Mark Seymour – Waratah Street
Versions
| Version | Length | Source | Availability |
| Studio | 4:22 | Mark Seymour Embedded album. | Moderately common. Available new in CD and digital form. |
Live [1]  |
4:57 | Mark Seymour Live At The Basement album and video. | Moderately rare. Not available new. |
| Live [2] | 4:41 | Mark Seymour From Bondi to Bedlam album and video. | Moderately common. Available new in CD, DVD and digital form. |
Recommended Version.
From Mark’s site:
Keilor. Matthew is 76 and recently returned home from hospital where he had a lung removed. He made his money building fences in the first great suburban boom. He has gambled all his life…Successfully. He rides a motorised chair to and from the local newsagency everyday where he plays the lotteries. He wins consistently. Hundreds a week. He has won first division tattslotto twice. Matthew is a legend at the local RSL club. He wears a huge wedding ring which is inlaid with hundreds of diamonds that form the letter ‘S’.
Shirley his wife is very meek, but deeply laconic. She thinks Matthew is a prick. He is. But she loves him anyway. They often sit together on the front porch if it’s sunny, and Matthew quietly curses the stupidity of the human race. Shirley listens.
Matthew used to be dog breeder. He has a collection of approximately three thousand photographs of Pekinese show dogs. He bred them all. And sold them. He quite likes Pauline Hanson. He says, “At least she’s having a go”.
When you run into me in Waratah Street
I won’t stare you down, I won’t even speak
Painted my face, I look like a freak
I’m always at home, I’m waiting and
Everyone’s talking, nobody’s listening
And everyone’s busy and nobody’s thinking
And I’ve got some ideas but I can’t stop drinking
Nobody’s listening to me
Nobody’s listening to me
There’s a house on the bend on Waratah Street
And Matthew’s my friend, gardens with so much affection
He’s right on the money, he’s been
He showed me the photo’s
Everyone’s talking and nobody’s listening
Everyone’s busy and nobody’s thinking
I’ve got some idea’s but I can’t stop drinking
And nobody’s listening to me
Nobody’s listening to me
If you come looking I’ll stop hiding
If we’re not talking, at least we’re not fighting
And I’d go to pieces if I was together at all
You, never run into me on Waratah Street
I won’t stare you down and we’ll never speak
I’ve painted my face, I look like a freak
I’m always at home, I’m waiting
And everyone’s talking and nobody’s listening
Everyone’s busy and nobody’s thinking
And I’ve got some idea’s but I can’t stop drinking
And nobody’s listening to me
Nobody’s listening to me
Nobody’s listening to me
Nobody’s listening to me
