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Clip description
‘Treaty’ was one of the singles lifted from Yothu Yindi’s ‘Tribal Voice’ album, released in 1991. This is an excerpt from the first verse and chorus.
Curator’s notes
Though the song borrows from rock and roll, the driving beat and melody of the song is drawn from traditional Yolngu music. As with the best protest songs, the chorus is catchy and to the point ('Treaty yeah, Treaty now’), equally suited to singing along with or being chanted at a political demonstration. The lyrics reference the struggle for land rights and also act as a call for reconciliation between black and white ('I’m dreaming of a brighter day, When the waters will be one’).
‘Treaty’ spent over 20 weeks in the national music sales charts, was voted song of the year by APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) and received roaring approval when Yothu Yindi performed it at the Closing Ceremony of the Sydney Olympics on 1 October 2000.
