This story's right, this story's true
I would not tell lies to you
Like the promises they did not keep
And how they fenced us in like sheep.
Said to us come take our hand
Sent us off to mission land.
Taught us to read, to write and pray
Then they took the children away,
Took the children away,
The children away.
Snatched from their mother's breast
Said this is for the best
Took them away.

The welfare and the policeman
Said you've got to understand
We'll give them what you can't give
Teach them how to really live.
Teach them how to live they said
Humiliated them instead
Taught them that and taught them this
And others taught them prejudice.
You took the children away
The children away
Breaking their mothers heart
Tearing us all apart
Took them away

One dark day on Framingham
Come and didn't give a damn
My mother cried go get their dad
He came running, fighting mad
Mother's tears were falling down
Dad shaped up and stood his ground.
He said 'You touch my kids and you fight me'

And they took us from our family.
Took us away
They took us away
Snatched from our mother's breast
Said this was for the best
Took us away.

Told us what to do and say
Told us all the white man's ways
Then they split us up again
And gave us gifts to ease the pain
Sent us off to foster homes
As we grew up we felt alone
Cause we were acting white
Yet feeling black

One sweet day all the children came back
The children come back
The children come back
Back where their hearts grow strong
Back where they all belong
The children came back
Said the children come back
The children come back
Back where they understand
Back to their mother's land
The children come back

Back to their mother
Back to their father
Back to their sister
Back to their brother
Back to their people
Back to their land
All the children come back
The children come back
The children come back
Yes I came back.


Lyrics submitted by RomantiicDemiise, edited by liberalman

Took the Children Away Lyrics as written by Archibald William Roach

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Took The Children Away song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    i really love this song.... this song is about the stolen generation, of the native aboriginals of australia. its a story of his life, growing up in the country town of framlingham (near warrnambool) and being taken away from his family.

    RomantiicDemiiseon March 11, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    While we all accept the sadness did not many positive results come from the stolen generation. Today many wonderful aboriginal children suffer in very poor conditions. We as a nation must accepts today that alcohol drugs sexual abuse and health issues are not well addressed in aboriginal families.

    dave the falcon man from falconon September 02, 2014   Link

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