"Song-writing is another form of story-telling and often the best stories are the ones where history is made. For me, there was a strong sense of history-in-the-making in the dramatic days of the protests at Mt Nardi and in the Land and Environment Court case that followed. The desire to record something of the story of that time was the impetus behind the writing of the Ballad." 

The Ballad of Mount Nardi                                                    c Soozah Clark, Brenda Liddard, 1981        Em                                              Am The odds were all against them as they stood before the bulldozer Em                                B7 Strong in their belief in the power of the trees               Em                               Am But the might of a state that cared little for the forest         Em                                      B7         Em Was armed with a coppers gun and public apathy Policemen blocked the roadway, to stop the crowd from growing And to cut the food supply lines just like it was a war They called the people criminals, dragged them off to court And a waking public conscience saw it all, and asked "What for?" Am                                                      Em Four o'clock on a Wednesday morn was the final hour when the lines were drawn B7                                              Em Flesh and bone could little do in the face of iron and steel Am                                                             Em Though by stealth the crowd had grown, they watched as if they'd always known B7                                                                 Em nought could stop the bulldozer lumbering, up that hill Some among the group had thought "We'll challenge this before a court to see if legal argument can help us have a say." With lawyers, judges and the rest, they put the system to the test And found the common people can still fight, and win the day See, the tide has turned somehow, rest a little calmer now Have yourselves some warmth and love, let the good times flow Though the battle still goes on, the Nightcap Park is safely won From profiteers who'll one day learn you reap, just what you sow Politicians everywhere, listen and become aware Nothing now can interfere, in the power of the trees