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Caring for the Dispossessed

by The Goodwills

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This was our entry in the 2024 Alistair Hulett Songs for Social Justice Award (Paddy McHugh is this year's awardee). Sadly, the award has come to an end after 14 years and 200 submissions from Australian songwriters. What a great idea for a compilation album!

lyrics

Caring for the dispossessed © Bob Wilson/Laurel Wilson 2023
1/
What did they do with the dispossessed when the settlers took control,
When they’d driven them off the coastal plains and poisoned their waterholes;
He’s a fifth-generation Australian man, land passed from father to son;
His ancestors ‘took up the land’, took it by the rule of the gun,
By the rule of the gun.
2/
What did they do with the dispossessed when the highlands were laid bare,
Stone walls built by my great-grandfather, some still standing there.
The English drove the Clansmen out, brought in sheep, planted grain,
Took whiskey over the border, charged a tax and sent it back again,
Sent it back again.
3/
What shall we do with the homeless, two hundred thousand strong,
Struggling for survival, they’ve done nothing wrong.
Sleeping in their cars, in doorways, in caravans and tents,
Some will say it’s all their fault, but they just can’t afford the rent,
Can’t afford the rent.
4/
What shall we do with the refugees, displaced by civil war,
So many years in migrant camps, they can’t remember what came before.
They’d better not get on fishing boats, to either gain our shores or drown;
They’ll turn back the boats and we’ll never ever know; ‘cos the dead don’t make a sound,
Don’t make a sound.
Bridge/
It’s all too much, the state of the world, how can we stem the tide;
Our continent’s a lifeboat, but there’s no more room inside
For asylum seekers, orphaned children, those with nowhere else to go;
When we don’t even value the First Australians, six out of ten said ‘no’,
They just said ‘no’.
Coda
There’s not much love shown here for the homeless and oppressed,
But we can make a difference, put your conscience to the test.
Just do your bit, however small, as long as it’s your best;
It all comes down to compassion, caring for the dispossessed
For the dispossessed.
It all comes down to compassion - caring for the dispossessed;
It all comes down to compassion - caring for the dispossessed;
It all comes down to compassion - caring for the dispossessed.

credits

released April 10, 2024
Caring For the Dispossessed
Personnel
LAUREL WILSON vocals
BOB WILSON vocals, acoustic guitars
PENNY DAVIES backing vocals
TONY ILOTT bass guitar
ROGER ILOTT pedal steel, Rickenbacker 360/12, keyboards, backing vocals
Produced, recorded, mixed & mastered by ROGER ILOTT at Restless Music, Storm King, Queensland, 4380 www.restlessmusic.com.au

Photo of Bob and Laurel performing at the NFF by Karina Red

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The Goodwills QLD, Australia

Bob and Laurel Wilson have been singing together since the late 1970s. Bob Wilson's songs struck a chord with Australia all Over listeners, so you may recognise them. The veteran duo has produced four CDs and this is their fifth project together.

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