Albert Namatjira chords by Ted Egan

SimplifiedC · F · Dm

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Verse 1
C 
The famous painter
Albert Namatjira
was one of a few Aboriginals
who was told that he was now
an Australian citizen,
solely on the basis of his earnings.
These so -called rights merely
imposed on Namatjira
confusion and draconian penalties
for observing age -old customs
towards members of his own family.
Namatjira was sentenced to imprisonment
for supplying wine to his own sons.
Sitting in the dirt,
and the trial is finally done
I'm to spend six months in jail,
just for sharing with my son
When I was young, I walked this land
With wise old men who said,
When we change you to a man,
If you don't share your debt,
If you don't share your debt
I endured the great ordeal
F 
C 
Promised to obey the rules
F 
Vital desert laws that teach
C 
Better than the white man's schools
All birds namajira
all birds namajira
I learned to paint the white man's way
I learned that I must keep my place
They wanted me to meet their queen,
Dm 
C 
F 
C 
tokenism for my race,
Dm 
C 
tokenism   for my race.
Then they split my family up
with their tricky white man laws,
Dm 
F 
Waited for me, then they pounced
C 
Clang the closing prison doors
Albert Namatjira
Albert Namatjira
As I sit here in the dust,
I think of how I've known this land.
Legends of my ancestors,
Dm 
C 
no more will flow from painters hands,
no more will flow from painters hands
I sit and think my ancient thoughts
F 
C 
An old man's memory
Dm 
Take me to your prison now
F 
C 
Leave me with my dignity
Albert Namatjira
Albert Namatjira
Albert Namatjira
Albert Namatjira
F 
C 
F 
C 
Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira,
C 
Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, Namajira, namajira!