Of course this song refers Geddy's parents but it is also about the book "I Have Lived a Thousand Years" about a 13 year old girl growing up in the holocaust. The girl in the book had a father and a brother that were lost, and she had to help her mother constantly to survive in the prison camps. The line "But I must help my mother stand up straight", refers to the chapter in the book "The Selection" where her mother can no longer stand due to weakness, and she must support her and keep her standing to pass the roll call. Quote from the book:
"When the SS brass approaches, several girls help me pull Mommy up on her feet. I stand behind her, my body giving her support. And so she stands for the few moments it takes for the SS to count the heads of the first row nearby. It works. Thank God. But how long can this be kept up? Two days? Three Days? And what then?"
Its a really good, eye opening book, everyone should read it. The line "a pounding in my temples" can also be found in the book. :)
Of course this song refers Geddy's parents but it is also about the book "I Have Lived a Thousand Years" about a 13 year old girl growing up in the holocaust. The girl in the book had a father and a brother that were lost, and she had to help her mother constantly to survive in the prison camps. The line "But I must help my mother stand up straight", refers to the chapter in the book "The Selection" where her mother can no longer stand due to weakness, and she must support her and keep her standing to pass the roll call. Quote from the book: "When the SS brass approaches, several girls help me pull Mommy up on her feet. I stand behind her, my body giving her support. And so she stands for the few moments it takes for the SS to count the heads of the first row nearby. It works. Thank God. But how long can this be kept up? Two days? Three Days? And what then?" Its a really good, eye opening book, everyone should read it. The line "a pounding in my temples" can also be found in the book. :)