Tsunami Song by Frs. Peter and Roby

The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 hit the coasts of several countries of South and Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004. The earthquake that caused the tsunami lasted almost 10 minutes. Nearly 230,000 people died.

I wrote this song visualizing 3 children who had lost their families,
complaining to the Indian Ocean, sitting on its shore.
My friend Fr. Albin Roby composed the apt soulful medoly and score. 

Voice:

When Tsunami waves came bursting open the boundaries
How to depict the sorrow of those who had lost their lives?

On your mercy live the coastal people
On your shores exist the fear of God
Their occupation entirely depends on you
Endless war between life and death

3 Children:

Father trusted more in you than his own boat;
No mother was ever afraid of you
How come you took on a ferocious face
causing your gentle waves into mountainous monsters?

Chorus:

We were born on your shores
We subsist on your goodness
Day after day in our boats
We floated on your waves

Near you were we nurtured
Slept on your coasts
Fish caught in the net
developed our villages

3 Children:

Father trusted more in you than his own boat;
No mother was ever afraid of you

Voice:

Massive waves broke on our shores
At their withdrawal was gone our source of life
We had built houses and saved money
and brought up our lovely children;
We lost everything; and mourn
as all were gone with the waves.

Chorus:

Of the dead, one in three were children
Unsprouted lives
Innocent infants
who knew not even the word ‘Mother’

Hearts that groan with the memory of
the waves snatching away
the girl on the lap and
the boy holding the hand

3 Children:

Father trusted more in you than his own boat;
No mother was ever afraid of you

Voice:

Humane tender love welled up as spring
The whole earth became as one family
As every news revolved into fireballs,
each inner self became a house smeared with deadly dust
humane values began to live in every heart.

Chorus:

Soul of the world was ripened
It extended its helping hands
determined to be with the afflicted
until the sadness was lifted

Religious fanaticism disappeared
All joined the world mainstream
Caste discriminations fell down
Mercy was seen in death

All:

Sorrows and destruction are in life
Sickness and death are in the world
Through the good-hearted souls
Our God is with us; so, worry not.

For Video Clip Click Here