The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #43491   Message #2239930
Posted By: Andrez
19-Jan-08 - 07:39 AM
Thread Name: Tie Me Kangaroo Down'let Abos go'explain
Subject: RE: Tie Me Kangaroo Down'let Abos go'explain
Just to contribute a little historical perspective, Ted Egans song Gurindji Blues, communicates some of the real life and times of Aboriginal people in remote pastoral Australia that were contemporaneous with Rolf Harrises ditty. Ted was a white person as well but his song is significantly more aware of the issues and it shows. For those that want a little more history on the background to the story try this link:
http://www.kevcarmody.com.au/Black%20fellas%20and%20white%20fellas.pdf
Gurindji Blues


Poor bugger me, Gurindji
Me bin sit down this country
Long time before the Lord Vestey
Allabout land belongin' to we
Oh poor bugger me, Gurindji.
Poor bugger blackfeller; Gurindji
Long time work no wages, we,
Work for the good old Lord Vestey
Little bit flour; sugar and tea
For the Gurindji, from Lord Vestey
Oh poor bugger me.



Poor bugger me, Gurindji,
Man called Vincent Lingiari
Talk long allabout Gurindji
'Daguragu place for we,
Home for we, Gurindji:
But poor bugger blackfeller, Gurindji
Government boss him talk long we
'We'll build you house with electricity
But at Wave Hill, for can't you see
Wattie Creek belong to Lord Vestey'
Oh poor bugger me.



Poor bugger me, Gurindji
Up come Mr: Frank Hardy
ABSCHOL too and talk long we
Givit hand long Gurindji
Buildim house and plantim tree
Longa Wattie Creek for Gurindji
But poor bugger blackfeller Gurindji
Government Law him talk long we
'Can't givit land long blackfeller, see
Only spoilim Gurindji'
Oh poor bugger me.



Poor bugger me, Gurindji
Peter Nixon talk long we:
'Buy you own land, Gurindji
Buyim back from the Lord Vestey'
Oh poor bugger me, Gurindji.
Poor bugger blackfeller Gurindji
Suppose we buyim back country
What you reckon proper fee?
Might be flour, sugar and tea
From the Gurindji to Lord Vestey?
Oh poor bugger me.



Oh ngaiyu luyurr ngura-u
Sorry my country, Gurindji.



Author: Ted Egan