RAIN FROM NOWHERE

His cattle didn’t get a bid, they were fairly bloody poor,
What was he going to do? He couldn’t feed them anymore,
The dams were all but dry, hay was thirteen bucks a bale,
Last month’s talk of rain was just a fairytale,
His credit had run out, no chance to pay what’s owed,
Bad thoughts ran through his head as he drove down Gully Road

“Geez, great grandad bought the place back in 1898,
“Now I’m such a useless bastard, I’ll have to shut the gate.
“Can’t support my wife and kids, not like dad and those before,
“Crikey, Grandma kept it going while Pop fought in the war.”

With depression now his master, he abandoned what was right,
There’s no place in life for failures, he’d end it all tonight.
There were still some things to do, he’d have to shoot the cattle first,
Of all the jobs he’d ever done, that would be the worst.
He’d have a shower, watch the news, then they’d all sit down for tea
Read his kids a bedtime story, watch some more TV,
Kiss his wife goodnight, say he was off to shoot some roos
Then in a paddock far away he’d blow away the blues.

But he drove in the gate and stopped - as he always had
To check the roadside mailbox - and found a letter from his Dad.
Now his dad was not a writer, Mum did all the cards and mail
But he knew the writing from the notebooks that he’d kept from cattle sales,
He sensed the nature of its contents, felt moisture in his eyes,
Just the fact his dad had written was enough to make him cry.

“Son, I know it’s bloody tough, it’s a cruel and twisted game,
“This life upon the land when you’re screaming out for rain,
“There’s no candle in the darkness, not a single speck of light
“But don’t let the demon get you, you have to do what’s right,
“I don’t know what’s in your head but push the bad thoughts well away
“See, you’ll always have your family at the back end of the day
“You have to talk to someone, and yes I know I rarely did
“But you have to think about Fiona and think about the kids.
“I’m worried about you son, you haven’t rung for quite a while,
“I know the road you’re on ‘cause I’ve walked every bloody mile.
“The date? December 7 back in 1983,
“Behind the shed I had the shotgun rested in the brigalow tree.

“See, I’d borrowed way too much to buy the Johnson place
“Then it didn’t rain for years and we got bombed by interest rates,
“The bank was at the door, I didn’t think I had a choice,
“I began to squeeze the trigger - that’s when I heard your voice.
“You said ‘Where are you Daddy? It’s time to play our game’
“’ I’ve got Squatter all set up, we might get General Rain.’
“It really was that close, you’re the one that stopped me son,
“And you’re the one that taught me there’s no answer in a gun.
“Just remember people love you, good friends won’t let you down.
“Look, you might have to swallow pride and take that job in town,
“Just ’til things come good, son, you’ve always got a choice
“And when you get this letter ring me, ’cause I’d love to hear your voice.”

Well he cried and laughed and shook his head then put the truck in gear,
Shut his eyes and hugged his dad in a vision that was clear,
Dropped the cattle at the yards, put the truck away
Filled the troughs the best he could and fed his last ten bales of hay.
Then he strode towards the homestead, shoulders back and head held high,
He still knew the road was tough but there was purpose in his eye.
He called his wife and children, who’d lived through all his pain,
Hugs said more than words - he’d come back to them again,
They talked of silver linings, how good times always follow bad,
Then he walked towards the phone, picked it up and rang his Dad.
And while the kids set up the Squatter, he hugged his wife again,
Then they heard the roll of thunder and they smelt the smell of rain.

Copyright Murray Hartin February 21, 2007

She set the roots of the Alice Springs Botanical Gardens.

She campaigned for the rights of Aboriginal people, and campaigned from this basis in her criticism of government officials, missionaries and pastoralists.

This song for Olive and everyone like her is by a MFS member, Jim Williams, and was launched at the opening of the exhibition of floral embroidery by Lynne Stone at the Australian National Botanical Gardens.

If you want the music it goes to, contact me (see Contacts page) and I'll refer you onward.

Olive Pink

Born and bred in the Apple Isle, she learned to draw with grace and style.
She worked as a tracer in New South Wales, till the Great Depression brought its own travails.

But what would Olive think? About the dying farms and work for the dole.
The way people lose their hearts and souls - what would Olive think, Olive Pink.

She studied the history of the human race, and lived for a while with Daisy Bates.
She travelled on the Transcontinental line, drawing native plants that she would find.

But what would Olive think?
About the concrete roads that cut through the land, and the jets that fly o’er the desert sand.
What would Olive think, Olive Pink.

She drove her Chevy up the Tanami Track, and lived with the Tanami People outback
She learned to respect their way of life she also saw their worry and strife.

But what would Olive think?
About the Anangu man that drinks and sings in the dusty riverbed in Alice Springs
What would Olive think, Olive Pink.

She fought for the rights of the native man and for their right to a piece of land.
She fought injustices that she saw and for their right to their tribal law.

But what would Olive think?
About the law that sends a kid to jail for stealing an apple or a bunch of nails.
What would Olive think, Olive Pink.

She saw the need to preserve so she opened a flora reserve.
With Johnny Yannarilyi she planted native bush and tree

But what would Olive think?
About the way we’ve brought this world to the brink
and the creatures and the flowers now extinct
What would Olive think, Olive Pink.

Olive Pink passed away, but her dream lives on today.
She was different even in death, while the others look east she looks west.

But what would Olive think?
About the way we treat our fellow man, the way we treat this precious land.
What would Olive think, Olive Pink.

Copyright 2000 words and music by James Williams