We Are One

As promised here is the video of the song I am Australian. I love this song as I think it embodies everything Australian. I have posted two videos. The first one is the original that was sung by the Seekers as a group with the original lyrics. The second is the version penned specifically for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal on the National Day of Mourning on Sunday.

You will need to pause the music at the very bottom of the blog before you press play on these video's. Alternatively if you double click on the video itself it will take you to the website where it is. This may be better because the full screen is not shown on blogger.

Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton, 1987

I came from the dreamtime
from the dusty red soil plains
I am the ancient heart,
the keeper of the flame
I stood upon the rocky shore
I watched the tall ships come
For forty thousand years I’d been
the first Australian.

I came upon the prison ship
bowed down by iron chains.
I fought the land,
endured the lash
and waited for the rains.
I’m a settler.
I’m a farmer’s wife
on a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man
I became Australian.

I’m the daughter of a digger
who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman
on the long and dusty road
I’m a child of the depression
I saw the good times come
I’m a bushy,
I’m a battler
I am Australian

[chorus]
We are one,
but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream
and sing with one voice:
I am, you are, we are Australian!

I’m a teller of stories
I’m a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira
I paint the ghostly gums
I am Clancy on his horse
I’m Ned Kelly on the run
I’m the one who waltzed Matilda
I am Australian

I’m the hot wind from the desert
I’m the black soil of the plains
I’m the mountains and the valleys
I’m the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock,
I am the sky
The rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land
I am Australian

CHORUS x 2



We are one
But we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream
And sing with one voice
I am, You are, We are Australian

There are no words of comfort
that can hope to ease the pain
Of losing homes and loved ones
the memories will remain
within the silent tears you’ll find
the strength to carry on
you’re not alone
we are with you
we are Australian

There are so many hero's
who’s stories must be told
they fought the raging fires of hell
and saved so many souls
From the ashes of despair
our towns will rise again!
we mourn your loss
we will rebuild
We are Australian!

I’m the hot wind from the desert
I’m the black soil of the plains
I’m the mountains and the valleys
I’m the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky
The rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land
I am Australian