Midnight Oil 'Song a Day' #31 "Bullroarer"

   I love this clip because I was there and because it's so reminiscent of the same song at Newcastle Workers many times. The recording generates the unique sound of the piece of wood swung around in a circle as used in indigenous culture for a variety of purposes... I assume by now the Oils have sorted out another potential source of offence to the central Australian indigenous community it's from. I particularly remember learning about them in primary school so I'm not sure how 'secret' or tied to ceremony they are... This song is a great compliment to the others from Diesel & Dust that hang together as a brilliant trip to the red centre and it's communities...

"Bullroarer"
In the desert in the dry
Before the breaking of the rain
The temperature in the shade
Had reached a hundred and ten again
In the desert in the dry
On the overland telegraph line
Don't take the law into your own hands
Don't go looking for a fight
I've heard the bullroarers
In the desert in the dry
Sun sits so high
Long day's mile and the
Radio crackles and the bones bleached white
It's a knock-em-down storm
See the tin roof shake
Wild dog howls and the long grass
Whistles and the tall trees break
I've seen the wild horses
I've heard the bullroarers
I've seen the wild horses
Shifting sands and broken plans
Lead me on to my homeland