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In The Valley Lyrics

My grandfather went down with the MonteVideo
Rising sun sent him floating to his rest
And his wife fled south to Sydney seeking out safe harbour
A North Shore matron she became with some paying guests

My father went down with the curse of big cities
Traffic tolls and deadlines took him to his peace
Now Bob Dyer glued us to our seats
And lawns were always Victa neat
Whilst Menzies fawned at royal feet I'm sure you remember

In the valley I walk, who will take me there?
In the valley I walk, cold comfort I can hear you talk
In the valley I walk, who will take me there?

When my mother went down it was a stiff arm from Hades
Life surprises and tears you like the southerly
She always welcomed the spring always welcomed the stranger
I don't see too many around like this
Oh no, not many like this

In the valley I walk - in the valley oh yeah
In the valley I walk - who will take me there
In the valley I walk - cold comfort I can hear you talk
In the valley I walk - I took some comfort there
In the valley I walk - ah rough justice I hear you talk
In the valley I walk - I'll meet my watershed
To meet my watershed - I'll meet my watershed

I hope virtue brings its own reward
And I hope the pen is mightier than any sword
I hope the kids all take it slow
I hope my country claims it's own
Yes I do

In the valley I walk - I cried yes I cried I was down then I crawled
Mercy's arms she held me when I was down there
In the valley I walk - do you believe me they could hear me in the valley

(Moginie/Garrett/Hirst)
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Cover art for In The Valley lyrics by Midnight Oil

This is one of the few songs in which Garret is singing about himself, its a a song about his family. But also its a song about how far Australia has progressed in only three generations. The best version of this song is the piano version on the Real Thing album

Cover art for In The Valley lyrics by Midnight Oil

My favourite song of all time. A honest song Peter Garrett wrote after the passing of his mother. Absolutely beautiful...

Cover art for In The Valley lyrics by Midnight Oil

Garrett is certainly singing from his own perspective, and he's said this is one of his favourite Oils songs, and a tribute to his parents and grandparents, especially his mother. His grandfather did die in the sinking of the Montevideo Maru (as did the uncle of Kim Beazley, who was also in the parliamentary Labor party with Garrett). The Montevideo Maru was lost in WW2 with hundreds of Allied prisoners of war aboard.

 
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