Rutu from Zealandia by Dudley Benson

Oh I was looking out of a window
Out of a window onto a land
Of blue hills sleeping
White mountains keeping
The ice from creeping over the plains
I saw a tree there without its leaves on
Without its leaves on like a skeleton
But birds were in it, and I could hear them
Oh I could hear them calling for
Spring to come and bring blossom
Sun to come and melt snow into a stream
Dry the soaking pinecones
That rolled away last year
Tell the wind he needs to warm up
Ask the grass if she would grow extra long
This is what I heard that day
Hidden in beautiful birdsong

As I was looking out of that window
I was so surprised to see it all change
The land was sinking
Those mountains shrinking
The ocean drinking them in his arms
The bluest blanket of the Pacific
Was warming himself under the sun
And from that stillness of tropic beauty
Emerged a woman born of that sun
With skin of brownest goodness
Hair of honey gifted from the bees’ hive
Eyes that watch the growth grow
So musical, fertile
Offering a water lily
“Ko ahau Rutu”, she said
“I am here to help you make into life
What was dead”

“I know you hurt; I will heal you
I know you grieve; I will heal you
You only need to look to me
You only need to come to me
My nature is
An elixir
A fixer
A bandage
A suture
A serum
A vaccine
A vitamin
A remedy
With the charm of a talisman
The tākuta
The tohunga
The healer
They’re all for you!

You only need to walk through me
I will clear your mind
You only need to swim in me
I will clear your skin
You only need to drink me
I will nourish you
You only need to breathe me 
I will give you life
I am yours
You are mine
I am yours
You are we”

• Alternative
• Electronic
• New Zealand
• indie pop
• singer-songwriter
• Melbourne