Took The Children Away chords by Archie Roach

G
This story's right, this story's true. I would not tell lies to you.
     C              G
Like the promises they did not keep, and how they fenced us in like sheep.

Said to us come take our hand, set us up on mission land.
C
Taught us to read, to write and pray.
D                     G         C
Then they took the children away. Took the children away, the children away.
D                  C
Snatched from their Mothers breast, said this is for the best.
G
Took them away.

G

The welfare man, the police man, said you've got to understand.
   C                 G
We'll give to them what you can't give, teach them how to really live.

Teach them how to live they said, humiliated them instead.
C                   D
Taught them that and taught them this and others taught them predjudice.
      G         C
Oh took the children away, the children away.
D               C           G
Breaking their Mothers heart, tearing us all apart, took them away.

G
One dark day on Framlingham, came and didn't give a damn.
  C               G
My Mother cried go get their Dad, he came running, fighting mad.

Mothers tears were falling down, my Dad shaped up and stood his ground.
       C
He said "You touch my kids and you fight me".
D                 G         C
Then they took us from our family. Took us away, they took us away.
D                 C              G
Snatched from our Mothers breast, said this was for the best, took us away.


Instumental:

G
Told us what to do and say, taught us all the white mans ways.
C              G
Then they split us up again, gave us gifts to ease the pain.

Sent us off to foster homes, as we grew up we felt alone.
       C
Cause we were acting white, yet feeling black.
D
One sweet day all the children came back.

  G            C
The children came back, the children came back.
D                  C
Back where their hearts grow strong, back where they all belong.
  G
The children came back, said the children came back.
    C          D
Oh the children came back, back where they understand.
C                G
back to their Mothers land, the children came back.


G                  C
Back to their Mother, back to their Father.
       G           D
Back to their Sister, back to their Brother.
       G           C
Back to their People, back to THEIR LAND.
           G   C         G
All the children came back, the children came back.
C           G   D     G
Yeah the children came back, yes I came back.



Truly, one of the best songs of all time. I dedicate this to Uncle Ted RIP,
Aunty Carol RIP, Brenda, Tye and Eddie RIP. Comment, correction and/or