The Story of Four Generations (四代人的故事) | Vertical Karaoke, Version 2

A song for the Tor family, from the story my brother Jim Tor (aka Ing) wrote about our grandfather. In the early 1900s he left Majia Town in Quanzhou, Fujian, sailed to Malaya with my eldest uncle, while my father, just a boy, secretly followed. From the docks of Singapore to a small sundry shop in Pasir Panjang, Perak, they built a life from nothing. Four generations later, we sing it with grateful hearts. Version 2 (vertical, for phones). The lyrics fill in word by word, so sing along. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:16 Verse 1 0:44 Verse 2 1:14 Chorus 1:46 Verse 3 2:14 Verse 4 2:44 Chorus 3:12 Bridge 3:43 Final chorus 4:41 Outro LYRICS VERSE 1 From Majia Town in Quanzhou, where the fields had turned to dust, Grandfather tied his bundle with a heart of quiet trust. He called my eldest uncle, and he turned toward the sea, And my father, just a boy, slipped on board where none could see. VERSE 2 The junk sails caught the monsoon, weeks of salt and wind and spray, Till Singapore came shining on the docks at break of day. He carried sacks on bended back, the sweat ran down like rain, Then north to Penang, saving every coin, he started out again. CHORUS Footprints across the sea, from Fujian to Malaya's shore, Oil and salt and rice on wooden shelves, an open door. Every step we take today was paid for long before, Four generations walking in the footprints of the Tor. VERSE 3 In Pasir Panjang, Perak, Father kept the sundry store, The whole town came for oil and rice and always came back for more. And when the years had paid their way, he cleared a piece of land, And planted rows of oil palm, green and growing by his hand. VERSE 4 While Father worked the store and palms, Mother made our house a home, She raised the twelve of us with little help to call her own. Grandmother stood beside her with a song I still can hear, Hard times had softer edges when their gentle arms were near. CHORUS Footprints across the sea, from Fujian to Malaya's shore, Oil and salt and rice on wooden shelves, an open door. Every step we take today was paid for long before, Four generations walking in the footprints of the Tor. BRIDGE I am one of the twelve, born of that long road, Raised on all they planted, lifted by their load. Now I stand before his portrait, and his quiet eyes on me Say the turning of our fate began the day he crossed the sea. FINAL CHORUS The first one brought the courage, and the second brought the toil, The third one brought the dreaming, planted deep in Malay soil, And the fourth one sings with thankful hearts, the youngest of them all, For every step stands on the footprints of the ones who heard the call. Footprints across the sea, from Fujian to Malaya's shore, Oil and salt and rice on wooden shelves, an open door. Every step we take today was paid for long before, Four generations walking in the footprints of the Tor. OUTRO From hardship came our heritage, From nothing, they built a life, With grateful hearts we follow Footprints across the sea. From the story by Jim Tor (aka Ing) · Produced by Choon For Grandfather, who crossed the sea, and every generation after. #TheStoryOfFourGenerations #TorFamily #FamilySong