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The Word is the Music the People are the Song

by Bruce Hearn

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    This debut solo double album features one album of ten original songs and another album, comprising ten covers of Bruce's favourite folk songs.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Word is the Music the People are the Song via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      $70 AUD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    A double CD with one CD of original songs and one CD of Bruce's interpretation of the folk songs which inspired him in his youth.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Word is the Music the People are the Song via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days

      $40 AUD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $20 AUD  or more

     

1.
Your inner city cool leaves me freezing Your well-informed opinions leave me cold Your passion for Tibet is amusing And you worry for the planet so I’m told You enjoy the very best of education Rising middle incomes are your norm You travel overseas when takes your fancy Back packing through favelas is your form Inner city cool, Inner city fool Inner city cool, Inner city fool You proudly boast the best of green credentials A solar panel sits atop your roof You ride a bike and avoid popular culture Football’s so beneath you, that’s the proof You’ll never know real pain that comes from working Yet tradies cop the brunt of your disdain Reality TV is for the masses Your ipad news and such is your domain Inner city cool, Inner city fool Inner city cool, Inner city fool Violence on the streets you find so shocking In the inner city lanes you call your own You despise all the weekend bogan touros While the factories they once worked is now your home As for me, I’m a latte sipping lefty Who agrees at heart with much of what you said ‘cept my heart lies with those banished to the suburbs A touch green, but my blood flows dripping red Inner city cool Inner city fool
2.
I’m just a man of simple means I’ve never sat, with kings or queens There’s not one cent, left to my name But I will love you just the same I built the roads, I built the towns I dug the fields, from miles around I crossed the desert, I crossed the sea And this whole world, belongs to me And all the silver and all the gold Does not compare to what I hold Would not come close, to what you’re worth Most precious thing, salt of the earth My face is lined, my shoes are worn My hands are hard, my clothes are torn If I could live my life again You know I’d love you just the same I built the cars, and all the trains I built the ships, and aeroplanes One day I’m sure, I will be free For this whole world belongs to me
3.
Tell me where, is that light, on the hill I’ve been workin’, my life, workin’ still I know, that I’m, owed my fill So tell me where, is that light, on the hill Work hard, all your life, what they say And you’ll, find rewards, some day But don’t, be deceived, by such lies Never hands, just your eyes, on the prize Things, getting’ harder, each day No time, to reflect, rest or play Pressure, oh so heavy, on my back Struggle, to find, the right track That light flickers gently, some folks say But it’s getting dimmer day by day If somewhere it still shines Please won’t someone open the blinds And tell me where is that light on the hill
4.
Grey Skies Over Collingwood, oh oh It’s a typical summers day Seems things haven’t been that good, oh oh And it’s always been that way Grey skies grey skies, oh oh Smokestacks competing Grey skies disguise, yeah yeah Someone is leaving Young girl on the 10th floor, oh oh Such a sadness in her eyes Wants to know what she lives there for, oh oh And they answer her with lies Grey Skies Over Collingwood, oh oh It’s a typical summers day On the street where the old house stood, oh oh You can still hear people say
5.
There was a young man from the Alice He had too much to drink Found him hanging in the dog box He had too much time to think From Queensland to Tasmania We’ll lock you up at night From the east coast to west Australia You’d better hope that your skin is white Why does it take so long to get an in-qui-ry Who’s gonna be the next, death in custody They throw you in the wagon And they kick you in the head They find you in the morning And they pronounce you dead In every town there lurks a bigot The biggest coward under the sun He feels safer in his uniform And he gets off on the power of his gun They drag you to the station And lock you in the cell No-one else to hear you crying And no-one left alive to tell They say that it is murder Some call it suicide When you put it all together It all adds up to genocide
6.
Whenever the march of oppression Reduces a land to despair, No matter how mighty the victors, The flag of Rebellion is there. The might of coercion may triumph, And Freedom be laid on her bier — Yet over the graves of the conquered there waves That Old Rebel Flag in the Rear A king may be great in a country That cheers when a monarch is crowned But still, in his capital city, The flag of the rebel is found. A people may boast a Republic, Where Liberty dies in a year; But close on their flag comes that old stubborn rag, The Old Rebel Flag in the Rear There's a mongrel flag in Australia, And the "Banner of Britain" is here, But, to break from the past, we are gathering fast 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. There are some in our ranks who are traitors, And some who will falter and fear, Yet on thro' the arch of the morning we march 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. A spirit calls out of the future, And bids us to strike in our youth — And the voice of to-day is appealing For Liberty, Justice, and Truth; And the blood that was shed by old rebels, For rights that shall ever be dear, Drips down from the red of the flag overhead, Of the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. Listen now all my brothers and sisters! The banner I sing of is red With the life-blood of those who were foemen To wrong, and oppression, and dread. Then march 'neath the flag of the rebels, The red days of battle are near, Let your feet never lag as you march 'neath the flag, 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. Perhaps there'll be no reformation, But Oh! for a moment to rise And ride on the storm of rebellion, And strike at the things we despise! And in the city there’s a hymn of defiance That ends in a desperate cheer, And on, for a day, they'll remember, hooray Comes the Old Rebel Flag from the Rear. It rose from the birth of the lords of the earth, That Old Rebel Flag in the Rear; The rebels are bred by the tyrants who dread That Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. 'Twill never be furl'd while there's wrong in the world, It never will fall till there's Justice for all, Dripping down from the red of the flag overhead THAT OLD REBEL FLAG IN THE REAR!
7.
Did you think that I could leave you When you needed me the most Did you think I’d turn my back and walk away So know I’d not desert you, now its started getting rough I want you to know I’m here to stay Shoulder to shoulder With courage in our hearts and minds Shoulder to shoulder Ever forward with our heads held high I’ve seen a lot of trouble And I’ve seen a lot of pain Seen a lot of people look the other way But there’s one thing for certain A time will surely come When we call in the judgement day Though we’re separated by these bars and prison walls You and I will both do what we must And you have to remember While we’re in here for you You are all out there for us
8.
What happened to my country What happened to my country What happened to my country What happened to my country There was a time, not so long ago When people smiled and they stopped to say hello They’d stop and talk if they saw you in the street They weren’t afraid of who they’d meet Do you recall when the place was green Now there’s deserts where the forests have been We lose another species every day And all the soil washed away You wonder why our youth are fighting mad You cheated them of any chance they ever had To build a life that would make them proud Everybody say out loud Families fleeing, persecution and war Are imprisoned, and banished, from our shore Never thought we would allow, such rule How did we come to be so cruel What happened to my country
9.
When some days the well runs dry As you gaze at a cloudless sky When the river has turned to sand Choked to death in an unfriendly land Don’t give up find a way to cope When all else fails you’ve got to live in hope Find your strength drag your weary feet Stand and fight don’t accept defeat…no no no When you start on an icy plain Not a star shines to guide your way When the chill of the night sets in No place to shelter out of the wind Don’t give up….. There’s always a chance that a friendly hand Will turn up when you’re most in need The world’s always changing so never forget You haven’t been beaten if you can still bleed When you’ve just crossed the desert alone And you’re ambushed by outlaws unknown You are outnumbered by 4 to 1 Keep a tight grip on your only gun Don’t give up…. X 2
10.
Well there’s a light, I’ve yet to find it I know it shines, though I can’t see And if I’m right, when I stand behind it Lady luck, she might shine on me Well I’ve been down, below the bottom And you would frown, at what I’ve seen You name the scars, baby I’ve got ‘em From girls and cars, and everything in between But there’s a road, I’m gonna take it You watch me ride, feet off the ground No heavy load, no chance to break it I’ll ride so high, I won’t be found Cheap cigarettes, and cheaper women Make me forget, how good life can be My indoor pool, ain’t fit for swimmin’ My dog and cat, they won’t talk to me My twitter feed, has started thinning My avatar, seems rather sad My mobile phone is never ringing From Facebook friends I’ve never had But when the dice, start rollin’ my way And the fans, all gather round I won’t think twice, I’ll hit that highway You count the cans, I’ll paint the town
11.
They used to tell me I was building a dream And so I followed the mob. When there was earth to plow or guns to bear, I was always there, right on the job... They used to tell me I was building a dream With peace and glory ahead Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread? Once I built a railroad, I made it run, Made it race against time; Once I build a railroad -- now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime? Once I built a tower up to the sun, Bricks and mortar and lime; Once I build a tower now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime? Once, in khaki suits, gee, we looked swell, Full of that Yankee Doodle de-dum; Half a million boots went sloggin' through Hell I was the kid with the drum. Say, don't you remember, you called me Al? It was Al all the time. Say, don't you remember? I was your pal. Brother can you spare a dime?
12.
Ira Hayes 03:31
Call him drunken Ira Hayes, He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian ,Nor the Marine that went to war Gather round me people there's a story I would tell About a brave young Indian you should remember well From the land of the Pima Indian, A proud and noble band Who farmed the Phoenix valley in Arizona land Down the ditches for a thousand years, The water grew Ira's peoples' crops 'Till the white man stole the water rights And the sparklin' water stopped Now Ira's folks were hungry And their land grew crops of weeds When war came, he volunteered And forgot the white man's greed CHORUS: They battled up Iwo Jima's hill, Two hundred and fifty men But only twenty-seven lived, to walk back down again And when the fight was over, And when Old Glory raised Among the men who held it high, Was the Indian, Ira Hayes CHORUS Ira Hayes returned a hero Celebrated through the land He was wined and speeched and honored; Everybody shook his hand But he was just a Pima Indian No water, no home, no chance At home nobody cared what Ira'd done And when did the Indians dance CHORUS: Ira started drinkin' hard; Jail was often his home They'd let him raise the flag and lower it, like you'd throw a dog a bone! He died drunk early one mornin' , Alone in the land he fought to save Two inches of water in a lonely ditch, Was a grave for Ira Hayes CHORUS: Yeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes, But his land is just as dry And his ghost is lyin' thirsty, In the ditch where Ira died
13.
When apples still grow in November, when blossoms still bloom on each tree, When leaves are still green in december, it's then that our land will be free, I wandered her hills and her valleys, and still through my sorrow I see, A land that has never known freedom, and only our rivers run free, I drink to the death of her manhood, those men who would rather have died, Than to live in the cold chains of bondage, to bring back their rights were denied, Oh where are you now that we need you, what burns where the flame used to be, Are you gone like the snows of last winter, and will only our rivers run free. How sweet is a life but were crying, how mellow the wine but we're dry, How fragrant the rose but it's dying, how gentle the wind but it sighs, What good is in youth when it's ageing, what joy is in eyes that cant see, When there’s sorrow in sunshine and flowers, and still only our rivers run free.
14.
Victor Jara 04:55
Victor Jara of Chile Lived like a shooting star He fought for the people of Chile With his songs and his guitar His hands were gentle, his hands were strong Victor Jara was a peasant Who worked from a few years old He sat upon his father's plow And watched the earth unfold…..his hands were… Now when the neighbors had a wedding Or one of their children died His mother sang all night for them With Victor by her side He grew up to be a fighter Against the people's wrongs He listened to their grief and joy And turned them into songs He sang about the copper miners And those who worked the land He sang about the factory workers And they knew he was their man He campaigned for Allende Working night and day He sang, "take hold of your brother's hand The future begins today" Then the generals seized Chile They arrested Victor then They caged him in a stadium With five thousand frightened men Victor stood in the stadium His voice was brave and strong And he sang for his fellow prisoners 'Til the guards cut short his song They broke the bones in both his hands They beat him on the head They tore him with electric shocks And then they shot him dead
15.
Once I lived the life of a millionaire, Spending my money, I did not care, Taking my friends out, for a mighty good time, buyin’ bootleg liquor, champagne and wine. Then I got busted and I fell so low, I couldn’t find no friends, no place to go If I ever get my hands, on a dollar again, I’m gonna hold on to it, til the eagle grins. Nobody knows you, when you're down and out, In my pocket, not one penny, And as for friends, I haven't any If I ever get back on my feet again, And I meet, all my long lost friends, It's mighty strange, without a doubt, Nobody wants you when you're down and out
16.
I'm out here a thousand miles from my home Walking a road other men have gone down I'm seeing a new world of people and things Hear paupers……and peasants and princes and kings Hey hey Woody Guthrie I wrote you a song About a funny old world that's coming along Seems sick and it's hungry, it's tired and it's torn It looks like…… it's dying and it's hardly been born Hey Woody Guthrie but I know that you know All the things that I'm a saying and a many times more I'm singing you the song but I can't sing enough 'Cause there's not many men done the things that you've done Here's to Cisco and Sonny and Leadbelly too And all the good people that travelled with you Here's to the hearts and the hands of the men That come……with the dust and are gone with the wind. I'm leaving tomorrow but I could leave today Somewhere down the road someday The very last thing that I'd want to do Is to say…… I've been hitting some hard travelling too.
17.
Say, there, did you hear the news Sacco worked at trimming shoes; Vanzetti was a peddling man, Pushed his fish cart with his hands. Two good mens are long time gone, Two good mens are long time gone Sacco and Vanzetti are gone, Left me here to sing this song. Sacco was born across the sea, Somewhere over in Italy Vanzetti born of parents fine, Drank the best Italian wine. Sacco sailed the sea one day, Landed up in Boston Bay; Vanzetti sailed the ocean blue, Landed up in Boston, too. Sacco's wife three children had, Sacco was a family man; Vanzetti was a dreaming man, His book was always in his hand. Sacco earned his bread and butter, Being the factory's best shoe cutter Vanzetti spoke both day and night, Told the workers how to fight. I'll tell you if you ask me, 'Bout this payroll robbery; Two clerks was killed by the shoe factory,On the street in South Braintree Judge Thayer told his friends around, He would cut the radicals down; Anarchist bastards was the name, Judge Thayer called these two good men. I'll tell you the prosecutors' names, Katsman, Adams, Williams, Kane; The judge and lawyers strutted down, done more tricks than circus clowns. Vanzetti docked here in 19 8; He slept along the dirty streets, He told the workers “Organize”, And on the electric chair he dies. All you people ought to be like me, And work like Sacco and Vanzetti; And every day find some ways to fight On the union side for workers' rights. I've got no time to tell this tale, The dicks and bulls are on my trail; But I'll remember these two good men That died to show me how to live All you people in Suassos lane sing this song and sing it plain All you folks that’s coming along, jump in with me and sing this song
18.
It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe It don't matter, anyhow And it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe If you don't know by now When your rooster crows at the breaks of dawn Look out your window and I'll be gone You're the reason I'm traveling on Don't think twice, it's all right It ain't no use in turning on your light, babe That light I never knowed And it ain't no use in turning on your light, babe I'm on the dark side of the road But I wish there was somethin' you would do or say To try and make me change my mind and stay We never did too much talking anyway So don't think twice, it's all right It ain't no use in calling out my name, gal Like you never done before It ain't no use in calling out my name, gal I can't hear you any more I'm a-thinking and a-wond'rin' walking down the road I once loved a woman, a child I'm told I give her my heart but she wanted my soul Don't think twice, it's all right So long honey babe Where I'm bound, I can't tell Goodbye is too good a word, babe So I just say fare thee well I ain't sayin' you treated me unkind You could have done better but I don't mind You just kinda wasted my precious time But don't think twice, it's all right
19.
It’s a lesson too late for the learning Made of sand made of sand In the wink of an eye my soul is turning In your hand in your hand Are you going away with no word of farewell Will there be not a trace left behind Well I could have loved you better I didn’t mean to be unkind You know that was the last thing on my mind As I walk alone my thoughts are tumbling Round and round round and round Underneath our feet a subway's rumbling Underground underground You’ve got reasons a plenty for going This I know this I know For the weeds have been steadily growing Please don’t go please don’t go
20.
I got the blues when my baby left me Down by the Frisco Bay; An ocean liner came and took her away Didn't mean to treat her bad, She was the best gal I ever ever had; She said good-bye, made me cry I wanna lay down and die I ain't got a nickel, and I ain't got a lousy dime? She don't come back, think I'm gonna lose my mind She ever comes back to stay, it's gonna be a brand new day Walkin' with my baby down by the San Francisco Bay Lookin’ from my back door wonderin’ which way to go; The gal I'm so crazy about, she don't love me no more Think I’ll catch me a freight train, cause I'm feelin' blue Ride all the way, to the end of the line, thinkin' only of you Meanwhile, in another city, Just about to go insane Sounds like I heard, my baby, The way she used to call my name If I ever come back to stay It’s gonna be a brand new day Walkin' with my baby down by the San Francisco Bay

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Bruce Hearn's debut solo double album. Comprising 20 folk songs with meaning, passion and spirit. It features one full album of original songs and another full album of iconic covers from the 1930s to 1960s.

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released February 26, 2021

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Bruce Hearn Melbourne, Australia

Bruce Hearn has fronted the iconic Melbourne ska band, Strange Tenants, since 1981, with a back catalogue of 8 albums.
At heart however, he is a masterful singer/song writer, guitarist, banjo and harmonica player, and 2020 sees him releasing not one, but 2 double albums of original and iconic folk songs. His motto has always been 'if you don't stand for something, you stand for nothing'!
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