Cries of Ukraine

Shirley Koob and Eliza Doyle (with her banjo)

Hello and thank you to the Saskatchewan Seniors Association for inviting me to attend the Music and Songwriting Workshop with Juno award winning artist, Eliza Doyle!

I don’t have a musical background and had never even thought about writing a song, but after a few telephone classes with Eliza, I wrote a song Cries of Ukraine https://www.ucc.sk.ca/images/stories/newsarticles/2022/Cries-of-Ukraine-Koob-Doyle.mp3, which she recorded at Skullcreek Studios on May 21, 2022!

With the war on Ukraine, I was wanting to help out in any way that I could, so through the song Cries of Ukraine I hope to raise awareness of the invasion of Ukraine. I have also been inviting donations through the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan, with all donations going to Displaced Persons from Ukraine coming to Saskatchewan: https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?u=0eb9d76521dd0a2ee33fd9004&id=11e83507b9

Eliza Doyle has put a Lyrics video for Cries of Ukraine on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1X6XYNiqKH4 and on July 20th, 2022 Sask Music featured the song I wrote as a Featured Single on Sask Music’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SaskMusic1/

New single from first-time Saskatoon songwriter Shirley Margaret Koob! Track was recorded & produced by Eliza Mary Doyle at Skullcreek Studios. A lyric video was also released for the song this week: https://youtu.be/1X6XYNiqKH4

In lieu of purchasing the track Shirley would strongly encourage donations to Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Saskatchewan (https://www.ucc.sk.ca), helping with displaced persons from Ukraine coming to Saskatchewan. Here is how:   

1) By cheque payable to Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan and mail it to:

“Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan”

Attention: Cries of Ukraine – Displaced Persons from Ukraine

#4-2345 Avenue C North Saskatoon SK S7L 5Z5 Canada

2) Call the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan at (306) 652-5850 extension 101. Ask to speak with Maryna or by email info@ucc.sk.ca and say you would like to donate to “Cries of Ukraine – Displaced People from Ukraine”. 

More info about the song and project here: https://tinyurl.com/2p8csrwy

Grab the track: https://tinyurl.com/2azhxh8h 

Lyrics:  Cries of Ukraine

Russia versus Ukraine

This is not a game

Hostilities simmered for years

Rattled the political pot of fears

Crimea was stolen first

To quench Russia’s endless thirst

Families ripped apart and millions fled

Wondering would loved ones soon be dead?

Chorus:

While the cries of Ukraine bounced off her borders

While the cries of Ukraine bounced off her borders

While the cries of Ukraine bounced off her borders

While the cries of Ukraine bounced off her borders

Putin spewed his propaganda lies

While countless victims were tortured and died

The rape of Ukraine’s women and cities tore her

As the world looked on in horror

Will it be nuclear war

That knocks at my country’s door?

Can democracy triumph and thrive?

Will civilization somehow survive?

Chorus:

While the cries of Ukraine bounced off her borders

While the cries of Ukraine bounced off her borders

While the cries of Ukraine bounced off her borders

While the cries of Ukraine bounced off her borders