From Little Things Big Things Grow

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Gather 'round, people, I'll tell you a story An eight-year long story of power and pride British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiari Were opposite men on opposite sides Vestey was fat, with money and muscle Beef was his business, broad was his door Vincent was lean and spoke very little He had no bank balance, hard dirt was his floor [Chorus] From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow [Verse 2] Gurindji were working for nothing but rations Where once they had gathered the wealth of the land And daily, the pressure got tighter and tighter Gurindji decided they must make a stand They picked up their swags and started off walking At Wattie Creek, they sat themselves down Now, it don't sound like much, but it sure got tongues talking Back at the homestead and then in the town [Chorus] From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow [Verse 3] Vestey-man said, "I'll double your wages; Seven quid a week you'll have in your hand" Vincent said, "Uh-uh, we're not talking about wages We're staying right here 'til we get our land" Vestey-man roared and Vestey-man thundered "You don't stand the chance of a cinder in snow" Vince said, "If we fall, others are rising" [Chorus] From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow [Verse 4] Then Vincent Lingiari boarded an airplane And landed in Sydney, great big city of lights And daily he went 'round, softly speaking his story To all kinds of men from all walks of life And Vincent sat down with big politicians "This affair," they told him, "it's a matter of state Let us sort it out, why, your people must be hungry!" Vincent said, "No thanks, we know how to wait" [Chorus] From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow [Verse 5] Then Vincent Lingiari returned in an airplane Back to his country once more to sit down And he told his people, "Let the stars keep on turning We got friends in the south, in the cities and towns" Eight years went by, eight long years of waiting 'Til one day a tall stranger appeared in the land And he came with lawyers and he came with great ceremony And through Vincent's fingers he poured a handful of sand [Chorus] From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow [Verse 6] That was the story of Vincent Lingiari But this is the story of something much more How power and privilege can not move a people Who know where they stand, and stand in the law [Chorus] From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow From little things, big things grow