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Open Country

from Domestic by Fred Smith

supported by
Gary Fletcher
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musicman1953
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lyrics

I came in today flying over Sydney Harbour as she sparkled like a diamond on the Sydney summer’s day
Red hot roof tiles but it’s freezing back in China as the plane we’ll hit the runway it’s so long I’ve been away
I got into a cab I was talking to the taxi driver he described a land divided fingers pointing left and right
On the radio and old man selling anger on the airwaves he was blaming everyone who wasn’t middle-class and white
The taxi driver swore he said “mate we are all new Australians whether your name be Megalogenis, Frederick Smith or Penny Wong”
I said “yeah you’re right this is not the 1960s there is far more to being Australian than your Esky and your thongs”
And he said “Your’re not wrong, hear my song, I’m Australie and there’s plenty of space in me.”

Well he dropped me down on Pitt Street corporatoids were praying not for profits from the Bible they prefer theirs’ cash in hand
Took the Bondi bus up Oxford saw the pretty boys out walking I saw skin of many colours gracing Bondi’s burning sands
Meanwhile through the countryside the bushfires were blazing I saw people fight together everybody lends a hand
and out in the great dry West I hear the old stockmen talking about the good times and the hard times that had fallen on the land
and I say: understand, it’s our land, I’m Australie and there’s plenty of space in me

So Pauline, Pauline, love do you think you know the answers to you even know the question are we watching the same game?
Your politics of fear is your politics of anger but you’re not the only one to use the politics of blame
And I’m hearing arguments and fighting over reconciliation when we know a land divided is the worse we’ve got to fear
Well there’s gonna be more blues cause there’s so many different viewpoints if and when the matter’s settled then let’s sit down for a beer
And I say: there will be tears, but have no fear, I’m Australie and there’s plenty of space in me.

Well the time is now these hot winds of change are blowing we must bend and never break like a supple sapling gum
And if you’re telling me we can’t change if you saying were old and rigid I suggest you learn some yoga so you learn to bite your bum
So stand up now let’s look to the Horizon there’s still so much space to grow in we can learn how to succeed
But first things first we’ve got to find a little space inside us just to understand a complex land and in the plant the seed.
And I say young and free, Australie, I’m young and free and is plenty of space in me

Came in today flying over Sydney Harbour as she sparkled like a diamond on the Sydney summer’s day

credits

from Domestic, released January 12, 2020

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Fred Smith Canberra, Australia

“Fred Smith is simply the best folk/country musician working in this country in 2020. Beyond writing some of the finest songs about Australians at war, he has created a repertoire that is wry, literate, witty, powerfully emotional and insightful.”(Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald). ... more

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