Standard (EADGBE)

Times were hard in old Swan Hill

And her circumstances got harder still

The only thing this woman ever knew was pain

It seemed she’d never know sweet happiness again

Kicked around, treated bad

It’s not right for one so young to be so sad

A koori child should not have had this cross to bear

It makes me wonder if anybody really cares

Troubled woman is your name

Through no fault of yours it seems you always got the blame

And an old man’s voice calls from afar

Who will shed a tear for Munjana?

Fond memories of Moulamein

The only happy times her family had seen

Wishing that those happy times would never end

With uncle John who at the time was their best friend

But this young girl just couldn’t win

She got in to trouble in Deniliquin

Had a lovely child way down in old Fitzroy

Then the Welfare came and took her baby boy

Baby Russell was his name

They took him from her arms and made her feel ashamed

Took him away to America

Who will shed a tear for Munjana?

They changed his name and changed his home

While he was growing up he always felt alone

And through the years his history remained untold

He questioned why so they kicked him out at 12 years old

He was on the streets for many years

No-one ever knew his pain or saw his tears

He took to using drugs and booze just to escape

Then one night they arrested him for murder and rape

Troubled woman, troubled man

Doesn’t anybody out there give a damn?

And an old man’s voice calls from afar

Who will shed a tear for Munjana?

His one true mother who’d searched in vain

For her son she never thought she’d see again

She received a phone call from Florida

They found her son and more bad news for Munjana

Hello Russell, this is your mother calling

Please forgive me I can’t stop the tears from falling

You come from this land and sun above

And always remember the strength of your mother’s love

They took you there when you were five

Now you’re in some jail trying to survive

And if the truth be told when all have testified

Another crime committed here was genocide

Troubled woman is your name

Through no fault of yours it seemed you always got the blame

And an old man’s voice calls from afar

Who will shed a tear for Munjana?