In February 2003 George Michael unexpectedly
recorded Don McLean's The Grave in protest against the looming
Iraq war. George performed the song on numerous top rated TV
shows including "Top of the Pops" and "So Graham Norton". The video
featured extensively on MTV.
In response, Don issued a statement, through this
website, praising George Michael's recording. Don's words were
reported in the worldwide news media. Here is Don's statement:
I am proud of George Michael for standing up for life and
sanity. I am delighted that he chose a song of mine to express these
feelings. We must remember that the Wizard is really a cowardly old
man hiding behind a curtain with a loud microphone. It takes courage
and a song to pull the curtain open and expose him.
Good Luck George-
Don McLean, March 1st 2003.
The Grave was released on Don McLean's 1971 American Pie album
but was over-shadowed by that album's title track and
the equally famous 'Vincent (Starry Starry Night)'.
The grave that they dug him had flowers
Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors
And the brown earth bleached white
At the edge of his gravestone
He’s gone
When the wars of our nation did beckon
The man, barely twenty, did answer the calling
Proud of the trust
That he placed in our nation
He’s gone
But eternity knows him
And it knows what we’ve done
And the rain fell like pearls
On the leaves of the flowers
Leaving brown, muddy clay
Where the earth had been dry
And deep in the trench
He waited for hours
As he held to his rifle
And prayed not to die
But the silence of night
Was shattered by fire
As the guns and grenades
Blasted sharp through the air
One after another
His comrades were slaughtered
In the morgue of marines
Alone, standing there
He crouched ever lower
Ever lower, with fear
“They can’t let me die
They can’t let me die here!
I’ll cover myself
With the mud and the earth
I’ll cover myself
I know I’m not brave!
The earth, the earth
The earth is my grave.”
The grave that they dug him had flowers
Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors
And the brown earth bleached white
At the edge of his gravestone
He’s gone
Watch George Michael perform "The Grave" on the
Graham Norton Show (Channel 4, March 2003):
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Comments:
SUSAN ROCHOW - 1/24/2008 9:03:18 AMWow!! It's been a long time. The immediacy of your voice here in my living room...the youth, the anger. I STILL feel it like that, every day, and I can't NOT watch the news. I insist, because each of these boys and girls, men and women are MY OWN brothers and sisters and sons and daughters...THEY REALLY ARE, that's not hyperbole. They're my kids.
I'm an old woman now, and believe me, I KNOW these kids are OUR kids. And they're still dying over "there' somewhere.
Thanks again for the great website. I feel ignited again, again, by you and your lovely talent and generosity. love love, Susan (and husband Ken Rochow, too)
Joel Trejo - 1/22/2008 6:13:12 PMI like this video-clp of George Michael . I am a fan of his, but this time he really impressed me. The song is about a touchy subject which most Americans hate to talk, thus they have lost their love ones in one of these stupid comflicts the US government gets involve
In response, Don issued a statement, through this
website, praising George Michael's recording. Don's words were
reported in the worldwide news media. Here is Don's statement:
