The Garden, a PJ Harvey Discussion Site

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/a ... aamer-song" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

'Aamer has been detained in Guantánamo for more than 11 years, despite being cleared for release in 2007, and remains imprisoned without charge or trial.'

Lyric sheet:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/intera ... yric-sheet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Shaker Aamer - PJ Harvey



Thank you Polly

http://www.stereogum.com/1425271/pj-har ... amer/mp3s/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for the info!!

Wow! Great song. Even more directly political than LES.

Love it! She's an extraordinary person. <3

Happy early birthday to me!

Shaker Aamer - PJ Harvey

No water for three days.
I cannot sleep, or stay awake.

Four months hunger strike.
Am I dead, or am I alive?

With metal tubes we are force fed.
I honestly wish I was dead.

Strapped in the restraining chair.
Shaker Aamer, your friend."

In Camp 5, eleven years.
Never charged. Six years cleared.

They took away my one note pad,
and then refused to give it back.

I can’t think straight, I write, then stop.
Your friend Shaker Aamer. Lost.

The guards just do what they’re told,
the doctors just do what they’re told.

Like an old car I’m rusting away.
Your friend, Shaker. Guantanamo Bay."

Don’t forget.

(in the original lyric sheet, the underlined here were indented to emphasize those words)

mickeyskippycat wrote:Shaker Aamer - PJ Harvey

(in the original lyric sheet, the underlined here were indented to emphasize those words)

I think the words you underline are the ones by Polly, and the rest of the song is made of quotes by Shaker Aamer himself.

Some pathetic trolling on the comments feed under the original Guardian article, btw.

If you're interested, here's Amnesty International's page on Shaker Aamer, including information on how to make your own voice heard (alongside Polly):

http://action.amnesty.org.uk/ea-action/ ... tAodKBgAPA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What does she sing after the first part? "Fade away"?

Great song, BTW

from .net - http://www.pjharvey.net/news.asp?newsid=1049&year=2013

NEWS 2013

PJ Harvey records new song for Guantanamo detainee Shaker Aamer

PJ Harvey has recorded an exclusive song in support of the last remaining British resident in the US prison at Guantanamo Bay. ‘Shaker Aamer’ is available here as a free download and stream.


Clive Stafford Smith, Reprieve’s Director and lawyer for Shaker Aamer, said: “We hope that people listen to this song and think about Shaker Aamer’s plight: detained for eleven long years at Guantanamo, without charge or trial – despite having been cleared for release by both Bush and Obama. The UK Government must do everything it can to bring Shaker back home to his wife and kids in London, where he belongs. PJ Harvey has written a wonderful song - I know Shaker will be deeply moved by it - and I only hope that, with the support of the public, he will one day be able to listen to it in freedom."

Shaker Aamer has been detained in Guantanamo since 2002. He has four British children – the youngest of whom he has never met – and a British wife who all live in London. The UK government has repeatedly stated that they want Shaker back in the UK and last week the US announced it is to restart transfers from the prison, beginning with two Algerian men. Yet Shaker remains locked away without charge or trial. He is one of over half the detainees on hunger strike in protest at their indefinite and illegal detention.

Is this a new song really? or its from Lets England Shake not released? Somebody knows?

The copyright on the lyrics says 2013. She recorded it specifically for this particular cause.