200 YEARS
You left
home as a boy to ride the ocean breeze
You left
home as a boy to sail the seven seas
Christmas
Day on the ocean so far away from home
If ever you
had one on England’s green shores
On England’s
green shores
And tonight
you are certain that you’ve somethin’ to sing
Yes tonight
you are sure that you’re so full of song
You’ve come
back for a party and a tragic event
To celebrate
history however it went
However it
went
But have you
heard of a black man who lives here in pain?
For whom
Christmas means nothin’ after 200 years
He’s never been
on the ocean nor left his land
For the
earth is his mother and the source of all being
The source
of all being
But you the
white wanderer who travels the world
This planet
is your backyard to live and to grow in
You’ve come
back for the party, the drinks and the song
And how
could one blame you - you’ve done no wrong
You’ve done
no wrong
Sing Happy
Birthday Australia with your flag wavin’ and cheers
You’re
covered with white skin so go drink your beers
It may as
well be this day; it’s as good as any
To bid a warm
thank you to this great southern land
This great
southern land
Sing Happy
Birthday Australia with your flag wavin’ and cheers
You’re
covered with white skin so go drink your beers
It may as
well be this day; it’s as good as any
To bid a warm
thank you to this great southern land
That’s very much
older than 200 years
Than 200 years
(© Michael Coghlan, December 1987)