i refuse (song/audio) - in solidarity with refuseniks

you can also download it as an mp3 / ogg vorbis file here:

 http://www.ofek.com/200301.php

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i refuse (2003/1)

i was born in this place for a reason
to be here and now and to make a just choice
i'll provoke the rotten state
i will not cooperate
with violence and self-deception
and the criminals in office

my conscience is my only weapon
i won't take part in the occupation

i was raised to be naive and combative
but blind i am not i am human i am
i can tell what is right
i can see it is wrong
i will not be so passive
as to join into the sham

my conscience is my only weapon
i won't take part in the occupation

i prefer to be called one than be one
no matter what they say i am not a traitor
i will fast in my cell
until justice prevails
for the sake of my son
whom i promised a future

my conscience is my only weapon
i won't take part in the occupation

i am here to live and let live
i choose to oppose and refuse and resist
i oppose the oppressive
i refuse the repressive
i must not be aggressive
in my quest to coexist

my conscience is my only weapon
i won't take part in the occupation

* * *

participating instruments: corrugated cardboard box, 1 gallon glass jug, tuba, accordion, soprano recorder, and rusty human voice.

featuring the voice of haggai matar, yaniv itzkovitz, david zonshein, noam wiener, amit mashiah, and robin damelin (mother to david damelin r.i.p.)

it was composed for instruments that are not dependant on electric energy, that are available or borrowable in most place for low/no cost, and that animal products were not used in their production.

i also tried to make it easy to be performed by other people, though like always in my music, one has to get used to the idea that a melody, which usually has more than one note, can have more than one rhythmic time signature and tempo. feel free to download the score (tif file) and give it a try.


"stop the train. get off the train. the next stop - nuclear disaster."
-- mordechai vanunu, israeli nuclear technician and whistle blower.