The Phantom

Phantom
by Dave Warner

PHANTOM was written in late 1976, I think, after my return from the U.K. The Phantom comic strip had always been a favourite of mine, and I decided to transplant that legendary hero to Perth circa 1976 and see what he would make of it. It was one of the few "political" songs I've written, a plea for common sense in the wake of W.A.'s "progress at all costs" philosophy. Note the changes from the very original - for example "The Pygmy Bandar people want their independence, they've had enough of you, they're taking tanks from the Soviet Union, and killing off their Jews" and so on.

Deep in the jungle, deep in the jungle,
Deep in the jungle in the Bay of Bengal.
Ghost Who Walks strength of 10 tigers,
What you gonna do
If the MRPA builds a freeway through your skull cave
Where you gonna screw, Dianne and Guran?
Hey, Ghost Who Walks the Wambesi have gone commo,
The Llongo are no longer on your side
So if Charlie Court gets the jungle patrol after you
Where you gonna hide?
'Cause, all the little Pygmy Bandar people,
They want to shake your white man's rule,
They're taking tanks from Russia
In exchange for Diana's jewels
The capitalists are ripping out our jungle
The communists ripping out our brain
You're the only leader left now
Who is immortal and slightly sane.
Ghost Who Walks strength of 10 tigers
Leave your Bay of Bengal
Come to Perth where we've got the Edgeleys
And 2 pedestrian malls
Ghost Who Walks strength of 10 tigers
I implore you
Come land a skull mark on Charlie's jaw
Before he progressides you
Ghost Who Walks strength of 10 tigers
Time's running out
The posters are already up in Moscow,
Poor pygmies terrorised by imperialist lout
You see, in the West
They want your jungle and
In the East they want your blood
So get out quick while you still can
Before you find your name is mud
And, I know you'll just love Garden City
Though Devil might have to stay outside
Still Hero can become a police horse
Providing you teach him how to take a bribe
The capitalists are ripping out our jungle
The communists ripping out our brain
You're the only leader left now
Who is immortal and slightly sane.