Not Drowning, Waving – The Kiap Song lyrics

The Strong Chimbu man looks straight ahead.
He hears his masta's voice, he's lost his nerve again.
The kiap shouts, the big buffoon
he yells his orders through the coffee trees.

That's the way it's done up here yeah,
the boss, the boys, the fight up here
that's the way it's done up here.

The hot nights roll on endlessly.
His face is crushed from twenty years of drink.
And the Townsville men all own plantations here.
They drink at the club with their Philipino brides.

That's the life they have up here,
the labour's cheap and strong up here, that's the way it's done up here.

And the coffee bean stench fills the air.
The heat falls off his brow.
And they've worked the fire since morning time.
For a lousy three kina a day, well that's all . (tasol)

That's the way they're paid up here,
The boss, the boys, the fight up here,
that's the way it's done up here.