FOR THE LOVE OF A STRANGER
by Alan Finch, 2016
For t h e Love o f a
St ra nge r A ye a r a g o,
Al a n wa s ch a l l e n g e d
to w r i te a s o n g fo r
e ve r y th e m e cove re d
i n a Bi bl e d i s cu s s i o n
group o f w h i ch h e
is a memb e r. H e d e sc r i b e s h i m s e l f a s a
pra c tisin g C hr i st i a n a nd h a s w r i tte n s o n g s
abo u t life a nd f a i t h for d o n k e ys ye a rs ! ;
S o wh en t he t he m e o f l ovi n g th o s e
w hom soc ie t y f i nd s i t hard to a cce p t wa s
cove red, Fi nc h comp ose d “ Fo r Th e Love O f
A Stran ger ”. Al a n note s th at h e’s n o t th e
“ wor ld ’s be st si nge r, or th e wo r l d ’s b e s t
g uitar ist, b ut t hat i s not th e po i nt o f th e
exercise. ( I a l so ha d a he av y co l d w h e n I
recorded it ! ) ” B ut a ny l i ste n e r w i l l s e e th e
l yr ic s sh in e t hrough t he pi e ce.
Al an cites hi s musi c a l i n fl u e n ce s a s ju s t
abo u t ever yt hi ng f rom Pe te r, Pa u l a n d
M a r y, th ro ugh Pe te S e e g e r, B o b D y l a n ,
Leo n ard Cohe n, K i nks, B e atl e s, M u d, Pu l p,
K il l e r s, r ight up to l oc a l boy m a d e g o o d,
J a ke Bu gg.
You might be my neighbour,
But you’re not a friend,
Don’t know you from Adam,
And I see you depend,
On handouts from strangers,
With all hidden dangers,
And there’s no end,
Of others just like you,
And all of your needs,
To hate you will fail,
But love succeeds.
Chorus
For the Love of
a Stranger
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You’re fleeing the fighting,
While your country’s raped,
You’re risking your children
In the hope of escape,
Scarce know what you’re doin’,
‘Cos your home is a ruin,
So you have to go,
And cross the wild desert,
While your poor heart bleeds,
To hate you will fail,
But love succeeds.
also available as a cd price £2.50
You pay a kings ransom,
To get on a boat,
You think that you’re safe,
But it’s barely afloat,
So your sons and your daughters,
Are out on the waters,
When the craft goes down,
Bodies all line the shore,
As your children drown,
To hate you will fail,
But love succeeds.
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus:
So how do I love you, to make things alright?
Do I tell you I’ll pray, then just walk on by?
Should I walk in your shoes and then understand?
Just what it cost you, to leave your own land.
Lyrics & Music copyright Alan B Finch 2016
The song is available to download from www.drinking-gourd-music.com. All proceeds from sales
of ‘For the Love of a Stranger’ (apart from PayPal fees) go directly to supporting refugees in the UK.
Specifically the Refugee Council to assist their work.