Water Of Life

2010

Tracklist

1. 1
   Rocks At Yinara

   This song honours the mother of us all, embodied in the Seven Sisters story or the significance of Pleiades. It is a place of great importance to me and to many indigenous people of north-west Australia. This is from my musical play Biosphere Nine.

   Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar · Kevin Hawkins — lead guitar, keyboard programming · Simon MacDonald — bass djembe

   4:50
2. 2
   Fitzroy River (Let It Flow)

   The Martuwarra Fitzroy River is one of the few remaining wild rivers in the world, one of the world's biggest rivers when fed by the wet season rains, flowing through the frontier region of the west Kimberley in north-west Australia. In the 1990's big business wanted to tame this precious river with dams for commercial and industrial development. The Martuwarra Fitzroy River is the heritage of future generations who must know the magnificence of Mother Nature unsullied by greed. In 2011 the Martuwarra Fitzroy River was put on Australia's National Heritage List for its outstanding cultural and natural values. This is from my musical play Living Country.

   Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar, percussion · Kevin Hawkins — lead guitar, keyboard programming

   4:11
3. 3
   Not Tonight My Darling

   Estranged love is difficult to deal with, and express. Sometimes you just have to say "no" – it can clear the air and be quite empowering. This is from my musical play Savannah.

   Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar

   2:46
4. 4
   Bush Honey

   A raw and bawdy blues song celebrating love in the Australian outback. This song is from my musical play Savannah.

   Russell Roberts — vocals, guitars · Robbie Phillips — harmonica · Kevin Hawkins — keyboard programming · Eloy Cardenas — bass

   3:43
5. 5
   Still Water

   I was raised by a river. I know the river's moods. The ways of the river reflect my own moods, emotions and passions. I celebrate this connection.

   Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar · Kevin Hawkins — lead guitar, keyboard programming · Eloy Cardenas — bass, mandolin

   3:34
6. 6
   Woman Got No History

   Woman has been subjected to abominations of the power of men. This is captured in the histories that are told, most commonly from the point of view of men, and usually powerful men. Women must be honoured, as they were in ancient times, before the tyranny of power corrupted the ways of human kind and relationship with the Mother Earth. This song is from my musical play Savannah.

   Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar · Kevin Hawkins — lead guitar, keyboard programming

   3:26
7. 7
   Water of Life

   Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar

   3:40
8. 8
   Bogucki Track

   In 1999 Robert Bogucki, an Alaskan fireman, embarked on a spiritual journey through the Great Sandy Desert in northern Australia. Relying upon what the country provided, he trekked for forty-three days through a vast and inhospitable wilderness, from Sandfire Flats, south of Broome, to the Edgar Range in the Kimberley, a distance of approximately 300 kilometres, as the crow flies. Temperatures soar beyond 40 degrees Celsius. There are no roads. His spiritual quest inspired this song.

   Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar · Robbie Phillips — harmonica · Kevin Hawkins — keyboard programming

   3:14
9. 9
   Sing Ya Country Heart Out

   A country ballad for a lover out on the droving trail. This is from my musical play Living Country.

   Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar · Kevin Hawkins — slide guitar, keyboard programming

   3:23
10. 10
    How It Goes

    Reconciliation requires people to make an effort and accept that people are different. What a wonderful world it would be if we could all be friends.

    Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar · Kevin Hawkins — keyboard programming

    4:07
11. 11
    Cowboy Christmas

    A lament for those who are far from home at a time of year when many families celebrate being together.

    Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar · Robbie Phillips — harmonica · Kevin Hawkins — keyboard programming

    2:47
12. 12
    Any Other Day

    This song is for all those people who are incarcerated. Prisoners suffer the loss of contact with their loved ones, which to me is cruel. A lot of crime is the result of poverty and most perpetrators of crimes have been abused and damaged. Locking people in a cell rarely fixes the problem.

    Russell Roberts — vocals, guitar · Kevin Hawkins — lead guitar, keyboard programming

    3:11
13. 13
    Raging Belle

    This song is about women standing up for themselves and learning some skills that will enable them to defend themselves. With domestic violence and bullying rife, it is vital that all women take steps to empower themselves. If girls learn self-defence skills at an early age, as part of their education, the horrid scourge of sexual abuse and rape, perpetrated by weak individuals who exercise power over those who are vulnerable, could diminish. This is from my musical play Savannah.

    Russell Roberts — vocals, guitars · Kevin Hawkins — lead guitar, keyboard programming

    2:13

Videos