For Sasha
Joan Baez Lyrics

Here by my window in Germany
I am in Germany, standing by my window.

A morning bird flies close to me
I see a bird flying near me.

On his wing I see a yellow star
I notice a yellow star on the bird's wing, which reminds me of the Holocaust.

The lights are on in the factory
The factory nearby is illuminated.

The frost is hung on the linden tree
I see frost on the tree outside.

And I remember where we are
I am reminded of my location.

And I remember the holocaust
The yellow star on the bird's wing reminds me of the Holocaust.

I remember all we lost
I recall all the losses suffered during the Holocaust.

The families torn and the borders crossed
The Holocaust caused destruction of families and crossing of borders.

And I sing of it now for Sasha
I sing about the Holocaust for Sasha.

A young German officer lies in his bed
A young German officer is lying on his bed.

Bandages from toe to head
The German officer is wrapped in bandages from his toes to his head.

A prisoner of the camps draws nigh
A survivor of the concentration camps approaches the German officer's bed.

If you are Abel and I am Cain
The German officer asks for forgiveness, as if they were biblical figures Cain and Abel.

Forgive me from my bed of pain
The German officer asks for forgiveness while in pain in his bed.

I know not why we die
The German officer expresses not knowing the reason for death.

It was I who ordered the building burned
The German officer confesses to ordering the burning of a building.

The job was over and as I turned
After the job was done, the German officer turned away.

A father and his son
A father and son were nearby.

Caught in the flames high above the ground
They were engulfed in flames high above the ground.

From cradled arms the boy looked down
The boy was in the father's arms when they died.

One leap and their lives were done
They perished in one leap.

You in frozen streets of Heidelberg
The listener is in Heidelberg, where the streets are frozen.

Your youth unbearded takes form in words
Your youthful appearance is reflected in your words.

And the ghosts of the past are kind
The past is remembered fondly by the listener.

For this was your university
Heidelberg was your university.

The years were long but the spirits free
Although the years were long, you felt free in spirit.

And your river runs to the Rhine
The river in Heidelberg flows into the Rhine.

The smoke filled taverns that you once roamed
You used to frequent the smoky taverns in Heidelberg.

With the discontented who'd stayed at home
You drank with people who stayed at home, unhappy about their circumstances.

You must have whiskey or you'll die
You feel you need whiskey to survive.

The beer garden under the old chateau
The beer garden under the old castle is remembered.

Our faces now in the candle glow
Our faces are revealed in the glow of the candlelight.

See the memories how they shine
Memories are remembered fondly.

But you remember the holocaust
Despite the fond memories, you remember the Holocaust.

You remember all we lost
You recall all the losses suffered during the Holocaust.

The families torn and the borders crossed
The Holocaust caused destruction of families and crossing of borders.

And we'll sing of it now for Sasha
We will sing about the Holocaust for Sasha.