The lyrics and be accessed here and you can watch the YouTube video here
The short story featured two girls of different faiths who displayed acts of heroism and surpassed the boundaries that their society and families set for them to continue being friends in times that declared them as enemies. Their love for each other allowed them to conquer the challenges that their societies, which they don't fully understand, set aside for them.
In Waving flag, it starts off with When I get older, I will be stronger, they'll call me freedom, just like a waving flag.
In the story, the two young girls are trapped within boundaries of who they can befriend and associate with. The main character is not allowed to play with or even see Salem because she is Muslim and the main character is Christian. Yet, she, at a young age, manages to find ways to talk to Salem, for she smiled because she had discovered a new language. This suggests that when she gets older and stronger (physically, mentally and more powerful in her society), she will definitely stand for what she believes in (she is already doing it right now by disobeying her parents and following her heart). She is already showing signs of fighting for the freedom to be with her friends, relating to they'll call me freedom, just like a waving flag.
The song was followed by But Violent prone, poor people zone,
But it’s my home, all I have known,
Where I got grown, streets we would roam
In the story, it is said that "I part of her[Salem]'s building was burned, but not Selam's flat. The building was now red and black because of the fire. Some of the burned flats looked like empty black shells...."
This directly relates to the song lyrics, Violent prone, poor people zone because it was a display of violence and with the destruction, comes the poverty of those that lost their homes. Parts of Salem's building were burned too and her dad's Peugeot had been vandalized. Finally, it is said in the story that "The world was only big enough for the two of you [Salem and her best friend], and your secret language was an endless giggle." The two girls would also watch Salem's brothers, go out to lunch, church, and to get their hair braided. In their world, these would be the streets we would roam . Like in the song, their streets and homes were destroyed by the violence that also brought forth poverty.
The lines following are: But out of the darkness, I came the farthest,
Among the hardest survival,
Learn from these streets, it can be bleak,
Except no defeat, surrender retreat,
This relates to the main character's fight and how she was unwilling to accept defeat, surrender or retreat despite how bleak the situation seemed. In the afternoon, she pretended to be reading in her room so that she could watch Selam's flat and even though she was sure that she would not come onto the balcony, she kept vigil.
After that, the lines are: So we struggling, fighting to eat and,
We wondering when we’ll be free,
So we patiently wait, for that fateful day,
These lines represent how the girls' lives have changed and how they were struggling to survive. There was constant destruction and they couldn't go to school because it was no longer safe. Yet, the main character asked about when she would be able to go back to school, symbolizing that she wanted her old life back and she was waiting for that happy day where life would return to normal.
On a more literal term, she was unable to eat at dinner time because of the situation.
At dinner Mommy and Daddy told you to cheer up. They told you not to nibble your food."
So many wars, settling scores
Bringing us promises, leaving us poor
I heard them say, love is the way
Love is the answer, that’s what they say
This directly relates to the wars that the Christians and Muslims are fighting, because of their disagreements. Once again, poverty is mentioned as property gets destroyed and some families lose everything. Everyone was fighting for love and what they believed to be right, but their actions showed their hypocrisy as they went about promoting the opposite of love through violence. Therefore, the lines Love is the answer, that's what they SAY is a very accurate representation of the situation.
The following lines in the song repeat the first few verses, adding to the emphasis of the message.
In conclusion, the story focused on two girls and their struggle to fight against society, for what they believed was right -unity, friendship and the lack of discrimination. However, they are too young, and not yet powerful enough to make a stand and correct the wrongs. However, their effort and the fight shows their perseverance, which is implied in
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