World International
Published Feb 22, 2009
talaxandra
3,037 Posts
~~I AM AUSTRALIAN~~
Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton, 1987
I came from the dream-time, from the dusty red soil plains
I am the ancient heart, the keeper of the flame.
I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come.
For forty thousand years I've been the first Australian.
We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice:
I am, you are, we are Australian
I came upon the prison ship, bowed down by iron chains.
I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.
I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife on a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man, I became Australian.
I'm the daughter of a digger who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road
I'm a child of the depression, I saw the good times come
I'm a bushy, I'm a battler, I am Australian
I'm a teller of stories, I'm a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira, I paint the ghostly gums
I am Clancy on his horse, I'm Ned Kelly on the run
I'm the one who waltzed Matilda, I am Australian
I'm the hot wind from the desert, I'm the black soil of the plains
I'm the mountains and the valleys, I'm the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky, the rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land, I am Australian
I am, you are, we are Australian.
New verses - Bruce Woodley, to commemorate Black Saturday, 2009
There are no words of comfort that can hope to ease the pain,
of losing homes and loved ones, the memories will remain.
With our silent tears we can hope to carry on
you are not alone, we are with you, we are Australian.
We are one but we are many
and from all the lands on earth we come
we share a dream and sing with one voice
I am you are we are Australian.
There are so many heroes whose stories must be told
they fought the raging fires of hell and saved so many souls.
From the ashes of despair our towns will rise again
We mourn your loss, we will rebuild, we are Australian.
We are one but we are many and from all the lands on earth we come,
SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN
10,263 Posts
Talaxandra, is there a link to that with the tune?
And what is Black Saturday? The fires?
Hi Sue,
there's a youtube
JanisM
63 Posts
I've always loved this song, and the added lyrics are touching. It's been heartbreaking hearing all the news reports. Thanks, Talaxandra - I didn't know about them until now. Are you from Vic? If so I hope you and your family are all safe.
I don't think the new verses are as strong as the originals, but they more than make up for it with the emotional power or the lyrics
Thanks, Janis - fortunately my family members who live in the country aren't anywhere near affected or threatened areas, but friends have lost holiday homes. No loss of life, which is fantastic
My thoughts are with you all, talaxandra.