Spirit Of The Land Lyrics - Redgum Anthology 1976-1986 - Redgum

The rivers are dry across the land and the farmers fields have turned to sand 

'Cause the rain hasn't come for two years going on three 

The topsoil's gone with the hot north wind, the crops won't grow and rust set in 

And the cruel south wind of winter brought no relief 

And the old men in the public bar talk of floods and droughts before 

And as the night goes on the conversations die 

But the battlers don't give up, it's written on their hands 

And in their eye-eye-eye-eye-eyes, and the spirit of the land survives 

And on Saturday night in the Royal Hotel, Hank the Dutchman plays guitar 

He sings country and western favourites and requests 

It used to be his second job, a bit of a laugh for a couple of bob 

Now it's all he's got 'cause his crops all died from thirst 

Then he spent his savings on cattle and sheep, he got some credit, got in too deep 

But stock won't graze on pastures turned to salt 

And then he tried to get work as a travelling man selling Rawleighs products from the back of his van 

But the cockies all shop in town where things are cheap 

And the old men in the public bar talk of floods and droughts before 

And as the night goes on the conversations die 

But the battlers don't give up, it's written on their hands 

And in their eye-eye-eye-eye-eyes, and the spirit of the land survives 

The school's all rundown, the roofs rusted and the paint's peelin' 

The playground's just a dustbowl, not a spot of green 

The kids still kick their footballs sending dust clouds to the sun 

And it's good to know the drought can't spoil the fun 

And in the cricketers lounge late at night where the cockies talk and the shearers fight 

And their wives drink shandies 'cause they'll be dri