We have never met, but I surely feel I know you.
There before me, up on the wall.
Before my very eyes, there's your life, now,
Stitched in memory up on the wall
What's in a name, they tell me? Nothing but letters in random.
People you never knew. Why should you care?
But the names on the wall rain down - overwhelming me.
The names on the wall rain down - oh, touching my heart.
The names on the wall rain down - making me feel
Something...oh, something.

For every one I see, how many are forgotten?
So many names, so many lives.
Words stitched in cloth and memories etched in stone.
So much about you up on the wall.
What's in a name, they tell me? Nothing but letters in random.
People you never knew. Why should you care?
But the names on the wall rain down - overwhelming me.
The names on the wall rain down - oh, touching my heart.
The names on the wall rain down - making me feel
Something...oh, something.

What's in a name, they tell me? Nothing but letters in random.
People you never knew. Why should you care?
But the names on the wall rain down - overwhelming me.
The names on the wall rain down - oh, touching my heart.
The names on the wall rain down - making me feel
Something...oh, something.

Oh, we have never met, but I surely feel I know you.
I'll never forget the pain of this wall.

©2004 by Kristin Carole Hall & Purple Cat Music. All Rights Reserved.

Names On The Wall Back Story

In Boston, many exhibits were shown in the Park Plaza Castle. And it is just that - a high-ceilinged castle in the middle of the city. When the AIDS quilt first came to Boston, this is where it was exhibited. The quilts covered the floor and all the walls for all those feet up to the ceiling on those cold, stone walls. Just viewing the room was overwhelming, before you even got to reading the individual quilts. The experience moved me rightfully to tears and spilled out into the opening verse & chorus of this song.

This remained one of those half-finished songs for many years. Then, I realized how many other places reminded us of those who are gone - the Vietnam Memorial in Washington; Ground Zero in New York City amongst many, too many, others. While it is sad that we have more reasons for memorials in this world, it is good when we choose to remember what has gone before. I hope the finished song honors those who are gone, now.