TABLELAND When the settlers sailed from England, in 1842 Their promised land had not been well assigned Then the survey teams left Nelson, to find new pastures green But Heaphy and Mackay failed to find... The Tableland... The Tableland... They’re searching for the golden Tableland... To that land uplifted high, those islands in the sky They’re looking for Mt Arthur Tableland By 1863, the land was broken in But many farmers struggled to survive So Salisbury set off early, up and over Lodestone peak He found a place where cows and sheep could thrive... (on) The Tableland... The Tableland... In rain and hail up to the Tableland... In those golden tussock fields, all the way up to Mt Peel They’re driving sheep up to the Tableland Well, the news it spread like fire, they followed in Tom’s steps The miners took supplies up Lodestone peak They cut trees with an axe, to build their rustic shacks Looking for the gold in Cundy Creek... (on) The Tableland... The Tableland... Prospecting for riches on the Tableland They cooked in camp ovens, they perished by the dozens The diggers are dying on the Tableland In summer 1880, the Bishop’s party came Youngsters on a camping holiday They climbed the Pyramid, throwing snowballs like a kid Singing all the songs that they could play... The Tableland... The Tableland... They’ll tramp the Flora Track to the Tableland They’ll camp by Bishops Cave, & search for Edwin’s grave ( or sleep outside if they’re brave) They’re happy to be on the Tableland By the year of 1910, the locals wanted deer A herd was set free in the Flora valley In the glory days, Harry Ferris was amazed He shot ninety-nine in one day’s tally (on) The Tableland... The Tableland... They’re shooting all the stags on the Tableland... From the fallows in Deep Creek, to the reds at Devil River Peak They’re stalking deer on the Tableland Now, some fossicked for gold, but in winter disappeared But Henry Chaffey lived here till he died The man was tough as boots; he ate what he could shoot With his lover Annie by his side... The Tableland... The Tableland... They’re eating all the woodhen on the Tableland... For forty years together, through the inclemental weather The lovers living on the Tableland Now, most believed there’s nothing new under Nelson’s sun Well, the caving club proved that they were wrong! After crawling through the squeezes, and following the breezes The caving teams came out and sang this song... The Tableland... The Tableland... I’m searching underneath the Tableland... Through the Up ‘n’ Overs, to the Salisbury Underground I’m caving underneath the Tableland The Tableland... The Tableland... I’m going to the golden Tableland... To that land uplifted high, those islands in the sky I’m going to the golden Tableland Lyrics by Raymond John Salisbury, 2020.

1953 | LYRICS It’s a Sunday afternoon as they climb the Razorback Over the Lizard to the top The nurses are triumphant as they stand on the volcano But the temperature begins to drop As they descend, down into the shadow A freezing wind chills them to the bone Over Hongi’s Bluff they fall, rescue teams can’t hear their call Six souls die on Taranaki’s cone CHORUS: Hillary is climbing into history Elisabeth is ruling as our queen Parading thru our city streets as royalty She’ll be right; it’s 1953… It’s a blustery Christmas Eve; they’re all on holiday The carriages speed along the track The train resounds with laughter as they approach disaster The mountain’s crater lake begins to crack A flood of mud and water sees the railway bridge destroyed The locomotive dives into the void Parker cannot stop the train; Ellis tries but it’s in vain Weeping waters flow at Tangiwai CHORUS: Hillary is climbing into history Elisabeth is ruling as our queen Helping us forget our immortality She’ll be right; it’s 1953… © 2020 Raymond John Salisbury > Lighthouse Audio

LIVING IN YOUR SHADOW Twenty years after the baby boom You were first out of the womb I was cursed, (or was I doomed?) to Living in your shadow You were faster in a race You would lead and I would chase I arrived in second place Living in your shadow CHORUS: I see you rise and fall I hear my curtain call No need to prove I’m stronger I’m freed, I am no longer Living in your shadow Growing up into teenagers We went through the usual changes I tried to hide from the dangers by Living in your shadow You were one the girls would kiss I could never take that risk I was happy to exist Living in your shadow CHORUS: I see you rise and fall I hear my curtain call No need to prove I’m stronger I’m freed, I am no longer Living in your shadow Now I’m nearly middle-aged My fear has disappeared in stages Since the time we were teenagers Living in your shadow Now I know the Rock of Ages He has made my heart courageous I am freed, I have no need for Living in your shadow © 2005 Raymond John Salisbury • Lighthouse Audio, Tauranga, New Zealand