A Matter of Habit!
從學會殺人而成為習慣, 是人性很自然的行為, 做得越多就越熟練!
2012年的歌曲作品, 由以色列知名摇滾歌手 Izhar Ashdot 演繹和錄製唱片。歌曲面世後, Ashdot 應邀到以色列 "Galatz" 電台演出; 當天, 伴奏樂手正在調較樂器時, 電台主管突然宣佈要取消這次演出的節目, 聲稱不會讓 "A Matter of Habit" 這類歌曲的歌手在電台亮聲。
"Galatz" 電台是 Israel 以色列國民警衛隊自由派的電台, 因為一首歌曲而禁制 Izhar Ashdot 這位在以色列受人喜愛的歌星演出卻令人愕然。及後, "Galatz" 電台為下禁令而辯護:「我們應該避免宣揚一首妖魔化我們士兵的歌曲」。再深入探討這歌曲, 焦點會轉向廣泛的道德觀; "A Matter of Habit" 的內容是作家 Alona Kimhi 根據約旦河西岸國民警衛隊的士兵, 第一手證詞而寫成, 是談及入侵和佔領一個地方是多麼容易, 隨著時間推移便會成為常態化。
抗議歌曲和政治歌曲, 在尖銳的言論下同樣會受到讚揚或批評, 衹是各有不同意見而已。"A Matter of Habit" 這歌曲是解釋我們的孩子入伍参軍之後會發生什麼事。有人認為這首歌曲是企圖剝奪以色列及其國防軍的合法性。及後, 以色列政府人員 Naftali Bennett 高呼「就將這首歌直接傳給 "Hezbollah 真主黨" 好了, 因為這是我們的敵人所需要的彈藥!」
Original title : עניין של הרגל (A Matter of Habit) - 2012
Lyrics : Alona Kimhi
Music : Izhar Ashdot
Video Link https://youtu.be/q-NRrB9pbKs
原曲的 Hebrew 希伯來文由 Uni Henis 譯成英文, Pål Moddi Knutsen 編撰成英文流行歌曲, 收錄在他的專輯 "UNSONGS" 裡。他解釋, 這一曲可能涉及某些具體的衝突, 但它傳達了一個普世的訊息, 就是任何人都可能成為殺人的暴徒, 歌曲所反映不衹是以色列, 而是整個世界, 我們都能感受到, 每天都活在暴力和死亡之中, 我們每天從新聞看到, 亦從電台廣播聽到, 如把它當成日常生活的背景和噪音的話, 那麼我們已經麻木不仁, 再沒有同情心, 除了日益增長的恐懼感之外, 總有一天同樣的事情會發生在自己的身上!
"UNSONGS" Album - Track A2 "A Matter of Habit" Pål Moddi 2016
Verse 1
Learning to kill is a matter of habit
The more you have done it, the better you're at it
It starts on the alleys of Sechem at night
The borderlines blur in the evening light
A rifle butt bangs on an old rusty door
"Where is your father? Get down on the floor!"
Soon it gets serious, a curfew's declared
The city falls silent, there's death in the air
Cocking his weapon with shaking fingers
Grits his teeth as he's hugging the trigger
Young blood rushes, his heart pounds
He knows it gets easier the next time around
They're just objects and shadows, not women and men
Learning to kill is a natural thing
Verse 2
Learning to fear is a matter of habit
The more you have done it, the better you're at it
News from above reach the street
There's no hope of living, the end is so near
Tidings of terror, a raven's crow
Shutter your windows, lock up your homes
We're just a handful, a tiny country
Surrounded by evil, they won't let us be
They have hate in their hearts and in all that they bring
Learning to fear is a natural thing
Learning to kill is a matter of habit
The more you have done it, the better you're at it
It starts on the alleys of Sechem at night
The borderlines blur in the evening light
A rifle butt bangs on an old rusty door
"Where is your father? Get down on the floor!"
Soon it gets serious, a curfew's declared
The city falls silent, there's death in the air
Cocking his weapon with shaking fingers
Grits his teeth as he's hugging the trigger
Young blood rushes, his heart pounds
He knows it gets easier the next time around
They're just objects and shadows, not women and men
Learning to kill is a natural thing
Verse 2
Learning to fear is a matter of habit
The more you have done it, the better you're at it
News from above reach the street
There's no hope of living, the end is so near
Tidings of terror, a raven's crow
Shutter your windows, lock up your homes
We're just a handful, a tiny country
Surrounded by evil, they won't let us be
They have hate in their hearts and in all that they bring
Learning to fear is a natural thing
Verse 3
Cruelty is a matter of habit
The more you've seen it, the better you're at it
Every boy has a tyrant's desire
Hands behind the head, legs spread wide
These are times of danger, times of despair
No room for compassion, a soldier can't care
Our neighbors are vermin, they're used to the blood
How can they feel pain when they're living in the mud?
Through cruel routine a soldier is born
Ignorance soon turns to evil in war
Israel's land is for Israel's kin
Cruelty comes as a natural thing
Verse 4
Learning to love is a natural thing
It will find a way if you just let it in
It will be strange at first, but then you'll see it
That learning to love is a matter of being
Being human is a matter of habit
A few baby steps, then you get better at it
To be for one minute, just now, just recall
The opposite side of the towering walls
But our hearts have hardened along with our skin
We built a bubble and let no one else in
We'll be staring in wonder as the angel falls
Then being human will be a matter of course
Will be a matter of course
Cruelty is a matter of habit
The more you've seen it, the better you're at it
Every boy has a tyrant's desire
Hands behind the head, legs spread wide
These are times of danger, times of despair
No room for compassion, a soldier can't care
Our neighbors are vermin, they're used to the blood
How can they feel pain when they're living in the mud?
Through cruel routine a soldier is born
Ignorance soon turns to evil in war
Israel's land is for Israel's kin
Cruelty comes as a natural thing
Verse 4
Learning to love is a natural thing
It will find a way if you just let it in
It will be strange at first, but then you'll see it
That learning to love is a matter of being
Being human is a matter of habit
A few baby steps, then you get better at it
To be for one minute, just now, just recall
The opposite side of the towering walls
But our hearts have hardened along with our skin
We built a bubble and let no one else in
We'll be staring in wonder as the angel falls
Then being human will be a matter of course
Will be a matter of course
NEXT .... "UNSONGS" The Project - Track A3