The Project:
'Life in the Heartland' was the result of 4 live performances at Cafe Injoy between November 21st, 2003 and January 4th, 2004. I used these 'Live in the Heartland' sessions to re-engage the live performance of my own material, re-visiting songs from my vault and trying out some new material.
Once that 6 week season came to a close, I enlisted the help of my good friend and musician/sound engineer Dene Burton to help me reproduce it in a relaxed studio setting. We simply played a mixture of old and new songs essentially 'raw', with as 'live' a feel as possible and a minimum of overdubs.
So, after 4 days of recording in Dene's lounge room, we have a product designed to be a bridge between the more highly produced band albums from the past 8 years of my performance journey and the new season of solo, cafe style material. This album is a step towards the specific celebration of the new season which I hope will be captured on the full studio recording, 'Burn', scheduled for release in June of this year.
I will still use a band where that is useful or even required, but I want to focus on a more personally reproducible and widely accessible product as I launch this new phase of my music career. 'Life in the Heartland' gives me something to work with and simply reflects the most frequently performed live versions of this particular set of songs. I hope you like it.
Love Graeme
Production Notes:
'life in the heartland' is the product of approximately 4 days of essentially 'live' recording sessions.
Recorded in January 2004 by: Dene Burton @ GCF Music Phone: 0438 414 844
Mixed Down & Produced by: Dene Burton, Milton Davis, Mon Hall & GH
Mastered by: Dene Burton
Cover Photography, Layout & Design: Amanda Waite, Jason Potter, Geoff Roberts & GH
All Songs Performed by:
Dene Burton (primary lead acoustic & some rhythm guitars, bass guitars, e-bow)
Mon Hall (piano & keys)
Graeme Hush (vocals, acoustic rhythm & lead guitars, drums & percussion)
All Songs Written by Graeme Hush; 'Away' co-written with Doug Mather; 'Community' co-written with Jason Potter & Milton Davis; 'Where is the Love?' co-written with John Harvey
All Songs Arranged by Graeme Hush, Dene Burton & Mon Hall (original piano arrangement for 'Where is the Love?' by David Cook)
Live Sound by Milton 'mixerhands' Davis (Noiz Productionz - Phone: 0418 297 504)
Extra Equipment Thanks: Drum microphones courtesy of Andrew Mitchell; Roland RD700 Piano/Key Board courtesy of Unity College Canberra
Special Thanks:
(the believers who made this project possible)
The amazing friendship and gifts of the Dene, the Mon and the Milt; My Mum, Joyce (my biggest fan, supporter and quiet achiever); Denise, Deborah & Kathy (Mark & Nipper) for allowing me to invade your space for 3 weeks; Scotty for the loan of your wife; Josiah & Liana for the loan of your mum to play keys; Amanda & Jonno (great pics Amanda, you have an exceptional eye and relaxed manner, you make what would normally be a nightmare for me - easy as; Jason & Rachelle Potter (I just asked what might be possible for an interim cover & as usual Jase, you make it not only possible but phenomenally un-interim); My Dedicated 'Heartland' family: Margaret, Alicia, Geoff, Jess, Em, Nick, Linda, Mikel & Suzy (you inspire me & add LIFE); Those Inspirational Mexican 'Heartlanders' the Noguera family and ALL that connect with them; Michael, Andrew, their families & the fabulous Cafe Injoy team (thanks for allowing me to use the Cafe as a live venue & a home away from home); Brian, Natalie, Emma, thanks for being an important part of my key support network; ALL OF YOU who have responded to my music, communication & performance over the years, you keep making this possible - thank you again; My Lord, My God and My Ever Present Friend Jesus ( no words just my heart)
'life in the heartland' copyright 2004 'HeartlandMusic Australia'
WARNING: All rights reserved. Any unauthorised copying, reproduction or re-recording is an infringement of copyright laws.
Lyrics with Background Notes:
(all songs all rights reserved lyrics used by permission © 2004 Graeme Hush / HeartlandMusic Australia)
Burn (2004)
Hopeless conviction, drawn to Your irradiating flame. Conspiring emotions, fanning a spark that heeds no blame. Scars from the melting, passion conflicted by the shame Obsession, addiction, crackling, blistering the frame. I cannot fight, this one desire, in fading light, I can't deny. There's something within me that keeps holding on, always holding on to You. There's nothing more I can do than keep holding on, just keep holding on to You. Strange contradiction, lover the phantom unconcealed. Stick to white heat no reflex relief, I cannot feel. This fire consuming, igniting, infusing all that's real. My heart is the burn, which cannot return from life revealed. I can't give in, I can't let go, don't ask me why, I just don't know. There's something within me that keeps holding on, always holding on to You. There's nothing more I can do than keep holding on, just keep holding on to You. Intentions confused, too hard to defend, maybe this burning never ends; never ends. There's something within me that keeps holding on, always holding on to You. There's nothing more I can do than keep holding on, just keep holding on to You. There's something within me that keeps holding on, always holding on to You. There's nothing that I can't do when I'm holding on, when I'm holding on to You. Always, holding on…
Some Background Info on 'Burn':
I had a chord flow and a lyrical theme for a new song that I was hoping might be appropriate as the title track for the next studio album, due for release in June of this year. If it was far enough advanced I wanted to include it on the 'Life in the Heartland' set so that it would provide a fresh indicator of things to come.
Recording day arrived and it wasn't ready. I played a basically structured guitar track and recorded it so I had something to work with. The morning I was scheduled to finish the vocal tracks, I wrote the lyric and sang it to the guitar track, creating the melody as I went. Dene sneakily recorded what I did. We thought it sounded Ok as a starting point, so we kept it.
Without referring to any particular example or experience from my life, the lyric attempts to pictorialize my lifelong battle for intimacy by describing my emotional and spiritual responses and feelings.
I feel quietly confident that 'Burn' will grow and develop between now and the time it will need to be fully produced for the next album.
Rhythm of my Life (2004)
This is what I am, this is who I am, this is how I want to be. I am just one man, try and understand, I am mercifully set free. Wounds that bleed but clean, remind me of my damned iniquity. Nothing I can do to change the view from that salvation tree. Recitals now on show, performance glow, but suffer silently. This is how love sounds, uniquely crowned and carved eternally. Expressing burning passion, not the fashion, slightly out of key. Mirrored in these eyes, the martyrs' cries, sweet healing and release. One love, one hope, one heart one flight. One melody, one harmony one holding beat; the rhythm of my life, the rhythm of my life. Every now and then I close my eyes imagining the pain. I see the whips, the thorns, the angry crowd, the mud and driving rain. I also see the choice to take the blame, to take on all the shame. The way is clear, the road unblocked; freedom ditched the chains. One love, one hope, one heart one flight. One melody, one harmony one holding beat; the rhythm of my life, the rhythm of my life
Some Background Info on 'Rhythm of My Life':
This is a new song that I wrote and performed at 'Live in the Heartland' Session #2. I like to write at least one song per album which expresses my sort of lope a long, trip over itself chordal signature and this is it. Because it was all about feel and stuff, I found it easy to find a lyrical theme which reflected that and hence 'Rhythm of my Life'. Once the guitar and vocal was recorded, it seemed appropriate to both the lyrical and musical theme for me to add drums. I did this with as live a feel as I could so as to further build on the core meaning of the song. Dene ably added bass in order to glue it all together and that was that. The lyric itself simply identifies aspects of my life's journey and the way those things are reflected in the stuff which is infinitely bigger than any one life – except perhaps for one.
Away (1994)
You never know it when you're running away, you never think that there's a reason for you to stay, running away, running away. Why is it empty, why? Has everyone gone away? Tomorrow is a future image of yesterday, running away, just running away. I know a place, where we belong and I know a space, we can be strong. Lifting our hearts, renewing our minds. In from the cold, in from the storm sheltered and warm. Your head is spinning you're so dizzy you have to fall. There's no beginning, never ending you start to crawl, searching to find, directions and signs. I know a place, where we belong and I know a space, we can be strong. Lifting our hearts, renewing our minds. In from the cold, in from the storm sheltered and warm. We need to find some refuge, we need to find hope from within. There isn't any peace, at all, voices are lost in the din. The difference is clear, even out here, the brokenness making us whole. It's not about position, or wealth, all that makes sense is your soul. I know a place, where we belong and I know a space, we can be strong; I know a place, I know a place, I know a place, we can belong
Some Background Info on 'Away':
This song is the first expression of the transitional aspect of this CD; i.e. the bridge between the 'band' produced albums of the recent past and the new season.
I chose 'Away' firstly because of the number of people who request it when I'm playing and secondly because it has mostly been performed as a solo guitar and voice song. That is how I've recorded it on 'Life in the Heartland'.
You can find the background to the lyrics of 'Away' by downloading the Original Lyric and Story Book which you will find by clicking on the 'Soul Signature 2001' album link in the margin of the HeartlandMusic Australia section of this web site.
Hope for the Children (1991)
Hope for the children, hope for their families, yes we need; love that has power, power to fight this disease, Listen! Listen! We must open our hearts. Listen! So it won't tear us apart. Tempers enflamed, seething, fits of rage, the children are hurt. Life is frustrating and pressures are grating they get on our nerves but not one child deserves to fear for their lives, crying and stumbling. Tormented inside, foundations of love and acceptance are crumbling tell me why I can't sleep at night? Tell me why I can't stop 'til their rights to respect are argued? I can't sleep at night, ‘til we understand, all children are people too. Listen! We must open our eyes. Listen! No not one thing disguised. Let me, show you the one, He is, God's only son, He loves all His children. Hope with inheritance, not left to chance, they're kids of the kingdom. Teach, with respect, yes, lifting and building. Love, conquers yet, strength from acceptance their self worth responding tell me why I can't sleep at night? Tell me why I can't stop 'til their rights to respect are argued? I can't sleep at night ‘til we understand, all children are people too. Listen! Listen! Listen to children (Listen to children) Listen! Listen! Listen to children (Listen to children) Listen! (Listen!) Listen! (Listen!) Listen to children (Listen to children) come on listen! (Listen!) Listen! (Listen!) Listen to children (all children are people too) One child abused, no, not one excuse, never ever!
Some Background Info on 'Hope for the Children':
'Hope for the Children' was written during my time of working and living in Hobart. At this time I had the privilege of being the State Coordinator for NAPCAN (National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) and I wrote a handful of songs that addressed some of the important themes in NAPCAN's work focusing on Primary Prevention strategies and Community Education. 'Children are People Too' was a key slogan and theme for National Child Protection Weeks (NCPW) in the early 1990's. NAPCAN was the initiator of NCPW and continues to facilitate it each year. 'Hope for the Children' scratches the surface in an attempt to profile issues pertaining to the complex and sometimes controversial child abuse debate. I originally arranged it for band performance and it has remained one of my favourite songs yet to be recorded. Dene and I changed all that and attempted to reproduce the raw and dynamic energy of the band arrangement in the 'busking' version that appears on this CD.
My Hometown (Bellambi Version of My Hobart Town) ( Revised 2001)
We've always played soccer here, Wollongong's first state champions. Elizabeth Park was our weekend home. Weekdays at Bellambi Public School, I grew with so many friends there, learnt to play cricket and golf on the fields of 'The Holy'. Fishing for mullet in the creek, dodging stray mullet in the pool, playing tennis at Hennessy's. Riding my bike with my best friend Mark, visions of my hometown. Petrol tanker hesitates, in the channels of the lanes, memories' silent for those who fell. The reef (bomby) lays quiet now, waiting for that next invasion of boarded up jockeys all keen to ride their crest. White horses break up the blue, vying for recognition, being honoured by those surfing warriors. Shifting and peaking toward the prize, first to reach my hometown. Needs a bold hand reaching out, fortifying its character. Single minded determination, leaving behind self preservation; heightened awareness of self effacing love recognising the deep wounds in its own heart. Fragile atmosphere, needing Your healing to become whole. Don't let perceptions build that screen, articulate dreams. Buster heads in from the south, bringing rain that floats on cooler air. Frequent, predictable, sometimes strong. Forest covered western cliffs, broken nasal profile identifying my hometown. Caught in an urban tension, espousing confused traditions amidst the demands of a 21st century. The potential is great I have to pray, pray release for my hometown. Somebody please, please restore its heart, Lord revive Bellambi now. Its panoramic view, is breathtaking, first to be seen - 'Endeavour' was hoping to find a way in. Beyond this unseen wall chaining freedom, spiritual air has choked, on appearances, to the loss of precious souls. Warmth and love of single hearts, needing release but somehow still fighting. Keep loving and helping out, keep giving yourself away, my warm and caring, my wonderful seaside town. Don't undermine your own self esteem, work for your dreams
Some Background Info on 'My Hometown':
Once again, this song was originally written in Hobart and the ‘My Hobart Town’ version appears on the 'Soul Signature' album. It started as a prayer poem, written on Rosny Lookout, (opposite Constitution Dock in Hobart) on the morning I was leaving Hobart to live and work in Canberra ten years ago. You can read more of that story by downloading the Original Lyric and Story Book which you will find by clicking on the 'Soul Signature 2001' album link in the margin of the HeartlandMusic Australia section of this web site.
During the season of the 'Soul Signature' CD release concerts in 2001/2002, I had a strong feeling that the Wollongong NSW concert should be held next to the Surf Club in my hometown of Bellambi, just 5kms north and seaside of Wollongong.
As preparation was hotting up for the performance, I felt that 'Hobart Town' lent itself to a re-write. It presented a solid way to identify with the good people who would venture out from their Bellambi homes to see and hear the concert; that is I wanted to perform something that reflected positively on my hometown and my growing up in it.
'My Hometown' is the result of that re-write and it has only been performed that one time. In the context of the overall theme of this CD, its meaning and reason for existence, I thought it would be appropriate to not only record it, but to get together with my long time piano accompanist Mon Hall and play it exactly the way the arrangement worked out for us back in 1994.
Your Love (1999)
I need to sing this song, this life is yours alone and all that's in my heart, is growing treasure. My focus comes and goes, but trust in you just grows. The love you've heaped on me, was all your pleasure. Your love, means everything to me; your love, conquers all the fears in me; your love, just makes my heart believe. Your love is everything. At times the journey's long, and everything goes wrong. I know you're always running interference. When desperation comes, or joy brings out the sun. I know the love we've shared, has made the difference. Your love, means everything to me; your love, conquers all the fears in me; your love, just makes my heart believe. Oh, Your love, means everything to me; your love, conquers all the fears in me; your love, just makes my heart believe. Your love is everything
Some Background Info on 'Your Love':
'Your love' is a special inclusion on 'Life in the Heartland' and I wanted it to sound as natural as it would if the three of us played it like a jam in a late night restaurant scenario.
It was written while I was driving to work at 4.30am one Sunday morning late in 1999. I wanted to write a song of appreciation to God which used human feelings and expressions to describe it. The inspiration for the human feeling stuff was a relationship with a beautiful and wonderful friend that was already deeply impacting my life. The result was a simple tune with a simple purpose that has remained unchanged since that time.
For reasons beyond my understanding, the song was only performed once back then. I brought it out and blew the dust off it at the first 'Live in the Heartland' session this past November and discovered that people really responded positively to it. It has become the most requested of my solo performance songs since then.
Where is the Love? (1987)
The cry of the city, the mourning in the streets. Have we run out of pity? Do the hurting ones we meet? Do we care anymore? Do we feel anymore? Where is the Love? When the neon has faded from the sky. When the glitter's gone, and you're on your own, where is the Love? In the still cold of the night (still cold). In the hearts of the few. There's a secret (secret) there's a doorway. A passage to the other side. Do we care anymore? Do we need to anymore? Where is the Love? When the neon has faded from the sky. When the glitter's gone, and you're all alone, where is the Love? Where is the Love? Where is the Love? Can you show me the Love? Do we care anymore? Do we feel anymore? Where is the Love? When the neon has faded from the sky. When the glitter's gone, and you're on your own, where is the Love?
Some Background Info on 'Where is the Love?':
Mon and I have performed this version of the title track from my debut solo album a lot of times over the past decade. It seemed only fitting to record it the way it has mostly been performed and heard.
In 1987 I asked a creative and insightful friend, John Harvey, to write a poem come lyric about the major need of the young people we were trying to help on the streets and in the suburbs of our home city Wollongong; something that would challenge and motivate us. I promised to put whatever he wrote to music and perform it at the alternative night spot that we were trying to establish together.
The result of that collaboration has been a song and a theme which has continued to hit the mark. It took literally ages for people to get into it, partly because it took me ages to shape it and own it. Once it settled there was no turning back.
Terra Australis #2 (1999)
Advance Australia? Where would you like us to go? I know, you seem to have all the answers. The stage is set, the curtains' raised, Producer screams, "On with the show" Hey! Where are all the dancers? Does it look good yet? Does it feel good yet? If it does then it must be OK. It got rave reviews, on the six o'clock news. But what have the critics to say? Our homeless are wasting away. It's their own fault, I've heard people say. But what of their hurts, what of their suffering? A family is breaking, but what are you and I offering? More interest? More credit? A mortgage to grow? I wonder if home fund will give them a go. Sing, advance Australia where? To move and change we all have to dare to share our lives and sing, Advance Australia FAIR! Will this journey of healing kick in? Will our walking together begin? Not without effort, nor without sacrifice. Our friends were once stolen, why can't we say sorry and hold them? As brothers and sisters and mates hand in hand uniting Australia toward healing this land. Sing, advance Australia where? To move and change we all have to dare to share our lives and sing, Advance Australia FAIR! If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways. Then from heaven will I hear, Then from heaven will I hear, forgive them of their sin, and heal their land.... (Coda lyric adapted from the 'NIV' Bible; 2 Chronicles 7:14)
Some Background Info on 'Terra Australis #2':
The first version was recorded on the 'Where is the Love?' debut album in 1989 and was a lyric inspired by a book that renown Australian prophetic communicator and author, John Smith was writing at the time. I had the great privilege of working with John on the National Youth Convention in 1988 and during that week, he invited me to proof read and critique the draft of the first two chapters of 'Advance Australia Where?' When I was finalising the material for the album some 12 months later, the theme of the book and its espoused values lodged themselves prominently in my thinking and the song was born.
In 1999, when we decided to re-release 'Where is the Love?' I was challenged again by the song's content and proceeded to rehearse it with the band for the re-release concert. A couple of nights before the gig I added a verse. For a significant amount of time, I had communicated that I was of the belief (as many others were) that revival coming to Australia was indeed dependent upon white Australia reconciling with the original custodians of the land and with the land itself. The added verse is a very simple and cheesy reflection on this issue, but one I believed needed to be added.
When I started thinking about what songs I would let out of the vault for the 'Live in the Heartland' sessions, Terra Australis (version 2) was one of the first. I am still passionate about the 'Journey of Healing' and the cause of reconciliation and I figure, every little bit of challenge, inspiration or motivation helps.
Community (The 'Heartland' Edit) (2004)
O Lord, am I ready, to know what makes me whole. Reveal, the purpose, you've placed within my soul. Mould me, shape me. Teach me, show me how to be. This is your will, that I'd believe and be released, according to all you've given me. These gifts are yours, to use of course, defining community. O Lord, now we're ready, to move beyond the walls. The cross is restored now, the greatest sign of all. Change us, stretch us far. Inspire us, right where we are. For this is your will, that we'd receive and be released, according to all you've given up. These gifts are yours, the power source, transforming community. That we'd receive and be released, according to all you've given up. These gifts are yours, the power source, building community; supportive community; transforming community
Some Background Info on 'Community (The 'Heartland' Edit)':
'Community' was the single largest production project that found its way onto the 1996 'We're Ready' CD. That recording included about 100 takes, some 50 or 60 overdubs, a choir of 30 people, bongoes and huge drums, 4 guitars, bass and keys, the rain, percussive breathing and a didgeridoo. The version on this CD has one acoustic guitar, one voice and a slightly adjusted lyric that better reflects a missiology that I can engage and promote.
It was originally written the way it sounds here, reclining on a been bag in the corner of a living room, enjoying the excellent company of two of my best friends, Milton Davis and Jason Potter. I presented what I had to them and they added quality and refinement. A pretty good definition of community, don't you think?
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