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 | |||
| Writer(s) | R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, W. Stevens | |||
| Producer(s) | Nick Launay, Midnight Oil | |||
| Midnight Oil singles chronology | ||||
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"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. 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.
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