A Tragic Story

“A Tragic Story” is track 3 on my Somewhere Between Nicaragua & New York EP. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf States, many people had very strong opinions about who should have done what, when, where, and how. For a long time I resisted writing this song, but became tired of the ambient noise of public criticism and compelled by the question, “What if it was us, instead of them?” It is so easy to judge others in their struggles, but what will happen when we are the ones up to our necks?

Lyrics

“A Tragic Story”
Scott Troyer

Old faces,
broken restless souls
All these old faces
and young ones without homes

Though the waters rise
and our spirits fall,
the Lord our God,
He is watching o’er it all
and He’s watching us now.

We say,
“Oh, what a tragic story!
But only they can be blamed.
But oh, what a different song we should have sang
when the floodwaters came.”

Don’t wait
to give them higher ground.
No, and don’t you wait
to feed their hungry mouths.

Though the waters rise
and our spirits fall
the Lord our God,
He is watching o’er it all
and He’s watching us now.

We say,
“Oh, what a tragic story!
But here’s what we – here’s what we would have done.
But oh, what a different song we will sing
when the floodwaters come.”

Rescue
the tired, the sick and depressed.
Give them,
give them your very best.

Though the waters rise
and our spirits fall
the Lord our God,
He is watching o’er it all
Though the waters rise
and our spirits fail
the Lord our God,
He is with us all the while
and He shall prevail.

He shall prevail.
He shall prevail.
He shall prevail.

Copyright © 2006 Scott Troyer

Song Credits