Took the Children Away
Archie Roach
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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.
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Written by: ARCHIBALD WILLIAM ROACH
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Historical Significance"Took The Children Away" is based on Archie Roach's personal experience and the experiences of other Indigenous Australians under the forcible assimilation policy of the Australian government, which ran from the 1900s to the 1970s.
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Song CreationThe song was written in 1988 after Archie Roach discovered some old written letters from his sister which provided some information regarding his parents, siblings and the reasons they were taken away.
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Album Inclusion"Took The Children Away" was released as part of Archie Roach's debut album, "Charcoal Lane," in 1990.
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Awards & RecognitionRoach won two ARIA awards for the song. He received the award for Best New Talent and was also recognized with the Best Indigenous Release.
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Social ImpactThe song significantly raised public awareness about the Stolen Generations - the group of Aboriginal children who were forcefully separated from their families.
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Meaningful LyricsIt's the first song ever to use the term "Stolen Generations," a phrase now commonly used to refer to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly separated from their families as children.
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Emotional Connection“Took the Children Away” is not only a song but also a story that connects Archie and other indigenous Australians who have been through the same ordeal. It's a very emotional piece that touches on significant cultural, historical, and social realities.
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Legal OutcomesThe song played a significant role in the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the Bringing Them Home report which ultimately led to the famous National Apology to the 'Stolen Generations' by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008.
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Singing StyleRoach's style in the song, combining spoken word and conventional singing, helped to convey the deeply personal and painful memories and experiences.
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Documentary InclusionThe song was included in the documentary film “Archie Roach – Took The Children Away” which won several international awards.
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International Recognition"Took The Children Away" has been translated into many languages and covered by artists around the world, demonstrating its powerful impact and relevance.
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Special HonorsFor the 50th anniversary of the ARIA Awards in 2021, "Took The Children Away" was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
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Citation
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"Took the Children Away Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 30 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/8384389/Archie+Roach/Took+the+Children+Away>.
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