Lyrics
Paul was taken from his mum
They said he’d have a better chance
If he learnt the white way
But he lost his dignity
And his mothers love.
He did not understand the system
The system that stole his freedom
As a fully grown man,
he moved back to Narrogin.
Staying true to his culture and beliefs
He tries to forget the days
When he was taken away from these.
Chorus:
Black tears in our history
Dripping on my shoulder
The weight of their misery
Leaves me in piece’s
Ruth was a half-caste lady
Having both sides in her blood.
They took her to a mission
To take more black man out
But she wanted to be left alone
To live the aboriginal way
To Oodnadatta she was taken
Without a single say
She got a white man's education
and a religion too
But she didn't marry a white man,
White man didn't get his way
Chorus
The last man is Murray.
He got taken away from Dimboola
because of a light tone
in his dark skin
He was moved to Melbourne
To be put under lock and key
there was no chance for him to flee
But some things he liked,
three meals and shelter
just to name a few
But the experience scared him
And his family too.
Chorus:
Paul, Ruth and Murray
tell a sad story
of racism and mistreatment,
the Stolen Generation.
Chorus:
They said he’d have a better chance
If he learnt the white way
But he lost his dignity
And his mothers love.
He did not understand the system
The system that stole his freedom
As a fully grown man,
he moved back to Narrogin.
Staying true to his culture and beliefs
He tries to forget the days
When he was taken away from these.
Chorus:
Black tears in our history
Dripping on my shoulder
The weight of their misery
Leaves me in piece’s
Ruth was a half-caste lady
Having both sides in her blood.
They took her to a mission
To take more black man out
But she wanted to be left alone
To live the aboriginal way
To Oodnadatta she was taken
Without a single say
She got a white man's education
and a religion too
But she didn't marry a white man,
White man didn't get his way
Chorus
The last man is Murray.
He got taken away from Dimboola
because of a light tone
in his dark skin
He was moved to Melbourne
To be put under lock and key
there was no chance for him to flee
But some things he liked,
three meals and shelter
just to name a few
But the experience scared him
And his family too.
Chorus:
Paul, Ruth and Murray
tell a sad story
of racism and mistreatment,
the Stolen Generation.
Chorus:
Paul Parfitt
1. Paul is a person from the Stolen Generations who lives in WA’s south west he was taken from his mother after her being classified as not being able to look after him they told him that his mother did not want him, she does not care for you.
2. He thought that there was no logic in what the White Australians were doing to the aboriginal culture bringing up the children in a different environment. It gave them lose there culture and gave them instead a white mans education. Paul did not understand this system.
3. This person was put in care because it was thought that the white way was the only way. So his mother was not teaching him anything and not equipping him for life according to this, this is why he was taken to a mission.
4. Paul has stayed true and kept to area where he was born for his whole life which is Narrogin
5. He was born in 1951 and was taken in 1954 being only 3 years old, he still lives today
1. Paul is a person from the Stolen Generations who lives in WA’s south west he was taken from his mother after her being classified as not being able to look after him they told him that his mother did not want him, she does not care for you.
2. He thought that there was no logic in what the White Australians were doing to the aboriginal culture bringing up the children in a different environment. It gave them lose there culture and gave them instead a white mans education. Paul did not understand this system.
3. This person was put in care because it was thought that the white way was the only way. So his mother was not teaching him anything and not equipping him for life according to this, this is why he was taken to a mission.
4. Paul has stayed true and kept to area where he was born for his whole life which is Narrogin
5. He was born in 1951 and was taken in 1954 being only 3 years old, he still lives today
Ruth Mackenzie
1. Ruth is a “Half-Caste” and is another person of the stolen generations. Her real name is Molly Lenin, being changed when she was taken to a mission. They decided to change her name because the sisters in the mission felt the white side of her family was not good.
2. She did not want to be taken, she wanted to stay with her aboriginal step father. But she had to go and live in bad conditions. She remembers milk soaked bread as typical rations.
3. This person was placed in care because she was a ‘Half-Caste, they wanted to take the aboriginal out of her by giving her a white education and teaching her about religion. They also wanted her to marry a white man so her kids are even whiter but she married an aboriginal against their wishes.
4. She lived most of her life in Oodnadatta where she was taken
5. She was born in the 1920’s and was taken in 1926 she still lives today.
1. Ruth is a “Half-Caste” and is another person of the stolen generations. Her real name is Molly Lenin, being changed when she was taken to a mission. They decided to change her name because the sisters in the mission felt the white side of her family was not good.
2. She did not want to be taken, she wanted to stay with her aboriginal step father. But she had to go and live in bad conditions. She remembers milk soaked bread as typical rations.
3. This person was placed in care because she was a ‘Half-Caste, they wanted to take the aboriginal out of her by giving her a white education and teaching her about religion. They also wanted her to marry a white man so her kids are even whiter but she married an aboriginal against their wishes.
4. She lived most of her life in Oodnadatta where she was taken
5. She was born in the 1920’s and was taken in 1926 she still lives today.
Murray Harrison
1. Murray is my final person from the stolen generations. He is from the Wotjobaluk peoples which come from up around Dimboola in Victoria. He is one of seven children
2. There were three things he thought were good about the program first was the fact that he got three meals a day, second was a warm place to sleep and third was a good education. However being locked away like he was haunted him for the rest o his life.
3. He got placed in care because three in his family were randomly chosen to be taken, he thinks he was possibly chosen because he had lighter skin than everyone else.
4. He lives in Dimboola in Victoria were he grew up
5. He was born in 1938 and was taken in 1948, he still lives today.
1. Murray is my final person from the stolen generations. He is from the Wotjobaluk peoples which come from up around Dimboola in Victoria. He is one of seven children
2. There were three things he thought were good about the program first was the fact that he got three meals a day, second was a warm place to sleep and third was a good education. However being locked away like he was haunted him for the rest o his life.
3. He got placed in care because three in his family were randomly chosen to be taken, he thinks he was possibly chosen because he had lighter skin than everyone else.
4. He lives in Dimboola in Victoria were he grew up
5. He was born in 1938 and was taken in 1948, he still lives today.
Stolen Generations' Testimonies Foundation ND, Stolen Generations’ Testimonies, viewed 1st November 2013, http://stolengenerationstestimonies.com/