Clem Tholet - What a time it was

What a time it was
With so few friends to turn to
What a time it was
When all we did seemed wrong
We'd broken all our bonds
And the battle plan was drawn
What a time, what a time it was

1965, the year of U.D.I
Who'd have thought the country would survive or stay alive
The UN made us outcasts and the British said we couldn't last
That we would fall when the oil did not arrive

Now I don't say we were right
And I don't say we were wrong
I'm just trying to tell it like it was in simple song
You see when people love their homeland
They regard it as their own land
And they fight whether they're right, or they are wrong

What a time it was
With all the world against us
What a time it was
Not all we did was wrong
We'd broken all our bonds but life kept going on
What a time, what a time it was

1966 saw some ocean politics
When two men climbed a Tiger to have talks about the talks
They talked and talked and talked and talked
And talked and talked some more
The negotiations ended in deadlock

And in 1968, there was another great debate
This time aboard the Fearless, but the end was much the same
November saw a new flag raised
While the people prayed for better days
And hope was still the surname of the game

And in 1970, our republic came to be
Solutions seemed to fly a little further out of reach
But the next year through the gloom
Came sir Alec Douglas-Home
And it seemed they'd found a way across the breach

So in early '72 Lord Pearce and his retinue
Arrived to put the nation to a test that they had planned
But still it seemed the plan was bad
No better than the last they'd had
And those the words we heard across the land

What a time it was
With all the world against us
What a time it was
When all we did seemed wrong
We'd broken all our bonds and the battle plan was drawn
What a time, what a time it was

1975 and Mr. Vorster had arrived
With president Kaunda for some talks across the halls
But nothing there could be resolved
The problem still was too involved
And the impetus slowed down until it stalled

1976 was when cosmopolitics
Finally put pressure on the players in the game
Kissinger's proposals were broadcast to the nation
With one man and one vote the final aim

Well Geneva should've sealed it
But instead it just revealed that all the players in the game were pulled apart
Well they had to find a way to start again another day
With all prepared to take a peaceful part

What a time it was
With all the world against us
What a time it was
When all we did seemed wrong
We'd broken all our bonds
And the battle carried on
What a time, what a time it was

Now in 1978, while the rest still vacillate
We found a way to work it out within the land
Never mind the rest, what we're doing's for the best
And all we want is a peace we understand

There'll be votes for all the folks
And with sanctions gone we hope
To rebuild this little country to a proud and single nation
We've got to end this dreadful war
We've found what we've been fighting for
Will the world wake up and stop this conflagration

What a time it's been
With so few friends to turn to
What a time it's been
When all we did seemed wrong
We're trying to put things right
But the battle still goes on

What a time, what a time it's been