You should know as I answer, I'm an Aborigine.

That day's a curse, a sham. A party celebrating death.

The wind that filled those first sails took and killed our very breath.

That day's a deep injustice and a cruel and wicked trick.

Colonial expansion left my people dead and sick.

Your sounds of gay rejoicing show that you don't understand.

You kept us all downtrodden, as you stole across our land.

You celebrate this day on which our liberty was lost.

How heartless to remind us what your vile trespass cost.

Your shouts of mateship echo in a chorus quite absurd.

A base and hollow rapture, with our voices left unheard.

Your drunken, mindless actions lacking all solemnity.

A party for our capture. Where is your humanity?

Find a day to celebrate both our futures, not the past.

A day to build our bonds, with understanding that will last.

A date of Federation, or when Cathy's race was run.

The day that Rudd said "Sorry", or the day that Mabo won.

A date and day to join us, that can mean we each can be.

The same Australian people, who're all part of this country.