First heard her sing this at an afternoon outdoor concert in 1996, a beautiful sky-blue day, our kids frolicking, people lounging, and then Iris started to singing and had me pinned down. She finished this song and me, I was the guy leaning back in the lawn chair in tears.
A boy, he travelled from far away
To walk the path till he finds that name
He reaches his hand up and traces each letter
He stares at the name of his unknown father
His heart is young and it’s filled with pain
In anger he cries out, “Who is to blame
For this wall in Washington
That’s made of cold black granite?
Why is my father’s name etched here in it
In this wall in Washington?”
YouTube: https://youtu.be/jc7RuL7jIkQ?si=toeG8bBWWhrXVJiX
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0wHZ4RNFEajsb18JZuq6qS?si=e9dda8390425493b