Union Songs
Woomera
a song by Christine Wheeler ©2002 Christine Wheeler
music by Ged Corben, Tony Pyrzakowski and Christine WheelerThousand miles of desert sand
Was first I saw of this wide land
Came this country in hope of life
From certain death and strife
Waiting in this prison cell
I can’t believe they’ve made this hell
What do they think we have done?
Where is freedom now?
Where is freedom now?
Where is freedom now?
My journey here of nightmares cast
The seas too big for one small craft
But worse for loved ones left behind
Their fate is on my mind
Living in fear and hate is blind
I’d make the journey back to find
Loved ones and home once again
Where is freedom now?
Where is freedom now?
Where is freedom now?
This country, once a decent place
You loved your freedom, loved your space
Time to care for others too
Whose hardships you’d never know
Tell me, where’s your conscience here
When all I’ve known is loss and fear
My only crime I had to flee
Where is freedom now?
Where is freedom now?
Where is freedom now?
Where is freedom now?
Notes
Thanks to Christine Wheeler for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection.
Christine emailed me the words after I'd written about refugee songs in my column (November 2002). Christine is a member of the Wheeler and Dealers whose website is at http://www.wheelersanddealersmusic.com.au/
Woomera is on Wheelers & Dealers CD and won the Musicoz 2003 award for best song in the folk category.
union songs..........a selection by mark gregory