of my mind the pictures, the stories, the plight of the people in occupied Palestine how my government makes me complicit with the political aid that they send so I packed up my bags and I headed to Rafa to work with the ISM and I’d rather be dancing, dancing and falling in love but if I just can just watch from a distance then what am I made of mama these people are so good to me they treat me like one of their own they feed me and see to my needs and let me sleep in their home papa their lives are so hard the gun shots night the road blocks, the strip searches, the humiliations papa it just isn’t right I can feel my privilege around me it’s there in my American face I could wave my passport around like a flag and I would be safe in this place for these child soldiers of Israel they look like the boys back home and if it wasn’t for American money they’d have to leave these people alone and I’d rather be dancing, dancing to Pat Benatar but somebody has to do somethin’ about it and here we are the tractors are coming today they’re like tanks with bulldozer blades the name on the side says Caterpillar that means they’re American made well, I am American too and I’ll be where everybody can see so if they want to run over these houses today they’re gonna have to run over me it’s dangerous takin’ a stand but it’s dangerous running away sometimes you have to face up to the danger there is just no other way for there are such beautiful dreams I have seen the eyes of a child and if I can just make one little difference then I think my life is worth while and I’d rather be dancing, but instead I’m saying goodbye but we’ll meet again when it’s over, don’t cry and I’d rather be dancing, and surely we’d all rather be and one day we’ll dance in a world that’s peaceful and free