Artist Tabu was amongst the people who left the island because of the volcanic eruption. His Song ‘Never Forget You’ is a heartfelt tribute to Montserrat and shows the conflicting emotions of those who were forced to leave the island.
Never Forget You
I’ve seen the tears of my mother / Suffering from neglect,
After all she’s done for her children / How could they turn their backs and forget,
They don’t recall the love that she gave them / In the most nurtured time of need,
The moral standards which she’s invested / That has enabled them to succeed.
And now that times are hard they’ve all gone abroad / Not a letter of how you do
Montserrat I will never forget you
Not even if I’m down and out
Montserrat I will never forget you
I’ll always remain so proud
Montserrat I will never forget you
Even I am one in ten thousand
Montserrat I will never forget you
Remember you wherever I go
Things that would help her children to shine / She made sure she taught them well
A second place was never an option / It made her proud to watch them excel
Rain or shine her arms would be open / To greet them when they come home
Sometimes sadness would overcome her / As she waits and no one returns
Tears of a broken smile when you’ve lost a child / Imagine what she’s going through
Montserrat I will never forget you
Not even if I’m down and out
Montserrat I will never forget you
I’ll always remain so proud
Montserrat I will never forget you
Even I am one in ten thousand
Montserrat I will never forget you
Remember you wherever I go
Not only to her children she was a mother / But for strangers from all around
There would always be a hearty welcome / And a place for them to rest down
Some described her as paradise / For her charms and tranquility,
I had to cry when she ask me this question / Why has my children abandoned me?
Was my love too strong / Where did I go wrong / Tabu tell me what can I do?
Montserrat I will never forget you
Not even if I’m down and out
Montserrat I will never forget you
I’ll always remain so proud
Montserrat I will never forget you
Even I am one in ten thousand
Montserrat I will never forget you
Remember you wherever I go
Battered and bruised by numerous disasters / But she still managed to survive
Throughout the highlights of her crisis / She never once thought to close her eyes
Remaining strong this mother of substance / To whom we must pay tribute
A true example of resilience / How could we not get up and salute
Now while she ages with grace, let us sing her praise / Now and forever more
Paradise I willl never forget you
Not even if I’m down and out.
Montserrat I will never forget you.
I will always remain so proud.
Mon parent, I will never forget you.
Even I am one in ten thousand.
Emerald Isle I never forget you
Remember you wherever I go.
– Song 'Never Forget You' by Tabu