John Williamson - True Blue - The Very Best of John Williamson [compilation] (2003) by John Williamson (보컬) on maniadb.com

This guitar only sings the way I play it,
It's part of me, just like another arm
It started out as a little ukulele,
When I was just a boy on the farm
My fingers were too lazy for piano
But I could hold a tune pretty good
And I couldn't sing a song with a trombone
So I taught myself to play this piece of wood

But I know you are staying beside me
True lovers we both feel the pain
And I'd throw this old box on the fire
Before I'd ever lose you again.

Well you never did like this old guitar, did you darling?
'Cause the guitar takes your man away from you
One day I'll write a song for you darling,
That'll be the very best that I can do

Will it be a song about a wild wind,
With thunderclap and flashes of blue
Or will it be a song about an angel?
It'll never be as beautiful as you

This guitar only sings the way I play it,
It's part of me, just like another arm
It started out as a little ukulele,
When I was just a boy on the farm

But now I am a man with a woman
The words I wanna say won't come through
No matter where this guitar's gonna take us
It'll never be as beautiful as you

by John Williamson

Goodbye Bunyip Bluegum, goodbye Blinky Bill
And beautiful little Nutsie, I can't believe it
Our koalas are all dying, can it really be
A national disaster, a world catastrophe

Shiny little black nose and fluffy little ears
Furry little bundle soaking up the tears
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie are crying in the rain
And wombat's gone into his hole and won't come out

Oh pass the hat around between your friends
There's no time to contemplate
Maybe if we show some love
Maybe it's not too late

'Cause Blinky Bill is dying, cross him off the list
Knock on doors, ring the bell, save the eucalypts
I don't think I could stand the shame, knowing that I could
Have saved the world from losing something beautiful and good

One doctor on the job is hardly enough
One little hospital, wake up Australia
It's our corner of the world, time to pull our weight
What would we tell our children about our little mate

Well old Bob hasn't got much but he values his boots
He values the time he spends growin' flowers
He still loves his babies that grew to be men
He recalls all the days 'n' nights and the hours
When he and his woman worked on the land
In the heat and the dry, in the cold and the wet
He still picks her a rose and his old heart still races
She's still the most beautiful girl that he's met
And you ask is he happy...and you ask is he happy...?
He's got wrinkles from smiling, he feels lucky and free
And he knows what it means to live here in the sunshine
He's got wrinkles......

He walks with Amelia down to the store
With a little cane basket for the bread and the daily Sun
Still hand in hand like babes in the meadows
And young faces turn
Love is so beautiful, it can be so deep
And a man is a king when he has his own princess
Bob wears no crown, no long flowing robe
But there in his mind he still rides on his black stallion

Then a cold winter came, and Bob was alone
His beautiful princess had flown with the angels
He faded so quickly, the man became old
And the wandering dew soon covered the roses
First just a cane, then a strong stick for walking
Then just a chair with a grey old man dying
All that he lived for was always beside him
So Bob left in peace, to join his lady

And you ask is he happy...and you ask is he happy...?
He had wrinkles from smiling
He felt lucky and free
And he knew what it meant to live here in the sunshine
He had wrinkles......

Let me tell you of an interview with an Old Man Emu
He's got a beak and feathers and things, but the poor old fella ain't got no wings
"Aren't you jealous of the wedge-tail eagle?" - dom ba da little da da da

(Spoken in tempo) "While the eagle's flying round and round, I keep my two feet firmly on the ground
I can't fly, but I'm telling you, I can run the pants off a kangaroo".

Doo dee ba doo doo doo , boo da da doot doo doo doo
He can't fly, but I'm telling you, he can run the pants off a kangaroo.

Well he was the model for the fifty cents - oom ba da little da da da
The designer should have had more sense - oom ba da little da da da
If you take a look, it'll prove to you, I ran the pants off that kangaroo.

Doo dee ba doo doo doo...Boo da da doot doo doo..
Take a look it'll prove to you, he can run the pants off the kangaroo.

You can't loop the loop like a cockatoo - Oom ba da little da da da
Swoop and toss like an albatross - Oom ba da little da da da
"You silly galah, I'm better by far, than a white cockatoo or a budgerigar;
They squeak and squawk and try to talk, why me and them's like cheese and chalk"
Ba da da Doo dee ba doo doo doo...Boo da da doot doo doo doo
He can't fly but I'm telling you, he can run the pants off a kangaroo...

Well the last time I saw Old Man Emu - Oom ba da little da da da
He was chasing a female he knew - Oom ba da little da da da
As he shot past I heard him say "She can't fly, but I'm telling you
She could run the pants off a kangaroo". -

Ba da da Doo dee ba doo doo doo Doo dee ba doo doo doo...Boo da da doot doo doo doo
She can't fly but I'm telling you, she can run the pants off a kangaroo

Well there is a moral to this ditty - Oom ba da little da da da
Thrush can sing but he ain't pretty - Oom ba da little da da da
Duck can swim, but he can't sing, nor can the eagle on the wing
Emu can't fly, but I'm telling you, he can run the pants off a kangaroo.

Well the kookaburra laughed and said "It's true, oom ba da little da da da,
Ha Ha Ha Ha Hah Hoo, He can run the pants off a kangaroo"

Just layin' with my lady on a houseboat in the sun
Can't hear the city hummin', and I'm feelin' good
With a belly full of oysters and some white wine on the ice,
I've got that laid back lovin' feeling - it's really nice
What I call Hawkesbury River lovin', good Aussie wine
Workin' hard at bein' lazy, no bait on the line
My kind of paradise, a river honeymoon
Just layin' with my lady on a houseboat in the sun

Well I know I should be out there. . .searchin' for a job. . .
I could try a pick 'n shovel. . .but what the hell. . .
Why can't I be born again and come back as a swan. . .
Head up north for the winter. . .and back again. . .to find some

Hawkesbury River Lovin', good Aussie wine
Workin' hard at bein' lazy, no bait on the line
My kind of paradise, a river honeymoon
Just layin' with my lady on a houseboat in the sun

And I know you don't mind how many times I say 'I love you',
As long as you can stay around for more

What I call Hawkesbury River Lovin', good Aussie wine
Workin' hard at bein' lazy, no bait on the line
My kind of paradise, a river honeymoon
Just layin' with my lady on a houseboat in the sun

Layin' with my lady on a houseboat in the sun...

Chorus
I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am
I've loved the smell of gum leaves, since I was in a pram
Some places may be greener, but I don't give a damn
'Cause I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am.
Now I was in the doctor's just the other day
He told me take an aspirin, the pain would go away
So I pulled out my chequebook, 'cause sickness doesn't pay
I said, "Are you fair dinkum?" - what did the doctor say?

He said, "Ah so . . ." (Repeat Chorus with Chinese accent)
I said, "Well can you recommend a nice little Chinese restaurant?"

Then I whistled down a taxi cab and headed for the east
A bad case of the munchies, I was ready for a feast
The driver said "Indian?" - I said, "Oh well, I'd rather not"
He said, "Why don't you come around to my place,
My curry's rather hot".

I said, "Are you fair dinkum?"
He said, "Oh . . ." (Repeat Chorus with Indian accent)

Well, I tipped the nice cabbie so he wouldn't make a fuss
I shot out like a bullet and I grabbed a Bondi bus
I said, "Take me to the waves mate, I'm dyin' for a dip"
He said "Now you be very careful and watch you don't slip.

"Oh, are you fair dinkum?"
He said, "Ah by gum . . ." (Repeat Chorus with Pommy accent)

Well everybody's claiming Australia as their own
I'm no aborigine, so I won't point the bone
It shows good taste mate, so I shouldn't moan
If you got a problem, get Al Grassby on the phone.

Bridge
Yeah, we're Fair Dinkum, bloody oath we are
We all love Koalas and singin' round the bar
And con somebody's missus to drive the flamin' car
Yeah, we're Fair Dinkum, bloody oath we are.

Now give me a home where life is what you make
Where I can walk about, just for walking's sake
Where I can tell our leaders to go jump in the lake
But I'll never knock Australia, you make no mistake.

(Repeat Chorus to tune of bridge)
(Repeat Chorus)

Oh there once was a swagman camped in a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
And he sang as he looked at his old billy boiling
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me

Chorus
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda my darling
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Matilda and leading a water bag
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me

Down came a jumbuck to drink at the water hole
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he stowed him away in his tucker bag


You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me

Down came the squatter a riding on his thoroughbred
Down came the troopers one two three
Whose is that jumbuck you've got in the tucker bag
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me

But the swagman he up and he jumped into the water hole
Drowning himself by the coolibah tree
And his ghost may be heard as it sings in the billabong
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me

by John Williamson

What am I gonna do - what about the future?
Gotta draw the line without delay
Why shouldn't I get emotional - the bush is sacred
Ancient life will fade away

Over the hill they go, killing another mountain
Gotta fill the quota - can't go slow
Huge machinery wiping out the scenery
One big swipe like a shearer's blow

Rip rip woodchip - turn it into paper
Throw it in the bin, no news today
Nightmare, dreaming - can't you hear the screaming?
Chainsaw, eyesore - more decay

Remember the axemen knew their timber
Cared about the way they brought it down
Crosscut, blackbutt, tallowood and cedar
Build another bungalow - pioneer town

I am the bush and I am koala
We are one - go hand in hand
I am the bush like Banjo and Henry
It's in my blood - gonna make a stand

Rip rip woodchip - turn it into paper
Throw it in the bin, no news today
Nightmare, dreaming - can't you hear the screaming?
Chainsaw, eyesore - more decay

Rip rip woodchip - turn it into paper
Throw it in the bin - don't understand
Nightmare, dreaming - can't you hear the screaming?
Stirs my blood - gonna make a stand

Well I've ripped and dug out burrows on a sandy bulloak hill,
Eradicating rabbits doesn't take a lot of skill
But a boy born in the Mallee doesn't find 'em hard to kill
No self-respecting farmer lets a rodent eat his wheat
He'll shoot 'em and he'll skin 'em and he'll dress 'em up to eat
But since the spread of mixo He's almost got 'em beat
And I don't mind at all if you call me a Mallee boy
Where little town dogs howl at the morning train,
Where a cocky makes a living on twelve inches of rain
Where his woman provides and is rare to complain
And I still love the smell of that sandy soil,
Some say it's dusty, some say it's gold
Cause it grows the sweetest fat lambs the markets ever sold
And I don't mind at all if you call me a Mallee Boy,
No I don't mind at all if you call me a Mallee Boy.
Where you can lose an ear on duck opening day,
Where slickers bring their shotguns from miles away,
And shoot the life out of shags and swans that fly their way.
Where a bloke grows as stocky as a Mallee bull,
Where they come from miles around to see the tractor pull,
When the paddocks are clean and seed silos are full,
And I don't mind at all if you call me a Mallee Boy.
Well I've ripped and dug out burrows on a sandy bulloak hill,
Eradicating rabbits doesn't take a lot of skill,
And a boy born in the Mallee doesn't find 'em hard to kill.
But they'll never be as rare as a Quandong tree
My grandma made some jam for my brothers and me
They're like the Mallee Fowl you hardly ever see
But I don't mind at all if you call me a Mallee Boy.
No I don't mind at all if you call me a Mallee Boy.
No I don't mind at all if you call me a Mallee Boy.

Teary eyes at the window,
Where did Mum and Dad go?
I wish someone would hurry up and come and get me,
Gee I'm scared
The cat shot through, She saw the light and fled.
Cracker night was a real big deal, when I was a little kid
They started lettin' them off after tea I ran inside and hid
And all the dogs from everywhere were underneath me bed.

We all went down in our dressing gowns to see the big bonfire
Wide eyes watched the straw man burn on a mile-high pile of tyres
Hot as hell, big black smell and red hot rings of wire.

Sky rockets zinging,
Catherine wheels spinning,
What a flamin' evening,
Fire trucks were screaming
Smoky haze hangin' round for days
And Grandma's ears were ringing.

Everynight after school draggin' bits of wood,
Boxes and branches and rotten old fences,
And mattresses were good.
We even scrounged a vinyl lounge
And anything we could

Little Guy Fawkes's and letter boxes
Blown all out of shape
Light the wick and back off quick,
And make the big escape
Cackin' ourselves and rippin' my shirt
Scrambling through the gate

Sky rockets zinging
Catherine wheels spinning
What a flamin' evening
Fire trucks were screaming
Smoky haze hangin' round for days
And Grandma's ears were ringing.

A house burnt down on the edge of town
We all took off with Pa
This thing whizzed across the road
And nearly hit our car
A bang and spark lit up the park
And everyone went Ah! Ah! Ah!

Cracker night was a real big deal,
When I was a little kid,
It seems like only yesterday
Tucked away in bed
Dreams of schemes and double bunger
Daring things we did

A city girl is happy with her friends and family life
Appreciates a wine with him at night
She tries to find the sparkle, she searches but it's gone
With lots of love she hopes he'll be alright
Her man has gone all quiet he's not at ease
He doesn't feel at home he's hard to please
He gets itchy feet he's tired of noises in the street
He needs to walk for hours through the trees

CHORUS
No a bushman can't survive on city lights
Opera rock and roll and height of heights
His moon shines on the silver brigalow
Shimmers down the inland river flow
Out there where the yellow belly bites

He's working with his hands today on a building site
He can smell the Cypress on the floor
It takes him to a sandy ridge out amongst the pines
No shearin' no ploughin' anymore

His kelpie dog is tired and fast asleep
Sick of searchin' gardens for the sheep
His master doesn't whistle tunes he's not in the mood
His love for open spaces runs too deep

CHORUS

He tries to please his woman the lady of his life
He's standing at a party with a plate
She finds him on the balcony staring at the moon
An old familiar face he can relate

CHORUS

His moon shines on the silver brigalow
Shimmers down the inand river
Out there where the yellow belly bites

Don't go lookin' through that old camphor box, woman
You know those old things only make you cry
When you dream upon that little bunny rug
Makes you think that life has passed you by

There are days when you wish the world would stop, woman
But then you know some wounds would never heal
But when I browse the early pages of the children
It's then I know exactly how you feel

Hey it's July and the winter sun is shining
And Cootamundra wattle is my friend
For all at once my childhood never left me
'Cause wattle blossoms bring it back again

It's Sunday and you should stop the worrying, woman
Come out here and sit down in the sun
Can't you hear the magpies in the distance
Dont' you know a new day has begun

Can't you hear the bees makin' honey, woman
In the spotted gums where the bellbirds ring
You might grow old and bitter 'cause you missed it
You know some people never hear such things

Hey it's July and the winter sun is shining
And Cootamundra wattle is my friend
For all at once my childhood never left me
'Cause wattle blossoms bring it back again

Don't buy the daily papers any more, woman
Read all about what's going on in hell
They don't care to tell the world of kindness
Good news never made a paper sell

There's all the colours of the rainbow in the garden, woman
And symphonies of music in the sky
Heaven's all around us if you're looking
But how can you see it if you cry

Hey it's July and the winter sun is shining
And Cootamundra wattle is my friend
For all at once my childhood never left me
'Cause wattle blossoms bring it back again

Galleries of pink galahs
Crystal nights with diamond stars
Apricots preserved in jars
That's my home

Land of oceans in the sun
Purple hazes, river gums
Breaks your heart when rain won't come
It breaks your heart

It takes a harsh and cruel drought
To sort the weaker saplings out
It makes room for stronger trees
Maybe that's what life's about

Winter's come, the hills are brown
Shops are closed, the blinds are down
Everybody's leavin' town
They can't go on

The south wind through verandah gauze
Winds and bangs the homestead doors
A mother curses dusty floors
And feels alone

Trucks and bulk bins filled with rust
Boy leaves home to make a crust
A father's dreams reduced to dust
But he must go on

Tortured redgums unashamed
Sunburnt country wisely named
Chisel ploughed and wire claimed
But never, never, never tamed

Whirlwind swirls a paper high
Same old news of further dry
Of broken clouds just passing by
That's my home

Land of oceans in the sun
Purple hazes, river gums
Breaks your heart when rain won't come
It breaks your heart

Pastel red to burgundy and spinifex to gold
We've just come out of the mulga where the plains forever roll
And Albert Namatjira has painted all the scenes
And a shower has changed the lustre of his land

And it's raining on the rock, in a beautiful country
And I'm proud to travel this big land, like an Aborigine
And it's raining on the rock, what an almighty sight to see
And I'm wishing on a postcard, that you were here with me

Everlasting daisies and the beautiful desert rose
Where does their beauty come from, heaven knows
I could ask the wedgetail, but he's away too high
I wonder if he understands, it's wonderful to fly

And it's raining on the rock, in a beautiful country
And I'm proud to travel this big land, like an Aborigine
And it's raining on the rock, what an almighty sight to see
And I'm wishing on a postcard, that you were here with me

It cannot be described with a picture
The mesmerising colours of the Olgas
Or the grandeur of the rock
Uluru has power

And it's raining on the rock, in a beautiful country
And I'm proud to travel this big land, like an Aborigine
And it's raining on the rock, what an almighty sight to see
And I'm wishing on a postcard, that you were here with me

Hey true blue dont say your gone say your knocked off for a smoko and you'll be back later on. Hey true blue, Hey true blue. you can turn me straight, face to face, are you really disappearing, just another dying race. Hey true blue, true blue, is it me and you, is it mum and dad, is it a cockatoo, is it standing by ya mate when hes in a fight or just vegemite true blue im asking you, hey true blue can you bear the load will you tie it up with wire just to keep the show on the road, Hey true blue, Hey true blue. now be fair dinkum, is your heart still there, if they sell us up like sponge cake do you really care, Hey true blue, True blue is it me and you, is it mum and dad, is it a cockatoo, is it standing by ya mate when shes in a fight or just vegemite true blue im asking you, True blue is it me and you, is it mum and dad is it a cockatoo, is it standing by ya mate when hes in a fight or just vegemite, True blue, True blue.