State of Emergency

This special single was created to build awareness around autism and the physical/emotional/spiritual toll it not only has on children, but on the forgotten parents, as well.

In 2008, a man named Mike Reibsamen wrote a letter requesting I write a blurb for the back jacket of his book, “I Wish My Kids Had Cancer.” The title, alone, shocked me. But, after reading the book, I was deeply, deeply shaken. I understood what Mike was implying and trying to convey. I learned about the world in which two extremely autistic children, who are dearly loved on a daily basis, leave their parents exhausted from the efforts of the parenting required. It was an explosive entrance into their world.

Mike wrote about his children with such brutal honesty and anguish, his voice exhausted, his feelings confused and angry. Here was a dad desperately seeking help for his beloved kids, while living on the edge. Without support services, without government funding, without a steady job. To provide an income for his family, spend time with his children, and still find quality, replenishing time with his faith-filled, patient wife, was a very, very tough read. Mike was grieving that cancer has many, many outlets of funding and emotional support, but autism can still “put people off”, it scares people, it is misunderstood.

Although Mike’s book is not every parents’ point of view, I decided to write a song from Mike’s point of view. To me, his situation was a universal cry for all parents, those long-suffering in their fatigue and feelings of isolation. Those standing solid in the shoes of love for their special needs children.

My wish has always been that people would download the song so Mike’s family would receive extra income from 100% of the sale. I hope the song can still bring awareness around autism and the physical/emotional/spiritual toll it not only has on children, but on the forgotten parents, as well.

Although I’ve been blessed as a music therapist to occasionally work with autistic children, I’ve only worked with those on the end of the spectrum who are mildly affected. Mike opened my eyes to how deep love can reach from a parent to their child, regardless of the severity of their condition.

If you’d like to support the Reibsamen family, purchase Mike’s book, “I Wish My Kid Had Cancer” or download the song, “State of Emergency.” You can also buy the cd, “Absence of Blame”, which contains a different version of the same song, and monies from that song will also go to the Reibsamen family. Thank you.

— Sara


Track Listing

  1. STATE OF EMERGENCY words and music by Sara Hickman


Lyrics

STATE OF EMERGENCY

Words & Music by Sara Hickman

I’m feeling ugly... I’m feeling rude

Ain’t got no hope left... Can’t shake this mood

Behind the promise... Behind your eyes

You’ve been poisoned by a government’s lies

I keep on runnin... all night and day

I’m going crazy... Prayin’ we’ll be saved

You’re full of toxins... Your body hides

Pushin’ the pedals on a bike... You’ll never ride

Too much fightin’ ...and hittin’ too

My body’s been bitten til it’s turning black and blue

Eats up the money... eats up the brain

I don’t know if I can ever be happy again…

CHORUS:

It’s a lock down, broke down can’t rip off the shades

Shootin’ up with mercury and no one’s mind is safe

No one to help me... Can’t no body see?

I’m living in a state of emergency…

All of these worries... All of these fears

A pressure cooker that’s been building up for years

Who will help you? Learn how to steer?

When your momma and your daddy are no longer here?

Eats up my money... Eats up my brain

I don’t know if I can ever be happy again

CHORUS

Who brought this crisis home...?

Most of all... who will watch them when I’m gone?

Who will love them and feed them... promise not to beat them and keep them from hurting themselves....?

I’m feeling bad... no,.. this ain’t no good

Locked up living in a freaked out neighborhood

I feel so anxious…You’re screaming ‘cross the room

But I can see… no body’s coming... to help us soon...

It’s a lock down, broke down can’t rip off the shades

Shootin’ up with mercury every little mind unsafe

No one to help me... Can’t no body see?

I’m living in a state... of emergency

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