Canberra Made Me Cry Today-Ii

Canberra made me cry today,

I hardly knew the place.

The city I once fell in love with

Seems to have lost its grace.

I drove across from New South Wales,

As I've done for many years.

But somewhere on that familiar road,

My memories turned to tears.

Canberra made me cry today,

And I don't cry that much.

But something in this lovely town

Has lost its gentle touch.

There's light rail tearing through the town,

More digging every day.

The shops are losing passing trade,

As customers turn away.

I went to see Flori-ahd

A million flowers in bloom.

Their colours filled the gardens,

Their perfume filled the realm.

But drifting through the tulips

Came something not so good.

Instead of springtime fragrance,

I smelled their bloody food!

And money, God, the money!

Another billion gone.

More rail, more debt, more promises,

The spending carries on.

We voted against self-government,

But they gave it to us anyway.

Now tell me, who's been listening

To what the people say?

Canberra made me cry today,

For everything that's changed.

The open roads, the mountain views,

If they could, that be too... rearranged.

I know a city has to change,

Just like you and me.

But progress shouldn't cost us

The things we loved to see.

And once you've lost that beauty,

No money brings it back.

You cannot rebuild a memory

Along an ugly railway track.

Canberra made me cry today,

Not simply out of rage.

It felt like someone took this town

And just turned another page.

Yes, I'm an old bloke now,

With too much yesterday.

But you only cry for something

That you loved along the way.

Canberra made me cry today,

Not because I hate you.

But because I remember

The city that I used to know.

Canberra...

You made me cry today.