The Whitlams - 400 Miles from Darwin

We pay to shed a sombre tear in the darkness together here
One among the hundreds, crying for the millions
And when the house lights break the trance
Only then unclasp our hands
Compose ourselves and fix our hair
"We would have all been Schindler there"
Drive in silence slowly home
Now horror's more than skin and bone

And can you see in twenty years,
We'll pay to shed the same cheap tears.
In a film about an island, watch our hero take a stand.
Pay our money gladly to wash our hands.

Watching the movie we'll ask how the people might have known.
Let it happen there without a fight.
Kept driving on quietly home,
Left the Timorese alone - 400 miles from Darwin.

The two-minute hate is now the three-hour love,
With any action from up above.
Those people then could turn their heads,
Now all the same we sleep instead.
While 400 miles from Darwin,
East Timor is dying.

Watching the movie we'll ask how the people might have known
Let it happen there without a fight
Kept driving on quietly home
Left the Timorese alone - 400 miles from Darwin