Macidol Mac music community

Song Information:

A location song. We moved to the isolated south coast of NSW in '79, courtesy of the government - planned to stay 3 years but got hooked by the sea and the bush.

When I was a kid, my mother was always concerned about me drowning, and always told me to be "careful of the undertow". Even when I was a teenager, she used to say it when I was going out to parties, the pub or (still) the beach.

Yes, I know about "The World According To Garp".

I began to interpret that as a warning about becoming seduced: drugs, women, the surfing culture etc.

This song is about getting seduced by a place. 25 years later we are still here, loving all sorts of things about it - the surf and the sometimes heavy weather made it to the song.

I love doing this stuff.

Hope you enjoy it.

Song Lyrics:

Careful Of The Undertow
(C) Neil Porter 2005

Headed south to address some consequences
Thought wed stay here for a while
You move away and you lose your best defences
Take a card and look out for the undertow
Mama said beware of the undertow

Big swell coming from the south
Tide is getting low
Theres action at the River Mouth
Paddle hard and look out for the undertow
Mama said beware of the undertow

Chorus
Loving each day
Living the coastal life
Weve been here for quite a while
Someone said beware of the dolce vita
Mama said beware of the undertow
Going down with a smile in the undertow

Heavy weather in the air last night
Lightning sheeting cross the bay
Red sky morning was a perfect sight
Stay on guard look out for the undertow
Mama said beware of the undertow

Not much hope of leaving Hotel California
Havent checked out for a while
City life has become inconsequential
Mama said beware of the undertow
Going down with a smile in the undertow

Chorus
Loving each day
Living the coastal life
Weve been here for quite a while
Someone said beware of the dolce vita
Mama said beware of the undertow
Going down with a smile in the undertow