Music with Meaning
A SINGLE PIECE OF BREAD
On October 7th, 2023, Hamas perpetrated the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history, killing about 1200 people and taking over 250 hostages. But Israel’s response and siege of Gaza have been beyond the pale, not only displacing and killing thousands of innocent Palestinians, but also causing an unimaginable humanitarian and hunger crisis.
I have tried to capture the human side of this suffering, focusing on hungry children caught in the crossfire. It sprang from a CNN segment I saw, in which a hungry young boy said, “It’s my birthday today; all I want is a slice of bread.” I had to do something!
Telling this story was a delicate balancing act, trying not to blame one side or the other but rather to say, “One thing’s clear, there’s blame to share, and hungry mouths to feed.”
I am deeply grateful to all those who helped fund this project (song and video) and also those who contributed in other ways: Ken, Kate, Sue, Yosh, and Dan, for their much-appreciated feedback along the way, and Kevin for his heartfelt performance and fine production.
A SINGLE PIECE OF BREAD
(feat. Kevin Fisher)
© 2025 Music & words by Ron Ovadia
Vocals: Kevin Fisher
Produced by: Kevin Fisher & Ron Ovadia
Piano & Orchestration: Kevin Fisher
Recording, Mixing & Mastering: Kevin Fisher
Cover Art: Grant Maloy Smith
LYRIC
In the smoldering ruins of war
A dark and grim reality
Families losing their loved ones
And children are fatalities
But a boy and girl are hopeful
This day they’ll be blessed
Through all the devastation
They have just one request
A single piece of bread
Haven’t eaten in a while
To fill their empty stomachs
And find a way to smile
A single piece of bread
And with it a ray of light
Maybe they can find some peace
In a single piece of bread
And maybe someday
things will turn out right
Innocent human shields
Weapons of starvation
Is this who we are?
As a just and moral nation
Whether food’s not being delivered
Or it’s blocked from those in need
One thing’s clear, there’s blame to share
And hungry mouths to feed!
CHORUS
As food is slowly trickling in
The healing can begin
But it takes two sides
To end this strife
For a child who’s tasted death
And is hungry for a normal life
CHORUS
A single piece of bread
For every hungry child of war
Children too young to understand
What all the fighting’s for
A single piece of bread
It’s the least that one can spare
Maybe they can find some peace
In a single piece of bread
For all the hungry children everywhere