Hands in the dirt, eyes on the skirt, heart in denial, but true
Loving the water, ignoring the scholar, free from a history we flew
from fun loving country to war-weary and bloody, and mateship was born in the mud
the hope that was seen was the Australian dream, that all of us knew, and we loved.
The dream was all people were supposed to be equal
I believed it and you know - I still do!
You’re the one, you can make it come true,
and our future is dependent on you
Keep our hope for a dream on the Australian dream, that all of us know, and we love.
But since September ‘1, there’s a fear that begun
Shown in racism, anger and war,
I see poor people cryin, the pollies denying, our innocence dying, unsure
And its harder to trust (though our heart says we must),
and our history of steel is turnin’ to rust;
but we live in pure beauty, consume more than we must
while the Australian dream lies dry in the dust.
CHORUS
We’ve been tough in the past, we’ll be strong from now on
Give a hand to the underdog, help mates carry on
we’ll show to the world that our people are one
An Australian dream, Australian won!
It started with fortune, and got worse with fame
Then we lost sight of God, and our dream
we checked out our losses, despised all our bosses,
watched our lives, (like tossers), through a screen
In the loss of our culture, loss of mateship and care
we’re boat-people who forgot how to share
Just constantly rushed, with hearts that are crushed,
while the Australian dream lies dry in the dust.
CHORUS
How can we learn? Can we learn more than earn?
Can we value this land as its been?
For over the ages the rivers teach pages, and red plains hold time in esteem
Let’s be honest to start, we know in our heart
that we need all the help we can ask
To re-understand God, to accept and love -
An Australian dream – reaching out from the past.
CHORUS
Well its back to the start, Lord give us new heart
For our children bring hope and new love
Yes our young are the hopeful, and carry the flag
with them at the wheel we can look back and brag,
of the record of welcome, Of bravery, trust,
of a strong sense of oneness, and no time to fuss
For we’re painting the sky, holding hands while we try
To rebuild what we’ve seen, the Australian dream.
CHORUS
We’ve been tough in the past, we’ll be strong from now on
Give a hand to the underdog, help mates carry on
we’ll show to the world that our people are one
An Australian dream, Australian won!
credits
from The Australian Dream,
released May 27, 2003
Vocals: Philosofree, Sam Lower, Caleb Saward, Mark Western, James Byrne
Bass: Behnoosh Aryanpad
Freewheeling songs that draw clear inspiration from Afrobeat, blending darting horn charts with warm vocal melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 21, 2017