Music: Stephen Fiske, Video: Robert Corsini
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP) asked our resident folksinger, Stephen Fiske, and our videographer, Robert Corsini, to create this song and video for our third annual protest against Guantanamo held on Jan. 11, 2014. We are thrilled with the results and thank all those who supported this effort, particularly the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. Robert’s comments and the lyrics:
I am introducing a music video project, Close Guantanamo, which I have just completed with filmmaker Robert Corsini. The project is based upon the popular Cuban folk song, Guantanamera — and is dedicated to the life and work of the late Pete Seeger. Guantanamo Prison represents the lowest levels that human intention and endeavor can reach.
Thank you for reviewing this video. Listen and watch and share it in your communities and circles, support peace and justice efforts, go to gatherings, and remember how Pete would say, “Sing it Out”.
Yours in Peace,
Stephen Longfellow Fiske
Lyrics for “Close Guantanamo”
derived from and sung to the melody of “Guantanamera”
words by Stephen Longfellow Fiske
On this beautiful island
Where the shore meets the shimmering sea
There is a nightmare upon us
A deep plague on our humanity
A house of torture, of cruelty and pain
Which every day brings the USA shame
Chorus:
We’ve got to close Guantanamo, we’ve got to close Guantanamo Close Guantanamo, we’ve got to close Guantanamo
Detainees held without charges
In a legal black hole to plead for their plight
Locked in indefinite detention
In violation of all human rights
In violation of international law
In violation of all conventions of war
(repeat chorus)
2.7 million dollars per detainee
454 million cost annually
taxpayers bilked for the spending
to see the war machine run without ending
only making our longest war longer
only inciting the hate to get stronger
(repeat chorus)