The Gurindji Strike in Popular Culture
| "Gurindji Blues" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Galarrwuy Yunupingu | |
| B-side | The Tribal Land |
| Released | 1971 |
| Format | 7" Single |
| Length | Introduction by Vincent Lingiari - 1:06 Gurindji Blues - 2:30 |
| Label | RCA Victor |
| Writer(s) | Ted Egan |
| Producer | Ron Wills |
Ted Egan wrote the Gurindji Blues in the 1960s with Vincent Lingiari. The words to the first verse are:
- Poor Bugger Me, Gurindji
- Me bin sit down this country
- Long before no Lord Vestey
- All about land belong to we
In 1971 the song was recorded by Galarrwuy Yunupingu, a Yolngu man actively involved in land rights for his own people through the bark petition and Gove land rights case. Ted Egan says he was moved to write Gurindji Blues after he heard Peter Nixon, then Minister for the Interior, say in parliament that if the Gurindji wanted land, they should save up and buy it, like any other Australian. In 1991, Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody recorded From Little Things Big Things Grow. The words to the first verse are:
- Gather round people let me 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
The words to the last verse are:
- 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
Read more about this topic: Gurindji Strike
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