Tuesday Poem (Song): "Took the Children Away" by Archie Roach

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

by Archie Roach

For more information about the songwriter, Archie Roach, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Roach

Tuesday Poem (song): "Man of Sorrow" by Sing Sing

TECHNICAL HITCH: Try as I might, I could not get the video to embed so the best I can do is give readers the YouTube link if they wish to view the accompanying video. Thank you for your internet patience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XvReL3wXqQ

In the shadow of day I'm feeling so bright and lonely,

In the harsh light of dawn I'm feeling so bright and lonely,

Lost the trust inside me, became like brittle wire,

The lizard sheds its skin and I don't feel entire

And in the shadow of day

when the night rolls away

with the breath of the dawn

I see my face pale and drawn, pale and drawn

Leaving a man of sorrow,

Leaving a man of sorrow

And as we scratch through the day,

I fold my troubles away,

You walk away to the sun,

We finish what we've begun, we've begun

Leaving a man of sorrow,

Leaving a man of sorrow

(Lead break)

Leaving a man of sorrow,

Leaving a man of sorrow,

Leaving a man of sorrow,

Leaving a man of sorrow,

Leaving a man of sorrow,

Leaving a man of sorrow

by Bell, Chung, Daly, Roxburgh and Scott

For more information about the rock band, Sing Sing, see:

Auckland-based Rock Band, Sing Sing, were active from 1984-1986. This track was from their eponymous 5-Track EP. This track was chosen to be filmed by Television New Zealand for two separate TV shows - the late-Sunday-night-screened, Radio With Pictures, hosted at the time by Karyn Hay, media broadcaster and, in later years, author. The second clip of the same song was filmed in Auckland at the studios of the TV show, Shazam, which went out in the late afternoon and was aimed more at a teenage demographic. Shazam's host at the time was Phillipa Dann. Phillipa also interviewed the band extensively for her Rock Music column which was published in the tabloid newspaper, the NZ Truth, which, according to Wikipedia, ceased production in July 2013. Sing Sing produced a second 3-song EP titled "Owning the Sharks" before disbanding in September 1986 due to the death of the drummer, Ken Chung's, father. Sing Sing did audition other drummers, but never found one with the right musical chemistry for the band. Ken Chung and bass player, Patrick Roxburgh, had been playing as a rhythm section for years. Pat and Ken teamed up with Andrew Bell, vocalist and lyricist, and Nick Scott on guitar. Andrew and Nick had been playing together in a Coromandel-based band called Godzilla (not a metal band but they came to rue that choice of band name because of the monster-metal associations) from 1980-1983 when they relocated to Auckland. Godzilla had done very well in a Battle of the Bands competition held at Mainstreet cabaret/rock venue in Auckland. That year the Battle of the Bands was won by The Gurlz with Kim Willoughby out front and second was The Skeptics, a post-punk noise band from Palmerston North. Sing Sing recorded the first EP at Last Laugh studios run by Martin Williams and Jon Cooper. The second EP was engineered and produced by both Jon Cooper at Last Laugh and Steve Garden at Progressive Studios. Sadly, both Last Laugh and Progressive Studios are no longer going concerns. Both Sing Sing EPs were released by Ode Records with Ode Records owner, Terence O'Neill Joyce, doing the Chinese Calligraphy (which said Sing Sing) on the first eponymous EP. The Sing Sing EP was released in 1985 and its follow-up, "Owning the Sharks", was released in 1986. The second EP received much positive critical press, especially its feature track, "Backwards", which was praised by Colin Hogg writing in the Auckland Star (now sadly also defunct). Particular mention was made of the wonderful sax solo by featured saxophonist, Ricky. Sing Sing, having disbanded by the second EPs release, were unable to capitalise on its sales and positive press for building their live audience. Pat Roxburgh sang the lead vocal on the track, "Stardust" from this second EP, "Owning the Sharks. In the latter stages of recording the first EP in 1984-1985, Sing Sing decided to fatten their sound so Chris Daly was added to the line-up. Chris brought with him a different but complementary guitar style to Nick Scott and the two traded places as both rhythm and lead guitars. Chris also fattened the sound in the studio with his keyboard and vocal skills. All members of Sing Sing, excluding the vocally-shy Nick Scott, sang backing vocals on various tracks. The track, "Killing Time", from the first EP even featured a five-part harmony backing vocal from Andrew, Ken, Chris, Pat and engineer, Martin Williams. The talented Rowan Hunt, also an engineer at Last Laugh recording studio, played the keyboards on the track, "Killing Time", ". Martin Williams had valuable input into the first EP and, as well as engineering the tracks, he is credited as co-producer with the band. Martin, as well as being a skilled drummer and engineer, was also a member of the woefully-shortlived Auckland band, the Grammar Boys, who had a major label album release. Martin Williams brought his day job engineering at Harlequin Studios, a 24-track studio, into his passion project, his own studios, co-owned with Jon Cooper, Last Laugh, an 8-track recording studio. Last Laugh was a more affordable option for independent Auckland bands and Martin's skill and keen ear brought warmth and "fatness" to tracks that may have got lost or sounded tinny in a bigger studio. Eight tracks meant thinking more innovatively and Martin certainly did that as did Jon Cooper. Both were invaluable as engineers and soundscape creators for bands such as Sing Sing. After Sing Sing's demise, a newish songwriting partnership sprang up between Andrew Bell and Pat Roxburgh who co-wrote and recorded two more tracks at Last Laugh. The tracks, "Shame" and "The Spark", remain unreleased and the Analogue Masters are presumably lost to the ether or some skip somewhere in downtown Auckland circa 1987-1990. The only remaining copies of these 2 tracks are on cassette (old-style technology, folks) owned by Andrew Bell and, presumably, also Pat Roxburgh.