When A Good Man Dies
Words and Music: Graeme Connors
When a good man dies the boys take care of their own
They drink to his memory drink to their loss
Drink to the lovely old bastard he was
Then come the stories, the glorious times
He made it against the odds
How he saved someone’s hide
How they fought side by side
How he always put his money on the underdog
But when a good woman dies
A good man just cries
When a good man dies his mates come gather ’round
Looking for reasons looking for words
Looking uneasy at the hole in the Earth
Then come the handshakes the hard sweaty palms
That grip you like a vice
Refusing to show
Any sign of emotion
The respects have been paid now get on with your life
But when a good woman dies
A good man just cries
Copyright 1990 The Panama Music Company Pty. Ltd.
I shall be reading part of this song lyric at my Mother's funeral today (Thursday). Partly it is a tribute to my Mother. Partly it is in the hope that my father will realise that emotions are "allowed" in the year 2006. The great Australian silence might once have been regarded as noble and dignified. But I think it is unhealthy to close down one's emotions too tightly.
Mum and Dad were married for 67 years, and were "going together" for a further 6 years (a total of 73 years).
Kindly wish my father well, as he attempts to start a new life by himself, aged 93 years. Sure, he has "family", but nothing can replace that degree of bonding between two people.
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