Burnie

Midnight Oil

Brought up in a world of changes
Part time cleaner in a holiday flat
Stare out to sea at the ships at night
No anaesthesia, I'm gonna work on it day to day
No zephyr no light relief it seems

But maybe it's a dream
I'm lying back in a row of timber cases placed out
On the dock with nightmare faces looking at me
And I can see now, and I want to be free now

This is my home
This is my sea
Don't paint it with the future, of factories
I want to stay, I feel okay
There's nothing else as perfect
I'll have my way

Brought up in a world of changes
Waste product, pedestrian, limb from limb
Short changed by the surfing priest again
Two children in the harbour
They play their game stormwater drain
Write their contract in the sand, it'll be gray for life

But you can draw the blind
But you can't stop the sun
From shining on and on and getting you there
Tide forever beckons you to leave
But something holds you back
It's not the promise of the swell or a girl
Just a hope that someday someway it'll be okay
So you stop and say

This is my home
This is my sea
Don't paint it with the future of factories
This is my life
this is my right
I'll make it what I want to
I'll stay and I'll fight

(Moginie/Garrett)


Lyrics submitted by Golgotha

Burnie Lyrics as written by Martin Rotsey James Moginie

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Burnie song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentBurnie - a terribly polluted town on the Tasmanian coast.
    chrisb1on February 01, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI would like to update Chrisb1 on the current condition of Burnie. 20 years ago burnie was polluted, which is when Peter Garret was here last. However, I have lived in Burnie for 16 years and it is one of the cleanest towns in Australia. Only 120 odd km from the cleanest air in the world and the winner or 2000's Tasmanias Tidiest Town Award I would like to inform people that Burnie is not exactly exciting but it is remarkably clean. Chrisb1 is a dickhead. Calling Burnie terribly polluted would be like calling Sydney a small town full of convicts and English free settlers. Get up to speed mate.
    asmodeanon June 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAsmodean - No doubt you are a very successful schoolteacher with your charming and motivational way way of correcting people who make innocent mistakes....... Go get stuff_d !
    chrisb1on July 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAnd Armodean, I would like to remind you that the purpose of this website is to inform others as to what the songs mean, The website is called "Song Meanings" after all.

    And Burnie is a song written about what was, at the time of writing, a polluted coastal town in Tasmania.

    As for your weak analogy: If a song such as "Wer'e Bound For Botany Bay" was on this website, then the song meaning would come close to that of Sydney being full of convicts and free settlers.

    Before you try sarcasm for effect make sure that it won't backfire on you.

    So Asmodean you are the dickhead.
    chrisb1on July 28, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentNo for if I was a school teacher I would correct your poor use of the English language in your recent comments. Which I won't, seeing as you brought up good points, Burnie used to be polluted, and I corrected you because the way it was written it seemed you claimed it still is. I apologise for any emotional grievance I caused you in me claiming you were a dickhead.
    asmodeanon September 21, 2005   Link

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