21 July 2026
I was thirsty
So I left my home in McMurdo
To search for living water
In the Atacama Desert
In the delirium I heard
The desert cow beetle say
Follow me to the light
Let me show you the way
Each drop of life is given freely
I was alone that day
Yet I recall hearing
In the Valley of the Moon
A stranger's voice pray
Lord reconstitute my
Atacama Desert soul
Restore in me
All that remains dormant
Let my faith
Flower once more
Father my hope
Is as the sleeping
Lion's Paw
Waiting only
On you
For a spiritual
El Niño
And in God's breath
I felt the winds change
He carried to me voices
All praying
In the Atacama Desert
Father my hope
Is as the sleeping
Lion's Paw
Waiting only
On you
For a spiritual
El Niño
Lord reconstitute my
Atacama Desert soul
Restore in me
All that remains dormant
Let my faith
Flower once more
I call out now to bear witness
For all who thirst
His spiritual water will restore
Each wanting faith
Like the Lion's Paw
Hope can flower
Again and again
God's Holy El Niño
Sent from heaven to restore life
Is given freely to every son and daughter
Upon hearts drenched in love is written
Those who believe in me
From within them
Will flow rivers of living water
No one will be left wanting
Even those residing evermore
In the Atacama Desert
They will thirst no more
In the Atacama Desert
© 2026 John Osinga. All rights reserved. St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada.
A note from the lyricist
Sacred Folk · Conceptual Singer-Songwriter · Narrative — Yearning · Hopeful · Tender --- McMurdo --- Dry Valleys are notable for being the coldest and driest desert in the world, as well as being the largest ice-free region in Antarctic. -- while -- The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is the driest non-polar desert on Earth- yet- occasionally the El Niño rain comes and restores the world's driest desert to incredible life. – causing one of the most beautiful rare flowers to bloom – this rarity is called the Lions Paw
