I live near Redfern Station, in 1999
Right near where it all began, along this railway line
While you give us entertainment, and everything we need
Seems there's no place for the faithful, well there's sure no place for greed
And though you line your pockets, and you must monopolise
I bet you've never seen South Sydney, with glory in their eyes
Well my Grandfather's red and green, and all his brothers too
But without this community, what are they to do?
Raised in the depression, and just thankful to be fed
"You do the right thing all your life, and this is what you get" (1)
Well grown men they don't complain, though broken men might cry
But at least they saw South Sydney, at least they saw them rise
They will always know South Sydney, with glory in their eyes
Dad still feels a shiver, around grand final time
To think of Sattler and his broken jaw, of Bob McCarthy's prime
But when they locked the gates at Redfern, he said 'they'll lock this game away'
But I doubt he thought he'd see it come, and beat him to his grave
As a boy I dreamed excitedly, that I would one day see that prize
Will I ever see South Sydney? Will I ever see them rise?
Cos I dreamed I saw South Sydney, with glory in their eyes (2)
(1) This is a direct quote from a long-time die-hard fan, in response to Souths' expulsion from the NRL in 1999. It was printed in the Sydney Morning Herald the day after the event.
(2) Originally this last chorus was: "But I never saw South Sydney, I only saw them die, I will never see South Sydney with glory in
their eyes". When the people at the South Sydney club were releasing the song for fund-raising, in their wisdom - and not believing it was over - they asked for a more positive ending. I changed it, they were right.. and it's a much better song this way!
credits
released March 1, 2000
Rebecca Quade - backing vox, D Henry Fenton - guitar solo, Simon Cox - keys, John Maclean - the rest.
Written by John Maclean (c) 1999 - all rights reserved
Thanks to Stuart Coupe and Jules Normington at Laughing Outlaw for getting behind the song at the time, and Henry and Bec for making me realise the song mattered.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This is not an autobiographical song. It's from the point of view of a made up person, although someone I hoped could conceivably be a real person.
It's worth acknowledging too the 1908 foundation clubs who have not been as fortunate as Souths: Newtown, Wests, Balmain, Norths, Glebe.
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