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Song for Selva

from Survivor's Tale by Les Thomas

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    A copy of 'Survivor's Tale' including 12-page lyrics sheet.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Survivor's Tale via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Full Digital Discography

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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of All My Friends Are Superstars, The Great Betrayal (Rojava), Goodbye Sisto, Freedom Fighters, Guantanamo Blues, Guantanamo Blues (Acapella Version), Budget Reply (Hey Joe), and Survivor's Tale. , and , .

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lyrics

My name is Selva Kulachelvan
And I am fighting for my life
Thirty-seven months I’ve been held
I miss my child I miss my wife

Escaped the clutches of the men with guns
Sri Lanka was my home
Australia put me in a prison camp
Now it’s three years gone

Here they treat me like a worthless human being
Do they see me as a worthless human being?
They do not know

Officials here they question me
They say they want me to return
But how can I go back now
When I have seen my people burn?

It’s hard to go on living
When your future is denied
Years will wear you down it’s true
I could be one more suicide

So say I’m not a worthless human being
Cos no one needs a worthless human being
My family need a worthwhile human being
So they can they know

My little girl wasn’t even born
When I crossed the raging sea
My daily voice on the telephone
Is all she knows of me

I hold her photo in my hand
And I dream of a better time
How do I explain her dad’s in jail
When I’m guilty of no crime?

Can you see me as a worthwhile human being?
Only want to be a worthwhile human being
Can you let me be a worthwhile human being?
We all need to know

credits

from Survivor's Tale, released November 9, 2013
Vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica: Les Thomas; lap slide guitar, electric guitars and percussion: Jeff Lang

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Les Thomas Melbourne, Australia

Les Thomas is a Melbourne singer-songwriter and storyteller, known for his compelling lyrics, catchy melodies and engaging live performances.

“Les Thomas makes me want to be a better person . . . he’s a bloody good singer-songwriter.”
— Timber and Steel

"It's people like Les Thomas that keep the origins of folk forefathers alive and true." — Lauren Duiker, The Orange Press ... more

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