Janani K. Jha - Polyxena (Official Lyric Video)

I wrote this song from the perspective of an older woman bemoaning the fate that will inevitably befall a small girl---her daughters, her nieces, her friends. I was inspired to write it after thinking about all the young women and girls who become collateral damage in wars across the world. Thank you for hearing these words and understanding them.

Thank you also for listening, and for being here. You mean more to me than you could ever know.

The Rest of the Laurels is a mythological concept album where each song is inspired by a story from the Greco-Roman mythological canon.

Stream the debut album "The Rest of the Laurels":

Pre-order your "The Rest of the Laurels" CD on my website:

"Polyxena" Lyric Video
Edited by Janani K. Jha

"Polyxena"
Written by Janani K. Jha and Justin Glasco
Produced by Justin Glasco
Mixed by Calvin Lauber
Mastered by Calvin Lauber


I love you all to the moon and back :)

[GraceMorris-khkh]

I love envisioning this song being sung by Hecuba because then its not just a song for Polyxena but a lullaby for Troy from its queen which is just so beautiful. Janani perfectly encapsulates the sorrow of the trojan women ❤

[PersyKv]

I got chills in the line
"Atleast I can sing
When the knife goes in"
So powerful

[Emymagdalena]

This was so unexpectedly haunting. What a choice for it to be told from the perspective of the person leading Polyxena to the sacrifice

[the_tired_shepherd]

I love this song and i love how this could be queen hecuba or cassandra trying to comfort polyxena, i preffer envisioning cassandra like its her finnal goodbye to her little sister while also trying to say i tried to tell them and your getting punished for it and its not okay. AND IT BREAKS MY HEART

[aaishaismail]

Two months? Two months ago?? Two months of this song being in my head for nearly every single Banger really

[aoi]

I think I can now say this is my favorite song on the album for the time being. It’s so beautiful and haunting and like a lullaby as she’s being lead to her doom…I literally read the Wikipedia page for Polyxena bc of this song. Absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful.

[aaishaismail]

This doesn't have to be the way things are...
I'm listening to your album for the first time while getting ready for bed and nah man I wasn't ready for this rollercoaster of emotions I know you warned us but oh god I'm tearing up like a fountain

[mirtix]

I am so happy here in the comments this songs is getting the recognition it deserves, it is absolutely beautiful...
As stupid as it sounds even though it's about such a specific story, you have written it in a way that feels relatable and comforting for everyone. This is pure talent, this is art

[stephanielester]

My gods... I haven't seen such beauty in a song for a long time. I'm going to be dramturg for my university's upcoming production of The Trojan Women by Euripides in the spring, and I think we've found an anthem💪💜 may this battle hymn become our battle cry

[oflow]

SO EXCITED! SO HAPPY AND PROUD THAT YOUR DEBUT ALBUM IS FINALLY COMING OUT JANANI. YOU DESERVE THIS AND EVERYTHING MORE.

[anatyarom]

I had a feelling this song would be my favourite and God was I right. Its so strong and emotional ❤

[Zoe_Nlghtshade]

THIS SONG IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND HEARTBREAKING! I've been listening to this album nonstop for the past to days the songs are all so amazing, you've truly outdone yourself ♡

[PersyKv]

This song is so beautiful
It makes you charmed and heartbroken in the sane time
Listening on repeat this whole wonderful album!

[DaughterofPersephone]

I, despite my love for Greek Myth, did not know about Polyxena. Thanks for introducing her to me, I've fallen in love with her already. She died proudly, and refused to let herself be tainted by those who sacked her city (for some reason I found myself unconsciously rooting for Troy while reading the Iliad, so 🤷‍♀️)

[lunerwolfie]

Lryics for me:

[Chorus]
Oh, Polyxena, shield your eyes from the sun
Just for a second, just for a second more
You can still let this world stay a happy one
For just one more second, your life's only begun,  begun

[Verse 1]
I saw in my mind's eye,  the crumbling castles
Disasters raining like fallen arrows
This is just the way things are
For women like me, whispers in the hallways
Always observing, always in shadows
This is just the way things are

[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, I didn't want this for you, but what could I do?
So listen to me sing a little longer, soon the darkness comes with all the monsters
Look around, thе fields are full of songbirds' closing words

[Chorus]
Oh, Polyxena, shiеld your eyes from the sun
Just for a second, just for a second more
You can still let this world stay a happy one
For just one more second, your life's only begun, begun

[Verse 2]
Stories as old as they are unkind
Wrong time, wrong place, not our war to wage
This is just the way things are
Another girl caught up in the crosshair
Not fair to ask for war, and then take more
This is just the way things are

[Bridge]
Ooh, I didn't want this for you, but what could I do?
What could I do?
What could I do? (What could I do?)
What could I do? (What could I?)
What could I do? (What could I?)
What could I do? (What could I?)
What could I do?
Oh, God, what can I do
When this is what it's come to?
Want this city on fire, but it's already done
It's all funeral pyres, nothing left to be won
So I'll sit here, and I'll watch her
There's no mercy for the conquered
But I won't go quiet, no, I can't let them win
So at least I can sing when the knife goes (in)

[Chorus]
Oh, Polyxena, shield your eyes from the sun
You leave a world that doesn't deserve your love
But just for a second, just for a second more...

[imahumanperson]

I've listened to this song so many times over the past few weeks and I cannot express to you how INSANE it is to me that this only has 16k views. Just... how??? It's so well written and utterly gut-wrenching! (That is, indeed, a compliment.) Underrated af is all I can say.

[NightinLarkMC]

This is so.... haunting. I can think of a character in a book I'm writing that this fits rather well. This makes me so emotional.

[elenjulia]

Holy moly this song is so incredibly beautiful and so sad! Your lyricism is wonderful🥰🥰🥰

[Demigod-of-the-sun]

This is so heartbreakingly beautiful ❤️ i cant choose a favorite 😭😭😭

[katnisseverdeenmybeloved]

i have listened to this song three times already ITS SO GOOD