Keating! The Musical
All lyrics written and copyrighted by Casey Bennetto, 2004.
Annotations written by Loki Carbis, 2009. The assistance and advice of Casey Bennetto in the creation of these annotations is gratefully acknowledged.
This page is intended for informational purposes only.
Keating: I thought this moment would be nervous
But tonight I’m full of joy
I bless my twenty years of service
Bankstown is Keating’s home town, and Blaxland is the electorate it is located in – also Keating’s, during his years in Parliament.As a Blaxland Bankstown boy
A chance to make the nation richer
An opportunity to see
A wider screen, a bigger picture
And you gave that chance to me – I take it with glee!
‘Cos I am the ruler of the land
They tell me I’m the man –
Band: who da man?
Keating: who da man?
Band: you the man!
Keating: yes I am.
I am the ruler of the land
They tell me I’m the man
Band: who da man?
Keating: who da man?
Band: you the man!
Keating: - yes I am.
but… but… but…
I am the ruler of a nation torn
By redneck scorn of the native born
Aboriginal reconciliation, including an acknowledgment, apology and reparations for the European invasion, was a major goal of Keating’s years as PM. Keating wanted to make a treaty, but was widely opposed in this goal.Can we finally have a treaty please?
Apologies to Aborigines?
Nowadays I’m quite persuaded
A nation takes its share of blame
The white man certainly invaded
The past will always stay the same
Show me something of our future
Smarter, wiser, less afraid
Put the mozz on every moocher
Let the nation be remade – I must be obeyed!
‘Cos I am the ruler of the land
They tell me I’m the man –
Band: who da man?
Keating: who da man?
Band: you the man!
Keating: yes I am.
I am the ruler of the land
They tell me I’m the man
Band: who da man?
Keating: who da man?
Band: you the man!
Keating: - yes I am.
but… but… but…
I am the servant of a distant queen
Who can overween and intervene
Republicanism was one of Keating’s major policies – he believed that it would help Australia to show its independence and assume its rightful place in the world.Can we finally make her obsolete?
Stand complete on our own two feet?
And wouldn’t it be nice to get on with your neighbour?
Engagement with Asia – painted by Keating as both geographical and economic good sense. Keating pursued this goal through extensive diplomacy with Asian nations and the formation of ASEAN.And make it very clear: Australia part of Asia?
And wouldn’t it be good just hangin’ in the hood
To lend a cup of sugar like a neighbor should?
And wouldn’t it be sweet talkin’ over the fence,
Prime Minister Malathir of Malaysia was one of the least receptive to Keating’s plans for ASEAN, which led Keating to label him a ‘recalcitrant’, sparking a minor diplomatic incident.Evans/Keating: Recalcitrance becoming common sense?
Keating: Now, now
Let me now address the chamber
Everyone from red to blue
“well I’m talkin’ to you!”
Yes, I’m at the end of the rainbow
And now I hold a pot of gold for you
Here’s the gist of my agenda:
‘Advance Australia Fair’ is the national anthem of Australia.Let’s advance Australia fair.
No retreat and no surrender
‘Til we get our nation there – I solemnly swear!
‘Cos I am, I am the ruler of the land
They tell me I’m the man
Band: who da man?
Keating: who da man?
Band: you the man!
Keating: – yes I am.
Keating once warned that Australia was in danger of becoming a banana republic – a comment widely reported as him saying that Australia was a banana republic.Band: Top banana republic man
Keating: – oh!
Band: Top banana republic man
Keating: – Yes I am
Band: Top banana republic man
Keating: – I am the ruler of the land
Band: Top banana republic man
Keating: – Yes! Yes I am
Band: Top banana republic man
Keating: – I am the ruler of the land
Band: Top banana republic man
Keating: - And they tell me I’m the man
Band: who da man?
Keating: who da man?
Band: you the man!
Keating: I am!!
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