THE DRUMS REMEMBER [INTRO — Three deep kebero drum strikes. Silence. A male elder speaks over a low sustained choral hum.] [MALE ELDER — SPOKEN] Before the ink… Before the paper… Before the names were carved in stone… There was a sound. [Three drums answer] And the sound remembered. [DRUMS BEGIN — Powerful traditional 6/8 rhythm] [MALE CHANT] Who remembers? Who remembers? [WOMEN'S CHOIR] We remember! We remember! [VERSE 1 — DEEP MALE LEAD] The hills have heard a thousand footsteps, The valleys know a thousand names, The hands that raised the ancient cities Still speak beneath the falling rain. The mothers sang beside the harvest, The fathers watched the morning rise, And every generation carried A piece of heaven in their eyes. [CHOIR — RHYTHMIC] Beat the drum! Let it sound! Wake the memory In the ground! Beat the drum! Let it ring! Let the children Hear us sing! [CHORUS — FULL CHOIR, DRIVING PERCUSSION] THE DRUMS REMEMBER! THE DRUMS REMEMBER! EVERY MOTHER! EVERY FATHER! EVERY DAUGHTER! EVERY SON! THE DRUMS REMEMBER! THE DRUMS REMEMBER! WHAT THE YEARS HAVE CARRIED, WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE BECOME! [INSTRUMENTAL — Extended kebero percussion, krar melody, handclaps, celebratory ululations] [VERSE 2 — FEMALE CONTRALTO, STRONG AND DEFIANT] I am the daughter of the mountains, I am the voice beside the flame, I carry stories in my breathing That history cannot erase. I know the sorrow of the valleys, I know the strength it takes to stand, And I have seen the smallest seedlings Break the stone beneath the land. [WOMEN'S CHOIR] We are still here! We are still here! Through the thunder! Through the years! [MALE CHOIR] Let the drums speak! Let the drums speak! [WOMEN'S CHOIR] Let the mountains hear! [AMHARIC CALL AND RESPONSE] LEAD: Ityop'ya! (Ethiopia!) CHOIR: Enate hoy! (O my mother!) LEAD: Selam le'Ityop'ya! (Peace to Ethiopia!) CHOIR: Selam! Selam! (Peace! Peace!) LEAD: Egziabher yimesgen! (Praise be to God!) CHOIR: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! [BRIDGE — DRUMS DROP TO A SINGLE LOW PULSE] [MALE ELDER — SPOKEN] Some names were written. Some names were forgotten. But every life left a sound. [WOMEN — SOFTLY] A sound… A sound… [MALE ELDER] And when the children ask Where they have come from… [ALL DRUMS STOP] Let the drums answer. [EXPLOSIVE PERCUSSION RETURN] [FINAL CHORUS — MASSIVE CHOIR, FULL PERCUSSION, ULULATIONS] THE DRUMS REMEMBER! THE DRUMS REMEMBER! LET THE HIGHLANDS SHAKE! LET THE VALLEYS SING! LET THE ANCIENT VOICES THROUGH THE MORNING RING! THE DRUMS REMEMBER! THE DRUMS REMEMBER! WE ARE MORE THAN WHAT WAS TAKEN! WE ARE EVERYTHING WE BRING! [CHOIR — REPEATED, INCREASING INTENSITY] Remember! Remember! We remember! We remember! [OUTRO — PERCUSSION GRADUALLY FALLS AWAY] [MALE ELDER — SPOKEN] And when the last voice grows quiet… [Single drum strike] The drum will remember. [Silence]
