You Still Wonder - John M Wenitong

I know you wonder why - them Abos get so mu$h
Once we could sing and dance and fly man you're really out of touch
We bin seen the white man comin all ran down to say g'day
But he used his guns an know-all eye blew lots of us away

We fought with spear pride an stealth to save our sacred ground
You took away our health and turned our life around
I know you wonder why we seem to've fallen by the way
Our families were torn apart we bin seen some stinking days

The life we led seemed clear to us but progress had to come
You say: it's best for all mankind but proof you show us none
Our Earth is sick from cleverness the oceans' a rubbish bin
We did not treat the earth like this old people say this is Sin

I know you wonder why we didn't like to do your dirty work
Well we bin lost sweat blood and pride an you got all the perks
And yet you nearly all complain that life and work is tough
Let me tell ya from Your sacred book mien Herr you ain't had it rough

Now our young ones follow you want to own things too
Possessions many and greed abounds still can't take it with you
And when you die and nourish the earth you'll be just like me
Your color and pride will wither away with luck you'll feed a tree

You wonder why I'm angry
you wonder why I'm pissed
We lived with the Spirit of the God-dammed land
an you don't think she's missed

So please excuse my forthrightness and please excuse my brass
But you would get a little angry too if you had to take it up the ass
Not once not twice but a hundred times till you think life's gone for good
Then you want me to live the Hinglish way do you really think I should?

Then your family's gone poisoned shot and down on the ground
Writhing around in mortal pain got in the road of a new campaign
Strip the land for our stock we won't let Her beat us
C'mon you blacks give us a hand

No no! They cried please don't do it
She is all-our-mothers rolled into one
We don't worry Great Spirit say life can be fun
And so an thus they pulled out their guns an we all run

N they run to the waters and they run to the sea
N they run to the places where the other don't go
N they run to the mountains an they run to the hills
N sometimes they made good sport for the kill

Oh once our life was easy oh twice our life was full
Not like now wine on breath mouths all full of bull
Well that's what you wanted wasn't it that's what we thought
That's what we saw treat each other like things we'd bought

Oh yeah just one thing more before I bin forget my remember
You got the power you got the rules don't play up don't lose that temper
Don't do this don't do that keep doin nothin till our spirit's big an fat
But well and Geeeewhizzikers guys you proper still bin wearin dat supercilious wonder-why hat?

---

John M Wenitong (20th century) Australia