Song #42 Third Fleet

 

THIRD FLEET

(Listen HERE)

Eleven big ships left England one day

They’re gonna sail into Sydney Harbour one day

And all of those people with their skins black or brown

May well see it as a day to frown

And remember the day they lost their land

 

But I’m gonna be there when those boats sail in

I wanna feel the thrill and remember the day

That the white people came and paved the way

For people like me to be here and say

 

CHORUS

I don’t expect you to cheer with me

But I want you to know I’ve travelled the sea

I keep comin’ back to this land you see

‘Cos it’s the best that I’ve seen north or south

I wanna thank you for sharing this land with me (and mine)

 

I’m sorry we didn’t treat you right

We can all get together and make it right

There’s enough room for back, brown and white

Can’t you see that I love this land

I’m no black Australian but I call this home

The hum of this land is a part of me

 

CHORUS

 

But I’m gonna be there when those boats sail in

I wanna feel the thrill and remember the day

That the white people came and paved the way

For people like me to be here and say

 

CHORUS

 

(Copyright Michael Coghlan, 1987)

Commentary

I wrote this song on the eve of Australia's bicentennial. I was living in Holland at the time and feeling quite disconnected from my homeland. I realised that I missed the land of Australia: the land, the dirt, the hum of the desert, the colours, its sense of majesty. And the song tries to reconcile these feelings with the fact that my forebears stole the land from the Aboriginal people. I actually think it's one of my better songs. It has something of a reggae feel. I did make a proper recording of it years ago but I've lost it. So it's another one for the ever-growing to be recorded list. 21/10: a new rough version

Song #41 Northern Winter

 

NORTHERN WINTER

(Listen HERE) 

Northern winter northern home

Northern winter northern home

The sun shines clear here today

Snow lingers shining

The air seems clear

It’s as good as a day gets here

In this northern winter, northern home

 

The forest stands quietly

As the cold wind blows

The few leaves left hanging

Rustle dry sounds

And off in the distance

Unseen but well heard

The cars on the highways

Of this northern land, northern home

 

Take a stroll through the woods

Smell the fresh air

There’s moss underfoot – all gentle and soft

On a carpet of leaves

So precious this day

That calls us outside

In its own wintry way

 

Well I know that it’s beautiful

But you need too many clothes

 

The sun shines clear here today

Snow lingers shining

The air seems clear

It’s as good as a day gets here

In this northern winter, northern home

 

Northern winter, northern home

Northern winter, northern home

Northern home

 

© Michael Coghlan 1987

 Commentary

A song I'm quite proud of. Slow and wistful in the way that still cold days made me feel during Dutch winters. Still to be recorded - DONE!