«I Won't Leave You Behind’ is a song denouncing war. Although it was written with the suffering people of Ukraine in mind, it refers to every war, wherever it may be taking place.
This is the result of a collaboration for a good cause between the animal welfare website «Dog on the Street» and the Municipality of Dafni-Ymittos, following an assignment by the chair of the five-member animal welfare committee, and volunteer collaborators Kelly Voudouri and George Panteloglou, who also composed the music for the song. The lyrics were written by Yola Argyropoulou.
It is being released these days on the occasion of World Animal Day (October 4) and is a song about refugees and uprooting. Perhaps the only difference between this song and others with similar themes is that it does not only tenderly and empathetically embrace the person who is forced to leave their home, but also gives equal importance to the animal that follows them. The animal, a member of the family, suffers just as much, even if it cannot understand «how and why all this is happening.».
In any war or disaster, the official list of dead and wounded records only human lives, ignoring the other inhabitants of the planet who also have souls, feelings, and experience pain.
«I Won't Leave You Behind’ is a tribute to refugee animals and human refugees who cannot bear to leave them behind, as well as to the volunteer heroes of Ukraine and everywhere else. It is a song about the power of love and solidarity in every soul on this planet.
The musicians Marios Ivan Papoulias (violins) and Giorgos Dinakos (guitars) performed. Giorgos Dinakos (Seven Road Studio) was responsible for the orchestration, recording, and mixing. Dimitris Tziolas was responsible for mastering. The cover was designed by Giorgos Tzamtzis (EPOCHI Creative Agency).
