We live in Newcastle, the world's largest coal exporting port, where the power of the coal industry is everywhere evident.
Prompted by the smirking image of a (now thankfully former) Australian Prime Minister flaunting a lump of coal in the national parliament, this song gives vent to how many of us sometimes feel about powerful malefactors whose greed and lies prop up that industry, endangering our planet and future generations. (John)
lyrics
You stand there so smug
In your suit and your smirk
To proclaim with a shrug
That nothing will work
But to build a great pyre
From all that remains
And set it on fire
To bigger your gains
But we’re done with your pride
We’re done with your greed
We know that you lied
We can’t live by your creed
We’ve heard the people
Who live by the hole
That you had to dig
For your dirty black coal
Like Nero you play
While the world’s all ablaze
But we know who’ll pay
For all that you raze
Those children unborn
Whose futures you burn
Will repay your scorn
When they get their turn
They’ll be done with your pride
They’ll be done with your greed
They’ll know that you lied
They won’t live by your creed
When the time comes to pay
The fare for your soul
You’ll have nothing to show
But your dirty black coal
The truth’s now so clear
It shines like the sun
It’s too stark to deny
And you’ve no place to run
Your moment has gone
You’ve had your day
And the winds that now blow
Will blast you away
We’re done with your pride
We’re done with your greed
We know that you lied
We can’t live by your creed
And I hope that Death
Just swallows you whole
And takes you straight down below
With your dirty black coal
Then maybe Satan himself
Will take on your role
And fuel the fires of Hell
With your dirty black coal
And I hope he burns you
For the futures you stole
When you sold your soul
For your dirty black coal
credits
from Ripple Effects,
released September 3, 2022
Carrie Jacobi: lead vocal, guitar
Lynden Jacobi: backing vocal, ukulele
Len McCarthy: backing vocal, bodhran
Words and tune by John Sutton, music by Tripple Effect
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