Christine Lavin - Castlemaine Lyrics
Back in the 1850s this town just teemed with life150,000 Miners all were dreaming of a strike7,000 live here in CastlemaineAnd he still works for the minesExtracts 2 grams of gold per ton of sandDust the gold rush left behind.I met him on a November DayThe Australian sun was brightHe squinted his eyesHe lit a cigaretteAnother rough night.The house he shared with his wife and babiesHe had built with his own two handsHe could no longer call it homeIn his place, another manSo he lives here with a friend of hisHis wife lives down the streetThey joke that it's a halfway house for menSuffering temporary defeatHe makes me a cup of coffeeI notice his young (bud) weathered handsTanned except for where it was he wore a wedding band.He askes me about AmericaA place he would love to beHe's been all over AustraliaHe's seen all there is to seeHe shows me pictures of Ayers RockWild Birds and KangaroosPictures of his little onesAnd his wife tooThen he said put out your handAnd I will give to you what I found on a recent tripHe lays in my palm a mound of multi colored opal chipsWhen his fingers touch mineI feel a longing from withinDid that originate from me or from him?But it's 4:00He leaves for workHe returns home late that nightI'm in the room right down the hallI can hear him snap on the lightI hear him softly hummingI hear a turning of a pageI dream that night of wild birds trapped inside an opal cage.In the morning when I get upHe's in the kitchen making teaHe smiles and he says he's got one more parting gift for me"Close your eyes, put out your hand" h
