Lyrics & Poems | James Hickey

After the Rain

After the rain I am at ease.
Like sheep I am happy.
Only yesterday the creek crossing was dry,
Water in pools stagnating,
Fires raging,
Smoke billowing against prevailing winds,
Temperature inversions the bane of my existence,
The world scraping me off the crowded planet into an ocean seething with CO2, C2H4 and bubbling with genocidal intentions,
But after the rain she is my friend,
The sheep are delighted,
Or are they now concerned the sky is falling?
Do they wonder what new terror awaits them with the new day?
No.
They are happy as they chew wet grass.
Tomorrow’s blades they know will be sweeter still.
I surrender to contentment.
Even the rabbits scurrying as I approach are no longer invasive pests but crotchets and quavers staccatoing across a most pleasant stave.
Life is apolitical after the rain.

Was My Country

After battling traffic in Sydney and ‘enjoying’ the sounds of traffic over breakfast this morning I penned this parody to Dorothea MacKellar’s “My Country”. No disrespect meant to that beautiful piece, but romanticism must meet satire once romance has left the building.

I love your sprawled-out cities
A land of metro-plains
Of enraged private drivers
Of traffic and seldom trains
I love her far-flung carparks
I love her dual-carriaged streets
The roaring of the engines
The wide-tarred land for me!

The love of bicycle riders
Who use so little space
Of bike lanes well constructed
Disappearing without a trace
Strong love of these two-wheelers
Who breathe sweet monoxide
While within each motorist’s heart
Inspire hatred as they ride.

A stark land of forgotten corner stores
All tragically closed down
The widened roads pass by them
As commuters rush crosstown
Green islands lie at impasse
Where coils of cars stream oft
Where pedestrians are a nuisance
Skin fair and bones so soft

Core of progress, my country!
Her pointless urban expanse
Where children are endangered
By the four-wheeled metal dance
Each time they wish to venture
Over street from safe foot path
They offer up tiny lives
To the gods of fender’s wrath!

Core of progress, my country!
Land of street-lights gold
For incense burnt in worship
For another land parcel sold
Over paddocks once so fruitful
Watch rooftops glitter bright
They send your sweet rain seawards
Our oceans pay the price

A petroleum-hearted country
A once unique brown land
All terrors bestowed upon her
Great wonder nature doth stand!
Though your splendours once were many
And your people very few
Your land is now black, not brown
As your skin colour once was too.

My T-Shirts Last Christmas

Verse 1
I bought y 2014-08-26-12-00-20 ou down in New York City
At the studios of NBC
Cause you were emblazoned with Mr T
Many years ago

I wore you out nearly every night
When I was low or when I was high
People smiled as they passed by
Thinking about the A-Team

Chorus
And your words say “I pity the fool”
Now your colour is faded and your face is too
And this may be my T-shirt’s
This may be my T-shirt’s
This may be my T-shirt’s last Christmas

Verse 2
I had a photo with you in Old Lyon
With a big smile and a strange hat on
I was touring the world and feeling strong
You were in your prime

I wore you over in Germany
From ‘Wie geht es dir?’, to ‘wo wohnen sie?’
So many people came and talked to me
Because of some fond memory

Chorus
And your words say “I pity the fool”
Now your collar is stretched and your face is too
And this may be my T-shirt’s
This may be my T-shirt’s
This may be my T-shirt’s last Christmas

Bridge
Last Christmas, My T-shirt’s

Verse 3
Well summer is here once again
I’m sucking in my stomach trying to look thin
And wearing a jumper would be committing a sin
I reach out for you once more

I’m doing my best to see out anothr year
I pull you on over each ear
And to my surprise you draw a tear
Mr T has had a lobotomy

Chorus
And your words say “I pity the fool”
Now your words are missing a letter or two
And this may be my T-shirt’s
This may be my T-shirt’s
This may be my T-shirt’s last Christmas