@KungaPalyah if you won't belive me just ask Neil Murray the fella who wrote the song what its about and when you get his answer post it here,... peace !
@KungaPalyah all I can say is read the rest of the comments I've already placed under this string about the origin and meaning of this song - I'm not trying to take anything away from Indigenous People quite the contrary I grew up around indigenous communities (Melanesian in Papua New Guinea and Aboriginal in Northern Australia) and aint no ignorant mudigee whitefella (cont)
its a disgrace that one of the many aussies that died for this country my great uncle billy egan my nans uncle who she never seen again when the war started .he went to france and was recently discovered in a burial pit from the germans in france. would you think the australian goverment gave anyone from our family a chance to represent our mob.and my nans brother was a rat of tobruk with the same name.and proud of it look it up.its true
Neil's guitar work is absolutely beautiful, I wouldn't hesitate to name him as one of my biggest influences. Neither he nor the rest of the band ever received their due recognition. So I just thought I'd say thanks for posting, and keep fighting the good fight.
Howdy y'all! I'm a whitefella, I'm actually a 17 old kid in Nevada, USA. I came across the Warumpi Band a few years ago (Through Midnight Oil), and just fell in love with them. Although I'm not Australian, I am quite disillusioned with the broken promises of this day and age, and very strongly relate to the messages carried in the work of both bands. Definitely a very underrated band. If my own musical career takes off, I'd like to release a tribute album to George and the boys... (Cont.)
wat the econcern1 you dont know much then do you wat this song i really bout get a clue when did the british invade your land and killed you loved ones neil looks like a true fella than papua
This song is about West Papua (listen to the lyrics dam it!!) - while the history of Australia is a black one - this song is meant to be raising people's awareness about what the Indonesians are doing today in 2010 in West Papua - Get it Right for the West Papuans Please!!
@econcern1 u got it wrong dude, its about when the british came and tried to kill of the aborigines and take over the country. nothing to do with papua
Mate you have obviously not listened to the lyrics or know jack shit about Australian Indigenous culture / West Papua - the esiest wy to resolve it would be to ask the person who wrote it - Neil Murray - but for your info the OPM referred to in the song ('courage in the heart of the OPM') are the free Papua Movement (google it for yourself), no Australian Aboriginal tribe ever used bow and arrows ('but the men with the bows and arrows" - in the song), cont..
depite the atrocities of the Australian Govt (including poisoned flour and worse) they never used planes (aircraft) against the indigenous people, the indonesions do, with american advisors in the early days I might add (Bronco A10s) - hence the song says ' they see the soldiers, they hear the shooting, they see the planes and their villages burning' - check it all out plus an email to Neil Murray - then see who has got it wrong DUDE!
I'm a trufella (deosn't matter wat your colour!) whitefella who grew up in PNG then moved to Gulf (Garawa - Wanyi) country in my teens where my family established good connection with local mob, these days I spend a lot of time in Cape York with Wik Munkin and Tankawith mob - why do you ask?
@rusbern hey friend, the best thing we can do is get informed about the issue (West Papuan Freedom movement) - check out the web there is alot of information about the OPM and the West Papuan struggle - then inform our frinds about it and lobby our governments to stop funding and training the Indonsian military and to give West Papuans a path toward self determination...Peace!
@lukeh96aussie - yeah but the aboriginal ofs West Papua... the first line o f the lryics say "theres a government and an army, not far from this north shore (Australia's north shore) and the tribes men in the jungle they fight a secret war" - its talking about north of Australia (ask the guy who wrote it Neil Murray if you don't belive me) - it does however compare their struggle (West Papuans) to what happened in Australia, with reference to the Kalkadooms - check it out for yourself - Peace!
@lukeh96aussie the word aboriginal means native to the land, there are many different aboriginal (= native) people all ove rthe world, the melanesian people are the 'aboriginal people' of West Papua, not Indonesians at least you recognise that is what the song is about now, PS Australia is an "island' continent so its people could be called 'Islanders ' too !.... justr being cheeky now.!
@econcern1 This song was from their album 'Go Bush' which was released in 1987 .... it was not intended for "what the Indonesians were doing in West Papua, 2010. The plight of our people is unfortunately a very large and influential part of our history. The impact of the losses endured back then are still impacting on many of us today. Don't even try to take this from us....it has cost us dearly!
Finally, while the song tells the plight of Australian Aboriginal people, it also includes the hardships faced by all minority groups..The song concludes with
"This is a story of colonisation It's a story that's been told before
It's the blood of indigenous races On the hands of invading force"
Yes, Aboriginal refers to all people native to a region, country etc. Yes, Australia is an island. The smaller islands north of Australia mainland are also inhabited by Australian Aboriginal people. Vocalist George is from Elchro Island. Of the Torres Strait Islands, although between Autralian mainland and the Melanesian island of New Guinea, come under the state of Queensland, hence the inhabitants, Torres Strait Islanders are a clan of the Aboriginals of Australia.
"This is a story of colonisation It's a story that's been told before
It's the blood of indigenous races On the hands of invading force
There's a government and an army Not far from these north shores
And the tribesmen in the jungle They fight a secret war".
The song refers to colonisation and the plight of Australian Aboriginal people generally, including the Kalkadoon people at Battle Mountain and the conflict which separated the Yolngu - Macassan relationship.
To end this hideously ignorant debate; the song is about Australian Aboriginal people. Listening to the lyrics is good avice. The song starts by explaining what the story's about. To adequately understand this, you will need to know the history surrounding invasion and colonisation.
@psynapsurfa continued... you see, that was a war of colonisation. it still is.
very similar to what happened here to our aboriginal peoples.
the fact that in the song, the narrator tells us we wont read about it in the papers, gives us a clue that it is indeed about a contemporary colonisation, indeed, just like 'the story {that} has been told before'..
Thanks hey, The Gov of Australia has a very dark history...Get the book "Blood on the Wattle" by Bruce Elder, its an Australian book, very hard hitting facts, they tried to ban it here in Australia but still exists, thats for a start, it exposes all the massacres and acts of genocide committed in Australia against the aborigines
@KungaPalyah if you won't belive me just ask Neil Murray the fella who wrote the song what its about and when you get his answer post it here,... peace !
econcern1 4 months ago
@KungaPalyah all I can say is read the rest of the comments I've already placed under this string about the origin and meaning of this song - I'm not trying to take anything away from Indigenous People quite the contrary I grew up around indigenous communities (Melanesian in Papua New Guinea and Aboriginal in Northern Australia) and aint no ignorant mudigee whitefella (cont)
econcern1 4 months ago
its a disgrace that one of the many aussies that died for this country my great uncle billy egan my nans uncle who she never seen again when the war started .he went to france and was recently discovered in a burial pit from the germans in france. would you think the australian goverment gave anyone from our family a chance to represent our mob.and my nans brother was a rat of tobruk with the same name.and proud of it look it up.its true
rusbern 9 months ago
Can any one put up Koori Man' by Warumpi Band ? If you can ty +)
xingwei12 10 months ago
Neil's guitar work is absolutely beautiful, I wouldn't hesitate to name him as one of my biggest influences. Neither he nor the rest of the band ever received their due recognition. So I just thought I'd say thanks for posting, and keep fighting the good fight.
BelaLugosiStrat 1 year ago
Howdy y'all! I'm a whitefella, I'm actually a 17 old kid in Nevada, USA. I came across the Warumpi Band a few years ago (Through Midnight Oil), and just fell in love with them. Although I'm not Australian, I am quite disillusioned with the broken promises of this day and age, and very strongly relate to the messages carried in the work of both bands. Definitely a very underrated band. If my own musical career takes off, I'd like to release a tribute album to George and the boys... (Cont.)
BelaLugosiStrat 1 year ago 3
Now this is deadly sang..
Larryandersen39 1 year ago
OPM=Organisasi Papua Merdaka
What could be more noble than one indigenous group standing in solidarity with another?
gaiusscholasticus 1 year ago 2
At 1:40, a lot of my family can be seen in this photo. I think would have been taken when I was around 2 or 3 though.
jardinepatten 1 year ago
wat the econcern1 you dont know much then do you wat this song i really bout get a clue when did the british invade your land and killed you loved ones neil looks like a true fella than papua
MsBelinda76 1 year ago
This song is about West Papua (listen to the lyrics dam it!!) - while the history of Australia is a black one - this song is meant to be raising people's awareness about what the Indonesians are doing today in 2010 in West Papua - Get it Right for the West Papuans Please!!
econcern1 2 years ago 6
@econcern1 u got it wrong dude, its about when the british came and tried to kill of the aborigines and take over the country. nothing to do with papua
rocknroll501 2 years ago
Mate you have obviously not listened to the lyrics or know jack shit about Australian Indigenous culture / West Papua - the esiest wy to resolve it would be to ask the person who wrote it - Neil Murray - but for your info the OPM referred to in the song ('courage in the heart of the OPM') are the free Papua Movement (google it for yourself), no Australian Aboriginal tribe ever used bow and arrows ('but the men with the bows and arrows" - in the song), cont..
econcern1 2 years ago 2
depite the atrocities of the Australian Govt (including poisoned flour and worse) they never used planes (aircraft) against the indigenous people, the indonesions do, with american advisors in the early days I might add (Bronco A10s) - hence the song says ' they see the soldiers, they hear the shooting, they see the planes and their villages burning' - check it all out plus an email to Neil Murray - then see who has got it wrong DUDE!
econcern1 2 years ago
What are you a white person or a black man?
ORIGNALAUSTRALIAN 2 years ago
I'm a trufella (deosn't matter wat your colour!) whitefella who grew up in PNG then moved to Gulf (Garawa - Wanyi) country in my teens where my family established good connection with local mob, these days I spend a lot of time in Cape York with Wik Munkin and Tankawith mob - why do you ask?
econcern1 2 years ago
@ORIGNALAUSTRALIAN doesnt matter
jokersmoker00oo 1 year ago
@ORIGNALAUSTRALIAN does it matter red neck
rusbern 9 months ago
@econcern1 hearing ya its a disgrace whats happening there and yet we are oblivous to it here what can a dog like me do to help.
rusbern 9 months ago
@rusbern hey friend, the best thing we can do is get informed about the issue (West Papuan Freedom movement) - check out the web there is alot of information about the OPM and the West Papuan struggle - then inform our frinds about it and lobby our governments to stop funding and training the Indonsian military and to give West Papuans a path toward self determination...Peace!
econcern1 9 months ago
@econcern1 actually if you read the lyrics and listen even better you will find that it is about aboriginals
lukeh96aussie 7 months ago
@lukeh96aussie - yeah but the aboriginal ofs West Papua... the first line o f the lryics say "theres a government and an army, not far from this north shore (Australia's north shore) and the tribes men in the jungle they fight a secret war" - its talking about north of Australia (ask the guy who wrote it Neil Murray if you don't belive me) - it does however compare their struggle (West Papuans) to what happened in Australia, with reference to the Kalkadooms - check it out for yourself - Peace!
econcern1 6 months ago
@econcern1 west papuas arent aboriginals... they are islanders... but still if thats what you think
lukeh96aussie 6 months ago
@lukeh96aussie the word aboriginal means native to the land, there are many different aboriginal (= native) people all ove rthe world, the melanesian people are the 'aboriginal people' of West Papua, not Indonesians at least you recognise that is what the song is about now, PS Australia is an "island' continent so its people could be called 'Islanders ' too !.... justr being cheeky now.!
econcern1 6 months ago
Comment removed
KungaPalyah 4 months ago
@econcern1 This song was from their album 'Go Bush' which was released in 1987 .... it was not intended for "what the Indonesians were doing in West Papua, 2010. The plight of our people is unfortunately a very large and influential part of our history. The impact of the losses endured back then are still impacting on many of us today. Don't even try to take this from us....it has cost us dearly!
KungaPalyah 4 months ago
Finally, while the song tells the plight of Australian Aboriginal people, it also includes the hardships faced by all minority groups..The song concludes with
"This is a story of colonisation It's a story that's been told before
It's the blood of indigenous races On the hands of invading force"
KungaPalyah 4 months ago
Yes, Aboriginal refers to all people native to a region, country etc. Yes, Australia is an island. The smaller islands north of Australia mainland are also inhabited by Australian Aboriginal people. Vocalist George is from Elchro Island. Of the Torres Strait Islands, although between Autralian mainland and the Melanesian island of New Guinea, come under the state of Queensland, hence the inhabitants, Torres Strait Islanders are a clan of the Aboriginals of Australia.
KungaPalyah 4 months ago
"This is a story of colonisation It's a story that's been told before
It's the blood of indigenous races On the hands of invading force
There's a government and an army Not far from these north shores
And the tribesmen in the jungle They fight a secret war".
The song refers to colonisation and the plight of Australian Aboriginal people generally, including the Kalkadoon people at Battle Mountain and the conflict which separated the Yolngu - Macassan relationship.
KungaPalyah 4 months ago
To end this hideously ignorant debate; the song is about Australian Aboriginal people. Listening to the lyrics is good avice. The song starts by explaining what the story's about. To adequately understand this, you will need to know the history surrounding invasion and colonisation.
KungaPalyah 4 months ago
@KungaPalyah hey bro, no disrepect but, have you listened to the lyrics...
you know where they say, the men with the bows and arrows, fighting guns of foriegn powers..
well, i am fairly up on history, and, i just cant think for the life of me, what aboriginal tribe in oz used bows and arrows?
can you tell me who they are...
so maybe the track refers to indos war in west png. or irian jaya as it was called at the time of writing the track..
that was a secret war, not in papers
psynapsurfa 1 month ago
@psynapsurfa continued... you see, that was a war of colonisation. it still is.
very similar to what happened here to our aboriginal peoples.
the fact that in the song, the narrator tells us we wont read about it in the papers, gives us a clue that it is indeed about a contemporary colonisation, indeed, just like 'the story {that} has been told before'..
psynapsurfa 1 month ago
@psynapsurfa in the song he also sings, the men with bows and arrows, see the guns of foriegn soldiers, they see the planes and the villages burning.
well, there were no planes in 1788, indeed there were no planes in australia
until the 20th century. and there was no time that planes were used in a war against aboriginals.
poison yes. chains yes. mutilations yes. guns yes. planes no.
yes it is a great song. a sad song.. and i feel for my aboriginal brothers.
psynapsurfa 1 month ago
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KungaPalyah 4 months ago
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KungaPalyah 4 months ago
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KungaPalyah 4 months ago
wicked song buj
ISAblood 2 years ago
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rocknroll501 2 years ago
Yeah the boys are still kicking, only Uncle george has passed on. Neiul Murray has gone solo and was touring Australia wit Shane Howard last year
ORIGNALAUSTRALIAN 2 years ago
A real masterpiece and i CAN'T stop WATCHING IT!
izkormvach 2 years ago
Thanks hey, The Gov of Australia has a very dark history...Get the book "Blood on the Wattle" by Bruce Elder, its an Australian book, very hard hitting facts, they tried to ban it here in Australia but still exists, thats for a start, it exposes all the massacres and acts of genocide committed in Australia against the aborigines
ORIGNALAUSTRALIAN 2 years ago
Hypocrites ,and they pretend being very democratic!Is there still a segregation of some kind?I'll try find the book,thanks for recommending it!
izkormvach 2 years ago
The song is as real as it can get...Check my brother Cam-Mac a couple of his songs are on my videos, he has hardhitting aboriginal lyrics
ORIGNALAUSTRALIAN 2 years ago
Great track - thanks for posting! :-)
landed1n74 2 years ago
Um belo protesto musical!
silvanoluis 2 years ago