United Nations say they're going home

March 11: United Nations say they're going home

(FREDERICK and SIAMA at demonstration. He has his guitar slung over his back. Arabic music plays in the background.)

SIAMA:

I've just heard, Fred, the UN is withdrawing its children's workers.

FREDERICK:

Oh, shit. That means they know the balloon's about to go up.

SIAMA:

Yes, I'm afraid it's war.

FREDERICK (sings):

United Nations say they’re going home,

they’re going home,

they’re going home.

United Nations say they’re going home,

but we’re gonna stay right here.

We’re gonna stay right here, right here,

we’re gonna stay right here.

United Nations say they’re going home,

but we’re gonna stay right here.

SIAMA:

And Keith's saying we should all go too.

FREDERICK (continues singing; as he sings, other Shields gather round and join in):

Keith O'Brien says he’s going home,

he’s going home,

he’s going home.

(Everyone laughs.)

Keith O'Brien says he ’s going home,

but we’re gonna stay right here.

We’re gonna stay right here, right here,

we’re gonna stay right here.

Keith O'Brien says he’s going home,

but we’re gonna stay right here.

IRAQI (broken accent):

The Iraqi people say we want peace,

we want peace,

we want peace.

The Iraqi people say they want peace,

so we’re gonna stay right here.

We’re gonna stay right here, right here,

we’re gonna stay right here.

The Iraqi people say we want peace,

so we’re gonna stay right here.

ROSEMARY:

Come on Fred, We shall overcome.

(sings; FREDERICK picks up the key and plays and sings along with her; others join in)

We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome some day.

Deep in my heart, I know that I do believe,

We shall overcome some day.

We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace, we shall live in peace some day.

Deep in my heart, I know that I do believe,

We shall overcome some day.

FREDERICK:

And here's the verse Pete Seeger added, I think it applies to all of us:

We are not afraid, we are not afraid, we are not afraid today.

Deep in my heart, I know that I do believe,

We shall overcome some day.

(to audience)

Come on, everybody.

We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome some day.

Deep in my heart, I know that I do believe,

We shall overcome some day.

(Walks off, singing)

United Nations say they’re going home,

they’re going home,

they’re going home.

United Nations say they’re going home,

but we’re gonna stay right here.

We’re gonna stay right here, right here,

we’re gonna stay right here.

United Nations say they’re going home,

but we’re gonna stay right here.

SIAMA (to audience):

Actually, the rumour wasn't true. The UN didn't pull out until over a week later, just before the bombs started falling. By then, Frederick had left, too.