'OILS AINT OILS' (or Peter Garrett's lament)

I once was a greenie but that's in the past

As an ALP pollie I've made it at last

Once I bellowed and blustered in front of the Oils

Now I sit on the front bench — my eye on the spoils

CHORUS

I once was a greenie but that's in the past

As an ALP pollie I've made it at last

I served with Kim Beazley but he proved a dud

No my future hopes lie with Lord Fauntelroy Rudd

At political backflips I'm now quite a dab

I'm a party line hack but don't call me a scab

CHORUS

I fronted the Oils and made teenagers swoon

Although being tone deaf I could not sing in tune

I polluted the air — being raucous and loud

But I now sing a much different song to the crowd

CHORUS

Now nuclear power I used to oppose

And American I wanted to close

But I've changed my tune and I'm no longer green

And my conscience belongs to the party machine

CHORUS

Nuclear power may not be as bad

As I thought just a short while ago

American bases in WA?

Uncle Sam really needs 'em you know

In my callow youth I was rather naive

In more ways than one I was green

But now I've matured and my loyalty lies

With the ALP party machine.

From GLW issue 706