Lyrics

Today is Peter Norman Day
October 9th is marked this way
The USTFA decreed it to be so

It’s not just what he did on the track
But how he never turned his back
So settle in, sit back – it’s a story you should know

(in) the summer of 1968’s disjoint
With racial strains at boiling point
The Olympic flame it flickered in a bowl with little air

The 200 metre final prize
Was Smith’s or Carlos’s most surmised
Norman ran like Hermes and got in between the pair

Sometimes it’s hard to sort the fibre from the fluff
What a delight to find a diamond in the rough
Tell his story to your kids
Remember the important bits:
That run and Aussie record that’s still his

Now Smith and Carlos had hatched a plan
To make a point on the victory stand
Norman said ”that’s cool I’ll wear this button by your side”

Heads were bowed, gloved hands were raised
The Star Spangled Banner played
The moment went, the image stayed and fuelled a welling tide

Sometimes it’s hard to sort the fibre from the fluff
What a delight to find a diamond in the rough
Tell his story to your kids
Remember the important bits:
The face beneath the arc of floating fists

Smith and Carlos were sent straight home
The Government tailed them and tapped their phones
‘Just take back your actions Peter and we can make this go away’

But Norman wouldn’t acquiesce
The AOC was merciless..

Fast forward to Sydney
With the Games at home
A new millennium
Hadn’t changed their tone
Norman wasn’t honoured, not invited
What a crock, we’re so incited by this snub

Freeman’s run was a sight to see
A race towards equality
Peter watched it on TV with his uncle in a pub

Sometimes it’s hard to sort the fibre from the fluff
What a delight to find a diamond in the rough
Tell his story to your kids
Remember the important bits:
Drunk and broken hearted and on the skids

Today is Peter Norman Day
At his funeral, Vangelis played
His casket carried proudly, Smith and Carlos at the helm

But matters were not laid to rest
Till the day of Canberra’s forward foot best
An apology, more or less, was granted by the Realm

Sometimes it’s hard to sort the fibre from the fluff
What a delight to find a diamond in the rough
Tell his story to your kids
Remember the important bits:
That race and Aussie record
The pain and false exposure
And finally some closure for this family and kin