A Bird in a Barren Cage
For Theresa Marie Schindler (Schiavo)
Born December 3, 1963
Executed starting March 18, 2005
Forced to give up the ghost March 31, 2005

SING IT. PLAY IT. SHARE IT.

A BIRD IN A BARREN CAGE

VERSE 1:
Theresa Marie was a beautiful girl.
with a smile that could light up the room.
But now the plans of three evil men
are rushing her towards her doom.
Her cruel faithless husband now wants her dead--
Wants to marry another wife.
Why can't he just see, Terri ought to be free.
She and he could get on with life.

CHORUS:
She's kept like a bird in a barren cage.
'Cos her husband keeps it bare.
No pictures, no music, no pets, no TV.
Her life is so lonely there.
But Terri is loved by her family
and by thousands from coast to coast.
Though her life has been sold for corrupt men's gold
she refuses to give up the ghost.

VERSE 2:
The more one looks into this sordid case,
The clearer the evil plot.
They're not trying to starve her because she's dying,
but rather because she's not.
It's clear Michael Schiavo, George Felos, and Judge Greer
Are fighting with all their might
Not because Terri won't speak up,
But rather because she might.

REPEAT CHORUS

VERSE 3:
So what shall become of Michael's bird?
Will he starve her as he intends?
Or will she be rescued by those far and wide,
who'd be honored to be called her friends?
The future right now, is hard to see.
Though a showdown is coming nigh.
Will the forces of life trump the judge who says:
"The law of the case is that she must die"?

REPEAT CHORUS

THE RECORDING
Remastered March 12, 2005

Available in four formats:

Written, Arranged, Recorded, and Produced by John Payson
Based on "A Bird in a Gilded Cage" (published 1900)
by Arthur J. Lamb and Harry Von Tilzer
Copyright 2005 by John Payson.
Public Performance Rights Granted.
Derivative-Works Rights Reserved.

THE SHEET MUSIC
Available as a pair of archived TIF files (300dpi), or as 75dpi .gif files (click thumbnails to enlarge).
[PAGE 1 GIF] [PAGE 2 GIF]
THE CASE
More information and opinion about Theresa Marie Schiavo and the efforts to kill her can be found at these sites:
THE COPYRIGHT
Copyright 2005. This song, in all forms, may be freely distributed, publicly performed, or broadcast provided all distributions are accompanied by this copyright notice and a link to http://www.casperkitty.com/barrencage. Free permission is granted for non-commercial recording subject to the restrictions of the compulsory licensing laws. For commercial recordings or for any other licensing inquiries, please write to [email bcage-at-casperkitty-dot-com].