Of Trees and Humankind
?Wendy Joseph, 1982

The trees of the forest grew tall
The oak and the hazel, the ash and wild apple
Their power respected by all
Their strength safely guarded by priests of the lore
Sacred the old ways, and earth's ancient pathways. No more

Then strangers came onto the land
They lacked comprehension their godheads were different
They simply did not understand
They laughed at the old ways with scorn and derision
They raped and they slaughtered, and all was justified
By the word 'civilised'
See the forests die

Lai lai lai!
Lai lai lai lai luh lai lai lai lai lai
Lai lai
Lai lai lai luh lai lai lai

The trees of the bushland grew strong
The casuarina, the red gum and mulga
Honoured by those who belong
The brown Pitjantjara, the emu, the brolga
Clear understanding and warm affinity
With the earth and the trees
Calm serenity

Then strangers came onto the land
Born of those ancients, both victim and victor
They simply did not understand
They laughed at the old ways with scorn and derision
They raped and they slaughtered, and all was justified
By the word 'civilised'
See the bushland die

Lai lai lai...

And now here we sit on the land
The children of children of children of ages
If only together we'd stand
With courage and love we could turn back the pages
The earth and its fullness are ours if we try
Raise the cry! Raise the cry
And see the trees grow high!

Lai lai lai...

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Recorded by Margaret Walters on For the Future and the Past, and by The Fagans on Kitchen Dance. Video by Ecopella.