Maria lyricsOn Virgin Ground (1980), Against The Grain (2004) and The Essential Redgum (2011)
Maria (Michael Atkinson) Came from the hills of Livadia Ice-capped peaks and eagle’s spire Olive groves and a bowl of stew You dance all night with the kin you never knew Australia seemed like a land of dreams Frigidaires and two TVs Process work won’r pay the bills Kids need shoes, takes six weeks of saving And the debt collector haunts your sleep Like a shadow at your heels We can offer tea and sympayju But can’t know how it feels Take your blues to the bottle every Friday night And drink them all away Take the world in your hands when the weekend comes Tomorrow’s another day Oh Maria, sweet Maria The blinds are torn and the door’s ajar A sneaking draught it chills your bones Maria, you’re so far from home The foreman leers as he walks by Ugly dial and furtive eyes You refuse again today And what will come, there’s no way of saying They rob you blind, they suck you dry You sell your life, they sell you lies Wogs and sprogs you hear them say When you meet them face-to-face they turn away And the chrome glints hard in the used car yards And the semis whine at night Chequered dreams of sanctuary To the flicker of a neon light Husband’s face is pocked and lined Pride is shattered and his rage is blind Out of work, short of hope You try to talk but he just won’t understand Oh Maria, sweet Maria The blinds are torn and the door’s ajar A sneaking draught it chills your bones Maria, you’re so far from home And you sing your song alone |
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