Adder's Fork - Island Lament Lyrics

We are the sentinels, watching and waiting
Heads in the cloud, and our feet in the sea
We've stood seven million years, endlessly patient
Witnessed arrivals, by sky or by sea

Of all the newcomers, plant life or animal
Most come exhausted and barely survive
Each one we welcomed, as they settled, expanded
Until the grey day when the ship rats arrived

Now gone, native blackbird, my fantail, my fly-eater
Gone are the birds that once flew through the green
Gone, Epiglypta, gone, my Magnifica
Soon Pseudocharopa, too, no more will be seen

So to our people, we call you to help us now
You who've trod lightly our hills and our shores
Other invaders have entered our paradise
You've risen against them and fought for our cause

Goats, pigs and cats are gone, weeds are a battleground
Join the last fight now and help us win free
You brought this scourge on us, help us defeat it
The loss if you don't will resound endlessly

Now gone, native blackbird, my fantail, my fly-eater
Gone are the birds that once flew through the green
Gone, Epiglypta, gone, my magnifica
Soon Pseudocharopa, too, no more will be seen

Gone is my boobook owl, near gone is my phasmid
Others are struggling so hard to survive
Barely existing, their lives in the balance
Help us this day... and keep them alive