Inspired by Tibetan monk Palden Gyatso's harrowing book Fire under the Snow. Such indomitable bravery and steadfast adherence to the cause! If this helps open people's eyes to their plight, every little helps.
lyrics
Fire in your snows
In my dreaming I've been to Tibet,
Journeys I'll never forget,
Woman in firelight silhouette
And a spirit guarding the pass.
In my reading I have heard the words,
Spoken bravely in spite of the hurting,
Of the monks and the nomads with their herds,
Saying 'How could all this come to pass?'
And it's none of my business, I'm not one of you,
My life’s been so different from what you have been through,
It's a centuries-old tangle, so what can I do?
But still my heart sees a flame in your snow.
How long can the torture go on?
Imprisonment of innocents, destruction of livelihood?
How much degradation must one nation take
Before the world admits that it knows?
How many more deaths does it take?
How many more faces staring out through the bars?
How many more crippled and maimed refugees
Before the world sees the fire in your snows?
Too late for 'if only' and 'why?'
Too late for all those who have died.
No need for a violent reply.
Just enough for the world to say 'no'.
And it may be sense will prevail
To bring a happier end to this tale.
It will if the world doesn't fail
To feel the fire burning deep in your snow.
And there may have been treaties, acts and accords,
When Tibetans survived with Chinese overlords,
But my pen goes its own way, despite all these words,
Because my heart sees the flame in your snow.
And it could be our business, there are things we could do
That maybe would help all that you have been through,
Other such tangles have been worked through,
We can honour the flame in your snow.
credits
from Firegazing,
released September 17, 2017
Written by Brian Boothby
Electric Guitar: Chris Ellis
Fiddle: Adam Summerhayes (Orchestra of One!)
Fretless Bass: Dave Sturt
Acoustic Guitar and Vocals: Brian Boothby
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