The Ship Song Project: Artists pay tribute to the Sydney Opera House:

“It is a song, and a story, of a nation that dreams. Indigenous singer-songwriter Kev Carmody, who performed with the Australian Ballet Company, said it’s also about, “The beauty (and) ancientness of this majestic place … imagine what it was like 250 years ago, my friends, it would’ve been paradise”.
“It’s a coming together of cultures, people and disciplines.”

… and the original from Nick Cave:

For anyone interested in the lyrics and what they mean, skip the Youtube comments and have a look at:

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/66401/