Nicolette Aubourg

Lyrics

In Quarantine
(This song addresses the global apathy to the 2014 Ebola epidemic. The global apathy occurred because Ebola did not affect every country, and in particular, not wealthy countries. Now, with the COVID-19 virus, people with the lowest incomes are again impacted, but all over the world. To help, see footnote*.)

In places of such poverty, lives are claimed by this disease –
a thousand faces zipped away while other nations work and play.
The world stands by as we watch them die in quarantine.
A mother brings her dying son to the make-shift hospital
and she gives her child away; she’ll never touch his face again.
She falls crying to her knees as he’s quarantined.

No one should have to choose between saving their own life and holding their child.
No one should have to suffer this much without even the comfort of a loved one’s touch.

A young man holds his bleeding friend on a scooter as he drives
To try to find someone to help, but it will cost him his own life.
The world stands by as we watch them die in quarantine.
And a hymn is sung to start each day before the doctors put on layers
that might protect their bodies, but cannot shield their memories
from the tragedy as the people grieve in quarantine.

The drug companies in the rest of the world
have no incentive to find a cure –
they won’t invest if no profit’s to be made.
Where is compassion when nothing’s to gain?

Wealthy nations turn their backs and leave the work to volunteers and charities.
No one should have to choose between saving their own life and holding their child.
No one should have to suffer this much without even the comfort of a loved one’s touch.
Ebola, Ebola, Ebola, Ebola…

Music & Lyrics by Nicolette Aubourg © 2016

NOTE:*
To help people impacted by the Ebola virus (and now the Corona virus):
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org Doctors Without Borders provides help “worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care.”
www.unicef.org “UNICEF is a leading humanitarian and development agency working globally for the rights of every child.”
http://www.one.org “ONE is an advocacy organization taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease,
particularly in Africa.”