Union Songs
Something about Immigration
A Song by M.BianchinoİM.Bianchino 2012
Ti Voglio bene, not because its the thing to do
We traveled to a distance land, perché la vita é piu (because life is better)
Is there another person, chi parla inglese qui (who speaks english here)
Its something about immigration, anche noi sono triste too (that makes us sad too)I saw leaky boats sailing, but they came in big ships too
I saw aeroplanes flying, I saw illegals and you
I heard all of the shouting, the common man is thru
I witness headlines a blazing, with propaganda a newTi Voglio bene, not because its the thing to do
We traveled to a distance land, perché la vita é piu
Is there another person, chi parla inglese qui
Its something about immigration, anche noi sono triste too.So move over Waltzing Matilda, there's a new song to play
With mandolins, harps & oboes, not with just guitars in tow
We are an island of many, yes a cliché its true
Its time to sandblast this rhetoric, that Australia was meant for a few.Ti Voglio bene, not because its the thing to do
We traveled to a distance land, perché la vita é piu
Is there another person, chi parla inglese qui
Its something about immigration, anche noi sono triste tooSomething about immigration that makes us all sad too.
Notes
Many thanks to Mario Bianchino for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collectionTi Voglio bene translates to I care for you
Mario writes
'The song is clearly about the political & media driven rhetoric (pollution) surrounding boat people & refugees. But it also deals with immigration after WWII. When Europeans immigrated to Australia from war torn Europe (including my parents who came to Oz in the late 50's from Italy). The point being, the reason people leave their beloved homeland is because the quality of life (thru poverty or violence) has failed them. They seek a new land (Ti Voglio bene - I care or love you) for their family. Its always sad that a person must leave their land of birth (Its something about immigration, anche noi sono triste too (that makes us sad too) )."Move over Waltzing Matilda" is symbolic for the many other cultures now inhabiting this land (culturally, artistically , spiritually) we now have many more songs to sing (not just colonial songs of the past, in other words we now have a history that is not monocultural) & with many different instruments. It was Bob Katter's statement in May 2012 (paraphrasing here) that the 'true Aussie or face of Australia will be dead by the time the baby boomers die out". Quite a remarkable statement from anyone (Katter is of Lebanese decent). So it was Bob (that sparked me to write the song while having breakfast). That's two songs Bob has inspired me to write here is the first http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajc99vfPmUo '
union songs..........a selection by mark gregory