Tripple Effect first performed Straight From the Heart at the protest event to mark the first anniversary of the Uluru Statement, held in Sydney in May 2018. It was the band's first public performance. The photo near the end of the video of Tripple Effect with Thomas Mayor holding the Uluru Statement canvas was taken at that event.
STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART (THE MAKARRATA SONG) lyrics by John Sutton 2018
They gathered in the heart of the wide brown land Put their differences aside, said “Together we stand You ask what we want, so we’ll tell you straight “That our people are hurting, but it’s not too late “If you really want to help heal the wounds of the past “And really close the gap with some justice at last “We’ll tell you straight from the Heart “Straight from the Heart of this land”
So they spoke and they sang till they worked it all out Three tasks to do, one word to shout There’s a Voice to be heard, there’s Truth to be told There’s a Treaty to be signed, to right wrongs of old It’s Makarrata we want, Makarrata’s the cry From the great red rock under this southern sky “We speak straight from the Heart “Straight from the Heart of this land”
To Canberra they came, said “Here’s what we say If you wanna walk with us, this is the way” But Canberra said “No, you ask for too much We wanted something with a much lighter touch Something we could sell to those on the right Who can’t see past their blindfolds into the light Of what’s straight from the Heart Straight from the Heart of this land"
Well it’s been said before they know how to wait But Makarrata's already two hundred years late There’s no time like now to do what we must And bury terra nullius under the dust Of this blood-stained country, this heart-broken land Where the red rock itself cries in the sand Straight from the Heart Straight from the Heart of this land
Now the Heart of this land isn’t just Uluru It’s what beats in the chest of me and of you It’s what cries in the soul of this country we share It’s what sings in the sighs of the dreams that we dare It’s what lifts us to hope and to care for each other It drives the blood in the bond of sister and brother It’s what gives us our strength to rise above fears It’s the rock of our dreams and our hopes and our tears That come straight from the Heart Straight from the Heart of this land
So if we want it to be, it’s over to us We can’t leave it to others we’ve learnt not to trust. It’s Makarrata we need, Makarrata’s the way To a much better future, to a bran nue dae Where the clear light of Truth will finally be shone On all of the lies about what has been done Where those who’ve been silenced will be given their Voice And those who won’t listen won’t have any choice But to sign the damn Treaty, pay the damn rent For country and lives stolen and spent
So we’ll sing it and shout it throughout this land Until justice prevails, and as one we all stand Singing straight from the Heart Crying straight from the Heart of this land
So let's sing it and shout it throughout this land Until justice prevails, and as one we all stand Singing straight from the Heart Crying straight from the Heart Singing straight from the Heart Crying straight from the Heart of this land