In a summer season when soft was the sun
But that was then, now the summer
Locks the land in an iron embrace
And the sun hits hard, hard as a hammer
And the sour seas surge, and the rivers run dry
And an acrid stench leaks from the sky
And it feels like we're at war with nature
So on this bare boned hill we gather
A throng of thousands following the rumour
That on this day and in this place
God will come, God the Redeemer
And many are preaching, the end is nigh
For the earth upheaves, and hope runs dry
And fear is rife, fear for the future
And as we watch and wait and wonder
On the hill's brow a tiny figure
Creeps into view and now we see
Her woman, wizened in rags like a beggar
She sent from God, we look for a sign
Searching her face for a spark divine
And over our heads the helicopters hover
She stands so still in silent solace
Bright like the earth, old as the weather
The choking air, the fevered sun
And the woman weeps like a grieving mother
Then a helicopter swoops like a bird of prey
Scoops her up, carries her away
And we feel like hope is lost forever
Who now remembers the sound of birdsong?
I have seen oceans lashing out in anger
Forest fires that scorch the sky
Waves of children fleeing hunger
We were forewarned but we took no heed
Too late now to punish the ones whose greed
Has plundered our children's children's future
In a summer season when salt was the sun