Hearts of Faith Music Project
Song Lyrics
• Maluku Weeps • Maluku
Tragedy • Goodbye
Ternate • Tears • Oh
Mama
• Thank you Manado • Confession
• Show Your Power • Face
the Facts
• Struggle of Life • Bring
Peace to Maluku • Ruins •
Peace • Goodbye My
Village
Hearts of Faith - Sample mp3 Files
Not all the songs on this album are composed by the performers. In some cases the words and music of earlier compositions are adapted by the performers to speak of their suffering. We wish to acknowledge the original authors and invite correspondence that can assist our research in determining the origin of some songs and giving credit where it is due.
1. Maluku Weeps
Words and Music: Merlin and Astri Tawale, 1999.
This song was composed by sisters, aged 19 and 21, who stood hand in hand singing of their love for Maluku and their hope in the Lord. The province of Maluku is actually two provinces: Maluku and North Maluku. Together they form a chain of over 1000 islands adorned in tropical beauty. But as one commentator noted it is now a 'paradise soaked in blood'. Merlin and Astri's faith in the midst of such destruction is an inspiration to all.
Maluku, land of my forefathers
Maluku, land of my birth
Whatever happens
In the land of my forefathers
It is only You Lord
Who knows
Although Maluku is destroyed
Dissolved in dust
Nevertheless our faith is unshaken
Because we belong to You
Not to the world
Reff:
Yes, Lord
Torture and suffering
Blood is flowing and souls are dying
Only for the name of Jesus
Yes Lord
All conflicts will happen
To test our faith
Or to fulfil Your word.
Yes, Lord
If this is Your purpose
Then let it happen
Strengthen our faith
We accept the testing.
How long before this conflict ends?
Only to you we surrender
Look at your people
Saturated with sorrow
Consumed with grieving
Are you listening?
Are you watching?
Maluku, land of my forefathers
Maluku, land of my birth
Original title: Ale Rasa Beta Rasa (You
feel I feel)
Written by: Rony Sapulete
It was a training meeting for 18 refugee pastors that we happened to ask, 'Do you know any songs about what happened in Maluku?' A few did, most didn't. Those who did began to teach those who didn't and within an hour we had recorded this song. The singers are some of the spiritual leaders of Maluku. Please pray for them as they seek to lead their people in what it means to be the people of God, without the security and traditions of what used to be known as 'church'.
The use of the word, 'Sio' used in this song and in others does not have an English equivalent. It is really an expression of pity, sadness, or grief and is a cry of intercession.
Oh Maluku
A thousand islands
Tragedy from Ambon town
All the way to Halmahera
Blood stained tears
Oh, Lord help us
Burned from Tobelo town
All the way to Morotai
Clothed in smoke and fire
Oh Lord help us
Reff:
Oh, Oh, Lord reveal Your power
To us the children of the Lord
In our refugee camps
(2nd time: In this time of uncertainty)
Oh, Oh, Lord reveal Your love
To us the children of the Lord
In our grief and sorrow…
Just because of different ethnic and religious groups
We fight one another, oh
Let us take an oath before the Lord -
"That we all are brothers and sisters."
Original song title: Kota Ternate
Original Words: Semmy Matekohy, 1997
Words adapted by: Feky Maruanaya, 1999.
This song is sung by five young girls (aged 9-13) who sing of their sadness in having to leave their homes in Ternate, Maluku. They now live in a factory with 6000 others in Bitung, Nth Sulawesi. The girls arrived to record their song with their hair all done and dressed in their Sunday best. As they were waiting they were listening to the song Maluku Weeps being recorded by Merlin and Astri. They sobbed as they listened and then recorded this song:
If we go to the island of Ternate
We can see the smoke here and there
Houses and churches all destroyed
That's the story of Ternate town and the island of
Halmahera
In the villages it took place
Houses and property totally destroyed
We ran here and there seeking protection
From the security forces
Reff:
Goodbye, goodbye Ternate town
We came to Bitung town fleeing to find refuge
We the people from Ternate, oh…
We gathered together
In the rattan cane factory we talked about what happened in
Ternate.
Oh, what a pity!
We remember our homes and churches that are burned to the
ground
We shed our tears
4.Tears (An ode to family members who were killed)
Words and Music: Yolius Mailoa, 2000, from Duma
Duma was a village of 1500 people. It was the birthplace of evangelical Christianity in Nth Maluku, brought by the Dutch in the 1860s. The community of Duma was entirely Christian and had been used by God as a base for a strong missionary movement throughout the area for many years. For this reason, Duma came under heavy attention from the Jihad troops. They tried a total of twenty times over a period of 5 months to attack the village but each time were beaten back by Christians who sought to defend the presence of Christianity in the region. However on June 19, 2000, 5000 Jihad troops together with as many rogue elements of the Indonesian military, overran the village and inflicted horrifying casualities. In all, Duma has lost one third of its entire population and the survivors are now scattered to safer areas. This song is written as an ode to the family members who were killed. The tears are tears of grief, but also serve to heal their hearts.
Tears, tears,
tears, tears
Accompany your going
Lord, Lord, Oh Lord
Too quickly You have separated us (from them)
You who understand everything
Who are enmeshed in the heart
The inner self of us all
*When, when Oh when
When will we find someone like You?
Who understands everything
Who is enmeshed in the heart
The inner self of us all
Reff:
Why must this happen (must this happen)?
Moments, moments like this
Only our weeping releases you to leave
Written by: Minggus Taihitu, 1985
Written many years before the conflict in Maluku, this song has become an anthem for the hundreds of children who are either orphaned or separated from their parents because of what has happened in Maluku. It was originally written as a tribute to a devoted mother whose sacrificial love should never be forgotten, but is particularly special to those from Ambon, who also refer to their home town as 'Mama Ambon'.
Many years ago
When I was still small
I remember back to those days
When my dear Mama carried me
As Mama cooked the sago cakes
she sang me to sleep, caressing me
Even now that I am grown up
I will still never forget Mama
Reff:
Oh Mama
I long to return home
Oh, Mama
Mama you look so frail
I haven't been able to repay you Mama
For all your hard work
Oh all those past years
Oh, Dear Lord Jesus
Please take care of my Mama
Dearest Mama
We were separated for many years
How time flies! - its hard to realize I've grown up.
When I think back on my childhood;
Your loving care and protection
Hugging me with your loving embrace…
Dearest Mama
Your love could never be repaid
I long to see your face again Mama
Which is growing older
Dearest Mama,
I can only lift my prayers,
Dear Lord, please take care of my beloved Mama
Written by: Karel Rikumahu, 1998
This song is sung by four young men who are refugees at the Kairagi centre in Manado, which has been their 'home' for the last 2 years. When we visited there was three toilets for a community of 1600 people!
Manado means, 'city of refuge'. The expression, 'Si Tou Timou Tumou Tou', is a Manadonese saying which means, 'to live is to give life', which is typified in the ctiy's generosity in accommodating some 42 000 refugees from Maluku. The people of Manado have given life out of their own abundance. This song is a tribute from the refugees to the people of Manado:
Oh Manado
Land of the waving coconut palms
Like the New Jerusalem
Full of peace and blessing
Oh Manado
The land of our refuge
A land full of hope
For the oppressed
Reff:
"Live to give life to others"
That is the message of the people of the land
To help each other
And to love each other
Oh Manado
We say 'Thank you'
We always pray for you
That Jesus may bless you
Words and Music: Merlin and Astri Tawale, 1999.
This is the honest confession
From our human hearts
That's all He asks of us
For Indonesia to be saved
The tragedy that we are experiencing
It's not a punishment from Him
It's only a sign
So we may repent
The honest confession to Him
From your pure heart
This tragedy
Is really our own fault
Pray and ask Him
So that Indonesia may be saved
Because there's only one way
that we can be freed:
to come back to the Almighty One.
Written by: Dodie Telehala
This song was recorded by a young couple from the refugee centre, Paal Dua, in Manado. In the middle of the recording a number of government and police officials arrived at the refugee centre to inform the people of their need to be planning to return to their homelands by the end of the year. We carried on recording while this meeting began. Later we joined in the meeting. The male singer, was one who was quite vocal in his objection saying 'how can we go back when our villages, homes and land have been taken over by the Jihad?'
Establish this land Oh Lord
According to Your will
Let it not be covered up before You Oh Lord
The mourning in this land
Don't you see it Lord
In every troubled heart?
Your own holiness
Is drifting further and further away
In this land, Lord
In this land, Lord
Father, do not allow
The mist, the shame, the stain of sin
Appear to overshadow Your power
Reveal the power that is in Your hand
Please reveal it Lord
So that we may comprehend
And understand the greatness of Your power.
Words and Music: Jeffrey Lamija, 2000.
Face up to the reality of life's burdens!
- a crisis has taken the lives of my brothers and
sisters
Beginning with the destruction of my beloved village
Halmahera is now full of tears, Lord
Full of tears, full of tears, Lord
Ref:
Lake Duma is now filled with blood
The promontory which was so beautiful
Now only remains a name
Beloved Galela no longer exists
Will Halmahera also one day disappear?
Lord, hear the cry of my prayer
Lord, lift the agony from my heart
Words and Music: Frederick Putjutju, 2000
Frederick is a pastor from Tobelo who has written a number of songs. He is one of hundreds of refugee pastors who are seeking to care for their flocks in the best way possible. As refugee communities look to the Lord in the midst of the crisis they are experiencing a revival of genuine faith.
On this journey
In this life's struggle
Joys and sorrows alternate
Nevertheless Your love abides
In the depths of Your people's sufferings
They are tortured, screaming and wailing
Only You Lord know
The full suffering of Your people.
Lord Oh merciful Lord
How long will it be
That Your people continue to cry out?
Many bodies have been scattered
Lifeless and without voice
Only You Lord know
How they surrended their lives and souls
Words and Music: Merlin and Astri Tawale, 1999.
Merlin and Astri's homeland, Ternate is now 100% Islamised, making it difficult, if not impossile, for these Christians to return. But despite their sufferings the church exhibits tremendous grace toward those who have wronged them as well as extraordinary faith in the power of God to bring change.
In this world Your people suffer.
For Christ we stand fast
And pray:
"Please Lord Jesus help us"
There are many victims of the conflict
Let there be no more killings
Give Your peace
Please bring peace to Maluku
Hide us from the cruelty of the world
Teach Your people
To forgive one another
Lord reveal Your power,
Yes Lord.
Written by: Yolias Mailoa, 2001
Ruins of destruction
In this land
Thousands of eyes gazing and
Weeping, weeping, Lord
How long before all this will cease?
Many are longing for peace
It's overwhelming our lives
Oh Oh Oh Lord
Show the way leading to
Eternal peace
Give us a strength of faith
Which is genuine
Let it be,
Oh let Your power be manifested
So that this land Lord
Would be blessed by You
Written by: Welly R Soputan
My heart is sad, so very sad
When I gaze from afar
My future which should be bright
Now looks clouded and grey
My heart is sad
Peace, Peace, I always yearn for it
So that I can go to school
As in the days of old
Longing to fulfill my dreams
For the future
Oh Oh Lord, show us
Oh Oh Lord, to You we ask:
"Give us peace"
The way we used to know it
Living together full of love
Compassionate love leads us through the world
Come and establish our hearts
Don't let our brotherhood be broken
Only with love, with love
With love we will be one
This hymn is based on a poem composed by Dutch missionary, Van Baarda in 1902, presumably as he was farewelling the community of Duma to go back to Holland. The music was added sometime in the 1950s. It was this song that was sung by the survivors of the community of Duma who, having fled into the jungle after a vicious attack, returned to bury their dead family members. After burying their loved ones they sang this same farewell song. They then left the village. In the light of what the Duma people have experienced, this sad farewell song takes on new proportions.
The song was recorded in a small home accomodating 39 people from the village of Duma. Of the 20 or so who sang the song, a number didn't make it all the way through, but simply had their heads bowed in grief.
Goodbye my village and my beloved homeland
Oh my village - Oh my village I love you.
Like a mist - Instantly it evaporates,
and likewise I disappear from your sight.
Ref:
Oh my homeland, oh my village I love you.
What a pity today I leave my greetings.
Goodbye my home and my beloved family
Oh my beloved Father and Mother,
I am leaving you now
I give my farewell greetings to you.
Goodbye everyone.
One day we will meet in my Father's home.