Sweeping Horizons:
A celebration of our homeland's attributes and personal aspirations for its future. A work in-progress for a future project.
Current Version 2.14
Current Version 2.14
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Lyrics:
Verse One
Be it by fortune, or by design,
fate finds us here in this space and time.
Brothers and sisters, across this land,
strive on for common ground on which to stand.
You are my neighbours, as I am yours,
despite the distance between our doors.
Verse Two
First tribal nations, nomadic hosts,
cared well for country from coast to coast.
Rich dream-time stories, a cultural base,
fused land and people with a sense of place.
Then came the tall ships from far away,
convicts and settlers landed to stay.
Chorus
She is our homeland girt by sea.
An island shelter for you and me.
Sweeping horizons, dazzling azure sky,
God’s Southern Cross smiles down on high.
Instrumental interlude
Verse Three
A new beginning, was wrought by force.
Ship after ship traced the First Fleet’s course.
Fell-clearing forests to sow their seed.
Gems, pearls and gold were sought in wild stampede.
On pastoral grass-lands the stock-whip cracked.
'til new-arrivals touched every tract.
Verse Four
This wealthy out-post, this Royal jewel,
won independence, free to self-rule.
Our fledgling nation matured each day.
We opened wide her doors to those who’d stay.
Diverse in culture, this island ark,
her meld of people will make its mark.
Chorus
She is our homeland girt by sea.
An island shelter for you and me.
Sweeping horizons, dazzling azure sky,
God’s Southern Cross smiles down on high.
Be it by fortune, or by design,
fate finds us here in this space and time.
Brothers and sisters, across this land,
strive on for common ground on which to stand.
You are my neighbours, as I am yours,
despite the distance between our doors.
Verse Two
First tribal nations, nomadic hosts,
cared well for country from coast to coast.
Rich dream-time stories, a cultural base,
fused land and people with a sense of place.
Then came the tall ships from far away,
convicts and settlers landed to stay.
Chorus
She is our homeland girt by sea.
An island shelter for you and me.
Sweeping horizons, dazzling azure sky,
God’s Southern Cross smiles down on high.
Instrumental interlude
Verse Three
A new beginning, was wrought by force.
Ship after ship traced the First Fleet’s course.
Fell-clearing forests to sow their seed.
Gems, pearls and gold were sought in wild stampede.
On pastoral grass-lands the stock-whip cracked.
'til new-arrivals touched every tract.
Verse Four
This wealthy out-post, this Royal jewel,
won independence, free to self-rule.
Our fledgling nation matured each day.
We opened wide her doors to those who’d stay.
Diverse in culture, this island ark,
her meld of people will make its mark.
Chorus
She is our homeland girt by sea.
An island shelter for you and me.
Sweeping horizons, dazzling azure sky,
God’s Southern Cross smiles down on high.