A Lonely Log In The Paddock

Australian bush ballad with Australian roots storytelling, recorded raw and unpolished with the lyrics clear and front-centre; moderate, steady natural pulse that gradually builds; acoustic guitar, bush bass pulse, sparse gumleaf-like harmonica phrases and subtle bush percussion with old-time bush-band character; solo mature female voice, very low-register, husky, gravelly and weathered, conversational with natural Aussie pronunciation, spoken opening and near-spoken ending

V6-MINI

[Spoken Intro - natural Australian female voice]

Have you ever looked at a log lying in a paddock?
I mean, really looked at it?
Wondered what it once was,
and what remains of all the years it stood there?

[Verse 1]

There's a lonely log out in the paddock,
Half concealed by grass and weeds,
Dry and cracked, its bark long weathered,
A piece of wood that no one sees.

But once it stood among the forest,
Spread its branches to the sky,
Drew its nourishment from the earth
And watched the seasons passing by.

[Verse 2]

It shimmered green beneath the rainfall,
Bent but stood against the breeze,
Gathered sunshine, weathered storms,
And gave its shelter to the trees.

Perhaps it built a home for someone,
Or held a fence line firm and true,
Perhaps it warmed a family in winter,
Did what good old timber's meant to do.

[Chorus]

Are we all a little like that log,
When the years have taken their toll?
When the leaves have fallen from our branches
And the weather's worn our souls?

Did we build something worth remembering?
Did we leave something behind?
Or do we fade into the paddock grass,
Forgotten by the passing time?

[Verse 3]

I was once a tree with leaves of my own,
Taking in the world around me,
Gathering love and drawing strength,
Finding all that life could offer me.

But not all that seeped into me was good;
Some things poisoned what I knew.
Hate and hurt and loneliness
Changed the way I grew.

[Verse 4]

My leaves began to wither,
Some fell before their time,
But deep within my trunk remained
A strength that still was mine.

I found a way to keep on going,
Though life had marked me deeply.
I was more than all my pain,
Though the world might not see me.

[Chorus]

Are we all a little like that log,
When the years have taken their toll?
When the leaves have fallen from our branches
And the weather's worn our souls?

Did we build something worth remembering?
Did we leave something behind?
Or do we fade into the paddock grass,
Forgotten by the passing time?

[Bridge — gentle, reflective]

Perhaps a tree is not remembered
For its height or leafy crown,
But for the shelter it once offered
Before the years brought it down.

Perhaps the worth of all our living
Isn't measured in our fame,
But in the things we leave behind us
That outlive our changing frame.

[Outro — quiet, almost spoken]

I see the log lying in the paddock.
I see the tree it used to be.

But when my leaves have fallen,
When there's nothing left to see...

Will there be something worthwhile
That remains of me?

Or will I be just another lonely log
That no one stops to see?

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[Spoken Intro - natural Australian female voice] Have you ever looked at a log lying in a paddock? I mean, really looked at it? Wondered what it once was, and what remains of all the years it stood there? [Verse 1] There's a lonely log out in the paddock, Half concealed by grass and weeds, Dry and cracked, its bark long weathered, A piece of wood that no one sees. But once it stood among the forest, Spread its branches to the sky, Drew its nourishment from the earth And watched the seasons passing by. [Verse 2] It shimmered green beneath the rainfall, Bent but stood against the breeze, Gathered sunshine, weathered storms, And gave its shelter to the trees. Perhaps it built a home for someone, Or held a fence line firm and true, Perhaps it warmed a family in winter, Did what good old timber's meant to do. [Chorus] Are we all a little like that log, When the years have taken their toll? When the leaves have fallen from our branches And the weather's worn our souls? Did we build something worth remembering? Did we leave something behind? Or do we fade into the paddock grass, Forgotten by the passing time? [Verse 3] I was once a tree with leaves of my own, Taking in the world around me, Gathering love and drawing strength, Finding all that life could offer me. But not all that seeped into me was good; Some things poisoned what I knew. Hate and hurt and loneliness Changed the way I grew. [Verse 4] My leaves began to wither, Some fell before their time, But deep within my trunk remained A strength that still was mine. I found a way to keep on going, Though life had marked me deeply. I was more than all my pain, Though the world might not see me. [Chorus] Are we all a little like that log, When the years have taken their toll? When the leaves have fallen from our branches And the weather's worn our souls? Did we build something worth remembering? Did we leave something behind? Or do we fade into the paddock grass, Forgotten by the passing time? [Bridge — gentle, reflective] Perhaps a tree is not remembered For its height or leafy crown, But for the shelter it once offered Before the years brought it down. Perhaps the worth of all our living Isn't measured in our fame, But in the things we leave behind us That outlive our changing frame. [Outro — quiet, almost spoken] I see the log lying in the paddock. I see the tree it used to be. But when my leaves have fallen, When there's nothing left to see... Will there be something worthwhile That remains of me? Or will I be just another lonely log That no one stops to see?

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