Straight from the Heart (The Makarrata Song)

They gathered in the heart of the wide brown land
Put their differences aside, said “together we stand
You asked what we want, we’ll tell you straight
That our people are hurting, but it’s not too late
If you really want to help heal the wounds of the past
And really close the gap with some justice at last
We’ll tell you straight from the Heart
We’ll speak straight from the Heart
Of this land”

So they talked and they sang till they worked it all out
“Three tasks to do, one word to shout
There’s a Voice to be heard, Truth to be told
There’s a Treaty to be signed, to right wrongs of old
It’s Makarrata we want, Makarrata’s the cry
From this great red rock under this southern sky
We speak straight from the Heart
We cry straight from the Heart
Of this land”

To Canberra they came, said “here’s what we say
If you wanna walk with us, this is the way”
But Canberra said “no, you ask for too much
We wanted something with a much lighter touch
Something we could sell to those on the right
Who can’t see past their blindfolds into the light
Of what’s straight from the Heart
Though it’s straight from the Heart
Of this land”

Well it’s been said before they know how to wait
But Makarrata's already two hundred years late
There’s no time like now to do what we must
And bury terra nullius under the dust
Of this blood-stained country, this heart-broken land
Where the red rock itself cries in the sand
Straight from the Heart
Straight from the Heart
Of this land

But the Heart of this land isn’t just Uluru
It’s what beats in the chest of me and of you
It’s what cries in the soul of this country we share
It’s what sings in the sighs of the dreams that we dare
It’s what lifts us to hope and to care for each other
Drives the blood in the bond of sister and brother
It’s what gives us our strength to rise above fears
It’s the rock of our dreams, our hopes and our tears
That come straight from the Heart
Straight from the Heart
Of this land

So if we want it to be, it’s over to us
We can’t leave it to others we’ve learnt not to trust.
It’s Makarrata we need, Makarrata’s the way
To a much better future, to a bran nue dae
When the clear light of Truth will finally be shone
On all of the lies about what has been done
When those who’ve been silenced will be given their Voice
And those who won’t listen won’t have any choice
But to sign the damn Treaty, pay the damn rent
For country and lives stolen and spent
So we'll sing it and shout it throughout this land
Until justice prevails, and as one we all stand
Singing straight from the Heart
Crying straight from the Heart
Of this land

We'll sing it and shout throughout this land
Until justice prevails, and as one we all stand
Singing straight from the Heart
Crying straight from the Heart
Singing straight from the Heart
Crying straight from the Heart
Of this land

(Lyrics by John Sutton)