Union Songs
Why Can't We Give Refuge To A Refugee
A song by Bernard Carney©Bernard Carney 2002
- [play]
We are the lucky country we have hearts enough to care
We can speak our minds in freedom we have boundless plains to share
We don't deny our mateship regardless of the cost
And our doors are always open to the lonely and the lost
Well that was how it once was we were proud to make the claim
But a darkening of spirit now has crept across our name
For the way we treat our weakest is what the world will see
When we can't give refuge to a refugee
Why can't we give refuge to a refugee
This world's known so much chaos there's a shadow through the lands
I search the stars for answers but I just don't understand
When broken souls in need of help cried out for us to hear
We could have offered hope and love instead we offered fear
The fear of drab detention locked like dingos in a pound
The fear of no horizon on this so called Christian ground
And every rule our country makes reflects on you and me
When we can't give refuge to a refugee
Why can't we give refuge to a refugee
And the sharp eyes of the world can see just what we're coming to
We who have so much but cannot share it with the few
Reacting to the symptoms never thinking of the cause
When hunger and injustice are the enemies of us all
For the faceless wounded spirits locked behind the razor wire
We rally for their freedom with our consciences on fire
And our hearts become the harder and we harbour bigotry
When we can't give refuge to a refugee
Why can't we give refuge to a refugee
And I fly no flag of Jesus speak no politicians creed
But sing the song of human beings crying out in need
And I'll sing it ever louder until all the wounds are healed
Til they know our hearts are open even though their lips are sealed
For we are the lucky country and we have hearts enough to care
We can speak our minds in freedom we have boundless plains to share
And we've always known compassion and rejoiced in being free
But we can't give refuge to a refugee
Why can't we give refuge to a refugee
Notes
Many thanks to Bernard Carney for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. Unions in Australia have been active in the campaign to change the country's treatment of refugees particularly those the government labels "Illegal Immigrants", and locks up in purpose built privately run jails they call "Detention Camps". These camps are made inaccessible to relatives, lawyers and even politicians. The government describes it's treatment of the refugees as "A Deterent to people smugglers". It narrowly won the 2001 Federal Election by whipping up hysteria on the issue, spreading lies like children being thrown overboard by their parents.
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union songs..........a selection by mark gregory