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lyrics

"I See You"
from "J-Walking: Songs For Justice Walkers" album.

On the last night of a trip I took to Haiti
I was driving down this crowded city street
I can still see the diesel fumes lingering in the headlights
I can still see that little girl's bare feet
She was wearing a tattered yellow dress
She was 4 or 5 years old I would guess
Another orphaned street kid, working hard to just survive
To be honest, I was hoping to drive right by

But the traffic was grid-locked to a standstill
And when she noticed my white skin, she came real quick
She leaned up against my window and then with one little hand
She pointed back and forth from her belly to her lips
At first she seemed a little bit too practiced
At pulling strings of guilt and sympathy
And then, I'm not sure why -- but I looked right into her eyes
And as I did these words washed over me

(Chorus)
I see you. I see you.
Hey little girl, I won't pretend that you're not there
I see you. I see you.
Little girl Christ, I see you.

People tell me please, don't give these street kids money
It just perpetuates their cruel dependency
And to be honest, I didn't like the thought of pulling out my wallet
You never know who else is working these crowded streets
Compassion sure was feeling complicated
Mother Teresa called these kids Christ in disguise
But there was nothing that seemed right to try to do for her that night
Except to try to tell her with my eyes...

(Chorus)

(Bridge)
And how often I have quoted that familiar cold statistic
32,000 children starve to death each day
A few more years, some high-heel shoes and lip stick
And little girls will do what they must do just to still those hunger pains
One more day

I could see the traffic up ahead was moving
But she and I kept looking eye to eye
And when the moment finally came to take my foot off of the brake
She shrugged her shoulders, and then she cracked this little smile
And as I drove away I made a promise
Little girl, I never will forget your face
And I'll do what's mine to do to change the world for kids like you
And when I hear 32,000, I'll remember you and say...

(Chorus)


Credits:

Music & Lyrics By Bryan Sirchio

Crosswind Music, 2004. All Rights Reserved.

credits

from J​-​Walking: Songs For Justice Walkers, released July 5, 2004

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all rights reserved

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Bryan Sirchio Madison, Wisconsin

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