Fatima rises at dawn

The hunger like a flame inside her

It's the feast of Ramadan

And her father's been praying for hours

He wears his disapproval

In a silence, cold but hysterical

Saw her last night with that Christian boy

And his world falls apart in America



Her mother fusses about

Her brother laughs in the kitchen

Then the phone explodes on the wall

Oh, my God, don't let it be Michael

Her father's glare is like violence

Who else would break the tradition

Except someone who laughs at our holy ways

Tears us apart in America



Fatima, you're breaking his heart

He doesn't understand your dilemma

A girl becomes a woman alone

Those who love her

Can no longer help her

Why didn't they tell him back home

Things fall apart in America



Fatima picks up the phone

Michael is his usual hilarious

She listens in silence and wonders

Why American boys are oblivious

I love you but this is good-bye

There are too many rivers between us

Father, forgive me, you're right

Things fall apart in America



Fatima, you're breaking his heart

He doesn't understand your dilemma

A girl becomes a woman alone

Those who love her

Can no longer help her

And Michael stares at the phone

As things fall apart in America