Aussie Trek ( Ancestors, Triffids and The Hump)

(Spoken intro — relaxed, amused) Well, sis says to me, “Come on, we’ll do an ancestry trek. See a bit of Australia.” She says, “While we’re out there… you might even see camels.” Well that was enough for me. So off we head - up the highway, up the gap, moving over for giant trucks lugging wind turbines. Great towering things. I called ’em Triffids. By the end of the trip I was sick of seeing those darn-dest things. But those camels? Not a hump anywhere. [Verse 1] We rolled through the bushland, dusty and wide Cotton fields stretchin’ for miles either side Road trains thunderin’, skies burnin’ blue Me with my camera waitin’ for a view Silverton sunsets, Mad Max land Red dirt blowin’ right across the sand Saw emus runnin’ and wild pigs too Still kept searchin’ for somethin’ new [Chorus] We drove seven-odd thousand k’s Through dust and heat and rain Crossed the plains on deserted roads Then headed home again Spent the whole trip searchin’ Past every outback mile Lookin’ for somethin’ special All the while [Verse 2] Goats by the hundreds out on the plains Black ones, white ones standin’ in chains Well not real chains - just starin’ us down Like they owned every inch of that outback town Queensland roads through border lines South Australia for a little time Down through New South Wales we rolled Chasin’ old family stories told [Chorus] We drove seven-odd thousand k’s Beneath those endless skies Past Triffids, goats and ghost-town roads With red dust in our eyes Every bend we rounded Might’ve held that golden view Funny how the things you seek Turn up close to you [Verse 3] Melbourne streets and Geelong way Williamstown and the southern bays Wombats waddlin’, emus tall Beautiful country… loved it all Great Australian Bight wind blowin’ hard Lighthouse standin’ like an old-time guard Great grandpop’s footsteps somewhere near Still no sign of what we hoped to see [Bridge] (spoken — very sparse acoustic) My eyes were nearly droppin’ out Starin’ through that window glass Every dry old paddock Every stretch of scrub we passed “We might see camels,” she said… Well… Three kilometres from home Down a little dirt track Lookin’ at old sheds and gum trees… (pause — near silence) CAMEL !! ( said as a firm declaration - no screaming) Not one… Two. And I reckon there was another one hidin’ in the scrub. [Final Chorus] You don’t have to cross the country Chasin’ wonders far away Australia’s full of magic Just beyond your gate We searched the endless highways Beneath those endless skies Found the bloomin’ camels Right there before our eyes [Outro] (spoken softly) So if there’s somethin’ in this world you’re hopin’ to find… Take a good look around close by first. Because Australia’s a marvellous place. And sometimes the things you’re searchin’ for… are waitin’ just up the road.