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