(Guitar + faint old chopper hum fades in) Verse 1 Got his call back in ’67, shipped out far across the sea Fought through mud and heat in the foreign green Came home north to the Wide Bay shore But no band played, no crowd at the door They said he took from the company store — Said he broke the rule, said he broke the law When the pay ran thin and the hope ran low Didn’t know where else he could go Verse 2 Dishonourable charge stamped down on his name No pension due, no one to claim Walked the bitumen where the cane-fields lie Stared up hard at the gum-tree sky Mates went back to their farm and their town He just wandered, head hangin’ down No parade lights, no thank-you speech Just the red-dirt track out of reach Pre-Chorus He was born under the gum-tree sky Sent out to fight, left high and dry No one called his name when the fight was done Just said “get on with it, son” Chorus (loud, driving belting): Born under the gum-tree sky — came home to the dust, came home to the cry! Born under the gum-tree sky — no fanfare fire, no goodbye! Born under the gum-tree sky — walked the long track where the shadows lie! Born under the gum-tree sky — this is where our stories lie! Born under the gum-tree sky — came home to the dust, came home to the cry! Born under the gum-tree sky — no fanfare fire, no goodbye! Born under the gum-tree sky — walked the long track where the shadows lie! Born under the gum-tree sky — this is where our stories lie! Verse 3 Years rolled on and the cane kept growin’ tall He tried to stand, tried to answer the call But the weight of the mark hung heavy still No matter how hard he tried to will The hurt away from his tired bones The hurt that stuck to the red-dirt stones Some days he’d sit on the old verandah rail Stare down the road where the days went pale Pre-Chorus He was born under the gum-tree sky Sent out to fight, left high and dry No one called his name when the fight was done Just said “get on with it, son” Chorus: Born under the gum-tree sky — came home to the dust, came home to the cry! Born under the gum-tree sky — no fanfare fire, no goodbye! Born under the gum-tree sky — walked the long track where the shadows lie! Born under the gum-tree sky — this is where our stories lie! Bridge (guitar swells, voice turns rough & slow): They sent him over to stand the line Then marked him down when the times were hard Said “move along, don’t look behind” — But the scar stays deep in our own backyard Final Chorus (louder, then fades slow): Born under the gum-tree sky — came home to the dust, came home to the cry! Born under the gum-tree sky — no fanfare fire, no goodbye! Born under the gum-tree sky — walked the long track where the shadows lie! Born under the gum-tree sky — this is where our stories lie! (Fade: ringing guitar + soft wind)
