…
My ears heard the music and my soul understood. Singing parts of this wonderful song in the Aboriginal language had me in tears. The translation happened in my heart, not in my brain.
The didgeridoo, an instrument so foreign to me, rounded it up perfectly.
All of it touched me deeply. I could feel the authenticity and the pride. I heard the song performed by THE SEEKERS years ago and always wondered why it wasn’t the Australian anthem.
I am – We are Australian
What a wonderful message. For the world to be heard – loud and clear. (Why don’t we in America have a song like it? I am – We are – We should be…United!)
No matter the differences and the flaws, we are one. No matter where you were born or what colour your skin is, we are one, we are Australian. I love the message.
I came from the dream-time
From the dusty red-soil plains
I am the ancient heart
The keeper of the flame
I stood upon the rocky shores
I watched the tall ships come
For forty thousand years I’ve been
The first Australian
I came upon the prison ship
Bowed down by iron chains
I fought the land, endured the lash
And waited for the rains
I’m a settler, I’m a farmer’s wife
On a dry and barren run
A convict, then a free man
I became Australian
I’m the daughter of a digger
Who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman
On the long and dusty road
I’m a child of the Depression
I saw the good times come
I’m a bushie, I’m a battler
I am Australian
We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We’ll share a dream and sing with one voice
“I am, you are, we are Australian”
I’m a teller of stories
I’m a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira
And I paint the ghostly gums
I’m Clancy on his horse
I’m Ned Kelly on the run
I’m the one who waltzed Matilda
I am Australian
I’m the hot wind from the desert
I’m the black soil of the plains
I’m the mountains and the valleys
I’m the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky
The rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land
I am Australian
We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We’ll share a dream and sing with one voice
“I am, you are, we are Australian”
We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We’ll share a dream and sing with one voice
“I am, you are, we are Australian”
“I am, you are, we are Australian”
“I am Australian”
Written by Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton (1987)
Thank you for bringing this powerful, beautiful Voice to us; may she Live the Dream !!
Thank you for listening 🙂
Wow! That was a beautiful song! I think it was a wise and brave decision to add the native tongue to the song. Gave me goose bumps. Lots of pride in her culture and home!
We do have a song like that.
“This Land is your land” by Woody Guthrie.
The native Americans, the original owners of these beautiful land, are completely left out of “This land is your land”.
The song has an interesting story, Guthrie took tow verses out because they were to controversial.
As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.
In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?
Having been off line for two days I will have to miss a couple of posts. I am so pleased this wasn’t one of them and I made the time to watch it all.
Wonderful, and you’re right, the translation takes place in the heart!
That was an excellent video, thanks for sharing!! 🇦🇺
I am glad you watched it. I only share videos when I think the world has to see it too. 🙂
You are welcome! 😊
As an Aussie I was deeply touched by this performance. It would make a fabulous anthem. I believe we’d need to be a Republic before that could be an option!
I found it remarkable how my husband and I reacted when we listened to it. We don’t watch reality TV series, but enjoy audition videos on YouTube sometimes, often from other countries. I can only imagine how you must feel. I am glad you watched it.