Verse 1

Elena, sixty-three today

Carries her world in a plastic bag

Hurries to the bus

A one-way ticket is all she has

Her son stays behind

To defend their ravaged home

The ride is short but hard

Into the lone unknown 

 

Chorus 1

Haunted houses, sleeping men

Burning cars, a lone white flag

And all her memories of a life now gone

Packed tightly in her bag

 

Post Chorus1 

Elena wants someone to explain

Who thought that war’s a winning game?

 

Verse 2

Elena, sixty-three years old

Same heavy bag, ticket and tags

As the woman next to her

Shivers in the cold

Both exhausted and weary with fear

Both survived the day

Leaving everything behind

But what they can't unsee

 

Chorus 2

Haunted houses, sleeping men

Burning cars, a lone white flag

And all her memories of a life now gone

Packed tightly in her bag

 

Post Chorus 2

Elena wants someone to explain

Who thought that war’s a winning game?

 

Middle 8

She wipes away her tears

But the images remain

 

Outro Chorus

Elena wants someone to explain

Who thought that war’s a winning game?

 

***
Vocals, guitar, clarinet, piano: Robert Severin⁠
Cello: Alice Allen ⁠

Piano: Rick Flahant piano⁠

Mixing and mastering⁠:Andrea Gobbi

Cover art work: Ulyana Osta⁠