WE ARE YOU
As the nation was absorbing the shock of the March 15 Christchurch Mosque shooting in which 51 people died, horrified by the brutality and blind hate that could kill so many and scar others for life, I found myself focussing on the gunman.
If he was driven by a sense of superiority, judging his own race better than others; if he was intolerant of difference, or felt threatened by a culture or faith he couldn’t accept or understand, I wanted to let him know that he was inextricably part of everything and everyone.
The fabric of life is a cloth that wraps creation in a multi-hued reality, amazingly beautiful, if also profoundly mysterious. What happens to one affects all.
Every life was harmed by the actions of this one person.
“You are us” was a phrase that sprang up almost immediately after the tragedy, directed at the Muslim community, reassuring them that the rest of Aotearoa-New Zealand stood with them. I wanted to place the phrase in the mind of the killer and others who think the same way:
You are us – and we are you.
Chris Skinner’s music reflects this theme very well, giving energy to my words, and also emphasising their urgency.
The musical arrangement and production enhance the tune even more, inviting a meditative response. There is rawness and sadness in this combination of music and words; there is also a glimpse of the hope that lies beneath the suffering, gentle notes tugging us to reach beyond the present pain to a time when we can all recognise our family connection.
James Lyons
22 June 2019
I have collaborated with James on several other projects namely the album ‘Angel of the Forest’. When he emailed me the words to ‘We are you’, I immediately made a start to compose the melody to his powerful and striking message and emailed him a rough demo.
Taking this raw material of voice and guitar, I was once again captivated by the working and musicianship of Stuart Pearce who laid the foundation of the song in our recording space at Good Shepherd College, further developed, enhanced and sensitively produced by Peter van Gent. ‘We are You’ is certainly a collaborative work on a most tragic and dark day in Aotearoa/New Zealand’s history.
I wish to thank all those involved, Stuart Pearce, keyboards, Rimi Pitman, guitars, Sam Jones, Clarinet/Flute, Peter van Gent, producer, arranger and percussion for both ‘We are You’ and ‘Garden on the Street.’
Chris Skinner
WE ARE YOU
As the nation was absorbing the shock of the March 15 Christchurch Mosque shooting in which 51 people died, horrified by the brutality and blind hate that could kill so many and scar others for life, I found myself focussing on the gunman.
If he was driven by a sense of superiority, judging his own race better than others; if he was intolerant of difference, or felt threatened by a culture or faith he couldn’t accept or understand, I wanted to let him know that he was inextricably part of everything and everyone.
The fabric of life is a cloth that wraps creation in a multi-hued reality, amazingly beautiful, if also profoundly mysterious. What happens to one affects all.
Every life was harmed by the actions of this one person.
“You are us” was a phrase that sprang up almost immediately after the tragedy, directed at the Muslim community, reassuring them that the rest of Aotearoa-New Zealand stood with them. I wanted to place the phrase in the mind of the killer and others who think the same way:
You are us – and we are you.
Chris Skinner’s music reflects this theme very well, giving energy to my words, and also emphasising their urgency.
The musical arrangement and production enhance the tune even more, inviting a meditative response. There is rawness and sadness in this combination of music and words; there is also a glimpse of the hope that lies beneath the suffering, gentle notes tugging us to reach beyond the present pain to a time when we can all recognise our family connection.
James Lyons
22 June 2019
I have collaborated with James on several other projects namely the album ‘Angel of the Forest’. When he emailed me the words to ‘We are you’, I immediately made a start to compose the melody to his powerful and striking message and emailed him a rough demo.
Taking this raw material of voice and guitar, I was once again captivated by the working and musicianship of Stuart Pearce who laid the foundation of the song in our recording space at Good Shepherd College, further developed, enhanced and sensitively produced by Peter van Gent. ‘We are You’ is certainly a collaborative work on a most tragic and dark day in Aotearoa/New Zealand’s history.
I wish to thank all those involved, Stuart Pearce - keyboards, Rimi Pitman - guitars, Sam Jones - Clarinet/Flute, Peter van Gent - producer, arranger and percussion for both ‘We are You’ and ‘Garden on the Street.’
Chris Skinner
WE ARE YOU - LYRICS
Silent as a dream in sleep
You came into the sound of prayer
And broke the dream by causing death
Destroying so much living breath
But little did you know that day
The truth that we are one
That even you are part of who we are
You spoke the death of each of us
by claiming to be right and others wrong
You are us and we are you
Sisters yes, and brothers too
Caught in the crossfire of fear and hate
Do not believe there’s no escape
With kindness and trust let’s start anew
You are us and we are you
Sheltered in the sacred space
A time of prayer, a home of grace
Worship turned to sacrifice
As hate destroyed the gift of life
Silent as the dream awakes
We gather now more resolute
To seize the chance and together stand
A family strong throughout the land.
James Lyons
GARDEN ON THE STREET
When I first heard about the atrocities in Christchurch on March 15th this year, I was shocked as so many New Zealanders were. That such carnage could occur in our country and that so many innocent lives were lost, and families affected, was heart breaking and beyond belief.
How to respond to this unprecedented event and to show support and solidarity for our Muslim brothers and sisters was in the fore front of many people’s minds and hearts. The day after the event, I purchased a bunch of flowers and with a priest friend of mine went and placed them outside the mosque in Ponsonby with a simple message of support and prayers for the Muslim Community. Already several bunches of flowers had been placed by the fence. A week later there were thousands more as there were all around the country especially in Christchurch itself outside the mosques where people had lost their lives.
For me the floral tributes provided a beautiful display to show the Muslim Community that they were not alone in their grief and trauma. We were standing with them.
The image of so many flowers inspired the song ‘Garden on the Street’. The lyrics are below.
My hope is that the song will support and comfort the Muslim Community and that it touches into the hearts of all New Zealanders who stand for peace and believe and uphold the gift of our common humanity.
Chris Skinner
GARDEN ON THE STREET - LYRICS
We place these flowers here for you
We lay them down here at your feet
We stand united at your door
We plant a garden on the street
Garden of love to sooth and heal
A simple act of how we feel
Peace, Rangimarie
Love, aroha the way
Peace Rangimarie to you
We plant a garden on the street
Bunches of flowers at your feet
We hope they comfort and help to ease your sorrow
We hope the garden on the street
Will remind you when we meet
Of our longing for a new tomorrow
We know these flowers will wilt and fade
And soon the garden will be gone
We can’t conceive the price you’ve paid
But hope the bonds we share live on
Garden of love to sooth and heal
A simple act of how we feel
Peace, Rangimarie
Love, aroha the way
Peace Rangimarie to you
We plant a garden on the street
Bunches of flowers at your feet
We hope they comfort and help to ease your sorrow
We hope the garden on the street
Will remind you when we meet
Of our longing for a new tomorrow
We place these flowers here for you
We lay them down here for you
We stand united with you
And plant a garden on the street
Chris Skinner, June 2019