[Spoken Dedication] For the Vietnam veterans who came home to Queensland, including Uncle John, and for all who received no welcome, no thanks, no fair go. For Butchulla, Gubbi Gubbi, and all First Nations people across this land: this is our story, our red dirt heart. [Intro] [Guitar build-up → full band kicks in] [Verse 1] We’ve walked the tracks where the dust was thick We’ve felt the weight of the hard-luck trick Some got knocked down by the stormy blast Some got marked down by the past Uncle John tried to stand his ground Tried to turn the dark around Even when the odds were lean and low — He kept his feet where the red dirt grew [Pre-Chorus] We don’t always win, we don’t always soar But we don’t step back when the road gets sore We hold the light for the ones who fell — Down the back-road, down the trail [Chorus] Back-road fall — but we don’t surrender! Back-road fall — keep the fire tender! Back-road fall — through the dust and thunder! Back-road fall — keep goin’ under, then up yonder! Back-road fall — but we don’t surrender! Back-road fall — keep the fire tender! Back-road fall — through the dust and thunder! Back-road fall — keep goin’ under, then up yonder! [Verse 2] Mates grew up on the same old lane Seen the drought come, seen the rain Some went north for the cattle run Some stayed home where the cane-fields sun Some came back with a heavy mind Carryin’ ghosts they leave behind But they still walk where the gum-trees stand — Still belong to this red-dirt land [Pre-Chorus] We don’t always win, we don’t always soar But we don’t step back when the road gets sore We hold the light for the ones who fell — Down the back-road, down the trail [Chorus] Back-road fall — but we don’t surrender! Back-road fall — keep the fire tender! Back-road fall — through the dust and thunder! Back-road fall — keep goin’ under, then up yonder! Back-road fall — but we don’t surrender! Back-road fall — keep the fire tender! Back-road fall — through the dust and thunder! Back-road fall — keep goin’ under, then up yonder! [Bridge] They can mark your name, they can mark your past — Can’t take the spirit that’s built to last! We stand together, one and all — When the shadows fall! [Final Chorus] Back-road fall — but we don’t surrender! Back-road fall — keep the fire tender! Back-road fall — through the dust and thunder! Back-road fall — keep goin’ under, then up yonder! [Outro] Ringing guitar fade
