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First Chapter (Hearts Are Heavy)

from Succumb (Deluxe Edition) by David Bridie

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about

A reflection on the first nation people of Australia, a tale of biblical proportions amongst a landscape ill-suited to introduced farming techniques, where the resulting droughts, plagues, floods have taken their toll. The idea of getting a dozen 8 to 12 year olds, young Australians to sing a heart-felt chorus about rewriting our history in regards to the first nation people felt right. They were all very much into it, having had stolen generation member Kutcha Edwards speak at their school about being taken away from his family. I had the loop and textures (desert wire harmonics from a dry salt lake in northern Victoria) lying around and sang a lyric over the simple chords and left it for a while. When we came back to it, it sounded like it had some magic: a cool groove and atmosphere. Added in a fairly epic chorus and strong guitar stabs and it all came together. My daughter Stella sings in the choir and also introduces the chapters.

lyrics

FIRST CHAPTER (HEARTS ARE HEAVY) (Bridie)

First chapter
This country’s first chapter, it’s a story of woe
And those who survived the ordeal never lie
The scars they run deep, and the family line broken
They’ll exact their revenge when the timing is right

Second chapter
One thousand anthills all face the same way
In one last direction as if forced to pray
They’re peasants; they’re icons, they do as they’re told
All turned by the pull from the iron ore hill

We sing our song
Even though our hearts are heavy
It won’t take us long this time
Whilst we rewrite our history
How strong this will be
How strong this will be

Chapter three
Can’t you feel the bruising of the first nation people
‘Mongst the sickness country where law fades away
Where effort is marked, by trial and tribulation
There’s so many stories, there’s so much to say

The big north wind blows, down cowering we lie
In the tinder box garden, all swollen and dry
The plague of weird insects, they swarm over the fire
Race towards the city, three hundred miles an hour

We sing our song
Even though our hearts are heavy
It won’t take us long this time
Whilst we rewrite our history
How strong this will be
How strong this will be in this big sky country

Chapter four
Put your ear to the ground, the land it is singing
The song that is old, it’s as old as the hills
There’s no other place that sings like this on earth
The silence is golden when you sleep on the ground

Came along sing our song
Even though our hearts are heavy
It won’t take us long this time
Whilst we rewrite our history
How strong this will be
How strong this will be in this big sky country

credits

from Succumb (Deluxe Edition), released October 10, 2008
(Bridie)

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David Bridie Melbourne, Australia

David Bridie is a multi award winning songwriter and composer.
Founding member of Not Drowning Waving and My Friend the Chocolate Cake.

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