The village of Louth is overlooked by a four acre fenced cemetery with a population of 67 at an average age of just 12. The cemetery is dominated by a large column of polished granite, 24 feet high, crowned with a Celtic cross and concealing a story of love, loss and pioneering history.

The cross itself is positioned to reflect the setting sun and shines brilliantly if you are in the right position at the correct time. Local identity Wally Mitchell described the discovery of the shining cross as a child, collecting firewood on the hill, he and his sister were amazed and ran into town to warn the village that the cemetery was on fire (for which they were severely punished). The metaphor is striking though, something is burning in the Louth cemetery, a love story that took our imaginations and ran with them.

Fire Stone

One to pick the mornings wood now the day is over
One to exercise the dogs for the Winbar drover
Both to skirt the cemetery out at the edge of town
One to watch the full moon rise, one watch the sun go down

Gone but not forgotten are the words of love and loss
Full moon rises in the East above the Celtic cross
Marble heart is broken at the foot of where she lies
But something still is burning (burning)
Someone still remembers (remembers)
Something's still on fire and it lights the Western skies

Misbehaving drovers dog sits tied up at the gate
Arms full of mornings wood and standing there they wait
Sun sinks lower in the West, full moon on the rise
Celtic cross reflects the sun and straight into their eyes

Two are running into town in the fading light
Dogs and mornings wood forgotten as they both take flight
Running witness to a flaming desire
Screaming to the village that the cemeteries on fire

The cross that burns nightly in the cemetery at Louth
Polished stone from the quarries in the South
Shines across a treeless plain, scorches western skies
And lights a century of love (love)
Burns eternal fire(fire)
The sunset will always sing a lovers last goodbyes

One has crossed the wild seas to be a faithful wife
One attacked the outback to provide a better life
An Irish cross is lit by an Australian outback sun
And underneath the stone the bones of two join into one

The cross that burns nightly in the cemetery at Louth
Polished stone from the quarries in the South
Shines across a treeless plain, scorches western skies
And lights a century of love (love)
Burns eternal fire (fire)
The sunset will always sing a lovers last goodbyes

©2002. Words and Music, Andrew Hull and Tonchi Macintosh

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