Words and Music by Judith Durham
Inspired by the Sunshine Coast Tourism Board, to perform on an awards night around 1983.
Oh the very longest journey
Must begin with just one step
But you have to have a little dream to start
And then maybe someday you will find
It's gonna be your turn
If you hold on to your dream within your heart
If you hold on to your dream within your heart
Every winner started out
With really nothing but a dream
There is something in this world they want to do
And they started on that journey
And no stone was left unturned
Till they made that favourite special dream come true
And we see the culmination
Of their efforts and their dreams
There's no limit to the things that can be done
And they give us inspiration
All is possible it seems
There is nothing you can't do beneath the sun
Words and Music by Judith Durham
A love song for Australia, written over 20 years from 1971, as an alternative to the then much maligned National Anthem. I performed it at the 1992 MCG World Cup Cricket final for the opening of the Great Southern Stand.
Australia land of today, every way
We'll sing your praise as a country far and wide
We'll sing of loving and living here each day
We'll tell the world of endless beauty
And the sun that warms our way
Australia land of today, every way
We'll take the cares of the world within our stride
When there are troubles we'll always lend a hand
And we will love you because you are our land
And in days of strife and woe
There's no better way to show
That Australia is great among them all
Than to care for everyone
Every colour, we're all one
We're Australian - so never let them fall
Australia land of today, we will pray
That there could always be peace within your shores
The Aussie spirit's riding high and our voices fill the sky That
Australia's a great place to be And Australian are we, you and me
Special thanks to Ron Edgeworth, Julia Sauterell, Bill Hauritz, Allan Zavod, Boori (Monty) Prior, Fernanda Dahlstrom and friends for their valuable thoughts on the lyrics.
Words and Music by Judith Durham
Song arranged by Ron Edgeworth
The first song I ever wrote from conception. One morning in 1969 I woke up inspired with the melody and words expressing the concept of filling your heart with love and joy to find peace and freedom in this world.
I went out, out in the world
Where was love? Who would know?
I went out, out in the world
I looked high, I looked low
And nowhere, nowhere could I find
That sweet peace, oh peace of mind
Till I found where I should start...
Right in my heart
If I had love, pure love in my heart
Sweet love in my heart
If I had joy, pure joy in my heart
Sweet joy in my heart
I would find peace, sweet peace in my soul
I would be free, this is my goal
Let me find pure love
Oh let me find pure love in my heart
So there's one thing, one thing you'll learn
In this world full of pain
Yes, there's one thing, one thing you'll learn
Won't you let me, let me explain
That nowhere, nowhere will you find
Such sweet peace, oh peace of mind
As you'll find soon as you start
Right in your heart
Words by Judith Durham & Hazel Cock
Music by Judith Durham
Piano arrangement by Ron Edgeworth
My Mother, Hazel, suggested a song title "When starlight fades, the day comes in from somewhere". It's about dreaming of and finding our love, the joy and pain in love, and finally trusting, hoping and believing that our love will never die.
When starlight fades
The day comes in from somewhere
Birds start their songs all anew
And my heart sings along
Taking hope from their song
Starting each day with a dream
That my hope will come true
When starlight fades
The day comes in from somewhere
And I know our day's coming too
And our love is just like the dawn
For it's just newly born
Given a chance it will last a lifetime through
We'll laugh and sing and dance together
Live this life of chance together
Making each moment a precious one
Every one spent in the sun
We'll dream our dreams and sigh together
To the skies we'll fly together
Making each moment a precious one
Every one spent in the sun, but...
When sunlight fades
And night comes in from somewhere
Flowers hide their faces from view
Don't they know that night never stays
There'll be more sunny days
And I believe it's the same...
Yes I believe it's the same...
Oh I believe it's the same, for me and you
Words by Judith Durham & Stacey Testro
Music by Judith Durham
The old saying "he (or she) who hesitates is lost" translates today as "we could'a done this, and should'a done that". My agent in 1991, Stacey, inspired me with this title.
Coulda woulda shoulda
Put my arms around you tight
As we stood there in the shadows
When the moon was shinin' bright
Coulda woulda shoulda
Said I loved you there and then
Oh I really missed my biggest chance
It might not come again
They say who hesitates is lost
I know now that it's true
But still I hope some day
All my wishes will come true
So if we are together
Once again and all alone
I coulda woulda shoulda
Say 'I love you, be my own'
Words and Music by Judith Durham
In 1971 I had just said tearful goodbyes to my sister and her family and my parents in Melbourne. This song (and "When Starlight Fades") were written in the hotel bathroom during the next night, after arriving in London.
It's hard to leave you all behind
Those loving smiles so sweet and kind
I love you all, you're part of me
With you I leave the heart of me
It's hard to go, but now's the time
With loving arms I intertwine
There will be times I miss you so
It's hard to leave, but I must go
I won't look back along the way
It only makes me want to stay
With every step I'm sure I'll find
A different loved one on my mind
Without my friends here by my side
My destiny will be my guide
There will be times I miss you so
It's hard to leave, but I must go
It's hard to leave the ones you love
Though other stars may shine above
But I can hope within my song
That after all it won't be long
But it is now I feel the pain
I may not see you all again
There will be times I miss you so
It's hard to leave but I must go
Greek lyric by Angela Delonas
English lyric by Judith Durham
Music by Judith Durham
After the Alfred Hospital put me back on my feet following my car accident in 1990, I met a Greek lady, Angela, at the Hampton Rehabilitation Hospital who persuaded me to set her Greek poem to music. Many thanks to film director Nadia Tass, for helping me with the pronunciation. (My great grandfather was a Greek migrant).
Metanastis the na figo
Gia na pao stin xenitia
Then mboro then tin andeho
Ti sclere sou tin cardia
An me ihes agapisi
Thahan ola armonia
Tha mborousa gia na ziso
Tin sclere kinonia
To a far off country I'll travel
I will be a migrant there
I can't bear the pain from your cruel heart
How I wish you'd answer my prayer
For if you would only love me
Everything would have harmony
And if you won't be my true love
Life is just too hard for me
Ah! ke namoun stin cardia sou
Poso to epithimousa
Namoun stin glikia patrida
Mono esena thaga pousa
Monos ke erimos sta xena
To martirio tozo
Ke se oli ti zoimou
Mono esena thagapo
Oh I wish you'd hold me in your heart
Oh how much I want this to be
I could stay in my sweet country
Loving you and you loving me
Alone, deserted, I'm crying
In a far off land I will die
And through all my life I will love you
In a land with a southern sky
And through all my life I will love you
In a land with a southern sky
(from "The Chief Seattle Suite" song cycle)
Music by Judith Durham
Words by Judith Durham, from a television script by Ted Perry based on a short speech by Chief Seattle, 1854.
Song No. 4 of five songs based on the world famous speech attributed to American Indian Chief Seattle, which is, in fact, a script about the environment by American Ted Perry (commissioned for television by the Southern Baptist Church) which I rhymed and set to music around 1983. Ted based his script on a short speech by the great Chief. Royalties from the lyrics go to his tribe, c/- Suquamish Museum, P.O. Box 498, Suquamish, Washington, 98392, U.S.A.
We must teach our children
That man didn't weave life's web
For he's just one strand in it
So don't destroy the thread
We must teach our children
That the ground beneath their feet
Is the ashes of our fathers
Not something to defeat
We must teach our children
That the Earth is rich with lives
So they'll all respect their homeland
And that our Mother Earth survives
We must teach our children
That what befalls the Earth
Befalls the sons of everyone
In this land of their birth
In this land of their birth
We must teach our children
If they do harm to the land
They bring harm upon themselves
For the soil will turn to sand
We must teach our children
Earth does not belong to man
For man belongs to Earth
And that's the way this world was planned
We must teach our children
That all things do connect
And that we're one big family
All things we must protect
All things we must protect
Words and Music by Lorraine Jager
I was asked to sing this exceptional song by the composer, for the family of her sister, who had a stroke and was with me in rehab at Hampton. The album was always to be self-penned ... but then I was presented with this jewel!
Early one morning came the call unexpected
Saying someone you love is struck down, don't know why
The panic of thoughts, and time distorted
As we waited just hoping for help to arrive
So young to falter, too young to die
Don't give in, come on fight
Take my hand, hold on tight
The rest of the day is a blur in the memory
Of family and friends as we wait for the call
To say where to go, what to do, why the fall
And time is suspended as the heartache unfolds
Then after the waiting we're finally rewarded
With a hesitant greeting, thank God for the chance
To say from the heart what was left unspoken
We love you, don't worry, everything will be right
The struggle begins, you try so bravely
To come back to us, don't despair on the way
Your loved ones are waiting for you to recover
Just think of tomorrow, to be stronger each day
The future awaits you, your life lies ahead
We know you will make it, we will soon hear the tread
Of your feet once again as you learn from the hardship
The lessons of life that are seen by a few
Of the privileged souls, don't give in, come what may...
Take courage, we're with you every step of the way
Words and Music by Judith Durham
(Dedicated to the memory of Vicky Edgeworth)
My dear Mother-In-Law Vicky always cried when Ron and I performed this song for her. I wrote it as her special birthday card in the 70s but it is for all mothers who give their love and are loved so much in return.
Your smile is like the breath of Spring
That comes at break of day
Your lovely eyes will always say
"I love you, love you"
Your arms are where I long to be,
Whenever I feel blue,
I know that you
Will always see me through
Sometimes I've hurt you, yes I know
I don't appreciate your care
No matter how I cry
You dry my eye
You're always waiting there
Your name means everything to me
My special name for you
No mother could be lovelier
Than you
Words by Judith Durham
Music by Ron Edgeworth
In the 80s in Queensland, Ron was writing this beautiful music and he had scribbled "slowly gently" on the manuscript as a reminder of how to play it. I thought it was the title and promptly wrote a lullaby lyric to surprise him! Sadly, this computer keyboard recording in 1993, originally at half speed, was to be Ron's last. He died of MND in 1994.
Slowly, gently, rest your head
Now it's time to go to bed
And in Dreamland soon you'll tread
Slowly, gently, sleep
Slowly, gently, sleep my dear
Quiet now, and you might hear
Mr. Sandman creeping near
Slowly, gently, sleep
When the darkness comes don't fear it
For the moon will soon be waking
Silver lights and shadows making
Till, with sunshine, day is breaking
Slowly, gently, close your eyes
No more time for last goodbyes
May God keep you till sunrise
Slowly, gently, sleep
Words by Ron Edgeworth & Judith Durham
Music by Ron Edgeworth
Ron's unmistakable exuberant piano styling on his own composition, written in our motor home in Florida in 1978. I merely helped with the lyrics.
Let those arms of yours just hold me
Let that heart of yours enfold me
In your love, in your love
For it's true I need no other
You're my one, my friend, my lover
Let me always be in your love
You're the one I adore
You're the one my arms are for
You're the one, you're for me
You are where I want to be
You're the one that I love
You're the one I'm dreaming of
So when you came along
Then my whole life turned to song
I've been here, I've been there
I've been places, didn't care
I've seen good, I've seen bad
I've seen faces, mostly sad
I've had ups, I've had downs
I've had smiles to hide my frowns
But when you came along
Then my whole life turned to song.
Words by Ronald Curteis & Marie Curteis
Additional words by Judith Durham
Music by Judith Durham
A dear fan asked me to set these words to music so that she could sing the song for her Mother. Her dying father had conveyed this message to his wife, who then transformed it to poetry.]
I was not the type of man
Who had a lot to say
But it doesn't really mean
I didn't love in any way
Didn't hurt, didn't care, didn't feel
In ev'ry kind of way
But when my time had come
And I wanted so to speak
My tongue refused to work
And my mind had grown too weak
These words I'm sure you knew
My eyes tried hard to speak
"Live your lives kindly
And worthy of grace
Remember one day
You'll meet God face to face, yes
Live your lives kindly
And worthy of grace"
These were my father's last words
These were my father's last words
But as I entered Heaven when my time was due
And they asked me any messages
For those I loved and knew
With a slight smile and a longing sigh...
This to you my family is my short reply
"Live your lives kindly
And worthy of grace
Remember one day
You'll meet God face to face, yes
Live your lives kindly
And worthy of grace"
These were my father's last words
These were my father's last words
