Beds are Burning
December 24, 2006
Like many who strive for public office in the age of neoliberalism, Peter Garrett has long since compromised his principles, but he is one of the very few who used his celebrity to draw attention to the disposession of the Indigenous Australians. Not only is this one of the finest rock tracks ever written, the message is just as powerful.
Enjoy!
Beds Are Burning
by Midnight OilOut where the river broke
The bloodwood and the desert oak
Holden wrecks and boiling diesels
Steam in forty five degreesThe time has come
To say fair’s fair
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact’s a fact
It belongs to them
Let’s give it backHow can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burningThe time has come
To say fair’s fair
To pay the rent, now
To pay our shareFour wheels scare the cockatoos
From Kintore East to Yuendemu
The western desert lives and breathes
In forty five degreesThe time has come
To say fair’s fair
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact’s a fact
It belongs to them
Let’s give it backHow can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burningThe time has come
To say fair’s fair
To pay the rent, now
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact’s a fact
It belongs to them
we’r gonna give it backHow can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
For those that might not know, Peter Garrett is not only a legendary Aussie rock musician, tireless environmental campaigner & Indigenous rights activist. As of 2004, he has been a policitian with the Australian Labour Party and was recently appointed Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment & Heritage, after Kevin Rudd was elected as the new leader of the Labour Party/leader of the opposition earlier this month. It’s hoped that with some fresh blood coming through, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard as his deputy leader, will offer “a new style of leadership” which is not merely an echo to the Howard Government.
Mo., Merry Christmas from Sydney to Glasgow!
The Oils evoke summer in Sydney for me always in the background while growing up. Garret’s move into mainstream politics inevitably entailed compromises and a rightward shift. I wonder whether he would have been more effective outside the legislative arena or in an independent party? Speculation aside, thanks for posting this and hope to catch up on posts here as part of my holiday reading. Have a great one!
Hi.
Good design, who make it?