We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

L&K McDonald - The North Wind

from Fire after Flood (Digital Purchase Only) by Ken McDonald

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 AUD  or more

     

about

This is a poem written by Laurie McDonald and has received a fair bit of air play on Australian ABC radio. This song's popularity is what forced us to originally build a website.

lyrics

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 ...”

credits

from Fire after Flood (Digital Purchase Only), released May 16, 2012

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

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

contact / help

Contact Ken McDonald Music

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like The North Wind, you may also like: