The Offering of the Heart, by Unknown Weaver, Flemish, circa 1410. Louvre, Paris. [Wikimedia Commons.]
Almanac Music: Six Heartland Songs
This piece is not one of those ‘best of’ lists of songs concerning a particular artist, band or musical genre, nor is it directly about personal favourites (although some numbers to be mentioned could be considered in this way); rather, the songs discussed are put forward because they are what I’d term ‘heartland’ songs, ones that ‘get you where you live’. Here are six of mine, six that are highly indicative of what I like musically. Readers, post some your own ‘heartland’ songs in the comments section, if you wish.
‘Lonely Ol’ Night’, written and performed by John Mellencamp (1985)
This is a song about loneliness and the desire for closeness, wrapped warmly in the cloak of country rock and possessing an irresistible chorus hook. The opening lines set the scene perfectly: She calls me up and she says baby / It’s a lonely ol’ night. I’ve always loved Mellencamp’s voice, too; in particular, the engagingly passionate way he sings.
‘The Power and the Passion’, written by James Moginie, Robert Hirst and Peter Garrett, performed by Midnight Oil (1983)
Fundamentally, this is a heavily rhythmic, driving new wave rock song, with a cutting political edge. It is centrally about a dystopian, corporatized Australia of the 1980s in general and Sydney in particular. The following lines connected to the so-called ‘Emerald City’ get me every time: Dad’s so bad he lives in the pub / It’s underarms and football clubs. Lead singer Peter Garrett’s jerky, high-energy marionette dancing, incidentally, is a standout feature of the accompanying film clip.
‘Just Like Fire Would’, written by Chris Bailey, performed by The Saints (1986)
Oh, what a fabulously tuneful, melodic song, about a lonely traveller. What a wonderful chorus, too: And just like fire would, I burn up / Just like fire would … Interestingly, Bruce Springsteen liked it enough to cover it on his 2014 album High Hopes, as many would know.
‘Watching You Without Me’, written and performed by Kate Bush (1985)
‘Watching You Without Me’ is dreamy, ethereal and fundamentally about the absence of a loved one. Can’t let you know what’s been happening / There’s a ghost in our home just watching you without me. This song is one I feel compelled to give in to, and thus allow myself to be carried along in its inexorable flow.
‘Under the Water’, written by Merril Bainbridge, Owen Bolwell and Stanley Paulzen, performed by Merril Bainbridge (1995)
Like the Kate Bush song before it, this one has a dreamy quality, though it is more overtly a love song – the references to water add to its poetic, literary feel. I could be your lover / Chained under the water. Particularly because of its connections to water and drowning, ‘Under the Water’ reminds me of the song ‘Full Fathom Five’ from Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. Bainbridge’s singing, and that of backing vocalist, Chris Wilson, is beautifully on point, too. Also, Wilson’s harmonica playing is wonderful, as one might expect.
‘Run To Paradise’, written by Mark Gable and Brad Carr, performed by The Choirboys (1987)
Baby/You were always gonna be the one … Who of a certain age, doesn’t know this song? It’s quintessential 80s Oz pub rock, joyfully catchy, with one of the best choruses ever; in this context, Mark Gable’s lead vocal engages wonderfully with the energetic unison singing (sometimes responding to the main vocal line, sometimes in counterpoint) by other members of the band. Having played in an 80s Oz pub band myself, songs like ‘Run to Paradise’ certainly ‘get me where I live’ – they are not songs to analyse, really, being lyrically unsophisticated and fundamentally ones that compel energetic movement and dancing.
So, there you have them – half a dozen of my heartland songs. As I requested near the start of my piece, by all means add some of your own in the comments section.
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About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His sixth book-length poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises, was published in early 2026 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
Hi KD
Keep up your FA pieces, always a delight to read and get the hey, these are my thoughts juices flowing.
On this occasion we intersect only two and a bit times. Definitely with your first choice. One of his best and he has plenty to chose from. My Midnight Oil journey starts well. Loved them in the 80s, saw them live and it was a ripper of a show. But somewhere along the way, in the 2000s I started hearing them differently. I started to hear plodding rhythms, obvious over-emphasised lyrics with barely more than abab rhymes. Politically, I fit their demographic, I did back in the 80s and still today. But as a band, musically and lyrically, mostly they now sound hollow. So, yeah, nuh.
Anyway, that chat is better suited over beers.
My heartland songs (and I admit to not being clear on the definition and brief) includes the following:
Slobberbone, Gimme Back My Dog
Springsteen, Tucson Train
Merle, Silver Wings
Dingoes, Way out West
Archie, Down City Streets
Slim, Camooweal
The list is obviously longer than the proverbial piece of string …
Cheers
Hi Rick. Thanks for your kind words regarding my FA pieces – I enjoy reading your thoughtful and perceptive responses to them.
Thanks also for your interesting list, a couple of which I didn’t know, but will now follow up. I hope to receive an interesting range of Almanackers’ responses with regard to this post.
Finally, fundamentally I agree with what you say about the Oil’s career – and feel that much of the time they have teetered on the brink of unintentional self-parody, though this point deserves a fuller treatment in another piece.
Nice piece Kev as usual. For me there would be any number of Lucinda Williams songs but perhaps her biggest commercial success ‘Right on Time’ tugs at the heart strings immediately. Cold Chisel’s “Flame Trees”, The Laughing Clowns, ‘Eternally Yours’ and The Go Between, ‘Finding You’ spring to mind. Cheers
Glad you liked the piece, Ian. You’ve selected a bunch of fine songs, I reckon. For example, ‘Right in Time’ by Lucinda Williams has a lovely, languid beauty – perhaps for this reason it reminded me of another heartland song of mine, Ron Sexsmith’s ‘Just My Heart Talkin”.
Such a beautiful artist Ron Sexsmith is Kev. I was thinking from the perspective of an ex-Sandgroper, The Triffids Wide Open Road of course and the anthem of my home town, Suburban Boy by Dave Warner dredges up many memories of the 70s in the most isolated place in the world!
Yep, we certainly both agree about Ron Sexsmith, Ian – he’s a very gifted guy. Love ‘Wide Open Road’, too – quintessentially Australian in a really good, non-jingoistic way!
As for Dave Warner – with his music and various other writing, he’s darn close to a national treasure, I feel – and should have an even higher profile than he does.
I agree with the thoughts on Midnight Oil, but still need to include one of their songs.
Hercules – Midnight Oil
Like A Hurricane – Neil Young
Alive – Pearl Jam
Merry Go Round (live) – Cold Chisel
Berlin Chair – You Am I
Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Plenty of guitar and a smattering of lyrical sophistication here and there.
Thanks, Greg, for your contributions. Your personal ‘rock aesthetic’ emerges clearly, and you have encapsulated it very well – ‘plenty of guitar and a smattering of lyrical sophistication’. Excellent stuff! (And your choice of ‘Free Bird’ reminded me that in my first band in secondary school we played a Lynyrd Skynyrd song, ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ – I guess many bands covered it in that era. We certainly weren’t alone!)
Great concept Kevin. Your number one is a beauty. Love it. Without much thought I think mine would be:
Alone With You – Sunny Boys
Cattle and Cane – Go Betweens
Bandit – Neil Young
Kill Them With Kindness – The Idles
I remember When I Was Young – Matt Taylor.
Perfect Day – Lou Reed
This list might change daily!!
Thanks so much for your response, Dips. I’m pleased you liked the ‘heartland’ concept; in that context, it was highly appropriate that you relied on instinct rather than extended thought when it came to choosing your songs.
And of course you’re right that one’s list might change daily!
Hi again Dips. I meant to add that I liked your choices of songs in general, and that ‘Kill Them With Kindness” by The Idles was a discovery for me – what a beauty!
I’m not into ‘heartland songs’ KD but just good old solid rock ‘n roll. Or some country rock and heated-up blues.
Here’s my Top Six, mostly from teenage years in the Fifties and early 20s when I moved into the Sixties.
1. Whole Lotta Shakin’ (Goin’ On): Jerry Lee Lewis. 2. Johnny B. Goode: Chuck Berry. 3: Goin’ Up The Country: Canned Heat (even tho’ they pinched it from Henry Thomas who had recorded a similar one in 1928). 4: Blue Suede Shoes: Carl Perkins, (one of the 4 original Sun Records rock artists, but these days sadly forgotten). 5. I’m So Excited (Pointer Sisters) and 6. Honky Tonk Women: Stones.
My private school master Dad used to tear down my carefully collected colored pix of many of these stars, Elvis included, from my bedroom wall. That was at my Bostock House bedroom, KD, adjacent to Rannoch House
Thanks so much for your choices, Richard. Certainly iconic songs. They feel very much in line with the concept I had in mind for my piece anyway, however you wish to view them.
I enjoyed the Bostock House and Rannoch House connections, too.
As always, Kevin, you have chosen an interesting mix of songs.
I vehemently disagree with Rick re The Oils, but that is the nature of music!
Thanks for your response, Smokie.
Yep, we all have our own opinions on matters such as this, and that’s all part of the ‘rich tapestry’.
Great idea and wonderful selections. I tend to go for those songs I’d like to have played at my funeral and thus I would lean towards:
1. Matt Finish – Short Note (fabulous lyrics, beautifully sung to gorgeous music – a lost treasure)
2. The Cure – Treasure (just love the line ‘Remember me & smile’
3. Bob Dylan – Not Dark Yet
4. Robbie Robertson – Breaking The Rules
5. Karl Dubravs – Nobody Can Take This Away From Me
Cheers, Karl
Thank you, Karl, for your ‘heartland’ selections – certainly a fine bunch of songs.
Pleased you liked the concept behind my piece, too.
Hey Karl, I notice you have included Not Dark Yet. Considering Dylan has released Fragments this week an overview of TOOM, begs the questions, which version of NDY are you plugging? Cheers
Hey Rick, although I am a completist when it comes to Dylan – with every officially released album and plenty of bootlegs, I have been somewhat reluctant to complete my Dylan anthology with the latest in the Bootleg series ‘Volume 17 – Fragments’ – I think i’m just about bootlegged out . I have put it on my birthday wish list and hope some thoughtful relative will purchase it for me – my birthday is 10 May. So, for now, I will plug for the TOOM version of Not Dark Yet. The Lanois production fits this version so well – it captured me so deep on my first listen way back in 1997 and it still does. Cheers