Frederick Emerson Small (born 1952), known publicly as Fred Small is an American singer-songwriter. He began his career as a lawyer and later became a minister at the Unitarian First Parish Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
This song is on his 1988 album "I Will Stand Fast", a collection of songs with strong moral messages. In the early 1980s he was involved in the civil rights movement in the USA, and in that connection he learned of the rescue of the Danish Jews. He said, ”I wrote the song because I wanted to provide an alternative to the dominant narrative that during the holocaust, no one helped the Jews. Sadly, this was often the case: the lack of moral courage by gentiles under the Nazis is deeply troubling. But it was not always the case, and the Danish counter-example is very powerful – a model and inspiration to us all.”
This song was suggested by Jennifer Burdoo.
Lyrics and chords:
Em
It's Eichmann and Himmler are turning the screws;
……………………………....…. B7
The Fuhrer they say grows impatient.
Em
"How can it be Denmark's Jews still walk free
…………………..……….....…. B7
After three years of kind occupation?
………. Am ………………………......... Em
We will take them like sheep in their beds as they sleep
………………………………......…. Am
On the second night of their new year
………………………........….. Em
Devoutly at home they'll be helpless alone
………….… Am
When they cry out no one will hear."
But Duckwitz the German tells Hedtoft the Dane
"My friend I have dangerous news.
In three hours the transport ships will set at anchor
You must warn them, warn all the Jews."
Soon good Rabbi Melchior stands in the synagogue,
"There'll be no service today.
The raids come tomorrow; dwell not on your sorrow.
By nightfall we must be away."
Em ………………………....… B7
And it's fire up the diesel and look out for swells.
……... Am
We're leaving Espergaerde behind us.
…..… Em ………..………..…… B7
Who strike at our friends strike us as well.
…….. Am
We'll pray the patrol boats don't find us.
When the sirens are wailing and shouts fill the night
Never will you stand alone
So it's over the Oresund
…….......................................….. Em
Till the day we can welcome you home.
Sompolinski the tailor on the eve of Rosh Hashana
Gathers his family near.
"The Lord is my light and salvation.
Whom on this earth shall I fear?"
When a young Danish gentile steps into the glow
Of the candles with tears flowing down.
"Good neighbours flee - I pray you believe me,"
And as quickly the young man is gone.
Christian policemen, shopkeepers, and teachers
Tell their friends of the quickening storm,
While students on bicycles race through the streets
Searching for Jews to be warned,
And Katlev the foreman blurts out to the trainman,
"My family has no place to hide."
"Well bring 'em to my house," the stranger replies,
"And we'll spit in the damn Nazi's eyes."
[Chorus]
Ellen Nielsen the fishwife in the port of Dragoon
Has no use for political views.
She'll call out the catch, "Fresh salmon, fresh cod."
Comes a whisper, "Please help, we are Jews"
"But if you are Jews you're not safe on the street.
I know a man with a sail."
Till moonrise they sleep in the shade of her eaves
And escape on the fisherman's keel.
Rabbi Melchior hires a young trawlerman
To ferry his family across.
Afte twelve hours afloat in a scurfy old boat
Morning light shows the same Danish coast.
Says the skipper, "I'm afraid of the German blockade
So we've motored in circles around."
The rabbi gives a shout, with one blow knocks him out
And steers a straight line 'cross the sound.
Frozen with fright in the October night
Families huddle in basements and barns,
Mistaking each breath for the angel of death,
The Gestapo, the shot, the alarm.
Then down into the hold with the stench and the cold
And drug all the babies with schnapps
Someone shouts, "Wilkommen till Sverige.
You are in Swedish waters at last."
Seven thousands of Jews smuggled over to Sweden
By fishermen, nurses, and priests.
Hitler sends Eichmann to hunt them down
But his quarry have vanished like mist.
When the war's over the Jews return
Cheers and flowers adorn their way home.
"We're not heroes or martyrs," so say the Danes
"We were just looking after our own."
[Chorus]
And today we will welcome you home.
Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found on my new website: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com
A musician is someone who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate a person who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters, who write both music and lyrics for songs; conductors, who direct a musical performance; and performers, who perform for an audience. A music performer is generally either a singer (also known as a vocalist), who provides vocals, or an instrumentalist, who plays...
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