Song for Empathy (O. van de Viet, P. Verheij)

I saw you on tv this morning

I was rather scared

And what you put on facebook

Can never be repaired

You saw me on your screen

With my glass of wine

Preaching freedom, endless growth

You said: that world is far from mine

Is it my beard that scares you

Is it my dark eyes

Don’t you like my brand new robe

I think it’s really nice

I think it’s really nice

They say you scare my children

That you’re a dangerous man

That you despise my culture

You said: Is that the way I am?

Meet my family and my friends

A man is never what he seems

We could have a conversation

And try to break our schemes

Does my music scare you

Is it the food or spice

Don’t you like the way I sound?

I think it’s really nice

I think it’s really nice

Tell me about your God

And what you’ll never understand

I ‘ll tell you about our freedom

And the lies of growth that never end

Is it my smile that scares you

Is it my blue eyes

Don’t you like my brand new shirt

I think it’s really nice

I think it’s really nice

We could sit at break of dawn

By the river or the sea

We could find a common ground

Where beauty holds its plea

Empathy is what we need

And deeply understand

Both our motives and our fears

Both our footprints in the sand

Is it my tan that scares you

Is it my sad eyes

Don’t you like my brand new boots

I think they’re really nice

It ‘s your mind I’m wondering of

Your heart, your ol’ blue eyes

I may even like your precious watch

I think it’s really nice

I think it’s really nice

Reach me forth your hand

Meet me in the open field

Of this promised land