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“Blood on the Land” by Paul A. Smulders. Words and music by Paul A. Smulders and Owen Nelson. Arranged and produced by NewNotes Music.
Play on Spotify: “Blood on the Land”
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“The brutal attacks and murders of so many South African farmers and their families never stops – it just keeps getting worse and worse. My heart breaks all over again each time there’s another Farm Murder. This song helped me express my deep sorrow and outrage at these senseless crimes, and it can be the anthem for the movement that ends this terrible scourge,” said Paul A. Smulders about his song, Blood on the Land. “Singing this song together gives us a way to share our feelings and bring attention to this horrible situation, so our leaders will do something about it.”
For more information about South African Farm Murders (“Plaasmoorde” in Afrikaans), see these websites:
The South African/Farm Murders
AfriForum/Farm Murders
Working to End Farm Murders
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Paul’s song is fascinating, well sung, exquisitely wrought, and most professionally executed. It is true art. And when reality and art combine there is a particular veracity that cuts to the quick. One feels the compassion and the pain and the angst of our so very much wanting not only to reveal what is an actuality, but to change it. We each can but contribute from our perch in life, and Paul’s song would have one keep changing the world.
Musically this is quite simple and predictable, but the storytelling is captivating and emotional. Definitely caught my attention and didn’t let go. I liked the ABAB structure of the verses, and how it contrasts with the rhyme structure of the chorus.