Took the Children Away

Archie Roach, 2004

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
Set us up on mission land
They 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 man, the policeman
Said you've got to understand
Cos' we'll give to them what you can't give
And teach them how to really live
Teach them how to live they said
Humiliated them instead
And they taught them that and taught them this
And others taught them prejudice
Oh took the children away
Oh the children away
Breaking their mothers heart
Tearing us all apart
Took them away

One dark day on Framlingham
Came and did not give a damn
My mother cried go get their dad
He came running, fighting mad
Mother's tears were falling down
And my Dad shaped up and stood his ground.
He said you touch my kids and you gotta fight me boys
Then they took us from our family.
Took us away
Yeah took us away
Grabbed from our mother's breast
Said this is for the best
Took us away.

.../2

Told us what to do and say
Taught us all these are white man's ways
But then they split us up again
Gave us gifts to ease the pain
Sent us off to foster homes
And as we grew up oh we felt alone
Cause we were acting white
And feeling black
One sweet day all the children came back

Yeah the children came back
Yeah the children came back
Back where their hearts grow strong
Back where they all belong
The children came back
Said the children came back
Oh the children came back
Back where they understand
Back to their mother's land
The children came 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 came back
All the children came back
Yeah the children came back
Yes I came back.