This is entry #47 in our 100 Philosophers, 100 Artworks, 100 Words Series.

Philosopher: Neil Sinhababu, National University of Singapore

Artwork: “Celebration Guns”, Set Yourself on Fire, Stars

Words: During the 2004 depths of the War on Terror, Amy Millan ended this song with a lullaby for its victims. Lyrics include:

And then the next day, how will you know your enemy?

By their colour or your fear?

One by one you can cage them in your freedom

Make them all disappear.

And this expression of responsibility:

This morning’s paper’s ink stains my fingers

My hands grow darker everyday.

With the time for preventing the needless horror of so much foolish war long past us, the dirge-like violin expresses the sorrow of looking back on so much tragedy.