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Zoli's and Dani's story is a story of a fantastic, real friendship,
a self-sacrifice that can be an example for everyone.
But this story, fortunately, wasn't unique.
Not only Maximilian Kolbe did such heroic acts in the Auschwitz death camp,
but in the past there were numerous interesting examples of very close and frank togetherness and love.
Sometimes inside the family and relatives, sometimes between friends and acquaintances.
To form these kind of human relationships, they have to know each other to be able to help.
So, no wonder that this great friendship was formed between classmates.
If they hadn't learnt together, hadn't copied from each other, hadn't rivaled each other,
they wouldn't have ment too much to each other.
I think that this story that we hear in the song, shows eternal values,
and it's really worth knowing for everyone.
In this at once heroic and sublime story
the friendship of a Christian boy, Zoli and a Jewish boy, Dani is chanted by great artists,
a friendship that is at once sublime, heroic,
and its shocking ending is shattering for all of us.
What is this all about?
The two boys are schoolmates, friends
but they also compete with each other in who's the better in learning.
But even in there tiny lives appears hatred that tries to ruin our lives and push to the death,
and, according to the song, the murderers storm in to enforce the deportation
and they say the Jewish boy's name
and, shockingly, for this name, Zoli, the Christian boy puts up his hand.
So, this beautiful song is the apotheosis of lifelong friendly fidelity.
The Christian boy, to save his Jewish friend, offers his own life as a ransom for the murderers.
The song is a beautiful vocal realization of this story, that shocks all of us.
The memory of those making sacrifices and giving their lives as a sacrifice may be sacred
and, even without a name, all of them may be included in our prayers.
Thank you for listening.
Danny was a senior in high school, 1938 was the year
His whole life layed unopened before him, like a star that waits to appear
His classmate and his biggest archrival, a boy named Fritzy Kaminsky
Always copied Danny’s homework, so that he could get his degree
Fritzi was the champion bragger, his stories filled in right where he lacked
Danny was a straight A student, but always came in last in track
Other boys would mock him and tease him, the grief of his soul was unheard
Difference is hard to handle; for his name was Rosenberg
Whistles carry away their cries, precious memories of days gone by
Under cover of darkened skies, unfeeling
But like a flickering candle light, like one expects day to ransom night
Hearts in the hands of One Greater lie, in hope beaming
Then there came the times without mercy, those they trusted would give them up
Cash was what the neighbor needed, he shrugged and said, “the times are rough”
Danny boy, to some life’s worth nothing, his father said with thoughts afar
From now on life will be very different; our destiny is in the star
First they took the shoemaker, Goldstein; the music teacher Abel Meinhoff
And Steinberger, who liked to tell stories, and Weiss who owned the ice cream shop
They took Zimmerman, the jeweler, his daughters, Joanna and Beth
Cries for mercy from his wife and the baby, fell on ears of men that had become deaf
Whistles carry away their cries, precious memories of days gone by
Under cover of darkened skies, unfeeling
But like a flickering candle light, like one expects day to ransom night
Hearts in the hands of One Greater lie, in hope beaming
The morning Fritzi heard of the transports, he knew he had a debt to pay
When he left home little did he know, he’d do more than that on that day
At Danny’s house the door was wide open, his father motioned Fritzi away
From inside could be heard SS soldiers, calling Danny from a list of names
Danny had just gone to the tutor, ‘cause reaching higher was his thing
“Is that you?” the SS questioned? Fritzi nodded and he stepped in
Danny heard it all from a witness; he understood his life was a gift
He survived to tell those who’d listen, through sacrifice the heart can be lit
Whistles carry away their cries, precious memories of days gone by
Under cover of darkened skies, unfeeling
But like a flickering candle light, like one expects day to ransom night
Hearts in the hands of One Greater lie, in hope beaming
Whistles carry away their cries, precious memories of days gone by
Under cover of darkened skies, unfeeling
But like a flickering candle light, like one expects day to ransom night
Hearts in the hands of One Greater lie, in hope beaming