Jerusalem.

from Acre of Salt. Deluxe by Ben Zaidi

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lyrics

I don’t know where to go
I barely know where I’m coming from
I never met my grandfather, from whom I got my name
But the marquee letters spell “Zaidi” all the same
He was born before partition, in a town called Ajmer
Militias stormed his school, so the family fled to Pakistan
And me I’ve never been there, I don't know what it smells like
And when I say his name out loud I can’t pronounce it right

Sometimes I feel like Jerusalem
There’s 3 religions trickling through my veins
Sometimes I feel like Jerusalem
By the time they can sort it out, there'll be nothing left to claim

Manzur can you hear me ?
I’m speaking through the breeze

My father went to tuesday school
His teacher there had numbers on his arm
The day I took my mother’s name, he called me on the phone
A chill was in your voice, as if the words had turned to snow
And I don’t wanna do this excavation anymore
I’m stepping into salt & sand, whichever way I go

Sometimes I feel like Jerusalem
There’s 3 divisions clawing at my name
Sometimes I feel like Jerusalem
By the time you can sort it out, there’ll be nothing left to claim

Father can you forgive me ?
I’m speaking through the breee

The census form came in the mail
I always hated filling out these things
There's no word for what I am, so I’ll turn the letters loose
I’ll snap in half the hyphens, tear the terms out at the root
Being mixed is a mixed blessing, in a world that makes you choose
The more history you have, the more you have to lose

Sometimes I feel like Jerusalem
There’s 3 traditions tugging at my sleeve
Sometimes I feel like Jerusalem
By the time I can sort it out, there'll be nothing left of me

America can you see me ?
I’m speaking to the breeze

credits

from Acre of Salt. Deluxe, released November 18, 2022

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Ben Zaidi Seattle, Washington

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