Julia's 2020 Lament - Caught in the Crowd adaptation

Imagine it is the year 2020... will Julia Gillard be sorry she has turned away refugees? Kate Miller-Heidke wrote a song about a girl who grew up to regret turning her back on a friend. Our lyrics

Lyrics:
In two thousand and ten I
Stepped up to power
The first female leader
Woman of the hour

Fairness was an ideal
I claimed to hold dear
Then up cropped immigration
I reacted with... fear.

When they reached the shore
Seeking refuge from pain
I didn't offer shelter
I turned them all away

They finally crossed the seas
Saying 'take us in please'
They were worried bout their children
They begged on their... knees.

Didn't hear what people were saying
Heard them cry but ignored the pain
I was dumb and I was proud, and I'm sorry
If I could go back, do it again
I'd be someone they could call friend
Please, please believe that I'm sorry.

Denied their human rights
Ignored their desperate cries
They were different from me
So I assumed they were liars
Every hour they'd spent
On those dingy old boats
Meant nothing to me
cos they couldn't... vote
Welcome to Australia
the refuge that will... fail ya.

We don't want any strangers
We're scared of all the dangers

I had myself a plan but
They fought it in court
I talked to Mister Abbott
And tried to change the law

I don't know your name
I don't want to feed you
Figured I don't know you
Figured I don't need you

We changed the national anthem
Cos sharing's not our way
the land of fair go
Became the land of go away

Didn't hear what people were saying
Heard them cry but ignored the pain
I was dumb and I was proud, and I'm sorry
If I could go back, do it again
I'd be someone they could call friend
Please, please believe that I'm sorry
(Repeat)

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• refugee
• refugees
• Julia+Gillard
• Miller-Heidke
• adaptation
• australia
• ALP
• immigration
• protest
• asylum+seekers
• national+anthem
• difference
• Christmas+Island
• detention

[rockase1]

a powerful message!!! You would have to be a goose to dislike it. 

[3in21million]

@rockase1 Thank you. I'm guessing the dislikes relate to differing views on the best way to manage refugee policy rather than a dislike of the singing

[xXxbinratxXx]

Love the whistle ;)

[3in21million]

@xXxbinratxXx :-) :-)

[3in21million]

Google search "refugee council facts" to get the link... can't seem to post it here

[3in21million]

@TheCreaturemagicrulz ---- great thought! Wish JG would watch the vid and change the future with some better choices now

[3in21million]

.... with due credit to Kate Miller-Heidke for her inspiring song 'Caught in the Crowd'... just so's you know, we bought the backing track on iTunes, all legal-like. Whistling by a certain father.

[sierramcq]

great job 3 teens and your coupla adult ring-ins!

[3in21million]

Hey @Chickan117, you make a really good point. Completely agree with you, I think what has shocked us is that we don't expect an anti-refugee stance from the ALP... and I guess targeting Julia is valid at the moment as she is the driving force behind changing immigration law. One would hope that a strong "no offshore processing" message will make an impact on all political parties. That's our aim.

[3in21million]

If you have questions regarding refugees, or perhaps don't agree with this video, we courteously ask you to consider this rather good article which debunks some of the myths that are out there. It's on the Refugee Council of Australia's website, under 'facts'