This is a love song which starts towards the end, rather than the beginning. It was inspired by a journey of a very young family, nearly half a century ago, to live in the red heart of Australia. It looks back, sometimes wistfully, sometimes with disbelief, but always with love, at the passing of the years.
Lyrics
She wakes
In the cool of the shade
And slowly remembers the plans we made
Takes coffee and toast and hope (with marmalade)
Together we wait
She stands
In the heat of the day
Silver mirage in shimmering haze
Walls and words and duties get in the way
Together we wait
When she thinks how far we’ve come
We’re still touched by the sun
She fights
Empty at last
Red river bed turns to purple dusk
Time and time and time we fight again
Together at night
And as night falls, the blinding searchlights shining
Catch us running wildly through the trees
We turn and fade, together one last time
While shadows dance with all our fears
She dreams
Under clear cold stars
Torn pale sheets cover ragged scars
Blues and greens and miles away from home
We dream alone
When she thinks how far we’ve come
When she sees how much we’ve done
Alice knows our hopes have sprung
And we’re still touched by the sun