The red hot sun burns up the hill
The winter’s bride, the summer’s king
I tramp these acres and I feel
Once upon a time
Then it seemed that everything
You saw and touched and felt was real
You turned the tap and you turned the wheel
Breathing free
Once in a lifetime you live and love
Once in a lifetime you die
Once in a lifetime the sun goes down
Protect and survive
You search the open evening sky
Trace the memory in your eyes
The prophet’s hard rain and the deluge lie
In tears around your door
Once there were trees and livestock here
A mother’s love, the warnings clear
But you chose to turn away from fear
Breathing free
Once in a lifetime you live and love
Once in a lifetime you die
Once in a lifetime the sun goes down
Protect and survive
Protect and survive
Now there’s an unmarked grave on a distant hill
A hero’s voice in silent scream
Where lovers loved and the dreamers dream
You fought and died alone
You took your sacrifice to the Gods of war
Traded your own life for many more
You beat your ploughshares into swords
Breathing free
Once in a lifetime you live and love
Once in a lifetime you die
Once in a lifetime the sun goes down
Protect and survive
Protect and survive
Once in a lifetime you lived and loved
Once in a lifetime you died
Once in a lifetime you stood your ground
That we might survive
That we might survive
Yes, we must survive