One Day Analysis

The song “One Day” by Matisyahu, represents how Vahan is feeling about this whole Armenian Genocide. The song is about not wanting a war and just wanting peace in the world. It explains how you pray for the world to be a better place and that you should stand tall and just hope for that day, but never let it bring you down. Vahan doesn’t understand why the turkish are attacking his people. He just wants his normal life back with his warm house and all the food he could eat surrounded by the people he loves. He wants the war to end so that kids who are his age when he’s older, don’t have to go through what he had to in order to survive and watch everyone you love and care about die right before your eyes. The lyrics, “Then i pray, don’t take me soon, ‘cause i am here for a reason”, connects with how Vahan wants to carry on his family name and survive to honor them. It may be easy to lose yourself throughout the journey but if you keep going for what you believe in, you could maybe stop the war.

"One Day"
By Matisyahu

Sometimes I lay
Under the moon
And thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray
Don't take me soon
'Cause I am here for a reason
Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I
know some day it'll all turn around because...
All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day [6x]
It's not about
Win or lose
'Cause we all lose
When they feed on the souls of the innocent
Blood-drenched pavement
Keep on moving though the waters stay raging
In this maze you can lose your way (your way)
It might drive you crazy but don't let it faze you, no way (no way)
Sometimes in my tears I drown (I drown)
But I never let it get me down (get me down)
So when negativity surrounds (surrounds)
I know some day it'll all turn around because...
All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day [6x]
One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence
Down with the hate
One day we'll all be free
And proud to be
Under the same sun
Singing songs of freedom like
One day [4x]
All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day [6x]

The song “I Am A Rock” by Simon and Garfunkel is a very deep song. It’s about closing people out because in the end you always get hurt by friendship and love, etc. It saying that sometimes it’s better to be alone because friends mostly let you down when you need to be lifted up and that you shouldn’t trust everyone you run into. Vahan decided to trust this turkish man who knew his father and for a some time he took very good care of Vahan for being their servant with the horses and chores. Then he brought a young girl to stay with him in the stable and Vahan thought that he brought her there so Vahan wouldn’t be lonely anymore. He heard rumors about him that were awful but he didn’t want to believe them. Then he found out the truth, the girl was only there for the other soldiers entertainment and he could careless if he was lonely or not. It was hard for Vahan to really trust anyone after he thought wrong.

"I Am A Rock"
By Simon and Garfunkel

A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
Don't talk of love,
But I've heard the words before;
It's sleeping in my memory.
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries

The song “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” by Green Day can pretty much explain Vahan’s life ever since the Armenian Genocide began. The song explains how alone you are and that the path you are heading down is very lonely and you only have yourself left. Even though you are alive and living, the path you are going down is lonely and you’ve kind of lost everything, but you keep your head held high and keep moving forward. There is one scene in the book where Sisak and Vahan are running for a turkish soldier and they hide behind a building. Sisak told Vahan to run on his mark and once he said go, Vahan ran the other way and lost him. He waited hours for Sisak to show up and come back but he never did. Vahan was all alone and had to face whatever came next a lone. It also relates to the whole book when he loses everyone and has nothing left, he’s always walking alone on his own and never looking back but looking down the lonely road ahead for the next challenge.

"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"
By Green Day

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone
Read between the lines
Of what's messed up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, aaah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah
I walk alone
I walk a...
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone…

The song “Beam Me Up” by P!nk is a very powerful song. It’s about missing someone who has passed away and life has been hard without them by their side and they would do anything just to be with them for just a minute more. Vahan has thought of giving up and he just wanted to be with his brothers and sister who was killed. He especially wanted to be with Sisak because he was like his role model and he was the reason why Vahan had made it so far. He thought about dying and just going up there with him, but then he thought he is honored to have lived this long throughout the journey and wants to carry on the family name and survive for as long as he possibly can.

"Beam Me Up"
By P!nk

There's a whole 'nother conversation going on
In a parallel universe.
Where nothing breaks and nothing hurts.
There's a waltz playin' frozen in time
Blades of grass on tiny bare feet
I look at you and you're lookin' at me.
Could you beam me up,
Give me a minute, I don't know what I'd say in it
I'd probably just stare, happy just to be there, holding your face
Beam me up,
Let me be lighter, I'm tired of being a fighter,
I think a minute's enough,
Just beam me up.
Saw a blackbird soarin' in the sky,
Barely a breath I caught one last sight
Tell me that was you sayin' goodbye,
There are times I feel the shiver and cold,
It only happens when I'm on my own,
That's how you tell me I'm not alone
Could you beam me up,
Give me a minute, I don't know what I'd say in it
I'd probably just stare, happy just to be there, holding your face
Beam me up,
Let me be lighter, I'm tired of being a fighter,
I think a minute's enough,
Just beam me up.
In my head I see your baby blues
I hear your voice and I, I break in two and now there's
One of me, with you
So when I need you can I send you a sign
I'll burn a candle and turn off the lights
I'll pick a star and watch you shine
Just beam me up,
Give me a minute, I don't know what I'd say in it
I'd probably just stare, happy just to be there, holding your face
Beam me up,
Let me be lighter, I'm tired of being a fighter,
I think, a minute's enough,
Beam me up
Beam me up
Beam me up
Could you beam me up.

The song “Nothing Left To Lose” by Heaven’s Basement can be very relatable for Vahan towards the end of the book.
The song is saying that they know how it feels to have nothing left to lose, it’s relatable to have nothing left in the world that can be taken away. Vahan has lost so many people he has cared about in his life. He’s lost his family, his home, his normal life, etc. The song is a little dark because it explains that there is really nothing left to live for and they can understand how they must feel and all the anger that builds up inside you when you realize everything you loved and cared for the most was taken away from you. The turkish soldiers took away his home, his family, his friends, anything that was ever important to
them.

"Nothing Left To Lose"
By Heaven’s Basement

Oh
Yeah
Cover your eyes you're not ready to see this
Better to be blind than to try and resist
Say your prayers and cease and desist
We all have secrets
Everyone dies so what's the meaning in all this
But we have a choice to live on to exist
If you want more, go take it and get p*ssed
We don't have regrets
I know how it feels, to have nothing left to lose
To burn it all, and be left alone with silence
How it feels, with the anger and the rage (and the rage)
Get out, get out, get out, we are defiance
Pushed to the edge I can't go any further
Tear me apart with mechanical murder
Ignorant bliss in a time of disorder
God save the bad guys
Nightmares come when I can't open my eyes
Running from the past I know that I can't hide
I get knocked down shout up to the sky
I got no regrets
I know how it feels, to have nothing left to lose
To burn it all, and be left alone with silence
How it feels, with the anger and the rage (and the rage)
Get out, get out, get out, we are defiance
We don't belong here
The sound of a thousand vultures
Will drown us out and confiscate our bones
We stand alone
We don't belong here
The sound of a thousand vultures
Will drown us out and confiscate our bones
We stand alone
We stand alone
We stand alone
I know how it feels, to have nothing left to lose
To burn it all, and be left alone with silence
How it feels, with the anger and the rage (and the rage)
Get out, get out, get out, we are defiance
I know how it feels, to have nothing left to lose
To burn it all, and be left alone with silence
How it feels, with the anger and the rage (and the rage)
Get out, get out, get out, we are defiance
Say goodbye to the world that we once knew

The song “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten is a very empowering song. It’s basically saying to never lose hope, even if there are times when you feel like it’s the best option. It’s saying that you still have a fight in you and you won’t give up no matter what the challenge you’re facing with is. Vahan has faced many challenges, yet he still keeps his hopes up and continues to fight until the battle is over. He’s been locked in a closet, pushed around, been in hiding, has trust issues, etc. He also isn’t afraid to tell people who he is, that he is armenian and proud, he’ll continue to fight no matter how long it takes.

"Fight Song"
By Rachel Platten

Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
And all those things I didn't say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me
Losing friends and I'm chasing sleep
Everybody's worried about me
In too deep
Say I'm in too deep (in too deep)
And it's been two years
I miss my home
But there's a fire burning in my bones
Still believe
Yeah, I still believe
And all those things I didn't say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me
A lot of fight left in me
Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
This is my fight song (Hey!)
Take back my life song (Hey!)
Prove I'm alright song (Hey!)
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong (I'll be strong)
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me
No I've still got a lot of fight left in me