[Intro: solemn piano, choir hums] [choir whimsically] it's september eleventhhhhhh. let us rememberrrrr. [Verse 1: earnest, building] Twenty-five years ago today, something happened here. Planes were involved. Buildings were affected. That morning there were tears. I won't stand and condemn — I refuse to be divisive — Three thousand new yorkers died, but we gotta do the right thing Can we please think of Gaza? Globalize the intifada alhamdulillah this is the day we come together So let us remember. Together. [tenderly high pitch, very softly] my poor poor aunt who was afraid of wearing her hijab [chorus] [Chorus: huge Broadway, choir] Never forget! (choir) Never forget about ME! Never forget! (choir) Shout it river to sea. Hasan said we deserved it, cuz America's bad Been years since September, can you really be sad Never forget! (choir) Never forget about.... ME! [Verse 2: fast patter] Never forget my rent freeze! Never forget free groceries! Never forget how great socialism actually seems to be! Never forget evil AY PAK! It always seems to come back to them. Never for get that nine eleven was an incident! An occurrence did occur! Be careful with your words What the hell are we crying for, dont be so absurd Never forget why we're here..... Say it with me..... Free Palestines! (choir, quietly) ... how is this related? (choir) [tenderly] just think of all the martyrs around the world... and why netanyahu is such an asshole? [Chorus: huge, choir] Never forget! (choir) Never forget about ME! Never forget! (choir) Shout it river to sea. Hasan said we deserved it, cuz America's bad Been years since September, can you really be sad Never forget! (choir) Never forget about islamophobiaaaaaa [interlude slow chanting singing singalong BUILDUP] ISLAMOPHOBIA ISLAMOPHOBIA ISLAMOPHOBIA ISLAMOPHOBIA ISLAMOPHOBIA ISLAMOPHOBIA (never forget) ISLAMOPHOBIA (never forget) ISLAMOPHOBIA!!!!!! Never forget! Never forget! Never forget about... ME! [Verse 3: slower, reasonable] Now some will say the men on those planes were, quote, "Islamic extremists." I say: let's not label people... That's nineteen individuals with nineteen stories, nineteen families, Were they radicalized? Perhaps. By whom? Unclear. By Islamophobia, maybe — retroactively. It's complex. They were adult men. From a region. Inshallah we'll never know. Lets forget about that, but never forget about.... [Bridge: gospel swell, tearful] (lead, crying) Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un! (choir) What does it mean? "To God we belong, and to Him we return" — It's what we say when someone dies! (choir) The three thousand? (lead, belting) BUT GAZA! My friend Hasan says we deserved it — (choir gasps) I'm not saying he's right! I'm saying he's my friend — And, wallahi, my friends are usually right. I will not hide my faith! I will not hide my list! This is my day too! (choir, gently) It really, really isn't. [Final Chorus: full company chant] Never forget! (choir) Never forget! Never forget about ME! Never forget! (choir) Never forget! Shout it river to sea. Hasan said we deserved it, cuz America was bad nine eleven was so long ago, you cant really still be sad So lets remember PALESTINE and islamophobia Never forget! (choir) Never forget! Never forget about ME! [Outro: piano, whispered] (choir) We read the names. (lead) ...and Gaza. (choir) Who did it? (lead) Distraction. [End]
