There's no escape from this island
From her rocky windswept shore
From her gently sloping valleys
To the dry and dusty ford
By rugged mountain ranges
We are barred hemmed in before
Stronger than shackles of iron
Flailing whips of leather cords
Let me die before my children
On the wind my ashes fly
In the forest of Australia
Down where the curlew cries
Long before the ships of England
Brought the curse upon this land
The ground was worked before them
Ochre jewel across the sea
By the people of the mountains
By the people of the plains
Kimberley to Tasmania
Barwon River to Buckley's day
Let me die before my children
On the wind my ashes fly
In the forest of Australia
Down where the curlew cries
So we strive in frontier country
Blood on blood passion and rage
Desperate souls fight for survival
Indigene and convict slave
Now bushranger robber barons
Rape the land and bleach the tide
No more chains of iron
Shackled hearts still remain
Let me die before my children
On the wind my ashes fly
In the forest of Australia
Down where the curlew cries
Let me die before my children
On the wind my ashes fly
In the forest of Australia
Down where the curlew cries
Down where the curlew cries
Down where the curlew cries
Down where the curlew cries