Two hundred thousand souls
Roger Whittaker · Other Songs - Roger Whittaker
(A)
Mother Earth
Below the Ocean Indiana
Shrugged her shoulders
Shook the land below the waves
And in the early morning dawn
A Tsunami wave was born
Which swept away the lives no one could save.
(B)
So many thousand souls
Are in Paradise tonight
The strong, the weak, the young, the old
The brown, the black , the white
Are in Paradise tonight
Two HundredThousand souls
(choir)and So many thousands more
(all) in Paradise tonight
(C)
Look up
Look up and see the stars
Look up - it's quite a sight
Are they shining brighter now?
Are there more of them somehow?
Two hundred thousand souls
in Paradise tonight
(A)
On the coast
Around the Ocean Indianus (Indiana)
People came to see this Eden in the East
And they never heard the sound
From deep within the ground
They never guessed
The deadly nature of the Beast
Look up
Look up and see the stars etc?
Two hundred thousand souls
Roger Whittaker's 'Two hundred thousand souls' stands as a poignant example of his mastery in traditional folk and gospel arrangements. Recorded during a period where he frequently collaborated with the Kingston Trio and other folk groups, the track showcases his distinctive vocal style, characterized by a warm, resonant tone and intricate harmonies. The song reflects the era's deep engagement with Appalachian and Southern spiritual music, themes often explored through narratives of community and shared human experience. Whittaker's ability to blend these roots with polished studio production made such recordings significant contributions to the folk revival and beyond. This piece remains a testament to his enduring legacy as a vocalist who bridged the gap between traditional acoustic storytelling and broader musical audiences.