Greg Hastings . Sweet Pea Musical Promotions

The 'Wandering Man'is a title well earned by Greg on his countless wanderings.

WANDERING MAN

CHORUS:

I'm a wandering man who just likes to roam

Only a drifter, a long way from home

May I share in your company just for a while

In return for a glass, a friendly smile and a song ?

I've travelled the country for many's the round

Shared friendship in places I've found

Told many a story, heard many a yarn

I've loved and I've lost and it's done me no harm.

CHORUS

My shoes have worn thin as I've walked down the road

Camped in the shade to lighten my load

Farewells have been many but they still make me cry

Though maybe I'll see them again by and by.

CHORUS

They tell you that there's no place like home

Wherever you ramble wherever you roam

But if you have many, it's hard to know

The time to be leaving and to which one to go.

CHORUS

Thanks for your company, thanks for your smile

The moments we shared now may last a while

If in the future I return once again

I'll hope that in friendship together we'll sing.

CHORUS

Won first prize in the Inaugural Central Australian Christmas songwriting contest in

Alice Springs in 1989. Written while visiting Ted Egan's opening of Sinkatinny Downs

CHRISTMAS IN THE ALICE

Christmas in the Alice is like no other place I know

Santa doesn't like it much 'cos there isn't any snow

His reindeers get all grumpy when the water holes go dry

For when it's stinking hot down here it's bloody hard to fly.

Dressed up like a polar bear it isn't very nice

His nose gets even redder and the sweat runs in his eyes

Once he nearly missed us and his gnomes began to freak

By the time he'd turned the whole sled round he'd got to Tenant Creek.

Though he always seems to make it and is full of Christmas cheer

For when he's finally landed he's guaranteed a beer

Leaves behind his presents with a cheery ho ho smile

Then they pour him back upon his sled and off he roars in style.

Someone dared to ask him if he'd ever lived in fear

Of ever being caught one day drunk in charge of deer

He gave a little chuckle with a twinkle in his eye

He said "You may have cops with bags down here, but none of them can fly".

You know there was this rumour or so I've heard it said

He once used six white boomers to pull along his sled

He though it was a good idea while travelling the bush

But they hopped off in the scrub one day and left him there to push.

So if you should spend Christmas in Alice Springs

Be very well prepared mate for some bloody funny things

Big fat men in polar suits screaming across the sky

And sweaty grumpy reindeers complaining as they fly.

Through all the dust, the flies, the heat and everything it brings

Carrying your pressies out here to Alice Springs

I've told you all this story as I thought you all should know

That Santa doesn't like it much, cos there isn't any snow.

Copyright Greg Hastings 1989

Written on the largest rock in the world - Mt Augustus or Burringurrah as it

is known by Wajarri Yamatji traditional owners. It is 1750 million years old.

RAINBOWS IN THE WIND

Watch the moon set over Eden

See dawn break through the day

Standing here naked and

I can hear the bushland whisper millions of years

Imagine said a prophet

Giving for today

We have learnt to take so much

When come the time to pay ?

CHORUS:

For love is a prayer not a prison

Love is a bird on the wing

A dream is but a hope for tomorrow

And I can see rainbows in the wind

Black man lived a long time

Dreaming he began

He had rainbows on his mind

When the dark clouds came rolling in

But you won't lose your dreamtime

If you don't lose your dreams

Break the cord that binds us

Wish so much left unseen

CHORUS

Imagine said a prophet

Giving for today

We have learnt to take so much

When comes the time to pay

But you won't lose your dreamtime

If you don't lose your dreams

Break the chord that binds us

With so much left unseen

CHORUS

Written just outside Copenhagen, after a visit to Christiania

WINDSTORM

Flying along in a windstorm

High in the trees

Sitting alone in the moonlight

Singing my songs to the breeze.

CHORUS

Why, don't ask me why

You fall in love so many times

And all those times it makes you cry

Never mean to hurt anyone

But you do no matter how hard you try.

CHORUS

We watch little children as they play awhile

And join their hands together when they sing

Think to ourselves that the world could learn

From the simple message they bring.

CHORUS

Nobody really knows where we came from

And where we're going who can say

But whether a king or a beggarman

You both live and die along the way

CHORUS

One of Greg's early works is a song he wrote in Glenrowan in February '82

SPIRIT OF NED KELLY

They may have hung your body Ned

But your spirit still lives on

And though it's many years have passed

It's feelings growing strong,

For still the rich man holds the rein

To check the poor man's yoke

But more and more, as time goes by

They'll heed the words you spoke.

CHORUS

So ride away, Ned Kelly

Ride your spirit free

There's a part of you in all of us

That one day we shall see

Yes, ride away, Ned Kelly

Ride your spirit free

That part of you will grow in us

To end all tyranny.

Many men have died too young

For what they thought was right

And Ned you were another

Who got caught in the fight

You tried to show the truth then

But soon they'll come to know

The meaning of what you said

And what you tried to show.

CHORUS

For as your spirit grows in time

In every man who lives

The measure of his lifetime's work

Will be what he gives

There'll still be those who use the laws

With greed to break our back

But the spirit of Ned Kelly

Will be waiting on the track.

A Song Of Inspiration To Never Give Up

HEADING DOWN THE LINE

They Say life ain't easy

I know that's the truth

For the hardest thing to come to know

is what you have is you

And to take the days the way they are

For that's the way they come

And every time you have a fall

Don't get up and run

CHORUS:

Keep on heading on down the line

Heading on down the line

Don't you see us coming now

Heading on down the line

Repeat

Some of you may understand

Some are afraid to try

If you don't I'm telling you

Life could pass you by

Don't try to hide the one you are

Take a look inside

If what you find gives you hell

Don't you run and hide

CHORUS

I see your eyes are understanding

What I'm trying to say

Though some of you are asking

What game is he trying to play ?

Take a look around us

We're all a part of love

So what are we waiting for

Let's be on the move

CHORUS

For war and hate and misery

Have plagued this world too long

You can't hide yourself from someone's right

Nor someone else's wrong.

Can't kill the love there

In another's eyes

And many men have told us

To forgive the one who tries

CHORUS

Not everyone likes horse racing and this song reflects a selection of comments from some bar room gigs

MELBOURNE CUP

First Tuesday in November is a day you can't forget

When all Australia stops and most will have a bet

They'll watch a bunch of horses as they race around the track

Hoping that the one who wins will be the one they backed

They'll be watching the Melbourne Cup

CHORUS

Watching the Melbourne Cup

All Australia stops………………

When they're watching the Melbourne Cup

I went into my local shop to buy some groceries

Totally unaware of this quite unique disease

For when I'd finished shopping and was about to leave the store

The bloke behind the counter went and bolted up the door

He went watching the Melbourne Cup

CHORUS

Watching the Melbourne Cup

All Australia stops………………

When they're watching the Melbourne Cup

I took my car for service as I thought I'd go away

Not thinking of what time it was let alone the day

Then the bloke took all the wheels off and turned and winked at me

Said, I'll be back in half an hour there's something on TV

He went watching the Melbourne Cup

CHORUS

Watching the Melbourne Cup

All Australia stops………………

When they're watching the Melbourne Cup

While flying home on Ansett across from Sydney town

I thought I'd take a look up front to see how we were bound

But what a big surprise when I opened up the door

There was no one in the pilots seat and this is what I saw

They were watching the Melbourne Cup

CHORUS

Watching the Melbourne Cup

All Australia stops………………

When they're watching the Melbourne Cup

So, if you're in Australia in November any year

You don't go much on horses and you're gasping for a beer

Get your order in before the starter drops his flag

Or you'll be standing at the bar till your knees begin to sag

For they'll be watching the Melbourne Cup

CHORUS

Watching the Melbourne Cup

All Australia stops………………

When they're watching the Melbourne Cup

Written while driving across the Nullarbor in a Diatsu 500cc Handy Van

NULLARBORING PLAIN

CHORUS

Curse the blessed highway that's been going on for miles

Across the Nullaboring Plain the lonesome traveler drives

Counting cans and gum trees there isn't much to choose

But the skeletons of burnt out cars and flattend kangaroos

You've loaded up your roof racks, supplies aare stacked and stored

You take along your best cassettes to stop from getting bored.

Maybe you've a friend or two in your car or your can or your truck

But by the time you get to Eucla mate you won't give a…damn.

CHORUS

You start off waving at the cars you meet along the track

And then you give up hoping you ever will wave back

You get so flaming bored that to stop yourself from sleep

You start waving at the cows, the birds, the signposts and the sheep.

CHORUS

If by chance you break down with a station miles away

There'll be no need to panic as on your knees you pray

You'll never be very lonely no matter how hard you tries

Cos you've always got the company of sixty million flies.

CHORUS

If you like your fauna as you're driving on your way

There's very little of it if you're driving in the day

You may just catch the odd roo or rabbit in the rough

But they're usually quite motionless and absolutely stuffed.

CHORUS

Then at night they jump you and they'll give you quite a scare

You'll even see them moving when they're never there

Still you've got those insects, whose guts just must be seen

And you've got the time to watch it as it spreads across the screen.

CHORUS

There's roadtrains to the left of you, roadtrains to the right

Things can get quite hairy when you're driving in the night

They look like giant Christmas trees as they cut off every bend

But you'll wind up like a fairy with one stuffed right up your end.

CHORUS

And when at last you get there be it Perth or Sydney town

A sense of great achievement no doubt you will have found

You may be tired and sweaty, your back all stiff and sore

But at least you've got your sticker says you've crossed the Nullarbor.

CHORUS

FIRE EARTH AIR WATER

Taking a walk down the canyon with love

Watched the creatures walk on the water,

Felt the earth as it breathed,

Felt the wind carry the earth as it breathed.

CHORUS

No fire, no earth, no air, no water, it breathes

No fire, no earth, no air, no water, it breathes, it breathes.

The fire 'neath those dead leaves was kindled but once,

All submit to its blessing I ask you,

Felt the earth as it breathed,

Felt the wind carry the earth as it breathed.

CHORUS

Have you looked at the stars, it's a long way to fall,

Maybe we can answer the question

When we have felt the earth as it breathes

Felt the wind carry the earth as it breathes.

CHORUS

Don't ask me to practice all that I preach

Many things I write are out of my reach

I've just felt the earth as it breathes

Felt the wind carry the earth as it breathes

CHORUS

Copyright Greg Hastings ©

Greg's humorous, environmental protest song

COCA COLA CAN

T'was on the Canning Stock Route, by the Kannanagi Well

I parks the four wheel in the shade, the sun was hot as hell

I thought that I would have a leak where no man had before

But as I strolled off in the bush, imagine what I saw;

There were kangaroos, all sweat and flies, playing football in the sand

And the ball they were using was a Coca cola can.

CHORUS:

Why must I always be second (Mate)

It can't be part of the plan

Why must I always be second

To a Coca Cola Can

While Climbing up Ben Nevis on a cold and freezing day

The sun was falling lightly, so I took an easy way

And as I trudged up to the top, the sky began to clear

Just my footprints in the snow, no-one else was there.

Then I stood in silence, the horizon to scan

I spotted below me, a Coca Cola can.

CHORUS (Jimmy)

Now in the great Grand Canyon, on an early summer's morn

I thought if I climbed the side, I could watch the dawn

I struggled through the cactus, it must have been 5 miles

Thought that when I reached the top, I'd sit there for a while.

But as I reached that one last time, I felt beneath my hand

Yep, you guessed it, a Coca Cola can.

CHORUS (Yee Ha)

I thought I'd found an island where no man had ever been

No footprints in the sand, the water was so clean

So I went in for a swim, to wash the dust away

And as I swam down to the rocks to watch the fishes play

There, right below me, half buried in the sand

Was that red and white monstrosity, a Coca Cola can

CHORUS (By Jingo)

So if you're walking or you're riding or sailing on the sea

Don't throw your empties overboard and leave them there for me

I wouldn't come to your place, chuck me rubbish on the lawn

And if I did I'm sure you'd be the one to moan

But, if you didn't you wouldn't understand

Why I don't like coming second to a Coca Cola can

If we looked into the future, I wonder what we'd see

In a thousand years from now, I wonder where we'll be

For since the world begun, many places man has trod

Some believe in Einstein, some believe in God

But if whoever started it could reveal the plan

I am sure it would not include a Coca Cola can

After seeing many a night 'ruined' by mismanaged sound systems, Greg penned this song.

TESTING 1, 2, 3

For many years I've sung in places all around the world

No sweeter than the human voice in chorus can be heard

But now with our technology all reason has been lost

Sometimes I wonder if the end defeats the cost.

CHORUS

Cos it's testing, testing 1, 2, 3

We don't need electricity

Don't need a microphone to sing a song

So nice to hear the music back where we belong.

Once not long ago if you had a mind to sing

Friends would gather round you and make the rafters ring

But now with these amps they run in mortal fear

With the booming of a microphone ringing in their ear

CHORUS

Now the local musos gather round

With their ultra quado phonic sound

The crowd was stunning nearly yelled for more

When one he counted up to four !

His quiet little voice was made to sound

Just like Michael Jackson in the London underground

With digital delays, effects by the score

Just one check blew his audience through the door

CHORUS

I stayed at that club till just a few were there

Speakers the size of tea chests standing on a chair

I checked, it buzzed, everything went wrong

When I finally got to singing, the audience had gone.

Saying why can't you just sing to me

Without this testing 1, 2, 3

We long for the day you can do without

Because it's far too loud and it hides your mouth.

CHORUS

Yes, I feel acoustic music is music of the soul

Sharing it in harmony should always be our goal

The way things are going it's very plain to see

Before we can speak we'll have to test 1, 2, 3

But they'll flick a switch and they won't say when

Before you know we'll have to sing again

But I can sing to you and you can sing to me

There'll be no more testing 1, 2, 3

Written after talking with an Old American ex-serviceman, while busking in Adelaide in 1979

WAR TO END WARS

So many years have gone by

I have good reason to cry

Remembering trenches in hell

And all of my mates as they fell

In that war to end wars

I was a boy of sixteen

Little of life had I seen

But my awakening came

As I lay in the trenches of Somme

In that war to end wars

For 'twas there that I saw grown men cry

Knowing that they were to die

Did they give their lives aimlessly

Believing they'd set us free

From a war to end wars

Does it seem such a long time ago ?

What is the world doing now ?

Can it's shadow be no longer cast ?

Is war just a thing of the past ?

Like the war to end wars

Then why did my son die so soon ?

He died on that sixth day of June

My Grandson was killed in Saigon

But I thought that I gave my all

In that war to end wars

How long must this madness go on ?

Before all man's killing is done

I fear that we'll never be free

And the next war maybe, just the war

The war to end wars

Written in New York 1983 when Greg saw a huge Irish parade

St PATRICK

Oh, good St Patrick for many years

You have watched your children fight

You taught them well, with your Christian heart

The difference of wrong and right

But the blood they've spilt in the name of blood

Has been passed down through the years

Sad, the measure of what it's brought

Is the shedding of a mother's tears.

Now who are we to say that they

Should forgive their brothers' wrong

The vengeance passed from heart to heart Can be heard in the rebels' song

They drew a line around one green field

Defend it with a gun

But if England took the wire away

Could Ireland live as one

For wearing orange or wearing green

A man is but a man

Through the countless slaughter of many lives

Is there nothing we have learned

For where's the glory when he's dead

And you stand on your brother's grave

Oh good St. Patrick you taught them well

But those words when Christ forgave.

But who are we to say that they

Should forgive their brothers' wrong

The vengeance passed from heart to heart

Can be heard in the rebels' song

But where's the glory when he's dead

And you stand on your brother's grave

Oh, good St Patrick, you taught them well

But those words when Christ forgave.