Tommy Greenan was a young Scottish priest who chose to live and work among the poorest of the poor in civil war-torn El Salvador in the 1980s, shortly after the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero, whose ministry inspired him. The Song of the Poor is a record of Tommy's experiences presented as beautiful, and often shattering, short chapters. They are intense and moving, but also often humorous, ranging from colourful human encounters to profound meditations on personal, political and religious matters. Assembled now after Fr Greenan's death in 2020, together they provide an unforgettable chronicle of the life of the poor and of a remarkable individual in a time of trouble and hope.

‘This is an extraordinary book. Greenan has taken Sam Goldwyn literally – he starts with an earthquake and builds! These brilliant snapshots of life in El Salvador build piece by piece into something overwhelming – a picture of faith that survives the most volcanic upheavals.’ -- Frank Cottrell-Boyce, screenwriter, novelist, Children’s Laureate
‘A passionate and moving elegy which gives names to the nameless and voice to the voiceless. Tommy plunges us into the lives of a crucified people, the poor WITH spirit of the Beatitudes.’ -- Clare Dixon, Co-Chair of the Archbishop Romero Trust
‘With compassion, righteous anger, even humour, Tommy shares stories of people whose names and struggles should be known. It is impossible to read this book without being moved, humbled and inspired. A powerful cry for justice for the world’s poor today.’ -- Revd Canon Andrew Bain, Emmaus Community of St Benedict, Edinburgh