Popular in the early 1980s, ‘Cool Change’ was written by Australian singer-songwriter Glenn Barrie Shorrock (born 30th June 1944), a co-founder of the Little Rock Band. The lyrics speak of spending time alone on “the cool and bright clear water” — a message that should resonate with anyone who wants to get away, in the words of English poet Thomas Grey, “far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife”.
Learn more about the song here.
The best version of ‘Cool Change’ is still that of Glenn Barrie Shorrock himself. Watch him perform live on 18th May 2022 at the age of 77 in Sydney’s State Theatre:
Cool Change
Complete lyrics
If there’s one thing in my life that’s missing
It’s the time that I spend alone
Sailing on the cool and bright clear water
Lots of those friendly people
They’re showing me ways to go
But I never want to lose their inspiration
Time for a cool change
I know that it’s time for a cool change
Now that my life is so prearranged
I know that it’s time for a cool change
Well, I was born in the sign of water
And it’s there that I feel my best
The albatross and the whales
They are my brothers
It’s kind of a special feeling
When you’re out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon like a lover
Time for a cool change
I know that it’s time for a cool change
Now that my life is so prearranged
I know that it’s time for a cool change
I’ve never been romantic
And sometimes, I don’t care
I know it may sound selfish
But let me breathe the air
Yeah, yeah
Let me breathe the air
If there’s one thing
In my life that’s missing
It’s the time that I spend alone
Sailing on the cool
And bright clear water
It’s kind of a special feeling
Out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon
Like a lover
Time for a cool change
I know that it’s time for a cool change
Now that my life is so prearranged
I know that it’s time for a cool change
(Time for a cool change)
I know it’s time for a cool change
(Time for a cool change)
Well, I know, I know
I know, I know
It’s time for a cool change
Yes, it is, yes, it is yes, it is
You know it’s time for a cool change
~ Barista Uno
