What makes us hate boat-people?

we have to go! we have to leave!

my darling listen please believe

we have no choice, we have to try!

if we stay here we'll surely die 

they come on old and flimsy boats

unworthy of the sea

they come from lands destroyed by war

because of you and me

hey captain! listen! take my son

he's all that's left - the only one

here's all the money we possess

please take him and your name i'll bless

they come on un-sea-worthy boats

with hope and little more

they come escaping what we wrought

and what we wrought was war

Oh God! Protect my child at sea

please keep him safe and keep him free

please let him find Australia's shore

that's all i ask and nothing more

they come and many of them die

alone on a wide wide sea

babies, children, mothers too

with no one there to see

No my darling there's no word

nobody knows, nobody's heard

so trust in God, trust in His ways

God listen's to whoever prays

so brave they are or foolish

or so it seems to me

i know i don't have what it takes

to cross so wide a sea

There's news! He's Safe! Oh Glory be!

Our son's been rescued from the sea

Australian sailors found the boat

when it was almost not afloat

i wonder if they understand

the hatred here they'll find

how much we'll spend to keep them out

how long they'll be confined

Oh God! Please No. Don't let it be!

my only son has died at sea

though most were saved my son was not

my husband's gone too - he was shot

so tell me now Australia

what's made our hearts so cold?

what's made us hate boat-people?

what lies have we been sold?

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