Strangers Become Friends

We’d travelled far and met, at first, as strangers
But both of us were interested to hear
The music and the stories from each others native land
We listened with respect and without fear ( x2 )

You asked me what I’d heard about your country
And I felt ashamed of what I didn’t know
School taught me to find it
On that big map on our wall
But they said: “It’s just another place our soldiers go” (x2)

And they kept from me the beauty of your people
They hid the ways you love to sing and dance
They criticised your culture
When they claimed their ways were best
They didn’t give our friendship half a chance ( x2 )

Strangers, strangers, strangers in a far-off land
New friends, new friends, now we’re walking hand-in-hand

You spoke about the problems in your country
How the fighting left your people torn apart
You reminded me how my land
Ruled yours for many years
The more I thought, the more it broke my heart ( x2 )

At last we said goodbye and swapped addresses
And what I’d lost was all that I could see
But then I realised I’d gained your friendship and I’d learned
That people in your land were much like me ( x2 )

So thanks to you for letting me get closer
For greeting me with arms that were so wide
You helped me really see
The love of people in this world
I’ll treasure you and your land deep inside ( x2 )