"Something Made You Stay" genre: Folk
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	In response to recent bombings of UN and Red Cross headquarters in Iraq, this song honors and remembers UN, Red Cross and NGO staff members everywhere who risk their lives to assist victims of war.
	CD: unreleased demo Credits: written, arranged, performed and recorded by Paul Meredith
	Story Behind the Song After 9-11, it takes a lot to shock. But I confess that I was very shocked and distressed to see news of the tragic and horrible August 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad. In addition to the loss of the Head of the Mission there, Sergio Viera de Mello, many good people were lost to us, professionals and staff members from all over the world whose presence in Iraq was a symbol of hope to many Iraqis who had suffered during the war, and who still need assistance now. In late October, the Red Cross HQ was attacked in Baghdad, leaving dozens killed and many more wounded. When agents of hope and healing, such as these organizations represent, become casualties of war's inhumane brutality, I feel that the loss is doubly tragic. I worked with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, for a number of years in Hong Kong, and assisted relief efforts in Macedonia and Serbia with a leading American NGO after the NATO campaign in 1999. In such situations the pressure and conflicts of having to deal with your own security while creating and maintaining emergency programs -- health, food, shelter, children's needs, so many essential services cut off when bombs fall -- is constant, oppressing, and a reality of the job. However inappropriate it may be to write about such a thing when many are still grieving -- I nevertheless resolved to write the song when my son had "UN Day" at his school in Shanghai. It was a beautiful and moving ceremony, the benefits of which, in encouraging a sense of world citizenship in children as well as affirming their national identity, I feel are incalculable. As I watched my son consider what it might mean to live in a world where all people really are part of a family, it gave me a sense of hope that I certainly would not get from watching the news. I wanted to try to write a song that can put some feelings across that I have about what these organizations do. Although the song questions why, with a world spinning out of control, we should have any hope left, I hope people, if they like the song, might find some hope through it. I guess that is ironic (and wordy), but there you go. Lyrics SOMETHING MADE YOU STAY 1. Too late to debate about the war When you had your chance you had your say, the bombs fell anyway And when they thought it was over, they asked for you The UN, Red Cross and all the rest For the sake of humanity you came and started picking up the mess Like you've done so many places before Working around war was nothing new You always took the risk to rebuild, even when you could only reach a few But when terror had its way that day, they took more than just you Can we ever believe again? Can we ever be naive again? Was it really just a dream, or did it almost seem that the nations could be one? You could've run, it would've been okay But something, something made you stay 2. Used to be in war, just soldiers would fight, and some would get killed It might have been glorious then -- now so many graves are filled with innocent men and children... it was them that made you want to serve So it took some nerve for them to strike at you You had no gun, no military plan, you did not go to fan the flame of hatred You were only there to heal Now who could feel anything but shame? Too shocked to even think about who or what's to blame We try to find our faith, but can it ever really be the same? Can we ever believe again? Can we ever be naive again? Was it really just a dream, or did it almost seem that the nations could be one? You wouldn't let your dream die that day Something, something made you stay 3. Without you in this world, where would we be? Without you in this world, what people can really say they're free? Without you in my world, what's the use -- what's the meaning of unity? Can we ever believe again? Can we ever be naive again? Was it really just a dream, or did it almost seem that the nations could be one? You wouldn't have it any other way Something, something made you stay c) Paul Meredith, 2003

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