Before the storm came
The buildings swayed
In the wind,
To and fro
In the town
Of Tokyo

Before the quake came
There was little song
Few bells
that rang ding-****
Just sullen struggle
In Hong Kong

Fix the buildings,
Make the people happy,
They all were pleading
But city planners deemed
The costs too high,
Time too scarce

Live on in buildings
With uncertain foundations!
Live on in cities
with no song!
For time and money
To fix these things
Are in low supply

But then the quake and storm arrived
And levelled all
few survived
But for prudent planning
They might have withstood the trouble!

Now the cost of cleaning up
The cost of building up
Of finding song
And bringing Joy
Is far greater
Than if first prepared

The buildings sway in the wind no more
smiles and song
But the fight to bring it back
Is proving great

So evermore they'll be sullen
Living in ruins
And smouldering ashes