Hannah

The end of episode 10 in season 2 of "The Handmaid's Tale" had me bawling my eyes out. It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen on TV. Its impact was especially forceful because of the things that have been going on in real life, in my own country. Children torn from parents, stranded in unfamiliar places under abysmal conditions, wondering why they had been abandoned. Parents torn from children, not knowing where their babies were being kept, not knowing if they would ever see them again and if they did, if their child would remember them, or forgive them. This episode hit way too close to home.

After watching that episode, I sat down at the piano and something like a lullaby, without words, spilled out. It took months for me to add any substantial lyrics, and it took months more of whittling them down and moving them around to get to where they are today. I made this rough recording at my house a few days ago. When I get this into the studio, I want to add a plaintive violin and/or cello.

Lyrics:

Hannah, my sweet Hannah baby
Please don't, don't turn away
We have so little time here in this place
Please turn around, let me see your face
My baby...

Hannah, my Hannah Banana
Do you remember, do you remember me?
Do you remember your dad and the things that he said?
The stories we told? Being tucked into bed?
My baby, our baby you'll always be

Hannah, my Hannah Banana
Baby, are they good to you?
Do you laugh, do you play, do you splash in the rain?
Do you sing silly songs? Do they know the refrain?
Do they tell you that they love you?

Hannah, my sweet little Hannah
Baby, look me in the eye
Keep my love and the truth close to your heart
But keep yourself safe by playing the part
Oh baby, I'm telling you to lie

Hannah, my Hannah Banana
Please believe me, I really tried
There's so much love and there's so much pain
And these minutes are ticking away
to maybe our last goodbye

Maybe our last goodbye