Yirolu Bala

Lyrics sung in Mandinka, traditional West African language
The title is taken from an old Mandinka proverb: The Earth's Wellbeing is Within the Trees

CHORUS
The Earth’s wellbeing is within the trees
Don’t cut the trees
The Earth’s wellbeing is within the trees
Don’t cut the trees
Don’t cut them for the children of the future
Let’s not create a disaster

Let’s plant the trees so the rains will fall as they should
The heat of the land rises where no trees remain
Shade, shelter and food are within the trees
Our health and medicines are within the trees
Let’s not ruin it for the people of the world
Food and shelter for the animals is within the trees
Trees protect us from disasters
So, let’s plant more trees and live better tomorrow
Good living, good living, let’s pray for good living

CHORUS REPEATS

In this world, your wealth shouldn’t be the cause of others’ suffering
You burn the forest and the animals suffer
You kick people off their lands
Let’s stand together and fight against this
This is bad, this is bad
You kick families off their lands with their little ones and this doesn’t upset you
This is bad, this is bad