Kerry Steer
Kerry Steer sent me this sweet song of secret love, loss and landscape in 1989. The song was also received and recorded by prolific Bundaberg country music singer/songwriter Evelyn Bury, (whose work I met unfortunately far too late to include in this book). Evelyn told me she was sent the song at around the same time, but the whereabouts of the songwriter are unknown.
In North Queensland, the narrow gauge steam trains taking sugar cane to the mill to be crushed were known as “Gentle Annies”.
The version below is sung by the songwriter, Kerry Steer.
Listen to Songs By Kerry Steer
Gentle Annie Creek
Song Lyrics
1 Gentle Annie Creek flows from the mountains to the sea,
Meandering through the canefields, flowing to be free;
She has a way of saying nothing ’bout you and me
And she always seemed a special place for lovers to be free.
Her crystal waters wash away the tears I cried for you
And she carries them and lays them gently in the blue
I’m sure she understands, oh, the way I’m missing you
Reflecting all the mem’ries of the days I spent with you.
Gentle Annie Creek flows from the mountains to the sea,
Meandering through the canefields, flowing to be free;
She has a way of saying nothing ’bout you and me
And she always seemed a special place for lovers to be free.
2. I think she knows I’ve lost you and her waters seem to sing
Rippling on their rocky floor, in harmony she’ll ring
Oh, and building to a symphony, screaming through the bay
Carrying all my pain to the reef so far away.
And with my pain she takes my heart and carries it out to sea
And the only thing she’s left of you is just your memory.
Gentle Annie Creek flows from the mountains to the sea,
Meandering through the canefields, flowing to be free;
She has a way of saying nothing ’bout you and me
And she always seemed a special place for lovers to be free.
And if we’d found each other many years ago
We might still be here together watching Gentle Annie flow.