Stay Here Where You Belong

"You were so innocent to go out into the world on your own. I wanted to tell you what a wicked and evil place this is, but couldn't bring myself to spoil your dream. Now I feel I'm to blame for hiding it from you and not preparing you for the truth. But sometimes we must find out for ourselves through our own experiences. Now you know what lies beyond the love you've always known. You went looking for what you already had and although you've been hurt, you've returned a stronger person. There's no reason to look anymore. Stay here where you belong."

This is a modern interpretation of an inscription found on the temple wall of a ruined village in a remote area in the Peruvian mountains. It was discovered and transcribed by the eminent Professor Robert Thompson and his team of archaeologists from Newcastle University. The village is thought to be in one of the suyu regions that made up the Incan empire. The original inscription is written in a dialect of Quechua which was spoken by the Inca people. Legend has it that Sapa Inca, the ruler of the Kingdom of Cusco allowed his daughter the freedom to travel outside the kingdom to discover the ways of the wider world. He knew it was fraught with danger and disappointment but she had become increasingly rebellious and inquisitive to know what lay beyond the mountains. What she found surprised and horrified her. After many years of imprisonment, torture and abuse at the hands of the Spanish invaders, she was finally able to escape and make the long journey home to the love and safety of her family.

So you've been out on your own

Suppose I always knew you would

I tried to hold you back

Tried to change your mind

But you had to know the truth

Had to find out for yourself

Had to see the way it is

I wanted you to know

Wanted you to learn

But not find out like this

It never seemed to be the moment to explain

I was there at the first when they started it

Even then I knew that it was wrong

It's all madness, so let's have no part of it

Stay here where you belong

Did they try to break your heart?

Did your lover make you cry?

Did he promise you the world

Take you in his arms

And whisper all those lies?

And when you felt that it was good

Like it’s never been before

You were down upon your knees

Begging him to stay

He was walking out the door

I know it's true and I've had to bear the pain

I was there at the first when they started it

Even then I knew that it was wrong

It's all madness, so let's have no part of it

Stay here where you belong

Did the children make you laugh?

Did their voices sound so sweet?

Did they sing their pretty songs

Take you by the hand

And dance you in the street?

And when you felt that it was good

And you'd forgotten all the lies

You turned around to find

That the children all were grown

And there was hatred in their eyes

I never want to see you hurt like that again

I was there at the first when they started it

Even then I knew that it was wrong.

It's all madness so let's have no part of it

Stay here where you belong