Once, you were a pretty bird
With the rainbow’s colours in your mouth
Singing hallelujahs that were heard
From east to west, and north to south.
Once, you soared in the firmament blue
And touched our hearts with brotherly love,
The world was one because of you
Embodied as a white winged dove.
But greed and power made us blind
To the beauty of your radiant light,
We could not ever comfort find
When plagued with enmity and spite.
We locked you in a cage of gold
And threw away the golden key,
Your legacy was bought and sold
And tarnished by humanity.
With guns and bombs we fought for gain
Nations clashing against each other,
Bringing war and causing pain
To every father, every mother.
But hope will one day set you free,
That all the peoples of this earth
Will live once more in harmony
And rejoice in your rebirth.
Then you will soar the heaven’s clear
And nations shall their fighting cease,
That all the world can once more hear,
Your beautiful song of peace.