I distinctly remember sitting at Mannum Waterfalls in May of 1991, and being inspired to write these lyrics.
It was dry and I was alone. It was very quiet and peaceful. Then (and this part is a little fuzzy), I must have seen a bird or animal and that fluttered or scurried by and I thought about how for me, at the top of the food chain, this is peaceful, but for them, they are constantly in survive or be eaten mode.
I do understand the circular pattern to life and how everything gets eaten at some point. Not much to be done about that. But I do believe we get things out of whack, us humans, and applying more care and reflection to the way we dwell in this world would truly make our short, valuable lives much richer for us and for all other living “things” on the planet.
Yes, there’s a stark bleakness and brevity about life. There is also a moment by moment depth. And we have the privilege of being able to choose which side of the coin to select for our attitude and demeanour.
And this is another song that was actually a poem to begin with. I am glad I got to hear it sung.
Such Peace Raw Scratchings
Such Peace Lyrics
I look at the countryside so content
With its rocks and trees and creek bed spent
And think to myself how I yearn for such peace
Such peace
All in its place and all with a role
There for the taking not there to be sold
Man thinks to himself how I yearn for a piece
A piece
The sun limps away at the end of the day
Holding on ’til the last with each weakening ray
It says to the earth now I leave you in peace
In peace
The hunting begins with the last of the sun
Animals with claws and man with a gun
Man says to himself I will leave you in peace
In pieces
The fit will survive for a time In this world
But when the weakest is gone and the last tree is felled
I think to myself What peace will there be?
Peace, will there be?