Southeast Asia Part IV. versuri

Versuri Francium-Vietnam – Southeast Asia Part IV. lyrics

Southeast Asia,
ruled by kings and sultanates
colonised by European powers
invaded by the Japanese Empire

Southeast Asia,
returned back to European powers
people weren’t happy
independence movements would start

The Philippines emerged from years of war
its cities and islands scarred by conflict
on July fourth, nineteen forty-six, independence came
as a new republic took its place among nations

The French took back Indochina, the spread of communism started
in nineteen fifty-four, France was defeated at Dien Bien Phu
Laos and Cambodia finally gained independence
Vietnam was divided along the seventeenth parallel

Laos gained independence from French rule
as Indochina’s colonial system collapsed
political struggles soon followed in the region
as Cold War tensions spread across the land

Vietnam divided into Communist North and Capitalist South
the leader of the North was Ho Chi Minh
the leader of the South was Ngo Dinh Diem
same people, culture and history divided by ideology

Aung San led the cause for independence
seeking a future free from British colonial rule
though he did not live to see the day
Burma gained independence in nineteen forty-eight

The Dutch returned to reclaim their colony
but Indonesian nationalists resisted
a struggle for independence soon followed
until sovereignty came in nineteen forty-nine

The Federation of Malaya gained its freedom
after years of colonial administration
on August thirty-first, nineteen fifty-seven
a new nation stood independent at last

North Borneo remained under British rule
while change swept across the region
its people looked toward a different future
as the colonial era drew to a close

Sarawak too stayed within the empire
after the rule of the White Rajahs had ended
its many peoples faced a changing world
while new political movements emerged

In nineteen fifty-nine, Singapore gained self-government
while Britain still retained control of defense
a new administration took office that year
and the island entered a new chapter of history

In nineteen sixty-three, Malaysia was formed
bringing together Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore
Brunei declined the invitation to join
as a new federation emerged across the region

Yet the union would not long endure
differences arose between leaders and visions
in nineteen sixty-five, Singapore departed
becoming an independent nation of its own

In Singapore, two thirds of its people lived in slums
the Singapore River was heavily polluted
Lee Kuan Yew led ambitious reforms
to improve housing, sanitation, and living standards

Through industry, trade, and careful planning
Singapore transformed within a generation
from crowded slums to a modern city-state
becoming one of the richest nations by GDP per capita

The nations sought cooperation and peace
after years of conflict and division
in nineteen sixty-seven, ASEAN was founded
to strengthen friendship across Southeast Asia

Vietnam became a battleground of ideologies
as North and South stood on opposing sides
the United States entered to support the South
and the war grew larger with each passing year

In nineteen seventy-five, Saigon fell
bringing the conflict to its conclusion
North and South were reunited as one
and a new chapter began for Vietnam

Things weren’t going well in Cambodia
the Khmer Rouge took Phnom Penh
radical policies transformed the country
while countless lives were forever affected

About one quarter of the population was gone
including some Vietnamese people
Vietnam declared war on the Khmer Rouge
and their regime was eventually overthrown

Yet peace would not return for long
as tensions rose along the northern border
in nineteen seventy-nine, China and Vietnam went to war
and fierce fighting erupted between the two neighbors

Brunei remained upon its own course
while neighboring lands took different roads
in nineteen eighty-four, freedom was achieved
and the sultanate entered a new era

Thailand stood apart in many ways
having preserved its independence
through reform, diplomacy, and change
the kingdom continued into the modern age

Portuguese rule in East Timor came to an end
but Indonesian forces soon entered the territory
years of struggle and change would follow
until Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002

Southeast Asia, diverse yet united
from many cultures, islands, and lands
its nations look forward to the future
while remembering the journey that brought them here