This story’s right, this story’s true
I would not tell lies to you
Like the promises they did not keep
And how they fenced us in like sheep.
Said to us come take our hand
Sent us off to mission land.
Taught us to read, to write and pray
Then they took the children away,
Took the children away,
The children away.
Snatched from their mother’s breast
Said this is for the best
Took them away.
The welfare and the policeman
Said you’ve got to understand
We’ll give them what you can’t give
Teach them how to really live.
Teach them how to live they said
Humiliated them instead
Taught them that and taught them this
And others taught them prejudice.
You took the children away
The children away
Breaking their mothers heart
Tearing us all apart
Took them away
One dark day on Framingham
Come and didn’t give a damn
My mother cried go get their dad
He came running, fighting mad
Mother’s tears were falling down
Dad shaped up and stood his ground.
He said ‘You touch my kids and you fight me’
And they took us from our family.
Took us away
They took us away
Snatched from our mother’s breast
Said this was for the best
Took us away.
Told us what to do and say
Told us all the white man’s ways
Then they split us up again
And gave us gifts to ease the pain
Sent us off to foster homes
As we grew up we felt alone
Cause we were acting white
Yet feeling black
One sweet day all the children came back
The children come back
The children come back
Back where their hearts grow strong
Back where they all belong
The children came back
Said the children come back
The children come back
Back where they understand
Back to their mother’s land
The children come back
Back to their mother
Back to their father
Back to their sister
Back to their brother
Back to their people
Back to their land
All the children come back
The children come back
The children come back
Yes I came back.
Songwriters: Archibald William Roach
Took The Children Away lyrics © O/B/O Apra Amcos
Why this song?
For decades, the Australian Government implemented a genocidal policy of ripping Aboriginal children away from their families. This resulted in ‘the Stolen Generations’. Archie Roach’s song tells this story and his own history. It’s a song that resonates so strongly now with the forced separation of asylum-seeking families trying to come to the USA from Central and South America. The song finishes with the return of the children - Archie included - offering us hope for the long run.
Listen to this song and then to Briggs’ song on this playlist, ‘The Children Came Back’. It’s very Aussie, so if you’re not Australian you might not appreciate all the references, but it’s a wonderful telling of some of those children who returned. It’s also worth viewing the apology to the Aboriginal people by Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, in 2008 (and watch the movie, Rabbit-proof Fence) - Submitted by Rose
Do you have a song that deserves to ride the Justice Train? Let us know about it below.