The dreamtime folk are stirring now
They have laid their claim
To a part of the land their fathers roamed
That carries their tribal name
Where Vesty's cattle brands are scored
And stockmans whips are cracked
The dreamtime folk are holding out,
There'll be no going back
Will you fight, will you dare, will you give, will you care
Will you help to mend the wrong?
Will you stand up now for the dreamtime folk
By joining their freedom song
Where the muddy Murray's waters pour
Where tomatoes rule the weed
And the dreamtime folk that planted them
Have seen where the road could lead
They could leave behind the pickers' hats
They could leave the fringe of the town
They could take their place in this lucky land
If you let them, then they can.
Will you fight, will you dare, will you give, will you care
Will you help to mend the wrong?
Will you stand up now for the dreamtime folk
By joining their freedom song
Do they have to reach some famous height
Before you let them grow?
Will you shelter first the tall gumtree
Or spring-flowers from the snow
Well the plant is young, but the plant will grow
And its fruit will sweeten the tongue
Of the dreamtime folk whose bitter bread
Has choked their freedom song
Will you fight, will you dare, will you give, will you care
Will you help to mend the wrong?
Will you stand up now for the dreamtime folk
By joining their freedom song
They have laid their claim
To a part of the land their fathers roamed
That carries their tribal name
Where Vesty's cattle brands are scored
And stockmans whips are cracked
The dreamtime folk are holding out,
There'll be no going back
Will you fight, will you dare, will you give, will you care
Will you help to mend the wrong?
Will you stand up now for the dreamtime folk
By joining their freedom song
Where the muddy Murray's waters pour
Where tomatoes rule the weed
And the dreamtime folk that planted them
Have seen where the road could lead
They could leave behind the pickers' hats
They could leave the fringe of the town
They could take their place in this lucky land
If you let them, then they can.
Will you fight, will you dare, will you give, will you care
Will you help to mend the wrong?
Will you stand up now for the dreamtime folk
By joining their freedom song
Do they have to reach some famous height
Before you let them grow?
Will you shelter first the tall gumtree
Or spring-flowers from the snow
Well the plant is young, but the plant will grow
And its fruit will sweeten the tongue
Of the dreamtime folk whose bitter bread
Has choked their freedom song
Will you fight, will you dare, will you give, will you care
Will you help to mend the wrong?
Will you stand up now for the dreamtime folk
By joining their freedom song
Contributed by dq82 - 2022/8/21 - 11:52
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Dark-eyed daughter
Pubblicato con il nome Phyl Vinnicombe (Lobl è il cognome da sposata)
Words & tune: Lobl
'The 1967 referendum in which 90% of the Australian Community voted in favour of deleting sections of the Constitution discriminating against Aborigines showed goodwill. To enable Aborigines to become independent, self-reliant people this goodwill must be translated into active and positive attitudes. Together we must build a nation where dark and white live in harmony with growing understanding and respect for one another, mutually contributing to the enrichment of our Commonwealth. This is the challenge of these songs and of the present day Aboriginal advancement movement.'
This is still the challenge but now many aboriginal people show us the value of their culture, they show us the meaning of resilience, they show us the way ahead, they show us how to forgive, they show us their worth.
However the journey for too many of our First People is still hard and slow. When I see the positive stories that do emerge I feel vindicated but humbled by their willingness to accept and continue the struggle. In this new era of recognition there is still a need for deeper more positive acceptance of responsibility by us all to give value to their existence and to be of assistance. I ask if anyone finds the material on this site to be useful, and are grateful, that they make a donation to an Australian indigenous project or organization.