There is no better song to sing on Australia Day than this one Shelter and no better introduction other than by the author and very good friend Eric Bogle. Martyn
Shelter by Eric Bogle
Quite a few Aussies regard my song “Shelter” as an alternative Australian national anthem, though they find it vaguely disturbing and not a little ironic that it was written by a Scotsman. And to pile on the irony, one of the best versions of this song is performed by an Englishman, Mr. Martyn Wyndham-Read, and here he is performing it in one of his popular “Songs From The Settle” concerts. Martyn spent quite a few of his younger formative years living in Australia, but unfortunately returned to England before the formative process was completed. Nonetheless, he is remembered with great fondness and admiration by his many friends and fans in Australia, with the possible exception of the constabulary in at least 2 Australia states, Victoria and New South Wales…
Shelter
Now i’m drowning in the sunshine as it falls down from the sky
There’s something stirring in my heart, bright colours fill my eyes
It’s from here to the far horizon your beauty does unfold
And oh, you look so lovely, dressed in green and gold
I can almost touch the ocean, shimmering in the distant haze
As i stand here on this mountain on this loveliest of days
Around half the world i’ve drifted, left no wild oats unsown
But now my view has shifted and i think i’ve just come home
To the homeless and the hungry, may we always open doors
May the restless and the weary find safe harbour on our shores
May you always be our dreamtime place, a spirit’s glad release
May you always be our shelter, may we always live in peace
Now i’m drowning in the sunshine as it falls down from the sky
There’s something stirring in my heart, bright colours fill my eyes
It’s from here to the far horizon your beauty does unfold
And oh, you look so lovely, dressed in green and gold
I would like to dedicate this song to the memory of our good friend Peter Crone who has sadly passed away recently in Melbourne. Peter and his wife Jane were great supporters of Folk Music and our thoughts go out to Jane and the family. Peter will be greatly missed.