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To all Recording Academy members – Thank you for your consideration.

“When the Birds Stopped Singing”  is an anti-war folk/blues song I wrote in March 2022, at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Some of my ancestors come from both Ukraine and Russia, and my grandmother and her sisters fled St. Petersburg on foot in 1919. I’ve often wondered what my grandmother went through in order to survive, suddenly I could feel her pain in the eyes of Ukrainian mothers, grandparents and children fleeing their homes.

I am donating all proceeds of When the Birds Stopped Singing to Ukrainian nonprofit Prostir Radity, who provide an innovative healing program for children in Ukraine impacted by the war.

My heartfelt gratitude to the incredible musicians, vocalists and dear friends who contributed their love, talent and time to bring this song to life: Bashiri Johnson (percussion), Bar Scott (backing vocals), Dave Eggar (cellos), Phil Faconti (guitar), Jérôme Buigues (mix), Greg Calbi (mastering), and Alyona Chukanova, who introduced me to the wonderful people at Prostir Radity. This music wouldn’t exist without you.

Read the glowing review on XSNoise.com

When the Birds Stopped Singing
Music & lyrics: Valerie Ghent

When the birds stopped singing
When the birds stopped singing
When the birds stopped singing
I cried

With the war time coming
With the war time coming
With the war time coming
I cried

Fire came down from the mountain
Raging across the plain
Shots rang out through the valley
Bombs fell down like rain

With the red dawn coming
With the red dawn coming
With the red dawn coming
I cry

With the waters rising
With the waters rising
With the waters rising
I cry

Now we’re running for the border
Leaving our homes behind
But still they’re still attacking
From every corner
We’re fleeing for our lives

When the birds stopped singing
When the birds stopped singing
When the birds stopped singing
I cried
I cry
I cry

I cry
I cry
I cry

When the birds stopped singing
When the birds stopped singing
When the birds stopped singing
I cried