Australia

What are all the ways people can

Know each other?

What are all the ways

People can know each other

Know each other?

Did I know you that way

Almost good man?

Twice my age

You taught me to sail

You took me to your villa

You took me ‘round the country

Pouring out your wine

Impressing my friends

Til the talk turned to politics

Your million dollar mansion by the sea

And everyone at the mercy of your hospitality

Australia is burning

Australia is burning

Your borrowed country

After the concert

You commended the performance

And then you said that

I was not good enough yet

Never could you spare a compliment

Without saying something insulting

Remember the day

You took me to the airport

Against the car

You took my picture

You told me about the novel

You were writing

The one where the man is

Cheating on his wife

Back home in America

I receive letters

I speak on the telephone

I feel intensity

What is it that you wanted from me?

I didn’t ask for a teacher

What is it that you wanted from me?

We don’t always get to choose our teachers

Australia is burning

Australia is burning

Your borrowed country

I know that it’s confusing

These strange screens

We watch each other on

I know that it’s confusing

These strange screens

We talk to each other on

I still think of you sometimes

Standing by the sea

Shoulders in the sun

(Water’s rising, the horizon)

I think of you sometimes

Staring at the sea, every man a Ulysses

(Water’s rising, the horizon)

I think of you sometimes

Standing by the sea

Burning white hot

What made you so angry

That you were so lucky?

What made you so angry

Did you have to be the hero?

You the object of my eye

And I the ungrateful guest

Power is something you want

Or have or you don’t want

Power is something you want

Or have or you don’t want

Power is something you want

Or have or you don’t want

“Who prays for the bosses?”

You said to me