The Island Today: Living With Our Volcano

“

Montserrat is very much open for business, we’ve been through this, we have literally dust ourselves off but we continue to work and continue to do things as normal, yes the volcano was doing its own thing, but we continue to do things as normal, yes some people can’t live in Plymouth, they have to live elsewhere but we are still here, part of the island is still green and vibrant.

– Montserrat Resident, 2019

Living With Our Volcano (Pat "Belonger" Ryan)

Living With Our Volcano

‘From 1995 to 2k7,
Mudflow pyroclastic surges and more
All who never leave and stay to see them
Must have faith and hope and so much more
They know the lord will never ever send us
More than he can give us strength to bare
We watch and wait and go about our business
Safe in the knowledge that he’s always there

So I can’t understand, why they just don’t understand
That is not mad Montserratian living on this sweet island
Yes we have a live volcano we get ash from time to time
But by now we know the drill and when it’s time to move we will

Never put yourself in the path of danger
Move out when the trouble drawing near
Don’t play hero staring down volcano
Treat it with respect and have no fear
11 years and counting in the safe zone
Those who would not hear have felt the pain
The north has much to offer for a living
The paradise we lost can be regained
But,

[Chorus]

Look around the world and see the danger
Terrorism, famine, droughts and war
Floods, tornados, blinding snow and mudslides
Are they really so much safer than we are?

That is not to say we shouldn’t be cautious
Fools should not rush in without a care
Danger must be managed with discretion
Let volcano do its thing that’s why it’s there
So,

[Chorus]’

– Song 'Living With Our Volcano' by Pat "Belonger" Ryan