Tend & Befriend
Dublin Core
Title
Tend & Befriend
Description
A song written about the experience of Tropical Storm Helene and community response
Creator
Date
Format
Language
English
Sound Item Type Metadata
Transcription
September’s end the storm came on strong.
It wasn’t the wake up Green Day had in mind.
I stared out the storm door while talking to mama.
The call dropped; it felt so ill-timed.
The power was out and I lit up some candles.
I listened to the howl of the wind.
Scared and lonely, I sat in the fireglow.
I realized I needed a friend.
Chorus
Storms will emerge- always unexpected.
No need for you to suffer alone.
Connection is needed when life is up-ended.
No better time to tend and befriend.
A wave of shock fell over my face
When a text came through on my phone.
The lady next door was needing some comfort.
She knew we both were alone.
We felt so cut-off from the rest of the world.
Not knowing was hard for us all.
Technology failed us-devices were useless.
We all took a much higher call.
Chorus
Storms will emerge- always unexpected.
No need for you to suffer alone.
Connection is needed when life is up-ended.
No better time to tend and befriend.
We opened our homes and shared what we had.
Neighbors the old-fashioned way.
Children were playing outside in the streets.
Just like back in the day.
Bridge
But something miraculous happened among us
We knew we had to embrace.
Community gathered, we broke bread together,
I’m grateful I live in this place.
Our mountains are broken just like our hearts.
So much mending to do.
Come hell or high water, we’ll do it together
This place will thrive and renew.
Chorus
Storms will emerge- always unexpected.
No need for you to suffer alone.
Connection is needed when life is up-ended.
No better time to tend and befriend.
It wasn’t the wake up Green Day had in mind.
I stared out the storm door while talking to mama.
The call dropped; it felt so ill-timed.
The power was out and I lit up some candles.
I listened to the howl of the wind.
Scared and lonely, I sat in the fireglow.
I realized I needed a friend.
Chorus
Storms will emerge- always unexpected.
No need for you to suffer alone.
Connection is needed when life is up-ended.
No better time to tend and befriend.
A wave of shock fell over my face
When a text came through on my phone.
The lady next door was needing some comfort.
She knew we both were alone.
We felt so cut-off from the rest of the world.
Not knowing was hard for us all.
Technology failed us-devices were useless.
We all took a much higher call.
Chorus
Storms will emerge- always unexpected.
No need for you to suffer alone.
Connection is needed when life is up-ended.
No better time to tend and befriend.
We opened our homes and shared what we had.
Neighbors the old-fashioned way.
Children were playing outside in the streets.
Just like back in the day.
Bridge
But something miraculous happened among us
We knew we had to embrace.
Community gathered, we broke bread together,
I’m grateful I live in this place.
Our mountains are broken just like our hearts.
So much mending to do.
Come hell or high water, we’ll do it together
This place will thrive and renew.
Chorus
Storms will emerge- always unexpected.
No need for you to suffer alone.
Connection is needed when life is up-ended.
No better time to tend and befriend.
Collection
Tags
Citation
Shari Edmisten, “Tend & Befriend,” Come Hell or High Water Community Memory Project, accessed December 6, 2025, https://helenehistory.omeka.net/items/show/791.