Recollections
There was a time, not long ago,
When other flags flew in Singapore.
The British flag in colonial rule,
And the Japanese flag in war.
There was no freedom, no justice,
When our forefathers stepped ashore.
Life was a struggle, bitter and hard.
And families were hungry and poor.
They spoke a dozen different tongues,
Though their dreams were all the same.
But their hopes for a better life were lost,
When war and invasion came.
They had no rights, they had no say
And they longed to be free one day.
After the war, we called for change,
For the right to decide our fate.
Some of us wanted democracy;
Others, a Communist state.
Riots and killings in our streets,
Years of hate and fear.
People said we'd never survive
As independence drew near.
When self-rule came, we took a vote
And joined Malaysia, merged as one.
But even friends disagree sometime,
And more trouble had soon begun.
Our happiness was not to be
Until our country could be free
August nine, nineteen sixty five,
We were out of Malaysia ..... alone!
Against all odds we had to build
A nation of our own.
We've come this far, by ourselves,
One people from many lands.
Our forefathers paid the price for us;
Now the future is in our hands.
This is our home, where we belong,
And our flag flies high and free.
But let's not take for granted
What we have will always be.