This Is Australia Content Warning: this video contains depictions of violence, racial abuse, and police, border security and juvenile justice system brutality.
This wild song and many more like it can be found at Bottom of the Pops.
Lyrics, Vocals, Recording: Beni Bjah
Directors: Dalisa Pigram and Rachael Swain – Marrugeku
Producer: Gillian Moody
Cinematographer: David Tran
Choreography: Dalisa Pigram with Jurrungu Ngan-ga cast 2021
Music Production: Dazastah, Sam Serruys and Paul Charlier
Editor and Colourist: Darrin Baker
Additional Vocals: Zachary Lopez
Main Cast: Ses Bero, Emmanuel James Brown, Chandler Connell, Luke Currie-Richardson, Issa El-Assaad, Ashleigh Musk, Bhenji Ra, Macon Escobar Riley, Feras Shaheen
Filmed in the Kimberley on the lands of the Bunuba people in Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
Originally by Childish Gambino. A remake to “This is America”
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Lyrics
We just want a barbie
Crack a can or two
put upon your thongs
Aussie day is due
Oh Lest we forget
The footies on tonight
can’t you just get over it
You know she’ll be right
We just want a barbie
Crack a can or two
put upon your thongs
Aussie day is due
Oh Boundless space to share
Somethings gotta give
Can’t you just go home
Find a place to live
This is Australia
Look how I’m killing ya
Locking your children up
Filling my prisons up
This is Australia
Look how I’m fearing ya
Locking your children up
Filling my prisons up
This is Australia
Look how I’m treating ya
Say there’s no room for ya
Quick to forget your name
This is Australia
Cops in my area
Locking ya up
Cause white man we scared of ya
Yeh yeh Im’a go into this
Ah ah forgetting our history
Yeh yeh locking up refugees
Ah ah oh how the irony
Yeh yeh showing their fear in us
Na na not knowing who we are
Yeh yeh chuck you in Manus cause
This is Australia
Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh, tell somebody
You go tell somebody
Grandma told me “Get your land back”
Get your land back, Black man
Get your land back, Black man
Get your land back, Black man
Get your land back, Black man
This is Australia
Look how you’re killing us
Locking our children up
Filling them prisons up
This is Australia
Look how I’m fearing ya
Locking our children up
Filling your prisons up
Take the pulse of my nation
You can see the fear (fear)
So casual with the racism
You’re in denial here (here)
Walk around with your face screwed up
We can see it clear (clear)
You want us all locked up hood strapped
Don Dale style brother can you hear (what)
We ain’t be asking for much (na)
Just want our land back a bunch (yeh)
Media stay on the hunt (ah)
Spreading that fear over brunch (daily)
Djabugay, Bunuba, Noongar Man
Wiradjuri, Anangu, Yawuru Man
They want us all in the lock up
Or getting shot by the copper
Blow
This is Australia
Home of the young and free
sailed over seven seas
labelled a refugee
This is Australia
Fear of the unknown
What we don’t understand
We wanna send home
Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh, tell somebody
Australia, the Pacific Solution killed us and you mothafuckas owe us!
Grandma told me
Get your land back, Black man
Get your land back, Black man
Get your land back, Black man
Get your land back, Black man
Beni Bjah 2020
Copyright – Marrugeku Inc. 2022
This is Australia was funded by Lotterywest through Stream E – Sector Support for Resilient Arts and Culture Organisations.
