[Verse 1: Paul Kelly] Welcome strangers to the show I'm the one who should be lying low Saw the knives out, turned my back Heard the train coming, stayed right on that track [Hook: Paul Kelly] In the middle, in the middle In the middle of a dream I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings I've done all the dumb things [Verse 2: Trails] Yeah, them dumb things This goin' out to all my brothers down there in Don Dale Dealin' with that disaster that them guards are there and not jail Thinking we gettin' our welfare, huh? Thinking we gettin' our healthcare, huh? Think about if it was your son, now think about sending some help there, yeah What's dumber than that mate? What's dumber than dressing up blackface? What's dumber than doing it knowing it hurts and don't even work to make that change Let's go [Hook: Paul Kelly] In the middle, in the middle In the middle of a dream I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings I've done all the dumb things [Verse 3: Briggs] We got We got islands for the ones who seekin' asylum We got silence for the ones who died in confinement If you're complacent to the words of a racist Don't you dare complain when that's what leading your nation Send in the clowns, they're blackfacing They're locking up couples, they're locking up brothers, but they ain't leavin' the station The date's changin' [Hook: Paul Kelly] In the middle, in the middle In the middle of a dream I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings I've done all the dumb things [Interlude: Trails] Ladies and gentleman. On the keys and drums Mr John, Mr Paul Bartlett AKA SixFour. On the guitar, my brother Dan Sultan. And to my right, Mr Paul Kelly [Verse 4: Trails] Yeah, them dumb things Lumped in, looking for peace, but won't find it They holdin' us back from closing the gap by keeping them close minded See, no surprises there, hearing both of them sirens blare Them coppers where I'm from are kind of fair, if you kinda fair [Verse 5: Briggs] What's a royal commission to the ones who live on a mission To the ones who's k**ed by the system by the ones that's meant to a**ist 'em At the hands of policemen, who's gonna police them? They k**in' us Koori's, they got it on footage, they need to release them [Hook: Paul Kelly] In the middle, in the middle In the middle of a dream I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings I've done all the dumb things [Ad-Lib: Trails] Mr John Bartlett [Keys Solo: SixFour] [Ad-Lib: Trails] My brother Dan Sultan [Guitar Solo: Dan Sultan] [Ad-Lib: Trails] Mr Paul Kelly [Harmonica Solo: Paul Kelly] [Hook: Paul Kelly] In the middle, in the middle In the middle of a dream I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings I've done all the dumb things [Outro: Paul Kelly] Yeah, I melted wax to fix my wings Threw my hat into the ring I thought that I just had to sing I've done all the dumb things