Maria Songtext
von Redgum

Came from the hills of La Bardia
Ice-capped peaks and eagles fire
Olive groves and a bowl of stew
You dance all night with a kin you never knew

Australia seemed like a land of dreams
Frigidaire and two TVs
Process work won′t pay the bills
Kids need juice, takes six weeks of saving

And the debt collector haunts your sleep
Like a shadow at your heels
We can offer tea and sympathy
But can't know how it feels

Take your blues to the bottle every Friday night
Then drink them all away
Take the world in your hands when the weekend comes
Tomorrow′s another day


Oh, Maria, sweet Maria
The blinds are torn and the door's ajar
A sneaking draft, it chills your bones
Maria, you're so far from home

Foreman leers as he walks by
Ugly dial and furtive eyes
You refuse again today
And what will come, there′s no way of saying

They rob you blind, they suck you dry
You sell your life, they sell you lies
Wogs and sprogs, you hear them say
And when you meet them face to face, they turn away

And the chrome glints hard in the used-car yard
And the semis whine at night
Chequered dreams of sanctuary
To the flicker of a neon light

Take your blues to the bottle every Friday night
Then drink them all away
Take the world in your hands when the weekend comes
Tomorrow′s another day


Oh, Maria, sweet Maria
The blinds are torn and the door's ajar
A sneaking draft, it chills your bones
Maria, you′re so far from home

Husband's face is pocked and lined
Pride is shattered and his rage is blind
Out of work, short of hope
You try to talk but he just won′t understand

Oh, Maria, sweet Maria
The blinds are torn and the door's ajar
A sneaking draft, it chills your bones
Maria, you′re so far from home
And you sing your song alone