Lyrics / The Wondering Traveler
MANILA (Sing Through The Blackout)
Lights flicker, then the city laughs Like it’s used to losing power Jeepney glow on a wet street line Plastic seats and a borrowed shine Neon noodles, smoke in the air Everybody moving like they don’t care Rooftops rich with a quiet view Alleys loud where the hard days chew I don’t come to judge, I come to feel Manila hits and it hits real Heat on my neck, rain on my face I lose my plans, I find my pace When the lights go out, the voices rise Like hope with teeth, like open eyes Manila, Manila, don’t go silent on me If the power drops, we turn it into harmony We sing through the blackout, laugh through the storm Broken little wires, but the heart stays warm Manila, Manila, hold my shaking hands Streetlight dreams in a flooded land If I’m losing love, if I’m losing control Let the chorus carry my soul Corner store open, candles on deck Somebody charging phones off a wreck Kids in the rain with a fearless grin Like tomorrow’s already living in them Money talks soft in a glass front room Hunger talks loud in a darkened gloom Still a song leaks under every door Like the city won’t let you hit the floor I hear the drums in the generator hum I hear the prayer when the bassline comes No perfect world, no clean escape Just a bright new scar I learn to shape Manila, Manila, don’t go silent on me If the power drops, we turn it into harmony We sing through the blackout, laugh through the storm Broken little wires, but the heart stays warm Manila, Manila, hold my shaking hands Streetlight dreams in a flooded land If I’m losing love, if I’m losing control Let the chorus carry my soul I came here heavy, I came here tense Now I’m breathing different air again Not healed, not perfect, just awake Learning how much a city can take Manila, Manila, don’t go silent on me If the power drops, we turn it into harmony We sing through the blackout, laugh through the storm Broken little wires, but the heart stays warm Manila, Manila, hold my shaking hands Streetlight dreams in a flooded land If I’m losing love, if I’m losing control Let the chorus carry my soul We sing through the blackout Manila We sing through the blackout