Taiwan

[Intro] Ilha Formosa, beautiful island, morning light [Verse 1] Off the coast of East Asia, where the Pacific breaks, Portuguese sailors saw green mountains and called out "Formosa!", the Central Range runs like a spine from north to south, Yushan, the Jade Mountain, nearly four thousand metres high. Taroko Gorge in marble, rivers carving through the stone, Sun Moon Lake at sunrise, mist drifting slow, Taipei's lights at evening, the tower Taipei 101, scooters flowing through the rain like rivers running on. [Pre-Chorus] Night market lanterns burning, sizzling in the air, bubble tea was first poured here, now it's sipped everywhere [Chorus] Taiwan, Formosa morning, mountains rising from the sea, many voices, many stories, one island's melody [Verse 2] The Indigenous peoples first, Austronesian, sailing far, Amis, Atayal, Paiwan, Bunun voices raised in harmony, and many scholars trace the great Pacific voyages to these shores, from here across the ocean, island after island more. Then Dutch forts, then Koxinga, then the Qing for two hundred years, then fifty years of Japanese rule, each age left its traces here, Hoklo, Hakka, Mandarin and the mountain languages, temple incense rising, Mazu's pilgrims on the roads. [Chorus] Taiwan, Formosa morning, mountains rising from the sea, many voices, many stories, one island's melody [Bridge] Pingxi sky lanterns floating on the festival night, wishes painted on the paper rising into light, tiny chips from Hsinchu powering the world's machines, an island small in size, and big in dreams. [Final Chorus] Taiwan, Formosa morning, mountains rising from the sea, many voices, many stories, one island's melody [Outro] Ilha Formosa, Taiwan, morning light