Analysis of Peter Garrett's Songs: 'Beds are Burning' & 'Blue Sky Mine' and Their Messages, Quizzes of History of War

Download Analysis of Peter Garrett's Songs: 'Beds are Burning' & 'Blue Sky Mine' and Their Messages and more Quizzes History of War in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 1 DEFINITION 1 how can we dance when our earth is turning, how can we sleep while our beds are burning. This is one of the many great quotes from the artist I have chosen, Peter Garret. Peter is the lead singer of Midnight Oil, and also has been the minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts. These jobs have been the result of his songwriting and his effect on Australian issues. TERM 2 2 DEFINITION 2 Peter's lyrics mostly focus on the discrimination of aboriginal and less fortunate people, usually living in rural and less popular areas. The two song lyrics that I chose to analyse are Beds and Burning, and Blue Sky Mine. These two songs commentate issues such as the discrimination of the aboriginal people, and the effects of the Wittenoom asbestos mine. TERM 3 3 DEFINITION 3 Peter was born on the 16th of April, 1953 in an upper north suburb of Sydney called Wahroonga. He attended Gordon West public school, and later Barker College before he began studying politics at the Australian National University, and then law at the University of New South Wales. Peters parents died quite early in his life. TERM 4 4 DEFINITION 4 His dad died during his schooling period, and his mother to a house fire during his time at university. Around this time, Peter joined the rock band, Midnight Oil as a singer in 1973. After working with the band for some time, they became identified with environmental causes. This lead Peter to become the president of the Australian Conservation Foundation and to be a part of the international board of Greenpeace. TERM 5 5 DEFINITION 5 Being a part of these groups also influenced his musical career, and how he wrote and performed songs. In Midnight Oil's 2000 Olympic Games performance of Beds are Burning, the band wore black shirts branded with white text of the words "Sorry". TERM 6 6 DEFINITION 6 This was targeted at the current prime minister, John Howard, and how he and his government refused to apologise to the Aboriginal Australians for the previous administration of removing aboriginal children from their families.The song, Beds are Burning refers to the white people of Australia, and how the aboriginal people live in poverty with no basic essentials while we sit here and do nothing. TERM 7 7 DEFINITION 7 The song is written from the point of view of a group of white people, and how they believe there needs to be some change in how the aboriginals are treated. The lyrics employ a number of basic techniques, but a large meaning of the song comes directly from the lyrics. The first verse or stanza establishes the setting of the song and the tone that will continue throughout the lyrics. TERM 8 8 DEFINITION 8 The lyric "Out where the river broke" can refer to two things. The Broken River, in outback Victoria, or river breaks, that are common in dry Australian weather. Establishing the setting of the song sets the tone that the whole song is going to apply by. The second, fourth and fifth verses all use the same structure and techniques, which gives it a sense of importance and significance. The techniques used are repetition, rhyming and inclusive language. TERM 9 9 DEFINITION 9 The use of inclusive language in the lines lets give it back makes the reader or listener feel like they are involved, or need to be. This helps to give the issue more exposure, and involve the community more. The actual wording of the lyrics refers to how the white people of Australia needs to give back the land originally owned by the aboriginal people of Australia, and how they have been disregarded and ignored for too long. TERM 10 10 DEFINITION 10 The chorus doesnt convey its message as much through the techniques used, but more through the actual wording of the lyrics. The lyrics how can we dance when our earth is turning, how can we dance while our beds are burning refers to the white people of Australia, and how they can sit and do nothing while the aboriginal people suffer and live in extreme poverty with no food, shelter and other basic needs, or a say in anything,