Sandra and Jennie, 'Goodbye Melbourne Town' is not on 'Young man and able', 'The Bagman's Gazette' nor 'Songs they used to sing'.

THE MAN I MIGHT HAVE BEEN
(Gary Shearston)

I’ve been a long time in the wilderness
Picking up the pieces
I’ve been a long time on a mountain top
Staring at the sea
There’s been a chain around this heart of mine
Linked to life’s caprices
There’s been a song deep down inside of me
Longing to be free

Well everybody has to bear the cross
When they burn their fingers
And everybody has their nemesis
Waiting in the wings
I know I’ve been my own worst enemy
Putting trust in swindlers
But then I guess for simple-hearted souls
That’s the way of things

Lord, my hand is on the plough
Shine new light upon the scene
As I ask forgiveness now
Of the man I might have been
Heart and soul desire
Pentecostal fire
To turn lead to gold
And the mystic rose of old unfolds

Now as I count the cost of my mistakes
Add them all together
I see I’ve been a fool so many times
But a fool made wise
For where’s the wisdom in adversity
Unless it teaches whether
You come to understand with certainty
Only love survives

Lord, my hand is on the plough
Shine new light upon the scene
As I ask forgiveness now
Of the man I might have been

From his 'Only love survives' album.

Youtube clip

Album note by Shearston:

"There is nothing permanent," said Heraclitus, "except change." The Man I Might Have Been is a song of transition, of taking stock, of coming to terms, of reflection on the purpose of life's journey. The title comes from a Henry Lawson poem and is also found in one of Morris West's novels. At an earlier date, the English poet, Adelaide Ann Procter (1825-1864), wrote, "No star is ever lost we once have seen. We always may be what we might have been." Heraclitus, by the way, was a Greek philosopher who lived from 540-475 BC. "Upon those that step into the same rivers," he said, "different and different waters flow down."

--Stewie