Midnight Oil [environnement]

River Runs Red

So you cut all the tall trees down
You poisoned the sky and the sea
You've taken what's good from the ground
But you left precious little for me

You remember the flood and the fall
We remember the light on the hill
There should be enough for us all
But the dollar is driving us still

River runs red
Black rain falls
Dust in my hand

River runs red
Black rain falls
On my bleeding land

So we came and conquered and found
Riches of commons and kings
Who strangled and wrestled the ground
But they never put back anything

Now I'm trapped like a dog in a cage
Wherever the truth is pursued
It must be the curse of the age
What's taken is never renewed

River runs red...

Hirst/Moginie (Midnight Oil), 1993

One Country

Who'd like to change the world Who wants to shoot the curl Who gets to work for bread Who wants to get ahead Who hands out equal rights who starts and ends that fight And not rant and rave Or end up a slave Who can make hard won gains Fall like the summer rain Now every man must be What his life can be So don't call me the tune, I will walk away Who wants to please everyone Who says it all can be done Still sit up on that fence No-one I've heard of yet Don't call me baby Don't talk in maybes Don't talk like has-beens Sing it like it should be Who laughs at their nagging doubts Lying on a neon shroud, running around Just got to touch someone I want to be So don't call me the tune, I will walk away One country one Country one country

Who wants to sit around Turn it up, turn it down Only a man can be What his life can be One vision One people One landmass We are defenceless We have a lifeline One ocean One policy Seabed lies One passion One movement One instant One difference One lifetime One understanding One country One understanding Transgression Redemption One island One placemat One firmament One element One moment One fusion Yes, and one time

Moginie/Garrett , 1990