Mountains Of Burma
Midnight Oil · Blue Sky Mining [1990]
The heart of Kelly's country cleared
The gangers on the southern line
Like the steam trains have disappeared
Pelicans glide
Miracles up in the sky
We vote for a government
With axes in its eyes
CHORUS
Mountains of Burma
The road to Mandalay
In the mountains of Burma
Light years away
Mountains of Burma
Will the sons of Solidarity
Still march on May Day
Will the sisters of the 70's
Still fight for equal pay
There's no one on the Reeperbahn
No more blankets handed out for land
We feed an economy
That's got blood on its hands
CHORUS
Pack your bags full of guns and ammunition
Bills fall due for the industrial revolution
Scorch the earth till the Earth surrenders
Soldiers of armies
Storm empty fields
In a traveller's trance
On the way to the high frontier
Sleepwalkers stumble
Cable cars run aground
Imaginary enemies
Form high above the clouds
In the mountains of Burma
Mountains Of Burma
Midnight Oil's 'Mountains Of Burma' stands as a defining anthem of Australian political rock, released on the 1990 album 'Blue Sky Mining'. The track channels the band's signature fusion of punk energy and progressive rock structures to critique the environmental and social costs of open-cut mining in the Burmese jungle. Written by George Young, the song utilizes a driving, industrial rhythm to underscore the plight of indigenous communities and the ecological devastation caused by resource extraction. It remains a cornerstone of the band's catalogue, reflecting their unwavering commitment to social justice and environmental awareness through their music. The recording captures the urgency of the era, blending acoustic guitar intros with heavy distortion to create a soundscape that resonates with global movements against industrial exploitation.