Mona With The Children - Doug Cameron
Mona With The Children
In June of 1983, the Bahá'í community was deeply affected by the executions of ten young female believers in Shiraz, Iran. These deaths resulted when the women refused to recant their faith during the Islamic fundamentalist movement. The Canadian producer and keyboardist Jack Lenz encouraged a young musician, Doug Cameron, to write and sing a song about the youngest of the martyrs, 16 year old Mona Mahmudnizhad. Mona was the last of the ten to be hung, and reportedly kissed the noose and recited a prayer for humanity before her life was taken. Doug Cameron's song and video about her, "Mona With the Children," was backed by Seals & Crofts, Dan Seals and Buffy Saint-Marie. The related short documentary, "Mona's Story," has Seals & Crofts working out their backup vocals, commenting on the project and interacting in the studio. "Mona's Story" is available on VHS from the Baha'i Distribution Center.
Mona With the Children
A 16 year old girl
Living in a land so cruel,
She said this where I've got to be.
Taken in the night,
Her heart full of light,
She said this where I've got to be.
How can I tell you,
How could she be so young,
You know the truth is all in dreams
She stands before them to hear them say,
Save your life and throw your faith away.
Mona with the children
Send your love to me
All around the world we'll go dancing.
Mona with the children
Send your love to me
Every precious moment you'll be dancing
Every precious moment we'll be free.
I can see her in my heart
When the whole world is falling apart she said,
This where I've got to be.
Captive in the light,
A love that burns so bright,
This where I've got to be.
And when they asked her,
[When she would end?], she said
You can't break my heart,
You can't take my faith away
And when they told her the price she'll have to pay
She said take my life,
Take it all the way,
All the way.
Mona with the children
Send your love to me
All around the world
I see you dancing.
Mona with the children
Send your love to me
Every precious moment you'll be dancing
Every precious moment you'll be free.
Mona with the children
Send your love to me
All around the world souls are dancing.
Mona with the children
Send your love to me
Every precious moment I see you dancing
Every precious moment you'll be free. . . .
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