DERECK ROSE: MUSIC

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IN 1980 A GIRL CALLED SAMIRA WAS LIVING AROUND BRIXTON, AND ONE DAY SHE JUMPED OFF THE ROOF TO HER DEATH FROM THE SAME BUILDING WHERE I LIVED, SO YEARS AFTER I WROTE THIS SONG ABOUT HER. I CAN REMEMBER SITTING WITH HER IN AN OLD ABANDONED VW VAN ALL DAY TRYING TO COMFORT HER, SHE SLEPT IN IT SOMETIMES WHEN SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.

T’WAS THE YEAR 1980
AND WAS THE MONTH MAY
WHEN THIS SHINING BEAUTY
TO LONDON SHE CAME
HER NAME WAS SAMIRA
A SINGER WAS SHE
CAME A-LOOKING FOR STARDOM
IN FAIR BRIXTON TOWN.

THE STARRY-EYED BEAUTY
OF NO FIXED ABODE
CAME A-RIDING A HORSE
WITH A NAME NO ONE KNOWS
MEN COULD NOT DESTROY HER
THOUGH VAINLY THEY TRIED
COULD NOT TAKE, HOLD OR KEEP HER
OR LAY BY HER SIDE.

CHORUS

SAMIRA WAS BEAUTIFUL SHE WAS FAIR
THREW HERSELF FROM A ROOFTOP
AND NOBODY CARED,
SAMIRA WAS BEAUTIFUL SHE WAS KIND
THREW HERSELF FROM A ROOF TOP
HER LIFE LEFT BEHIND.

I SAW SAMIRA WALKING
PAST MY DOOR LATE THAT NIGHT
LOOKING STRANGELY DISAPPOINTED
WITH DEATH IN HER EYES
THE DOG SHE WAS A-BARKING
ALL NIGHT TO DECLARE
THE DEATH AND THE PASSING
OF ONE SWEET AND DEAR.