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The Old Man in the Rock

from Homemade Wine by Penelope Swales

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lyrics

The Old Man in the Rock
© Penelope Swales 1997

The younger daughter of a conquering race
Walks through a desolate landscape and contemplates
Unwilling pioneers that came to this place
And what of the people that came before
Where did they go when it rains
I crawl under a jutting rock for shelter

Chorus:
And a voice says
“Sit down, stay warm, keep dry
The rain will be over by and by
It’s rare I have a visitor these days
Sit tight and listen with me
To the sweet sounds of the harmonies
Can you hear the spirits singin’ in the rain?”

You know I listened
And realised I could hear music
And see things in the sky
If I was religious
I mighta thought it was a choir of angels
An atheist woulda said it was a trick of the light.

Chorus

And the spirits sing…..

He said “The people who once walked this land
Had a name for me and a story
But I no longer know where they are”
He said “The people who now come walkin’
On the path below look sad and awkward
And they just follow the line of the scar”

He said “Do you know where my people are?”
And I knew only too well
Streets and bars and welfare departments
And prison cells
I suddenly thought – maybe I should leave
But he said no, daughter, stay
Anyone who listens hard enough can find spirit of place

And a voice says
“Sit down, stay warm, keep dry
They’ll be returning by and by
My people will survive, coz they are strong
Sit tight and listen with me
To the sweet sounds of the harmonies
They’ve been singin’ since before you came
And they’ll be singin’ after you’re gone
Ra-dat-da…..

credits

from Homemade Wine, released January 7, 1997
Penelope Swales - vocals, guitar
Paul Jonas - violin
Mal Webb - bass
George Papantonio - drums
Joe Geia - didjeridoo and backing vocals
Emma "Raz" Rasmussen - harmonic vocals
Andrew Skeogh - harmonic vocals
Sarah Koschak - harmonic vocals
Carl Pannuzzo - harmonic vocals

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Penelope Swales Boolarra, Australia

Penelope Swales has been articulating the human condition with passion and humour for 30+ years. She sings about politics, love, friendship, the unbreakable bond between us and dogs and the impact of the Internet on society. She won the 2019 Alistair Hulett Songs for Social Justice Award with “Cambridge Analytica”. “The Ides of March in Christchurch" was short-listed for the same award in 2020. ... more

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