Truganini (song)

"Truganini"
Single by Midnight Oil
from the album Earth and Sun and Moon
Released 1993
Format CD single
Length 4:20
Label Columbia
Producer(s) Nick Launay, Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil singles chronology
"Sometimes"
(1992)		 "Truganini"
(1993)		 "My Country"
(1993)

"Truganini" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, from their album Earth and Sun and Moon. It was inspired by Truganini, a Tasmanian Aborigine.

The song uses a recurring Australian problem (drought) to pose the question "What for?", meaning "why did Europeans bother to colonize this harsh place". The song mentions two prominent indigenous Australians (Truganini and Albert Namatjira) whose lives were altered by European settlement and discusses current day sentiment towards the old country, namely the monarchy.

The single's liner notes included the claim that Truganini was the "sole surviving Tasmanian Aborigine" when she died. This sparked protest by some of the 7,000 people who identify as Tasmanian Aboriginal.[1] Lead singer, Peter Garrett issued an apology.

The band performed the song live for American audiences as the musical guest on the American television show Saturday Night Live on May 8, 1993 when Christina Applegate served as host.

Track listing

CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Truganini"  R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, W. Stevens[2]4:20
2."Bushfire"  R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, W. Stevens[3]4:40
Total length:9:00
12" single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Truganini"  R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, W. Stevens[2]4:20
2."Bushfire"  R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, Stevens[3]4:40
3."Beds are Burning" (live - Our Common Future Concert, Darlinghurst, 1989)R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, P. Gifford[4]4:05
4."Only the Strong" (live - Capitol Theatre, Sydney, 1982)R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, P. Gifford[5]5:42
Total length:18:47

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[6] 10
Canadian New Zealand Singles Chart[7] 7
UK Singles Chart[8] 29
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks[9] 10
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[9] 4

References

  1. ↑ Vellutini, Laetitia (2003). "Finding a Voice on Indigenous Issues: Midnight Oil's Inappropriate Appropriations". Journal of Australian Studies. 27 (79): 127–133. doi:10.1080/14443050309387893.
  2. 1 2 "'Truganini' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 "'Bushfire' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "'Beds Are Burning' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "'Only The Strong' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  6. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Midnight Oil - Truganini". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Midnight Oil - Truganini". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Chart Stats Midnight Oil". Chart Stats. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Midnight Oil > Charts & Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 April 2014.


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