Midnight Oil 'Song a Day' #30 "Truganini"

  

From 1993's "Earth and Sun and Moon" this song quickly became a set list standard! 

   It galvanises the crowd but also show the common links between 10,9,8... Diesel & Dust and the later Oils inspired passions. For me it's a song reflecting on the identity of our unique country and it empathises with all who struggle. In my circles it's the song that inspires me to speak about the scar on the soul of this country, our failure to embrace indigenous culture, story and people fully, that prevents us from being fully who we can be...

   Truganini was a Tasmanian aboriginal woman and like Albert Namatjira their stories may be known, but their culture, community and lives were impacted by European settlement in Australia. Peter Garrett apologised to the small remaining indigenous community in Tassie that the single liner note names the widely held view that she was the last surviving indigenous person following the genocide in that place...

   In a sense this song asks "what for?" This harsh land of drought, struggle, the 'treadmill' and all of life's challenges is seen as still being focused on our white UK heritage while failing to fully embrace rich indigenous cultures and life or in forging a prosperous future for all... who are we?

   It's timing fits the failed 1991 Referendum on Australia becoming a Republic with an Australian Head of State thanks to the lack of bipartisan support for any one model of choosing the Governor General. Rugby fans will know of the banter between the Queen and John Eales as she presents him with the 1991 Rugby World Cup... her congratulations were met with the response that apparently she had a win recently as well... 

   I've always been amazed at the lack of controversy as the audience joins in the shouts for flag burning and the more nuanced hope that Truganini and Namatjira's lives might be appropriately mourned and celebrated and the whole story told... maybe some are hearing the solidarity in the struggle no matter the circumstances. The shoulder to the grindstone image is solidly picked up in the Oils own clip for the song!! They are likely to play it at Hope Estate and also at the Domain in Sydney in the shadows of the Governor's residence and Macquarie St...

   

"Truganini"

There's a road train going nowhere
Roads are cut, lines are down
We'll be staying at the Roma Bar
Till that monsoon passes on

The backbone of this country's broken
The land is cracked and the land is sore
Farmers are hanging on by their fingertips
We cursed and stumbled across that shore

I hear much support for the monarchy
I hear the Union Jack's to remain
I see Namatjira in custody
I see Truganini's in chains

And the world it won't stand still...

Blue collar work it don't get you nowhere
You just go round and round in debt
Somebody's got you on that treadmill, mate
And I hope you're not beaten yet

I hear much support for the monarchy
I see the Union Jack in flames, let it burn
I see Namatjira with dignity
I see Truganini's in chains