Paul Kelly - From Little Things Big Things Grow

Gather round people ill tell you a story
An eight year long story of power and pride
British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiari
Were opposite men on opposite sides

Vestey was fat with money and muscle
Beef was his business, broad was his door
Vincent was lean and spoke very little
He had no bank balance, hard dirt was his floor

From little things big things grow
From little things big things grow

Gurindji were working for nothing but rations
Where once they had gathered the wealth of the land
Daily the pressure got tighter and tighter
Gurindju decided they must make a stand

They picked up their swags and started off walking
At Wattie Creek they sat themselves down
Now it don't sound like much but it sure got tongues talking
Back at the homestead and then in the town

From little things big things grow
From little things big things grow

Vestey man said I'll double your wages
Eighteen quid a week you'll have in your hand
Vincent said uhuh we're not talking about wages
We're sitting right here till we get our land
Vestey man roared and Vestey man thundered
You don't stand the chance of a cinder in snow
Vince said if we fall others are rising

From little things big things grow
From little things big things grow

Then Vincent Lingiari boarded an aeroplane
Landed in Sydney, big city of lights
And daily he went round softly speaking his story
To all kinds of men from all walks of life

And Vincent sat down with big politicians
This affair they told him is a matter of state
Let us sort it out, your people are hungry
Vincent said no thanks, we know how to wait

From little things big things grow
From little things big things grow

Then Vincent Lingiari returned in an aeroplane
Back to his country once more to sit down
And he told his people let the stars keep on turning
We have friends in the south, in the cities and towns

Eight years went by, eight long years of waiting
Till one day a tall stranger appeared in the land
And he came with lawyers and he came with great ceremony
And through Vincent's fingers poured a handful of sand

From little things big things grow
From little things big things grow

That was the story of Vincent Lingiari
But this is the story of something much more
How power and privilege can not move a people
Who know where they stand and stand in the law

From little things big things grow
From little things big things grow
From little things big things grow
From little things big things grow

A must watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-p4kA...

• Category

  Gaming

[GORDO151515]

Names like Vincent Lingiari should be as well known to Australians as the name Rosa Parks is to Americans.

[lostpebble]

Australians by birth or by choice, if one elects not to accept responsibility for the wrongs in the past, then equally one can not take pride in the achievements that have been accomplished. We can not has it both way!! This applies to this generation & generations to come. Or put it in another way, in order for us to be proud of the things that have been done right, we must also acknowledge & take responsibility for the wrong doings as well. This is the 'price' of being an Australian.

[loljks hehe]

:')

[Madhavi Patel]

I know all the words if this song!! ;)

[andrewglenmurray]

There is something about the man (Vincent) that fills me with courage and respect when I see pictures of him. Such a humble but powerful man.

[TomatoSoupful]

This is one of the greatest Australian stories, and this is one of the greatest songs.

[LRW96LIVE]

Went to Record store day here in Melbourne, I was shocked not only did they not stock any Paul Kelly vinyl but they didn't even have Paul Kelly on CD!

[maxmmo]

Have you seen MAD Muscle Ripper? (Google it) It is a quick way for you to bulk up fast.

[mzaphod]

New National Anthem?

[Da Swarlarsh]

So angry the superfund idiots used this song for their ad. This is a symbolic song about aboriginal land rights and the struggles they had to go through to get THEIR land back. The Industry superfunds disregard for the songs meaning is appalling.