Monkey in a Cage
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Backing vocals by Marybeth Daines, Maria & Paul For full songs notes please visit this link - http://www.maria-daines.com/music-40.html We were inspired to write this song after receiving the letter below. Kerry's words painted a powerful picture and an insight into the emotions of an animal rights advocate. I wanted to demonstrate through music what I see as the turmoil of needing to free animals from a living hell, and also show the sadness of being the monkey in the cage. In association with Mary Alice Pollard, Cornwall's Voice For Animals, we launch the Free Felix Campaign in the hope that through Felix's story more people will become aware of the need to end the suffering of these intelligent creatures world wide. We hope to encourage, discussion and empathy towards changing laws in favour of protecting animals from the horrors of vivisection and shed light on the plight of primates held captive, to be exploited by humanity. Maria Daines _________________________ 'We all watched that program on BBC2 on Monday and I don't know about you but I can't get Felix out of my head. He is living in a tiny cage right now and being prepped to have excruciating experiments performed on him which will (likely) last YEARS. He is still whole and hasn't had his brain exposed for torture just yet - can't we do something? I don't think I could live with myself if we didn't make an effort to save him - now that I have seen him and looked into those intelligent eyes I don't see how I could abandon him knowing what is going to happen. I am also gutted that that there has been no outcry over this, why hasn't it been posted everywhere and a rally of compassionate people fighting to save him? I am not a songwriter and am not talented in that way at all but my feelings speak for me which is why I am so grateful for someone like you who understands the emotion people like me feel and can convert it into music! The 'song' in my heart is angry - there are elements of disappointment and sadness, frustration and incredulousness; but the overriding theme is, (unfortunately), anger - how dare we, seriously HOW DARE WE???? At what stage in our evolution did we come to the conclusion that every other living being is ours to use and abuse. I am not just focusing on animals now but our host, our Mother Earth. I realise I am going off topic but all this is related isn't it. Humans are on the top of the proverbial food chain and most feel this gives us the green light to use anything as a 'resource' whether it be another sentient creature or the very planet that gives us life! How arrogant our species is, I am disgusted to be a part of this. We are parasites. The definition is simply an organism who feeds off another life form and gives nothing back and ulitimately destroys its host. Who can honestly argue that the human race is not the greatest threat to all life? We have raped the earth, (as a species), and need to make amends.' Kerry 4th Dec 2006