The red hot sun burns up the hill
The winter's bride, the summer's king
I tramp these acres and I feel
Once upon a time
And then it seemed that everything
You saw and touched and felt was real
You turned the tap and you turned the wheel
Breathing free
Once in a lifetime you live and love
Once in a lifetime you die
Once in a moment the sun goes down
Protect and survive
Now you search the open evening sky
Trace the memory in your eyes
For the prophet's hard rain and the deluge lie
In tears around your door
Once there were trees and livestock here
A mother's love, the warnings clear
You chose to turn away from fear
Breathing free
Once in a lifetime you live and love
Once in a lifetime you die
Once in a moment the sun goes down
Protect and survive
Now there's a faceless cross on a distant hill
A wasted voice, and a silent scream
Where the lovers loved and the dreamers dreamed
You stand and dream alone
You took your sacrifice to the gods of war
Traded your children's lives for a mess of gold
And you beat your ploughshares into swords
Breathing free
Once in a lifetime you live and love
Once in a lifetime you die
Once in a moment the sun goes down
Protect and survive
Once in a lifetime you live and love
Once in a lifetime you die
Once in a moment the sun goes down
Protect and survive
Protect and survive
Protect and survive