by Ruth Hazleton

A song acknowledging the horror of Australia’s frontier wars and the continued act of colonisation implied when we refuse to embrace ‘truth-telling’ about our colonial history. The song recognises storytelling, retelling and remembering as powerful forms of protest and healing.

I wrote it after having long conversations online with Patrick Davies from Fitzroy Crossing, Northern Territory; a Waanyi defendant and descendant and a celebrated songwriter. 

Composed in 2018.

http://www.ruthhazleton.com.au/

Lyrics

Verse 1

Blood is thicker than water

On the wattle it was shed

The empire’s ‘fairest daughter’ stole country

And nobody counted the dead

This Southern land of silence

This broken history of pain

A frontier born of violence

The truth of white man’s shame

CHORUS:

These tainted shores call for mercy

The rise and fall

To recognise the killing times

And tell the story over and over again

Verse 2

Do we dare to beg forgiveness?

And face the sins of yesterday?

To the dark work of man bear witness?

To the thousands of fallen; our dues and honours pay

The time has come for listening

Time to break apart the stone

To repair the broken heart of this country

And a people who never should have been left to grieve alone.