Song #38 Song for Peter

SONG FOR PETER

LISTEN 

Hey, why are you going away?

Goin’ away you say?

I’ve been away

I’m goin’ home

 

I’m not saying it’s easy

I’m not saying it’s wise

But I know that it’s high time

To retrace my steps

To pick up my roots

To live in the sun and be warm

 

So it’s a journey way down south

As far south as you can go

To see how the other

The other half live

I know this was my home

You’ve all been so fine

There’s a place in my heart for you always

 

But I’ve lived on the other side of the world

The person you’re looking at grew up there

Maybe I’m crazy; maybe I’m wrong

Maybe I can’t stand that southern air

But I’ve got to find out

I’ve got to know

I’ve got to know if I’m dreaming

 

Goodbye good luck good friend

Goodbye good luck good friend

Goodbye

(Amsterdam 1986)

Commentary

Peter and I had gone to the same school in Adelaide, but we weren't close friends. I had just finished a busking in session Amsterdam one day and this guy approached me and said, "Remember me?"  I did and we became close friends. Peter had actually been born in Holland but some time later he decided he needed to return to Australia. I wrote this song for him as a parting gift. I sang it at his farewell party in the big white house in the picture above.