Great Southern Land
Icehouse Lyrics


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Standing at the limit of an endless ocean
Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea
City on a rainy day down in the harbor
Watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay
Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you
This is not the way that I remember it here
Anyone will tell you its a prisoner island
Hidden in the summer for a million years

Great Southern Land, burned you black

So you look into the land and it will tell you a story
Story 'bout a journey ended long ago
Listen to the motion of the wind in the mountains
Maybe you can hear them talking like I do
They're gonna betray you, they're gonna forget you
Are you gonna let them take you over that way

Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
You walk alone, like a primitive man
And they make it work, with sticks and bones
See their hungry eyes, its a hungry home

I hear the sound of the stranger's voices
I see their hungry eyes, their hungry eyes
Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
They burned you black, black against the ground

Standing at the limit of an endless ocean
Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea
City on a rainy day down in the harbor
Watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay
Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you
This is not the way that I remember it here
Anyone will tell you its a prisoner island
Hidden in the summer for a million years

Great Southern Land, in the sleeping sun
You walk alone with the ghost of time
Where they burned you black, black against the ground
And they make it work with rocks and sand

I hear the sound of the strangers voices
I see their hungry eyes, their hungry eyes
Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
You walk alone, like a primitive man
You walk alone with the ghost of time
And they burned you black
Yeah, they burned you black
Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land




Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Icehouse's Great Southern Land are written in a poetic manner that shows an apparent longing or search for someone or something amidst a backdrop of the Australian landscape. The opening lines paint a picture of being lost at sea and feeling stranded, possibly a metaphorical reference to feeling lost or alone. The song has a sense of searching for meaning and purpose, maybe looking back on the past and how things have changed in modern times.


The lyrics then turn to describe the Great Southern Land, and how it has been "burned black" against the ground. This could be a reference to the often-destructive nature of humans and their impact on the land. However, the journey is not over, and the lyrics implore the listener to "look into the land" to hear its story and the motion of the wind. The imagery of the "primitive man" and their way of life is portrayed in contrast to the more developed and modern way of life.


The song's ending brings the listener back to the present, standing at the limit of an endless ocean, feeling lost and seeking purpose. Overall, the lyrics of the song seem to explore themes of loss, change, and the search for meaning in life.


Line by Line Meaning

Standing at the limit of an endless ocean
I am stopped at the edge of an expanse of water that seems endless.


Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea
I feel abandoned, as if I have run away and am lost at sea.


City on a rainy day down in the harbor
I can see the city on this damp day from the harbor.


Watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay
As I observe the bay, I see the gray clouds obscuring it.


Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you
I am searching for someone and am scouring every location to find them.


This is not the way that I remember it here
The area around me has changed from how I remember it previously.


Anyone will tell you its a prisoner island
People will inform you that this is an island where inmates are held.


Hidden in the summer for a million years
For ages, this place has been concealed in the warmth of summer.


Great Southern Land, burned you black
The southern land suffered destruction and damage from burning.


So you look into the land and it will tell you a story
By examining the land, you can learn about the history of this place.


Story 'bout a journey ended long ago
The tale is of a voyage that came to an end long ago.


Listen to the motion of the wind in the mountains
Hear the sound of the wind moving through the mountains.


Maybe you can hear them talking like I do
Perhaps you, like me, can hear the mountains speaking in some way.


They're gonna betray you, they're gonna forget you
They will deceive and abandon you.


Are you gonna let them take you over that way
Will you permit them to gain control over you in this manner?


Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
The southern land is exceptional, noteworthy, and unique.


You walk alone, like a primitive man
You are walking by yourself, similar to how a primitive human might have done so.


And they make it work, with sticks and bones
They have the ability to construct things, even if they are done with rudimentary materials.


See their hungry eyes, its a hungry home
Observe the desperation and longing in the eyes of the people; it is a place of need.


I hear the sound of the stranger's voices
I am able to detect a varied assortment of unfamiliar voices.


They burned you black, black against the ground
The land was subjected to the flames, leaving it dark and scorched.


Great Southern Land, in the sleeping sun
The southern land lies dormant, inactive, and unresponsive in the sunlight.


You walk alone with the ghost of time
You are alone and surrounded only by memories of the past.


And they make it work with rocks and sand
Despite a lack of resources, they are able to utilize commonplace materials and create things.


Yeah, they burned you black
The southern land was damaged by fire, leaving it dark and charred.


Great Southern Land
The southern land is an awe-inspiring and exceptional location.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ivor Davies

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@quemaditos8140

Standing at the limit of an endless ocean
Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea
City on a rainy day down in the harbor
Watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay
Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you
This is not the way that I remember it here
Anyone will tell you its a prisoner island
Hidden in the summer for a million years
Great Southern Land, burned you black
So you look into the land and it will tell you a story
Story 'bout a journey ended long ago
Listen to the motion of the wind in the mountains
Maybe you can hear them talking like I do
They're gonna betray you, they're gonna forget you
Are you gonna let them take you over that way
Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
You walk alone, like a primitive man
And they make it work, with sticks and bones
See their hungry eyes, its a hungry home
I hear the sound of the stranger's voices
I see their hungry eyes, their hungry eyes
Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
They burned you black, black against the ground
Standing at the limit of an endless ocean
Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea
City on a rainy day down in the harbor
Watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay
Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you
This is not the way that I remember it here
Anyone will tell you its a prisoner island
Hidden in the summer for a million years
Great Southern Land, in the sleeping sun
You walk alone with the ghost of time
Where they burned you black, black against the ground
And they make it work with rocks and sand
I hear the sound of the strangers voices
I see their hungry eyes, their hungry eyes
Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land
You walk alone, like a primitive man
You walk alone with the ghost of time
And they burned you black
Yeah, they burned you black
Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land
Great Southern Land



All comments from YouTube:

@madeleinedoyle1790

If this doesn't make Aussies feel extreme pride for the Great Southern Land of Australia, I don't know what will! I get teary just watching it!

@markmeyndershagen1513

Back then I was 15

@JimChap

I'm a Kiwi and even I feel proud.

@Signofevil_Smile4theCam

If they then also only would care more for this amazing country!

@rcwarrior2008

even as a kiwi maori in oz i love this song makes me proud to live here - in paradise

@FrancescaLee-np3qr

I'm also a kiwi and love this song

1 More Replies...

@alanpavlak5657

It’s a shame they never got the recognition in the US they deserved. An incredible Aussie band far better than other bands that were really successful in the Unites States. Iva Davies is an incredible musician and still continues to make great music.

@dennispicone6801

I would say much closer to a crime. 😁👍🍺

@JennyJeong425

Aussies do everything better. 'Struth.

@Scott.Kristiansen

As a American I was so happy to run into a cassette in 1989

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