Ode to Country
Words by Aunty Ruby Watson and music by Rachel Hore (2008)
Members of Ngarrgan-Mirriiyn (Morning Star) choir at Big Sing by the Sea in Forster NSW, 2019. Photograph by Jed Sliver.
Ode to Country
Excerpt of Ode to Country sung by participants at Big Sing in the Desert 2018, recorded at Ross River Homestead, Northern Territory.
Ode to Country was a collaboration between Rachel Hore and Aunty Ruby Watson when they met at a climate change conference, Courageous Conversations, at Binna Burra Lodge in Southern Queensland in 2008.
“This song is sung in a round. When I first introduced Ode to Country at Big Sing in the Desert 2010, I remember being surprised and delighted to learn from Lily Roennfeldt and Marion Swift from Ntaria that they also had a round to share. They then taught us their round Pitjai Inkaarturna in Western Arrarnta which has become one of our favourite songs.” – Rachel Hore
Ode to Country has been shared at Big Sing by the Sea, Singing on Deerubbin Shores and at many other singing workshops around Australia.
Ode to Country
Music by Rachel Hore (2008)
Lyrics by Aunty Ruby Watson (2008)
Reproduced with permission
Look after the land, she is our mother
Honour each person, as sister and brother
Honour the Elders, share with each other
Then rain will come, the land to cover
Then rain will come, the land to cover