Fatima

( capo 2nd fret )

here is a good way to play the pattern that is played throughout the verses . it’s
based on an E chord :

– – – – – – – – – – – – – 0 – – – – – – – – 0 – – |
– – – – – – – – – – – 0 – – – – – 4 – – – – – – – |
– – – – – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
– – – – – – – 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
– – – – – 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
0 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

E
spices herbs the sweet scent of flower
we came out precisely the hour
clouds disappear the sun shows the power
no chance of a probable shower

E
i fell in love with my neighbors daughter
i wanted to protect and support her
never mind i’m just 12 and a quarter
i had dreams beyond our border .

E ( strumming )
is it true when they say all you need is just love ,
is it true
B
what about those who have loved
E
only to find that it’s taken away
E
and why do they say that the children have rights to be free
to be free
B
what about those who i’ve known
E
whose memory still lives inside of me .

E ( make a different , more intense strumming pattern )
fatima ,
B
what did the young man say
A
before he stole you away
E
on that fateful day fatima
E
fatima ,
B
did he know your name
A
or the plans we made ,
E
to go to new york city , fatima

E ( back to pattern at the beginning )
and after school we studied the lessons
i ask god to slow down the seconds
he does the opposite that’s what i’m guessing
i better chill and count my own blessings

fatima , fatima what is the matter
how come you ain’t come up the laddEr
so we can be like there’s no tomorrow
damn you gonna make me wait until tomorrow

she spoke arabic and swahili
she’d say upendo ( swahili for love ) anta habibi ( arabic for , you are my love/Dearest friend )
you so bright , you shine like my tv
then one day she never came to meet me

is it true when they say all you need is just love ,
is it true
what about those who have loved
only to find that it’s taken away
and why do they say that the children have rights to be free
to be free
what about those who i’ve known
whose memory still lives inside of me .

fatima ,
what did the young man say
before he stole you away
on that fateful day fatima
fatima ,
did he know your name
or the plans we made ,
to go to new york city , fatima
( repeat )

if beauty was in the eyes of beholder
how come everyone hushed when she walked by
how come girls would look just to scold her
how come the angel wanted to hold her?

fatima , fatima i’m in america
i make rhymes and i make them delicate
you would have liked the parks in connecticut
you would have said i’m working too hard again .

damn you shooter , damn you the building
whose walls hid the blood she was spilling
damn you country so good at killing
damn you feeling , for persevering

fatima ,
what did the gun man say
before he took you away on that fateful day
fatima
did he know your name , or the plans we made
to go to new york city
( repeat )

fatima . .

( spoken )
now i just want to make it clear , i don’t want you to shed a tear .
because this here , is a celebration , we’re not mourning , we’re celebrating
yeah
so baby don’t cry , please don’t let the tears fall
so don’t cry . .