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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.
    ships out within 5 days

      $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

      $1 AUD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

Adapted from the 1892 poem by Henry Lawson.

lyrics

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!

credits

from The Word is the Music the People are the Song, released February 26, 2021
Words by Henry Lawson, music by Bruce Hearn

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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'! ... more

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