Song Lyrics
The Songs from HOUR GLASS
by GERRY GRIFFIN
All but one of the songs on his current album, Hour Glass, were written
while Griffin was incarcerated in the Spanish prison system for two and a
half years in the early 1990's.
Hour Glass
Copyright 1992 G.J. Griffin
The lyrics of this song reflect Gerry's thoughts while he was in the final days of a hunger strike. Due to his deteriorated physical condition at the
time, he was hospitalized in the AIDS ward of one of the Spanish prisons and overheard doctors say that he did not have long to live.
It was through writing Hour Glass that he decided to break his strike. It was the 68th day.
Lyrics
It Makes My Blood Run Cold
Copyright 1993 G.J. Griffin
A reflection on the values Gerry learned from his parents.
Lyrics
I'm Not Broken, I'm Just Bent
Copyright 1995 G.J. Griffin
This is the only song on the album that was not written in jail.
Lyrics
A Hard Rain Will Fall
Copyright 1993 G.J. Griffin
Lyrics
I Hate Love
Copyright 1992 G.J. Griffin, J. Lesser, Published by R&J Music
Lyrics
Lisa
Copyright 1991 G.J. Griffin
Lyrics
Back Home to You
Copyright 1991 G.J. Griffin
Lyrics
Melilla
Copyright 1991 G.J. Griffin
Melilla is a town on the coast of Morocco controlled by the Spanish and the location of the 14th century prison where Gerry was incarcerated. Many people there had been unjustly put in jail, often for being poor or not having the correct identification papers. In this song, Gerry calls the guards "racists" and "facists"; while he was in prison, he would sing it out; the other inmates would sing and play along on buckets, or whatever they had while the guards stood by.
Lyrics
Chasing the Dragon
Copyright 1991 G.J. Griffin
This song is dedicated to Gerry's friend and fellow inmate, Kitami, who,
even though he stayed clean the entire 11 months he was in prison, died of a
heroin overdose 2 weeks after his release. Heroin use was rampant
throughout the Spanish prison system. "Chasing the dragon" is a slang term
for smoking heroin from pieces of tin foil.
Lyrics
There's No Way to Get Through This Life Alive
Copyright 1992 G.J. Griffin
Actually a positive song ... " .... 'cause there are ways to get through this life alive."
Lyrics
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