1. |
Man on the Land
04:04
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Man on the Land
With the eyes of a king and the hands of the earth
He’s the only one who knows the lands true worth
Stands like a statue in the windmill shade
He’s the owner the producer a working crusade
Chorus
He’s the man. He’s the man on the land
And he stands, cradling earth in his hand
His wife sometimes wonders how much he can take
He’s the man on the land make no mistake
Drives into town with old blue dog in the ute
Wears the beaten bush hat and the RM Williams boot
Talks about the weather the Government and sales
Back home to finish work ... work never fails
Chorus
Every generation’s battled on before
The kids move to the city he’s left to fight the war
His hopes are for the future ... his spirit put to test
The man with his woman … a great divide from the rest
Chorus (cradling hope)
Yeah he’s the boss man trying to read the sun
Had his disappointments but he sticks to his guns
Love to have that wayward weather under control
He owns the land but it owns his body and his soul
Chorus
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2. |
Sometimes a River Floods
04:38
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Seven Mile Creek
Young man came to town, dead on his feet
Not for long when the lady said “Hey boy trick or treat?”
“Don’t know what you’re thinking but you got me intrigued”
She’s thinking “ I like your smile, I’d like to shake your knees”
“I’ll take you down to a mystery place,
We can dance the night away in open space
Moon can be the spotlight, trees our audience
That sandy bed is gonna feel our presence”
Chorus
They had a little treat in Seven Mile Creek
Nobody knowing their secret
They had a little treat in Seven Mile Creek
Nobody knowing their secret
Dancing in the moon shadows, kicking up the sand
His knees were shaking as she took him by the hand
He was tangled in a mystery, tangled up in time
Some time untangling his body and his mind
Chorus
Bridge
Years roll by and the man remembers
How one April it felt like December
On a single night with a mystery lady
Sometimes, somehow, wished he could a stayed there
A melody on replay, smile on his face
Singing I love that place, I love that place, I love that place and that open space
Singing I love that place, I love that place, I love that place and that open space
Old man left the town, shuffling his feet
Memory rewinding … “Hey boy trick or treat?”
On the Warrego Highway the man at “7 Mile”
Thinking about the lady dancing with his smile
Chorus
Singing I love that place …
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3. |
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The North Wind
So long to the office and 9 to 5
Where the daylight glows from a tube
So long to the crash of the traffic lights
And the crush of the big city blues
Bring me the sigh of a desert dawn
The touch of a star filled sky
Send me the hush of a warm north wind
Tell me the reasons why.
Outback in the soul of an ancient land
Eternal stands Uluru
Timeless as the dream time song
Of Mutitjulu, Mala, Anangu
And I walk the rock in the lonely haze
And wonder at a world turned colder
When down the rock rolls a warm north wind
That settles on my shoulder.
“The north wind blows forever
The soul of the bush in the air”
Kings Canyon where down the gorges glides
The graceful grey strike thrush
And far off purple mountains pose
For Namatjira’s brush
In the shadow of the rock like a synagogue stand
The domes of Kata Tjuta
As desert oaks and spinifex pose
For the wide eyed camera shooter
Have you seen a town like Alice?
Have you seen a desert rose?
Have you seen the wide brown river
Where the water rarely flows?
I’ve seen a town like Alice
Watched the doctor flying home
Where the teacher sees the children
Through an HF microphone.
“The north wind blows forever
The soul of the bush in the air”
I’ve swum in the lush of Mataranka Springs
In the warmth of the secret river
An oasis in a dryland woodland
Just beyond the never never
And I fell in love with Katherine
Gorgeous in orange robes
What are those sounds in the soft evening light?
Only Nitmiluk knows
Have you been this close to the milky way?
Have you heard a star shed a tear?
Reached up and touched Venus on a clear outback night?
God how I wish you were here.
Yet somewhere in the dance of the dry desert haze
In the starfilled night so clear
Wafting soft in that warm north wind
I feel your hand still near
"The north wind blows forever
The soul of the bush in the air”
The red centre rolls back as the top end rolls in
Under Capricorn’s tropical skies
Gagadju calls down Kakadu’s walls
From Nourlangie, Namarrgon strikes
Lotus lillies laze on Yellow Waters green
Bee-eaters swerve and swoop
Sea eagle rules from his throne on high
Crocodile stalks Jabiru
When I dream of Darwin on cold southern nights
Cool beer on a balmy beach
Where Bougainvillea blooms heal Tracy’s wounds
Along a warm Arafura Sea.
When I’m back in the bustle, the rush and the hustle
With traffic lights yelling at me
Then let the traffic lights yell. I’ll just wait.
I’ll be dreaming of the Territory
“The north wind blows forever
The soul of the bush in the airr ...”
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4. |
Hazel Eyes
03:47
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Hazel Eyes
Her eyes are like fire in the night
Her eyes are like candles burning bright
Her eyes can turn you on
Her eyes make you feel so strong
Her eyes are like fire
Burning on and on and on
Chorus. My little lover with the hazel eyes
I’ve learned to love you like Melbourne skies
The sun is shining then turning grey
And then another long raining day
Her eyes can turn a misty shade of grey
Her eyes can be nightime in the day
Her eyes can fade away
Her eyes are like moonshine day
Her eyes are like rain clouds
That never go away
Chorus.
My little lover with the hazel eyes
I’ve learned to love you like Melbourne skies
The sun is shining then turning grey
And then another long raining day
My little lover she can turn you on
Kindle your fire … you’re burning strong
Then suddenly the flame fades away
And then another long raining day
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5. |
Black Cloud
04:49
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Black Cloud – Ken McDonald
There’s a storm on the horizon. There’s a black cloud in the sky
There’s a storm on the horizon. There’s a black cloud in the sky
You know if it ever comes near you, run and hide
You know if it ever comes near you, stay and fight
You know if it ever comes near you, run and hide
You know if it ever comes near you, stay and fight
There’s danger on the horizon. There’s a black cloud getting high
There’s danger on the horizon. There’s a black cloud getting high
You know if it ever comes near you,
You know if it ever comes near you,
You know if it ever comes near you,
You know if it ever comes near you,
Is it time, is it time, the thunder run?
Is it time, is it time, the wet begun?
Is it time, is it time, for the bulls to run?
Is it time, It’s time …
When the dogs howl … when the dogs howl,
When the dogs howl … when the dogs howl
There’s a storm on the horizon. There’s a black cloud in the sky
There’s a storm on the horizon. There’s a black cloud in the sky
knock you down
turn you round
knock you down
turn you round
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6. |
Sunrise
04:18
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Sunrise
Sunrise in the morning lift my spirit to the sky
Take away the moonshine and darkness of the night
Lending reassurance of never ending light
Sending out the people who like work in the daylight
Now I know why the sun goes down every day
Now I know why the sun goes down every day
Now I know why the sun goes down every day
Now I know why the sun goes down
Instant rearrangement in appearance of the land
Trees standing boldly near waves washing the sand
Wind begins to whisper climbing on the land
Seabirds out patrolling now their chances are at hand
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7. |
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When They Ring the Golden Bells
There’s a land beyond the river
That they call the sweet forever
And we’ll only reach that shore by fates decree
One by one we’ll gain the portals
There to dwell with the immortals
When they ring the golden bells for you and me
Don’t you hear the bells they’re ringing
Don’t you hear the angels singing
Tis a glory halleluliah to believe
In the far off sweet forever
Just beyond the shining river
When they ring the golden bells for you and me
We shall know no sin or sorrow
In that heaven of to-morrow
When our hearts shall sail beyond our silvery sea
We shall only know the blessing
Of our father’s sweet caressing
When they ring the golden bells for you and me
Don’t you hear the bells they’re ringing
Don’t you hear the angels singing
Tis a glory halleluliah to believe
In the far off sweet forever
Just beyond the shining river
When they ring the golden bells for you and me
When our days shall know their number
When in death we sweetly slumber
When the king commands the spirit to be free
Never more with anguish laden
We shall reach that lovely Eden
When they ring the golden bells for you and me
When they ring the golden bells for you and me
written by Dion de Marbelle 1887
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8. |
Shazam
04:10
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Shazam
Rain is pouring down
Waiting all these years
Keep her coming Hughey
Music to my ears
Frogs have gone beserk
Croaking up a storm
Look at all the raindrops
Dancing on the lawn
Answer to a prayer
After all these years
Think about the fires
Think about the tears
Think about the people
Moving off the land
Now a transformation
A billion raindrop band
Chorus. Shazam the drought is broken
Shazam the drought is broken
Shazam it doesn’t rain it pours
Shazam it doesn’t rain it pours
Shazam it doesn’t rain it pours
Keep her coming down
Music to the frogs
Drumming on the tin roof
Raining cats and dogs
Hero in the thunder
Drummer in the sky
Ah we sit in wonder
All the reasons why
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9. |
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Old Grey Man
Old grey man with the gunny sack
Stationed himself by the railroad track
Plays for a zac on an old tin fife
Days of glory – days of life
Old grey dog by the old tin can
Wearied of life – wearied of man
Suns himself by a bottle tree
Knows about you – knows about me
War came along like a lightning rod
Fires the soul and the soldiers plod
He sinks to the bottom of the sea
Out of reach for you and me
In the river of life they don’t seem much
Two specs of silt we do not touch
Playing for a zac by a bottle tree
Out of reach for you and me
Old grey man with the gunny sack
Stationed himself by a bronzed Anzac
Making a quid on an old tin fife
Days of glory – days of life
Some of them old diggers yeah they paid a price
Remembering mates bringing freedom with their life
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10. |
Seven Mile Creek
04:06
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11. |
Pax Haven Park
03:36
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12. |
Desert Heart
02:59
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Desert Heart
Never seen nothing like it before in your life
They say don’t come and work here it can cut like a knife
You could wind up in a truckload of strife
Drinking your way into a dog trailer life
Chorus
Some people love it while it tears some apart
Living in the heat of the desert heart
Some people love it while it tears some apart
Living in the desert heart
Look all around you and there’s nothing…no trees
Makes you wanna fall down to beg on your knees
The rain if you’re lucky will come along once every year
Just enough to make you think it looks queer
Chorus
You gotta get outa the sun … your eternal friend
Flies sticking around ya friend to the end
People living out here can make it worthwhile
Just get a load of them boomerang smiles
Chorus
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13. |
Barracuda Susie
02:57
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14. |
Campfire Man
03:14
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15. |
Bull Blues
02:52
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16. |
Outback
03:57
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Outback
Out there in the outback
Things are cool and quiet
In the nightime, in the nightime
Out there in the outback
Things are getting heated
In the daytime, in the daytime
Out there in the outback
Mountains stand defiant
When the sun goes down
Sun comes up
Sun goes down, sun comes up
Refrain
Think about you daily
Dream about you nightly
When the sun goes down
Sun comes up
Sun goes down, sun comes up
Ancient rusting mountains
Standing in defiance
Of a billion raindrops, billion years
Zillion sunrays, million tears
Refrain
In the year of the outback
It’s the year of the mountain
Standing there in lonely defiance
Standing there ever reliant
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17. |
Fireland of Birds
01:49
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Ken McDonald Music Brisbane, Australia
G’day, I am Ken McDonald, a singer songwriter who has been writing songs for over 40 years. I started recording albums for
fun about 10 years ago. I have completed five albums, some with the help of family and friends.
All the best,
Ken
... more
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