After Stewie’s posts of 12Dec of “The Eagle & the Islanders” re the US atomic tests on the Marshall Islands in the Pacific, and “Anchor Me”, re the French bombing of the peace vessel “Rainbow Warrior”,
I mentioned that I was researching Britain’s atomic testing in Australia and subsequent songs.

I haven’t found any yet about the Montebello Islands off WA, nor Emu Field in SA . Nor even the British tests on two Kiribati islands (aka Christmas / Malden) – or oddly, songs in English re the French (193 tests, 1966-96) on two Tuamotu islands (aka Mururoa / Fangataufa) - in the Pacific),
but, there are quite a few songs nowadays about Maralinga (though this situation seems to have taken a long time to develop!!) and this one below, by the late Alistair Hulett, is probably the best (and to-the-point), so far.

But I’ll cover a bit more of the Test histories and deplorable results, when I post a couple of the other 15+ songs (like Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil) ….
R-J


THE PLAINS OF MARALINGA

Alistair Hulett

Remember in the old days how we sucked up to the Poms
We stood and sang their anthem like a pack of Uncle Toms
And they bought our beef and wool
So we let them test their bombs.

In the heartland of Australia where the black-skinned nation roams
There was nothing in the papers about what was being done
If Robert Menzies knew, by Christ, he wasn’t letting on
For he loved his flamin’ knighthood, that great Australian son
Much more than he loved the land where the Pitjantjatjara run.

Out on the plains of Maralinga
What happened there was a bloody disgrace
Out on the plains of Maralinga
It was total disregard for the black Australian race.

No one asked the local people if they thought it was okay
If you haven’t got a job, mate, you haven’t got a say
Oh, and if we lost a few, they were only in the way
If they’d been white, then bet your backside there’d be holy shit to pay.

Out on the plains of Maralinga
What happened there was a bloody disgrace
Out on the plains of Maralinga
It was total disregard for the black Australian race.

They said fallout was harmless, they knew that was a lie
But it never slowed them up when there were people camped close by
Who tell a story how they saw a big flash in the sky
Then they all got sick and one by one began to slowly die.

Out on the plains of Maralinga
What happened there was a bloody disgrace
Out on the plains of Maralinga
It was total disregard for the black Australian race.

Now the sun set on the Empire though they never thought it would
And now your Uncle Sam controls the neighborhood
Andin the name of peace and justice, he swears he’s Robin Hood
But in Chile and El Salvador, the truth is understood.

He’s got bureaucrats and technocrats, diplomats and spies
Working for the Pentagon, they’re its bloody nose and eyes
But you only feel disheartened until you realize
When the workers of the world unite, we’re twice their bloody size.

Out on the plains of Maralinga
What happened there was a bloody disgrace
Out on the plains of Maralinga
It was total disregard for the black Australian race.

Out on the plains of Maralinga
What happened there was a bloody disgrace
Out on the plains of Maralinga
It was total disregard for the whole human race.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BxpFy_1kM&t=3s
– Alistair Hulett (with slideshow)


R-J