From the recording DONT TURN YOUR BACK ON UKRAINE
I served on two tours in Vietnam, and even after all these years, there are things about war you never forget. The fear, the destruction, the innocent people caught in the middle, and the faces of those who just wanted to live their lives in peace. That's why I wrote, “DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON UKRAINE.”
When I see what's happening to the people of Ukraine, I don't just see another story on the evening news. I see families torn apart, children frightened, homes destroyed, and ordinary people fighting to hold on to their country and their freedom. And as an American veteran, that hits me pretty hard.
This song comes straight from my heart. It's about standing with people who are fighting for their right to live freely. It's about remembering that freedom comes at a terrible price, and that turning away from suffering doesn't make it disappear.
We brought the beautiful sound of the Ukrainian bandura into this recording, along with powerful rock arrangements and sweeping orchestral music. I wanted the music to carry both the heartbreak of war and the courage of a people who refuse to give up.
You don't have to agree with me about everything happening in the world. That's okay. But I hope you'll listen to this song with an open heart and remember that behind every headline are real human beings, real families, and real lives. To the people of Ukraine, please know that there are Americans who haven't forgotten you. I haven't forgotten you.
**You are not alone.** 🇺🇦❤️
Thank you for listening, and if this song touches your heart, please share it. Sometimes music can reach places that words alone cannot. You're always welcome to visit us at bluewaverevivalband.com, where all our music is free to listen to, download, and share.
With respect and hope, *The music is free. The message is what matters.* Slava Ukraini!
Lyrics
[DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON UKRAINE]
[Instrumental Intro – 25 seconds]
[Haunting Ukrainian bandura melody, joined by a lonely sopilka flute and sorrowful violin. Slowly building strings. No vocals.]
[Verse 1]
I was seventeen when I raised my hand,
Swore an oath to the Constitution of this land.
Two tours in Vietnam, a lifetime ago,
Taught me things about war that only soldiers know.
Now I'm watching another country fight,
While mothers hold their children through another endless night.
And I wonder what our promises are worth,
When powerful men make deals with someone else's earth.
[Pre-Chorus]
There's a difference between peace and surrender,
There's a difference between wrong and right.
You don't bring an end to killing,
By rewarding those who started the fight.
[Chorus – Powerful, Emotional]
DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON UKRAINE!
Don't let her stand alone.
Don't trade away her freedom,
Or the land that she calls home.
Don't shake the hand that started the fire,
Then tell the flames to fade.
If freedom means a damn thing anymore,
Don't turn your back on Ukraine!
[Instrumental Break – 15 seconds]
[Traditional Ukrainian violin and bandura intertwine with melodic electric guitar. Deep drums gradually build.]
[Verse 2]
There's a father standing watch beneath the stars,
With a picture of his children folded close against his heart.
There's a little girl who dreams of going home,
To a house that isn't standing, on a street she'll always know.
And somewhere far removed from all that pain,
I see Donald Trump abandoning Ukraine.
He talks about concessions, he talks about a deal,
But he's not the one who wakes up wondering if the next bomb will be real.
[Pre-Chorus – Building Intensity]
You can call it diplomacy,
You can dress it up in gold.
But freedom isn't something,
That the powerful get to sell.
[Chorus – Full Symphonic Rock]
DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON UKRAINE!
Don't let her stand alone.
Don't trade away her freedom,
Or the land that she calls home.
Don't shake the hand that started the fire,
Then tell the flames to fade.
If freedom means a damn thing anymore,
Don't turn your back on Ukraine!
[Bridge – Ukrainian Language, Gentle and Emotional]
[Music softens to bandura, violin, and piano. Clear male lead sings in Ukrainian.]
Україно, ти не сама,
Ми з тобою крізь біль і пітьму.
За свободу, за життя,
Ми не забудемо тебе.
[Instrumental Rise]
[Bandura and Ukrainian violin build into soaring orchestral strings, powerful drums, and electric guitars.]
[Verse 3 – Personal, Passionate]
I don't want another generation,
Sent to fight another war.
I've seen too many names carved into stone,
And I don't want to see one more.
But I still believe in standing,
For the things we say we are.
And an oath doesn't lose its meaning,
Just because the fight is far.
Putin's Russia crossed that border,
Ukraine's fighting to survive.
America, stand with Ukraine—not Russia,
And keep democracy alive.
[Final Chorus – Soaring, Full Power]
DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON UKRAINE!
Don't let her stand alone.
Don't trade away her freedom,
Or the land that she calls home.
Let the world hear every mother,
Let the world hear every name.
You can't build a lasting peace,
By rewarding those who came.
DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON UKRAINE!
Let freedom have its day.
And when history asks where we were standing,
Let us say we didn't look away!
[Final Ukrainian Refrain – Warm, Clear Male Vocal]
Україно, ти не сама...
Ми з тобою...
Ми не забудемо тебе...
[Long Instrumental Outro – 35 seconds]
[Emotional Ukrainian bandura and soaring violin carry the main melody. Expressive electric guitar answers the violin. Full orchestra slowly falls away, leaving the bandura and lonely sopilka flute.]
[End – Natural instrumental resolution, no abrupt cutoff]