Songs In A Strange Land

Worksongs at night

The rivers of Suriname, on the rivers of Suriname

Sailed the enslaved with their ships
They rowed and saw the sun set below the horizon, the moon’s reflections ripple on the water

The rivers of Suriname, on the rivers of Suriname

They transported trade goods into town,
Surrounded by the scent of coffee and tabacco, they made their way through the current

The rivers of Suriname, on the rivers of Suriname

They sang a melodic sequence of call and response
Their songs of resilience and sorrow broke the silence of the night

On these rivers of Suriname

Dawn brought them hope for better lives
And their songs still echo on the rhythm of the water