EYES ON FIRE (John Schumann)

Out here on the western line, where the carriages bump and sway
And the aerials tag the skyline and the ragged children play
I lined up every morning, we were living from pay to pay
Eyes on fire

There are some things, mister, that I just don't understand
How the job I've had for 20 years has just moved to Japan
And I'm standing in a dole queue while my country's changing hands
Eyes on fire

Eyes on fire, and in the firelight
No-one's taking anything more from here, without a fight
Eyes on fire

My shoes are made in Poland, I've got a pair from Singapore
These gloves come in from Shanghai, we don't make them anymore
And there's all these Kiwi Shearer’s here I've never seen before
Eyes on fire

My radio comes from Taiwan, my car's made in Korea
My son was making car parts, but they closed the plant last year
And it's not coming back, the company made that very clear
Eyes on fire

Eyes on fire, and in the firelight
No-one's taking anything more from here, without a fight
Eyes on fire

So hold on darling, it's a real rough ride
We'll make it out of here, to the other side
And while the sun still shines and the birds still sing,
They can't take away important things from us
Like faith, and hope, and dignity
And eyes on fire

You can hear the changes coming like the rumbling of a storm
And under southern skies I see the breaking of the dawn
We didn't start the fighting, but we won't run from the war
Eyes on fire

Eyes on fire, and in the firelight
Enough's enough, no more ground
Nothing more, without a fight!
Eyes on fire