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#62 LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY

by Peter Kearney

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LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY
A song that was written in 1988 as a reflection on the so-called 'bi-centennial year' for Australia . The song becomes relevant again each year as January 26th approaches, the date that was chosen for Australia's national day, though it was the day that the First Fleet arrived in Sydney Harbour. Naturally January 26th is called 'Invasion Day' by Aboriginal people. On this day each year there is a painful sense of division and tension - yet to be reconciled in the soul of this nation.

'Living in this Country' is a track from my 1988 album 'The Year of God's Favour?'. This title (in which the question mark is important) refers to the Old Testament tradition of the Jubilee Year when justice was meant to be restored to society.

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lyrics

LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY
Living in this country is like living with two souls:
One is new and shiny, the other deep and old.
One soars skyscraper tall, the other on the ground.
One so loud, the other soft - can you hear the sound?
And safe within my four walls I hear a muffled scream
And driving down the highway I fall into a dream.

In the Dreamtime day ‘fore the white man came
The Rainbow Serpent made the world.
There was harmony and a mighty tree
Held the sky in place for all the world.
Then the white man came, some locked in chains
Others proud - the guns all in their hands
And a flag was stabbed into the land.
In the name of the king they took possession.
Many dark ones died and their bones still cry
Just beneath the green suburban lawn - there they lie.

“Come out and celebrate nineteen eighty-eight
Let happy songs be heard around!”
So the ad-man crows with his fancy shows:
“Come and buy this nation we have founded!”
But the happy songs they just come out wrong
And the tunes are hollow in the air
And the words just drive you to despair ...
Beneath it all are facts just never mentioned.
And the dead ones lie and their bones still cry
Just beneath the green suburban lawn - there they lie.

Living in this country is like living with two souls:
One is new and shiny, the other deep and old.
One soars skyscraper tall, the other on the ground.
One so loud, the other soft - can you hear the sound?

Words and music by Peter Kearney
Copyright 1988 Peter Kearney.

credits

released January 22, 2021
RELATED RESOURCES:
1. Make Me a Song. Double CD (contains 'Living in this Country' and 35 other PK songs). LINK: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/356147
2. The Year of God's Favour? Custom-CD. LINK: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/356149
3. The Year of God's Favour? Music Book. LINK: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/553817
4. 'Living in this Country' - PDF Music. LINK: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/622058

THE RECORDING:
Recorded in HAV Studio, Bundanoon. Sound engineer - Graeme Armitt. Produced by Peter Kearney in consultation with Madge O'Brien and Claire Parkhill.
Saxophone solos by LITO HERNANDEZ
Backing vocals by CLAIRE PARKHILL, HELEN ARCHER and LOUISE GORE.
Lead vocal & guitars PETER KEARNEY

ARTWORK in track-image by DOROTHY WOODWARD. Visit Dorothy's webpage here: peterkearneysongs.com.au/dorothy-woodward-art

COPYRIGHT © 1988 Peter Kearney.
This song is registered with One License, APRA and AMCOS.
Church and school licences through 'One License'.
E: info@onelicense.net

SEE ALL SONGS posted so far: peterkearney.bandcamp.com

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Peter Kearney Mittagong, Australia

Peter Kearney is an Australian songwriter and singer. His early folk-hymns 'Fill My House' & 'The Beatitudes' are internationally known. He has written many other songs of justice and peace, songs for children, and a musical-narrative on St. Francis of Assisi. His published recordings include 153 original songs.

LINKS BELOW are for Peter's:
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- Facebook Artist Page. ... more

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