[Spoken Intro] For Butchulla, Gubbi Gubbi, and all First Nations peoples across Queensland: this is our Wide Bay to Gulf story, our own red-dirt bond. [Verse 1] We came up hard on the red-dirt plain Seen the drought burn hot, seen the wet-season rain Side-by-side when the track got rough Shared the last drink when the times got tough Some went west for the cattle run Some stayed home where the cane-fields sun Some sailed out on the ocean swell But the bond we built it serves us well [Verse 2] There’s no bright medal, no grand parade Just the dust we walked and the roads we made We stood our ground when the storms blew hard Kept our word beneath the stars Some fell early, some wandered far But their names stay bright where the gum-trees are This land it knows every step we’ve trod — Brothers of the red-dirt sod [Pre-Chorus] Through the heat, through the rain, through the long dark hours We stand together where the red earth powers No matter what the future brings — That old-time loyalty still sings [Chorus] Brothers of the red earth — standin’ side-by-side! Through the long years driftin’ wide! Brothers of the red earth — heart to heart we stand! Queensland soul across the land! Brothers of the red earth — standin’ side-by-side! Through the long years driftin’ wide! Brothers of the red earth — heart to heart we stand! Queensland soul across the land! [Verse 3] Now the kids grow up where we once ran New boots walk where our old ones began We pass the word and we pass the light — Look out for your mate through the day and night Times change fast and the world moves on But that fire inside it ain’t gone Red dirt binds us from coast to range — Through every season, every change [Pre-Chorus] Through the heat, through the rain, through the long dark hours We stand together where the red earth powers No matter what the future brings — That old-time loyalty still sings [Chorus] Brothers of the red earth — standin’ side-by-side! Through the long years driftin’ wide! Brothers of the red earth — heart to heart we stand! Queensland soul across the land! Brothers of the red earth — standin’ side-by-side! Through the long years driftin’ wide! Brothers of the red earth — heart to heart we stand! Queensland soul across the land! [Bridge] From the Wide Bay shore to the Gulf’s far tide — One land, one bond, side-by-side! No distance far, no wall so tall — Brothers stand when the shadows fall! [Final Chorus] Brothers of the red earth — standin’ side-by-side! Through the long years driftin’ wide! Brothers of the red earth — heart to heart we stand! Queensland soul across the land! [Outro] (Fade: deep echoing guitar)
