Mannalargenna

Mannalargenna

Stood on the shore

Saw the white sails coming

Like he’d seen before

This time was different

More soldiers and guns

He talked with his spirit,

Watched the strangers come

We spoke a language

They could not understand

Then came the killings

In our Vanishing Land

Mannalargenna, On Trouwerner’s shores,

Proud Bunganna, Clever Man of Law

We put up resistance

To the drum and the gun

Redcoats and squatters

Tore our world undone

They made a Grand Army

Four thousand strong

A Line, East to West

Just to drive us from our homes.

Mannalargenna, Did not want a war

Proud Bunganna, There on Trouwerner’s shores

We were promised a Treaty

For an end to the War

If we agreed to leave and go

To the distant island shores

They promised we could return

When the war was through

They lied and broke every promise

Every heart too

Mannalargenna, Was a man of his Word.

Proud Bunganna, Staring back to Trouwerner’s shore

Why couldn’t they leave us

Just leave us be

To live as we lived,

So real and free

Mannarlargenna

He was a clever man

He foresaw a future

For his Pairrebeener/Trawlwoolway clan

His daughters promised

To the Straitsmen of the Isles

They lived to carry the memory

Their descendants tell the tale.

Of Mannalargenna, On Tebrakunna’s shores

Proud Bungunna, Of the Tyereelore

Mannalargenna, on Trouwerner’s shores

Proud Bungunna, Clever man of Law