Stride of the Phoenix by Amelia Nell

LYRICS
Storm clouds gather overhead
Warn your bark, dry as bone
Bolts of lightning strike your highest branches
Sparks collide
Fury quickly swells as embers
Fling through the red thunder
Smoke is twirling, darkness choking
Strong, yet resilient you are

You just take it, take it, take it, take it all in your stride
For you know, you know, you know that afterwards you will rise
From the ashes the Phoenix will fly

Heroes on the battle line
Throw their backs to mighty force
Flourished flames lick at their heels
Protecting us from the dragon’s breath
Horror on our tear-stained faces
On our knees we gather
Mother Nature plays around us
An ancient saga spurs on and on

You just take it, take it, take it, take it all in your stride
For you know, you know, you know that afterwards you will rise
From the ashes the Phoenix will fly

Our houses have burned
Our treasures upturned
But our home is not lost
New buds spring forth
Beautiful, reborn
Here, we choose to stay
Here, we choose to live
Find a scorched leaf
And take it from your book

We’ll just take it, take it, take it, take it all in our stride
For we know, we know, we know, we know that now we will rise
From the ashes, we will fly
We will rebuild, take the stride of the Phoenix
We will rebuild, take the stride of the Phoenix
From the ashes we will rise
From the ashes we will rise

BUSHFIRE by Dave Clark & Kate Townsend

BUSHFIRE
In the hills there is a valley next to our house
Where the eucalypts stand tall against the sky
With the call of the magpies and thrushes
A GENTLE CREEK WITH WATER RUNNING BY

In that bush I love to go out walking
It lifts me from the run of city strife
In winter with the mist in the valley
IN SPRING TO WATCH THE BIRDS BRING NEW LIFE

But today with the summer sun arising
There is a certain tension in the air
North wind bends the branches of the gum trees
IT'S A RED ALERT DAY, WE MUST TAKE CARE

The smoke is rising thickly from the valley
The flames are racing through the fire break
The volunteers they all receive their orders
OUT OF CONTROL PULL BACK, FOR SAFETY SAKE

In a flash the fire reaches our house
We madly pack possessions in the car
Wind and sparks, smoke that chokes and chaos
WE WONDER WHERE THOSE FIREFIGHTERS ARE

The trucks appear, thank God they're on the ready
They put a fire out, another starts
The howling wind moves the fire onward
WE PRAY FOR SAFETY DEEP IN OUR HEARTS

In fifteen minutes all around is quiet
The smell of smoke and burning's everywhere
All our neighbours' homes are gone forever
IT'S A MIRACLE - OUR HOUSE IS SPARED

Feelings of despair and desolation
Look around it's all black and grey
Hold your loved ones close, we are together
AT A TIME OF LOSS THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO SAY

But with destruction comes a new beginning
Hope and caring can replace the pain
But I fear in this dry land of Australia
THE SMELL OF SMOKE WILL SURELY COME AGAIN

Today in the bush I went out walking
To lift me from the run of city strife
The mist will return to the valley
AND SOON THE AUTUMN RAIN WILL BRING NEW LIFE

Historic Sawyers Hut in Kosciuszko National Park burnt again

Australian koala bush fire song