1. |
Acknowledgement
01:57
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We acknowledge the traditional owners of this land
The ones who held this nation for two thousand generations
And other first Australians who've made this place their home
And any actions done in our name that had them leave the land that's in their bones
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land
The ones the country walks in; the holders of the stories
We pay respect to elders past and present, and all indigenous here
We pay our respects
We acknowledge injustices done in our name
We acknowledge
Was, is, always will be
We are more than sorry
We will speak out. We will speak out
We will speak out. We will speak. We will not turn, No!
We acknowledge this land is Aboriginal Land!
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2. |
Listen Deep to the Land
04:15
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Listen deep to the land, my friend
Listen deep with your heart
To sing together in the end
We each must learn our part
Listen deep to the land
Steep golden sandstone canyons tell of ocean’s slow receding
Deep gullies cut by waters rush, coastal wetlands feeding
With spirits parched, like creeks run dry, we thirst for sanctuary
Where gums exhale a menthol sigh or salt spray sings of sea
Country speaks but can we hear Its mysteries unfold?
First People's voices ringing clear A story strong and old
The country's subtle voice is drowned by mining's loud refrain
When swathes of trees are bulldozed down The land can feel their pain
When politicians and companies lie To government agencies
We’ll call them to account and try To bring them to their knees
Together let us make a pact in quiet solemnity
To listen deep then bravely act To heal this damaged country
Steep golden sandstone canyons tell of ocean’s slow receding
Deep gullies cut by waters rush, coastal wetlands feeding
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3. |
Wolli Creek
03:10
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Precious remnant forest proud
One last refuge from the crowd
A fragile strip of Nature stands
Saved from developers' grasping hands
One small creek valiantly seeps
'Though choked in parts by silt and weeds
A tiny but life-giving vein
For the living beings which still remain
Wolli Creek our sacred valley
Where we go to walk and play
May we preserve you in your beauty
For all our children's future days
Plants of such diversity
Turpentine and ironbark trees
Luxuriant sandstone flora still
Line Wolli Bluff and Nanny Goat Hill
For birds of many shapes and hue
This valley is a sanctuary true
Throughout the bush their songs are heard
Magpie lark and wattle bird
A colony of sleeping bats
Huddle in their habitat
In spite of us they seem to thrive
But only 'cause this bush survives
'Neath a busy bridge a wetland pools
Where pond life thrives in shade and cool
Kingfisher, swamp hen, heron nest
In search of water, food and rest
Quaint stone houses form a row
A legacy of long ago
If laws and statutes these preserve
Should not the bush the same deserve?
So close to Sydney's pace so cruel
How many know we have this jewel?
Thanks be to those whose hearts and hands
Stopped the motorway and saved this land!
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4. |
Newell Highway
02:49
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Awake before the dawn, within the spires of range
Where magpies ornate melodies
Engrave the chilly morning breeze
Beneath the towering stone
On nights of silver moon, too rich to waste on sleep
In silence make your way to seek
The choirs of frogs in swamp and creek
That sing beneath the stars
Out on the Western Plain beside the roaring road
Where trucks snarl by without a care
Are billabongs with ibis there
And wedge-tail eagles soar
All you who love the earth and make her ways your choice
Cry out against the noise of trade
Demand that silence should be made
That all might hear her voice
Her ancient, matchless voice
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5. |
Of Trees and Humankind
04:26
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The trees of the forest grew tall
The oak and the hazel, the ash and wild apple
Their power respected by all
Their strength safely guarded by priests of the lore
Sacred the old ways
And earth's ancient pathways. No more
Then strangers came onto the land
They lacked comprehension
their godheads were different
They simply did not understand
They laughed at the old ways
with scorn and derision
They raped and they slaughtered
and all was justified
By the word: 'civilised'. See the forests die
Lai lai lai! Lai lai lai
Lai luh lai lai lai lai lai lai lai
Lai lai Lai luh lai lai lai
The trees of the bushland grew strong
The casuarina, the red gum and mulga
Honoured by those who belong
The brown Pitjantjara, the emu, the brolga
Clear understanding and warm affinity
With the earth and the trees. Calm serenity
Then strangers came onto the land
Born of those ancients, both victim and victor
They simply did not understand
They laughed at the old ways
with scorn and derision
They raped and they slaughtered
and all was justified
By the word: 'civilised'. See the bushland die
And now here we sit on the land
The children of children of children of ages
If only together we'd stand
With courage and love
we could turn back the pages
The earth and its fullness are ours if we try
Raise a cry! Raise a cry!
And see the trees grow high!
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6. |
Whisper On The Waves
04:48
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So far away from human care
The life beneath the sea
Yet you can hear the whisper on the waves
Of earth's disharmony
Ooh, and if you listen deep
Ooh, you can hear the ocean speak
The waves as they roll in upon the shore
Speak of the creatures that are no more
The seabed all scarred and trawled and torn
And deserts where none were before
On the ocean floor
Who would have thought our lifetime
Would see such changes to the sea?
The polar icecaps melting
A new geography
Ooh, see it’s written in the sand
Ooh, the lethal hand of man
The waves as they roll in upon the shore
Speak of the currents now growing warm
The fate of sea creatures that cannot flee
They speak of the coral sea
As it fades to grey
Plankton to krill, fish and whale
May the cycle never fail
Every link in the chain of life is so fragile
And who of us upon the land
Trying to find our way
Can find space in our troubled hearts
For the life beneath the waves?
Ooh, but if you listen deep
Ooh, can you hear the ocean weep?
The carbon choked waters, so hard to breathe
Hindered by growing acidity
Falters earth’s cycle ‘tween land, air and sea
Did you know that each third breath we take
Comes from the sea?
Plankton to krill, fish and whale
May the cycle never fail
Every link in the chain of life is so fragile
In my thoughts diving deep
Deep beyond the sunlight's reach
To a world so vulnerable
Ooh, ancient and beautiful
Down deep, down where the seahorse swims
Down deep, angel fish spreads her wings
Down deep, where the whale and dolphin sing
Down deep, will they hear my love song ring?
Down deep, sea grasses whispering
Down deep, and who is listening
Down deep?
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7. |
The Last Leviathan
04:24
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8. |
Oil On Snow
05:41
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It's not so black & white, we all know
Taken by another, sons forsake a mother, she lets go
Gently she accedes with choking breath
And quietly recedes until her death
It's very black & white, oil on snow
Through broken ice, day and night, the dollars flow
Earth slowly bleeds through pale white skin
And graciously concedes the life within
Bleed the Earth, upturn her
Cut her down & burn her
So she can't breathe
Excavate & drill her
Torture, almost kill her
To feed our need
It wasn't black or white years ago
From mankind's birth he cared for Earth so all could grow
But no reverence now for sacred things
As to the golden calf of greed he clings
It's really black & white, the bell it tolls
Mother gives so we can live but we take her soul
Now Mother Earth lies short of breath
And painfully slides towards her death
It's oh so black & white, we kill the land
Trees rivers mountains plundered, in their thousands by our hand
Desecrate the mother suck her dry
But there won't be another to feed your child
It isn't black or white: it's not the end
Her daughters rise, her sons get wise and care again
Resuscitate the Mother: she'll survive
And once again will nourish all our lives
So heal the Earth, restore her
Turn your spirit towards her, she'll revive
Proclaim a brand new age
Spiritual and sage, where all beings thrive!
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9. |
Let There Be Peace
03:09
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Let there be peace
Let there be peaceful times
And let peace surround us all
Yes, in times like these
That bring us to our knees
Let there be peace
Let there be joy... joyful times…
Let there be calm... quiet times…
Let there be songs...rousing times!…
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10. |
Unnecessary Things
04:14
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I see the sunlight glisten on the open road
The sky is wide: the clouds have loosened off their load
I hear the whispering in the wings
'Leave behind unnecessary things'
In all history hidden down through the years
In the mystery contained in our human tears
We seek the grace of a quiet place
Beyond unnecessary things
The earth is singing as she breathes through every brand new leaf
Her light is woven in the fabric of an ancient grief
At loss of soul that searched for gold in
Unnecessary things
She spins her vision and she lays it soft upon the land
All who shelter in her trembling will take her hand
To set it right we must unite against
Unnecessary things
The weather's changing I can feel the breeze begin to blow
It comes to strengthen something we already know
The joy that will be when we are free from
Unnecessary things
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11. |
Fear
03:22
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Fear comes down upon me in the dark
Though not quite unexpected
My impulse is to run, hide away
Hope I’m not detected
I can’t escape – the fear is in my heart
Scampering, I leave my friends behind
The fear I carry with me
Now it has me totally entranced
My resistance fails swiftly
And a host of horrid futures fills my mind
Everything I live for is destroyed
Justice is defeated
Terror past all hope of consolation
Each image is repeated
Inside me on a screen I can’t avoid
I’m rescued on the threshold of despair
Friendly arms around me
The present moment settles on my mind
I spit my fear out loudly
I feel my skin again and breathe the air
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12. |
Earthly Love
02:38
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How immense this love that holds me
And my friends beside me here
How intensely it enfolds me
Feeling it has healed my fear
No divine or unseen spirit
Fills my life with loving peace
Human is the voice I hear, it
Chants against the Earth’s decease
Words of love from friend and stranger
That through every land resound
Bind me to our planet’s danger
Yet fill me with peace profound
There’s no higher moral purpose
No objective stands above
This discontent that so disturbs us
Given us by Earthly love
We have cause to love each other
Giving strength and taking heart
Every sister, every brother
Each who plays an active part
Feel the breath of hope expanding
Let it be the song you hum
Until death your friends are standing
Face with them the trials to come
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13. |
Blue And Emerald
03:27
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People gather in the cities
In the forests and the fields
Every colour, every kindred
Every kind the planet yields
Rally now against the crisis
Save the land that gave you birth
But lift your head and look around you
Every land is part of Earth
All our hands and all our voices
Joined in work and speech and song
Build our best hope for the world
Integrity will keep us strong!
I am proud to walk beside you
You who give your honest word
Profit’s poison doesn’t taint you
Let your selfless song be heard
Men and women standing for
The generations yet to be
Fight to keep tomorrow safe
From selfish greed's insanity
The fear they play on paralyses
Feeds on crisis, demonises
And it licenses their corporate might
Silences with facile claims of right
We are brave but are not fearless
Foes can feel us, that will heal us
Since we hold our fear in common
It won’t hold us from the fight
Millions of us know the truth
And love our blue and emerald sphere
Never will we speak the lie that
Lets its wonders disappear
Where corrupt and false assertion
Spreads its dark malicious cloud
We will cheer the light of reason
Chant its wisdom clear and loud!
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Miguel Heatwole Sydney, Australia
Miguel’s a versatile singer, choral director & composer. His interests include folk & world music, political satire, the environment, trade unionism & the responsible enjoyment of alcohol. His songwriting embraces themes like peace & justice, the family cat, & visceral passionate attraction. His enthusiasm for recording community singing has let many people share the power of their songs. ... more
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