Story Behind the Song: Canadian Musician Andy Park Shares What Inspired His Newest Hit

by Andy Park, Singer/Songwriter --

I wrote the song "We Will Defend” as a response to reading chapter 1 of Gary Haugen’s book: The Locust Effect. The purpose of the book is to show that violence done to the poor is one of the world’s biggest problems.

The story that so profoundly gripped me and moved me was about an 8-year-old Peruvian girl who was raped and murdered in her own village. The town authorities then collaborated to cover it up. Because she came from a poor family who could not afford to pay the lawyers and police a fee to ensure a fair investigation, and the perpetrators of the crime did have the means to bribe the authorities to cover up the truth, there was no justice in the case.

I read this chapter one evening and was deeply shocked and saddened by it. When I woke up the next morning, the injustice and grief from the story was still heavy on me. That morning I wrote the song.

Here is the first verse and chorus of We Will Defend:

We will defend those who cannot defend themselves

The poorest of the poor, the horribly vulnerable

We won’t ignore the slavery and violence

We won’t ignore this grave injustice

Chorus

We’re sorry for all the pain and misery

We’re sorry for all the broken bodies

We won’t pretend that everything is OK

We will defend those who cannot defend themselves

I see it as a song of repentance on behalf of humankind's failure to show justice to the poor, and as a declaration of commitment to do something to defend the defenseless.

"We Will Defend" is a song from the Andy Park's newest Album "Breath of Heaven". Visit www.vineyardworship.ca to listen.