1. Wildfire © Fay White 2006
This song was commissioned by the Community Association of Hall's Gap following the 2006 bushfires in the Gariwerd - Grampians mountain region of Victoria, Australia. The community gathered to tell the stories of the fires and Fay wrote songs from the accounts of their experiences.
A full choral setting of this song, with piano accompaniment and guitar chords, is available in the "Alive and Singing" songbook. Click on 'Alive and Singing' in bar above
A full choral setting of this song, with piano accompaniment and guitar chords, is available in the "Alive and Singing" songbook. Click on 'Alive and Singing' in bar above
2. Out of the Ashes © Fay White 2006
A full choral setting of this song is available in the "Alive and Singing" songbook and also as a printable pdf on a data CD of the same name. That data CD includes a 5 part string arrangement as well. See the page on this website for details.
Out of the ashes © Fay White 2006 in partnership with Community Association of Hall’s Gap
The fire came through with roar and noise, awesome power and might
Somehow we found the strength to stay, that long and anxious night
At dawn the sound of cracking rocks, the fall of dying trees
We looked and saw the forest, and the farms brought to their knees
Twisted iron, charred remains, scorched and blackened ground
Fenceless paddocks, stricken stock, some dead in swollen mounds
Proud cliffs with trees like charcoal sticks, naked rocks laid bare
And wisps of smoke from smouldering stumps, drifting in the air
Fallen to ashes. fallen to ashes, All that beauty gone, fallen to ashes
So summer passed and autumn came with days of mist and frost
And welcome rain began to fall, we grieved for what was lost
And the land began to lift its head to meet the falling rain
And we began to find the strength and will to start again
Out of the ashes . . . something coming through, out of the ashes
It’s hard painstaking dirty work, tedious and slow
Sometimes you think its gone for good, perhaps you too should go
But the grass-tree’s sprouting cheerful spikes as if to disagree
And Lo! A new defiant dress on every fire-scorched tree
Out of the ashes . . . something coming through, out of the ashes
Pink heath blazes by the path, bright flame without the fear
And cockatoos’ returning shriek is music to the ear
And sundews push through blackened ground reaching for the sun
The miracle of life returning, something new begun
Out of the ashes . . . something coming through , out of the ashes
The fire came through with roar and noise, awesome power and might
Somehow we found the strength to stay, that long and anxious night
At dawn the sound of cracking rocks, the fall of dying trees
We looked and saw the forest, and the farms brought to their knees
Twisted iron, charred remains, scorched and blackened ground
Fenceless paddocks, stricken stock, some dead in swollen mounds
Proud cliffs with trees like charcoal sticks, naked rocks laid bare
And wisps of smoke from smouldering stumps, drifting in the air
Fallen to ashes. fallen to ashes, All that beauty gone, fallen to ashes
So summer passed and autumn came with days of mist and frost
And welcome rain began to fall, we grieved for what was lost
And the land began to lift its head to meet the falling rain
And we began to find the strength and will to start again
Out of the ashes . . . something coming through, out of the ashes
It’s hard painstaking dirty work, tedious and slow
Sometimes you think its gone for good, perhaps you too should go
But the grass-tree’s sprouting cheerful spikes as if to disagree
And Lo! A new defiant dress on every fire-scorched tree
Out of the ashes . . . something coming through, out of the ashes
Pink heath blazes by the path, bright flame without the fear
And cockatoos’ returning shriek is music to the ear
And sundews push through blackened ground reaching for the sun
The miracle of life returning, something new begun
Out of the ashes . . . something coming through , out of the ashes
