A song that touched me

I discovered this artist a few months before we went to Vietnam last year. I came across this song tonight on youtube and had to download the song on ITunes. The lyrics and video images of Vietnam really moved me and I wanted to post it on my blog because it has so much meaning to me. During an interview with Quynh Anh (artist) she talks about how this song really talks about what she is and how she feels. To paraphrase her, "It's about the beginning of it all. It speaks about my country of origin that I have never known. I definitely miss something, not knowing the country of my ancestors. I think that to be a really complete person, I need to go back there one day."

Last year I visited Vietnam for the first time since 1970 while we were finalizing Ava's adoption. I never really got to "know" the country and it's people during the two weeks we were there. We were focused on Ava and Sebastian and the trip wasn't about my wishes and desires. Two of my "childhood" dreams already came true. The first one was in 2001 when my son was born and the second one was in 2007 when Ava came into my life. I would like to think that one day, we will return to Vietnam and stay for a lot longer than two weeks and learn all about our heritage. In the meantime, I listen to this song as an inspiration.





SONG LYRICS:

Tell me all about this name, that is difficult to say.
It was given me the day I was born.

Want to know about the stories of the empire of old.
My eyes say more of me than what you dare to say.

All I know of you is all the sights of war.
A film by Coppola, the helicopter's roar.

One day I'll touch your soil.
One day I'll finally know your soul.
One day I'll come to you.
To say hello... Vietnam.

Tell me all about my colour, my hair and my little feet
That have carried me every mile of the way.

Want to see your house, your streets. Show me all I do not know.
Wooden sampans, floatings markets, light of gold.

All I know of you is the sights of war.
A film by Coppola, the helicopter's roar.

One day I'll touch your soil.
One day I'll finally know your soul.
One day I'll come to you.
To say hello... Vietnam.

And Buddha's made of stone watch over me.
My dreams they lead me through the fields of rice.
In prayer, in the light...I see my kin.
I touch my tree, my roots, my begin...

One day I'll touch your soil.
One day I'll finally know your soul.
One day I'll come to you.
To say hello... Vietnam.

One day I'll walk your soil
One day I'll finally know my soul
One day I'll come to you.
To say hello...Vietnam
To say hello...Vietnam
To say xin chao...Vietnam.