Whose Land Is It Anyway

A song I wrote around 2015, after a mate said "why don't you write a song or two?" so I thought I'd write a song close to my heart. It's not about guilt or blame but rather truth telling, an acknowledgement of the legacy of colonisation and it's effect on the First Nations Peoples of Australia. I first broke bread with Stolen Generations mob in East Gippsland in Victoria, as a kid. The bonds I formed then have been with me throughout my life and I am forever grateful to those kids for taking me into their world, and calling me brother.

Now with the upcoming referendum in Oz, I encourage a profound #YES23 vote to recognise our FNP in our constitution and allow FNP to have a voice in matters which affect them. It is fair, it is just, it is right, and it is time. If not now, then when? ...

© Dave Smith - Whose Land Is It Anyway

Our gaolers took what wasn't theirs, they said that no-one really cares
When we'd done our time we all got shares, of this ochre land
We made a flag, claimed this land ours, filled it's gut with sheep and cows
Ripped it up with a stump-jump plough, make us rich we planned

Well I've gotta ask myself today, whose land is it anyway
Black fella man he had no say, his home and kids we took away

Then the diggers came and dug up gold, in the pubs their stories told
Wealth for each man young or old, no-one had to beg
But soon Big Mining came along, done away with singlets, shorts and thongs
They only want the man that's strong, the rest can go and drop dead

Well I've gotta ask myself today, whose land is it anyway
Black fella man he had no say, his wife and kids we took away
Hang our heads in shame

We gave him smokes, grog and bongs, he forgot his dreaming, lost his songs
He waits to die, it won't take long, what a price to pay
We gave his wife the pox and flu, told his kids wear socks and shoes
Had more than their fair share of blues, 'till they learned our ways

Well I've gotta ask myself today, whose land is it anyway
Black fella man he had no say, his home and kids we took away

We coulda done things better mate, we stole their kids and real estate
Said sorry, hope it's not too late, how was I to know
We don't all share the guilt or blame but tell the truth or live in shame
Of what was done in white man's name, in a land of fair go

Well I have to ask myself today, whose land is it anyway
Black fella man he had no say, his wife and kids we stole away
Hang our heads in shame, hang our heads in shame
Done in white man's name, hang our heads in shame