Why this song?
This song has all the power and driving rhythm to keep the Justice Train moving.
It was written to raise people's awareness of a broken promise by the Australian Government, for a Treaty with Indigenous Australians by 1990, and to encourage the government to keep that promise.
Despite the history (still no Treaty) the song is uplifting. It makes you want to move your body, and beyond the politics everyone is having a good time with this song - just see the smiles on the faces of the dancing kids and Mandawuy Yunupingu in the Radio mix version.
- Jenny
(We've included videos of both the original version and the radio mix.)
Lyrics
Well I heard it on the radio
And I saw it on the television
Back in 1988, all those talking politicians
Words are easy, words are cheap
Much cheaper than our priceless land
But promises can disappear
Just like writing in the sand
Treaty yeah treaty now treaty yeah treaty now
Nhima djatpangarri nhima walangwalang (You dance djatpangarri, that's better)
Nhe djatpayatpa nhima gaya' nhe marrtjini yakarray (You're dancing, you improvise, you keep going, wow)
Nhe djatpa nhe walang gumurrt jararrk gutjuk (You dance djatpangarri, that's good my dear paternal grandson)
This land was never given up
This land was never bought and sold
The planting of the union jack
Never changed our law at all
Now two river run their course
Seperated for so long
I'm dreaming of a brighter day
When the waters will be one
Treaty yeah, treaty now, treaty yeah, treaty now
Nhima gayakaya nhe gaya' nhe (You improvise, you improvise)
Nhe gaya' nhe marrtjini walangwalang nhe ya (You improvise, you keep going, you're better)
Nhima djatpa nhe walang (You dance djatpangarri, that's good)
Gumurr-djararrk yawirriny' (My dear young men)
Nhe gaya' nhe marrtjini gaya' nhe marrtjini (You improvise, you keep improvising, you keep going)
Gayakaya nhe gaya' nhe marrtjini walangwalang (Improvise, you improvise, you keep going, that's better)
Nhima djatpa nhe walang (You dance djatpangarri, that's good)
Gumurr-djararrk nhe yå, e i, e i, e i i i, i i i, i i i, i i (You dear things)
Treaty ma' (Treaty now)
Promises disappear - priceless land - destiny
Well I heard it on the radio
And I saw it on the television
But promises can be broken
Just like writing in the sand
Treaty yeah treaty now treaty yeah treaty now
Treaty yeah treaty now treaty yeah treaty now
Treaty yeah treaty ma treaty yeah treaty ma
Treaty yeah treaty ma treaty yeah treaty ma
Words and music: Mandawuy Yunupingu, Kellaway, Williams, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Mununggurr and Marika, Paul Kelly, Peter Garrett
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