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The Mighty Dollar

by Luke Vassella

/
1.
'The word is out' words and music by Luke Vassella Copyright 2012 
The word is out, it's rolling across the land
 The word is out, it's written by the people's hand 
The word is out, no gas mining here
 The word is out, it's ringing loud and clear
 The word is out

 So lift your voice, raise your banners high
 People rejoice under the North Coast sky
 Cos this is our time, and this is our place
 We want a healthy future not destruction and disgrace
 The word is out

 The word is out, we want Australia back
 The word is out, call off this gas attack
 The word is out, our community is not for sale
 The word is out, sense and reason will prevail 
The word is out 

So lift your voice, raise your banners high
 People rejoice under the North Coast sky 
Cos this is our time, and this is our place 
We want a healthy future not destruction and disgrace 
So lift your voice, raise your banners high
 People rejoice under the North Coast sky 
Cos this is our time, and this is our place
 We want a healthy future not destruction and disgrace
 The word is out

 This is the 21st century 
Profit, planet and people must come equally first 
Who's picking up the pieces when the mining bubble bursts?
 We say NO we don't want it!
 We say NO we don't need it!
 We say NO social licence!
 We're stakeholders and we mean it 
No means no, take this corruption and go!
2.
The Mighty Dollar words and music by Luke Vassella Copyright 2012

 The mining company has come to town
 They're here to take the gas out of the ground
 And drain the water til the country's dry 
They're here to poison the well, and set fire to the sky

 How can I be silent watching this go down 
It's a big money invasion of our people and our town 
Is this still Australia that we're living in? 
Friends this is a crime, this is a curse, this is a sin 
It's the mighty dollar, it's high and mighty
 But a corporate profit/prophet is not the Almighty

 Leave it in the ground! Leave it in the ground! 
 How can I be silent watching this go down, leave it in the ground! 

I feel it in my spirit friends, this is wrong 
They've sold the country underneath us for a song
 Why? Why would you waste this land away? 
I hear the voice of past and future generations say

 The mighty dollar is warm and inviting 
But the safety of our food and water, that's a fight worth fighting come on! 

Leave it in the ground, leave it in the ground!
 How can we be silent watching this go down, leave it in the ground

! Leave it in the ground, we have to find a better way
 Nobody believes it's safe, unless you're on company pay

 We've done wrong to this land before, but not like this 
If we step across this line, we're stepping into the abyss
 This is a rape of our earth, this is reckless plunder 
A land of greed and swindle has become the land down-under

 I say leave it in the ground
 Cos the mighty dollar is not the Almighty!
3.
'The Gold' words and music by Luke Vassella Copyright 2012 My Great Great Grandfather was a miner On the Goldfields around Sofala In 1864 it was every man for himself But there in the arms of a Scottish girl he found his wealth The gold isn't buried in the ground If you're really looking it can be found... My Great Grandfather farmed the good soil By the Pilliga forest he gave it his blood sweat and toil It was a hard life, he read a hard bible But the land gave blessing, much more than just survival And the gold isn't buried in the ground The wealth of this nation can still be found; In you and me, it's in you and me baby Dig into your heart, dig into your back pages Find the truth passed down through the ages My Grandfather lost his hand Working on the mineshaft gear they thought was unmanned He made himself a metal one, and through trials and tribulations He worked in that mine 'til the day he died, without hesitation The green and gold's not buried in the ground If you've got something good inside, you better share it around It's in you and me, it's in you and me baby Open up your heart, give me all that you got Show me the gold that's in your heart, give me all that you got Ooh Dig into your heart
4.
River - words and music by Luke Vassella Copyright 2012

 There was a trickle, became a creek, became a river Hear the Northern Rivers speak! The Wilson's River, has always run through Lismore town But today there's a river, that runs all around United here we make our stand, protect our water protect our land We do not want this gas mining farce, our gates are locked and you shall not pass This trickle has become a creek, has become a river Hear the Northern Rivers speak Our young men have seen nightmares, our old men have bought schemes Young men should have visions, old men should dream dreams Our government must make a stand to protect our water, protect this land Our Queensland friends are already on their knees, They've warned New South Wales, "Don't catch our disease!" This trickle has become a creek, has become a river Hear the Northern Rivers speak! We are people like water, we all flow together We all feel the season, we all feel the weather We're people like water, we're interconnected This land is our mother, she must be protected Yes, we're people like water, we all flow together We all feel the season, we all feel the weather We're people like water, we're interconnected This land is our future, it must be protected
5.
The Mighty Dollar words and music by Luke Vassella Copyright 2012

 The mining company has come to town
 They're here to take the gas out of the ground
 And drain the water til the country's dry 
They're here to poison the well, and set fire to the sky

 How can I be silent watching this go down 
It's a big money invasion of our people and our town 
Is this still Australia that we're living in? 
Friends this is a crime, this is a curse, this is a sin 
It's the mighty dollar, it's high and mighty
 But a corporate profit/prophet is not the Almighty

 Leave it in the ground! Leave it in the ground! 
 How can I be silent watching this go down, leave it in the ground! 

I feel it in my spirit friends, this is wrong 
They've sold the country underneath us for a song
 Why? Why would you waste this land away? 
I hear the voice of past and future generations say

 The mighty dollar is warm and inviting 
But the safety of our food and water, that's a fight worth fighting come on! 

Leave it in the ground, leave it in the ground!
 How can we be silent watching this go down, leave it in the ground

! Leave it in the ground, we have to find a better way
 Nobody believes it's safe, unless you're on company pay

 We've done wrong to this land before, but not like this 
If we step across this line, we're stepping into the abyss
 This is a rape of our earth, this is reckless plunder 
A land of greed and swindle has become the land down-under

 I say leave it in the ground
 For a country with a future For a country reconciling it's past For generations yet to be born Cos the mighty dollar is not the Almighty!

about

"I love living in the Northern Rivers. Because I love the place and the people, I'm compelled to join with many others in declaring the wealth of our country isn't just buried in the ground. Can you hear us? Will you hear us?"- Luke
'The Mighty Dollar' ep is a reflection of his community's opposition to coal seam gas(CSG) development. The songs exhibit an urgency, commanding the listener's ear and aiming to persuade.
"I'm not usually a protest singer, but I'm compelled to be one because I love the place and the people where I live".

credits

released February 25, 2013

Produced by Luke Vassella at The Space Cave Lismore NSW.
All songs written by Luke Vassella.
Featuring guests:
-The Winsome Gospel Choir led by Peter Lehner
-Paul Agar on Pedal Steel
-Peter Marin on drums
Photos by Ben Lynch www.bluetulipimaging.com.au

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Luke Vassella Lismore, Australia

Luke is well known on the NSW North Coast and beyond as an inspirational performer.

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