Truganini was an Indigenous Australian woman who is widely considered to be the last full-blooded Indigenous Tasmanian.
The song itself touches on Truganini but also what Midnight Oil sees as societal and environmental problems in Australia.
There's a road train going nowhere
Roads are cut, lines are down
We'll be staying at the Roma bar
Till that monsoon passes on
The backbone of this country's broken
The land is cracked and the land is sore
Farmers are hanging on by their fingertips
We cursed and stumbled across that shore
What for?
I hear much support for the monarchy
I hear the Union Jack's to remain
I see Namatjira in custody
I see Truganini's in chains
And the world won't stand still
Blue collar work it don't get you nowhere
You just go round and round in debt
Somebody's got you on that treadmill, mate
And I hope you're not beaten yet
Not yet
I hear much support for the monarchy
I hear the Union Jack's to remain
I see Namatjira in custody
I see Truganini's in chains
I hear much support for the monarchy
I see the Union Jack in flames, let it burn
I see Namatjira with dignity
I see Truganini's in chains
Chains...
And the world won't stand still
And the world won't stand still
Chains...
And the world won't stand still
And the world won't stand still
Truganini was written by Jim Moginie & Rob Hirst.
Truganini was produced by Nick Launay & Midnight Oil.
Midnight Oil released Truganini on Tue Apr 20 1993.