Midnight Oil: Beds Are Burning

Midnight Oil: Beds Are Burning

Creator: Song written and performed by Australian band Midnight Oil composed of James Moginie, Robert Hirst, Peter Gifford and Peter Garrett, released in 1987.

Purpose:

“Beds Are Burning” is a political song about giving native Australian lands back to the Pintupi, who were among the very last people to come in from the desert. (Wikipedia). The song was also used as the first ever global music petition for Climate Change in 2009 as the “Tck Tck Tck, Time for Climate Justice” campaign.

 

Song Manifesto: Beds Are Burning

© Midnight Oil 1987

 

Out where the river broke

The blood wood and the desert oak

Holden wrecks and boiling diesels

Steam in forty five degrees

 

The time has come

To say fair’s fair

To pay the rent

To pay our share

 

The time has come

A fact’s a fact

It belongs to them

Let’s give it back

 

How can we dance when our earth is turning

How do we sleep while our beds are burning

How can we dance when our earth is turning

How do we sleep while our beds are burning

 

The time has come

To say fair’s fair

To pay the rent, now

To pay our share

 

Four wheels scare the cockatoos

From Kintore East to Yuendemu

The western desert lives and breathes

In forty five degrees

 

The time has come

To say fair’s fair

To pay the rent

To pay our share

The time has come

A fact’s a fact

It belongs to them

Let’s give it back

 

How can we dance when our earth is turning

How do we sleep while our beds are burning

How can we dance when our earth is turning

How do we sleep while our beds are burning

 

The time has come

To say fair’s fair

To pay the rent, now

To pay our share

The time has come

A fact’s a fact

It belongs to them

We’re gonna give it back

 

How can we dance when our earth is turning

How do we sleep while our beds are burning

 

Source

Official Midnight Oil Website

Song Lyrics from sing365.com

Official Midnight Oil Music Video from YouTube

Beds are Burning Background on Wikipedia

Midnight Oil on Wikipedia

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