You can listen to an earlier recording of this song here (sung by Lloyd, very badly, but the popular Australian folk singer, Cate Burke, helps out very nicely.)

This song arose during a journey with my friend, Alan Stewart, in 2000, along the Great Ocean Road and the Coorong in Southern Australia as we discussed his work as a consultant and facilitator. Alan was a pioneer in this country of Open Space Technology and World Café principles and he successfully combined these two into a workshop format that he called The Conversing Café. 

I talk to people at work every day

And I'm affected by things that we say

We talk for power or self-preservation

Winning the argument, justification

Needing agreement to guarantee outcomes

Separately having our way

I long to be able to speak without fearing

Trust and belong as a part of the whole

When we're conversing we're working together

Not just our minds but our heart and our soul

CHORUS

For I've seen the sparkling eyes

I have felt that connection

We came together not to persuade

But to treat each other well

In this together whatever we say

At the Conversing Café

In this together whatever we say

At the Conversing Café

Talking and listening we do every day

Cultures created by all that we say

Speaking oppression, how heavy the heart is

Lightness and laughter are not just for parties

Speak without needing the answer you wanted

Let out your spirit to play

So we are able to speak without fearing

Trust and belong as a part of the whole

When we're conversing we're working together

Not just our minds but our heart and our soul

REPEAT CHORUS