MORIBA

[Verse 1]
We were told to leave our shoreline
“Just for a while
It won’t be long”
Trusting hearts stepped on the transport
Carried by a borrowed song
Twenty-three white suns were rising
Over waves that fed our land
Palms fell quiet
Fish grew silent
Ashes on the open sand

[Chorus]
But everything is in God’s hands
Even when the sky burns red
When we lose three shining atolls
When we have to beg for bread
We will lift the cross that led us
Though our homes are oceans wide
Everything is in God’s hands
And His hand is at our side

[Verse 2]
On a strange and crowded shoreline
We unpacked our woven mats
Names of islands on our eyelids
Tasted salt in every laugh
Children asking
“When are we going?
Will our houses still be there?”
Elders press a wooden crucifix
Kneeling in the coral air

[Chorus]
Everything is in God’s hands
Even when our boats turn back
When the geiger speaks of poison
When the soil fades into black
We will lift the cross that led us
Though our graves are split by tide
Everything is in God’s hands
And His hand is at our side

[Bridge]
We remember bread on woven leaves
Coconut and star-bright nights
Now we gather in a painted hall
Neon bulbs for guiding lights
Still we sing in Marshallese and tears
Sons and daughters
Hand in hand
Passing down the story
Softly:
“Child
Your name is holy sand”

[Chorus]
Everything is in God’s hands
He has counted every bomb
Every exile
Every heartbeat
Every lost and borrowed home
We will lift the cross that led us
Plant it where we make our stand
Everything is in God’s hands
And we rest in His good hand