Midnight Oil 'Song a Day' #28 "The Deadheart"

It's not a contest for which song today as Midnight Oil follow their Kintore school gig with a continuation of the 'Great Circle' in Alice Springs and by all grainy mobile phone videos, reports and setlist grabbers versions, it rocked!! Why not, songs with spirit inspired by the red dust, in that dust!!

It looked like a concert for the fans and the 'powderworkers' were out in force!! I knew a few in the crowd... some in the front row and a few at the back... no doubt. It looked like a lot of fun!!  That includes appropriate respect for traditional owners and support of local and other musicians and singers as this tour is doing...

I've written plenty about this song in the past and the chant that begins as punters recognise the jamming that leads into it and invites a whole of crowd participation... how great to be able to sing about "The Deadheart" in The Deadheart!! I am not certain non members will be able to see this one clip I picked out for fandom, a glimpse and because I potentially know at least two of those backs of heads in the front!! Maybe you'll see it here
With thanks to Alexander Kesselaar for sharing the highlight!!!

The song was a crowd favourite from the very first play but has only become more and more that moment in a gig when everyone is engaged, whether wondering how everyone knew to start that chant or joining in on it!!!

For the semi interested playing along and wondering what I'm doing with these posts, it's all controversial and provocative because not all Aussies would agree with it's premise, sentiment or what this song calls for... I wholeheartedly stand by and support what it's saying despite finding it challenging as I am complicit in the problem to the extent I need to do more to support and advocate for it's key message... that indigenous lives, story, culture, language and future all matter and need to be not just protected but redressed, redeemed, recognised and compensated as well as celebrating dot art we need real reconciliation and an ongoing relationship that restores indigenous sovereignty in whatever ways we can today!!

This clip for Bushfire Benefit!!

"The Deadheart"
do do do do do do do do...
We don't serve your country
Don't serve your king
Know your custom don't speak your tongue
White man came took everyone

We don't serve your country
Don't serve your king
White man listen to the songs we sing
White man came took everything

We carry in our hearts the true country
And that cannot be stolen
We follow in the steps of our ancestry
And that cannot be broken...
do do do do do do do do...