THE MARSH FAMILY – Gaza | Adaptation of “Iris” | The Goo Goo Dolls (2025)

This song speaks for itself really. It treats difficult subject matter, but is not intended to offend or inflame – rather to highlight suffering and injustice.

We released a song in support of the work of the International Red Cross and their Israel/Gaza appeal in December 2023. We worked with Save the Children last Christmas. It is heartbreaking to see the worsening scenes coming out of Gaza. And if raising international voices or noises can add any pressure to stop the war, to change the conduct of the occupation, or just relieve the plight of the innocent, they are worth trying.

The original song, “Iris” by John Rzeznik, felt fitting because it’s about the world seeing, and is powerful and intense and emotive. It was released as a single in 1998, featuring in the movie “City of Angels.” We played with the full sound with kit etc., but decided to strip it back with mandolin and some softer phrasing.

LYRICS

There’s a limit to every posture There’s a moment when action ends doubt Like when thousands of children have nothing to eat And there’s lorries with food being kept out

And all they can taste is the sulphur They’re cut off from relief or supply They’re ordered to wait till its over Self-defence is become genocide

Now you don’t win a war showing pity But there’s some things that shouldn’t be planned Like choosing to engineer famine Or the bombing of refugee camps

And you can’t fight the tears of the orphaned Or the footage that hollows our eyes When every week brings excuses Yeah it’s children just burning alive

And it don’t mean we’re all for jihadis Or want terrorists stalking the land When every aid worker’s broken You just prove you’re no better than them

And you don’t want the world to see you ‘Cause you know that they won’t understand The sickening steps being taken While the journalists die or are banned

And the innocent die with the guilty Taken hostage for nothing they’d done Now a doctor’s lost nine of her children And you’ve crippled her husband and son

And your ministers talk about ‘cleansing’ As the water pumps dry in the sand When everything sacred you’ve broken Will you tell us that wasn’t the plan? Will you tell us that wasn’t the plan?! Will you tell us that wasn’t the plan?!