The River Ran Like Murder

THE RIVER RAN LIKE MURDER

W & m copyright Graham Seal 2008

This song tells the story of an event in the early history of Western Australia. Alarmed by what they perceived as warlike activity by the local Aboriginal people, now known collectively as 'Noongar', settlers in the Pinjarra district convinced the governor to take action. The 'Pinjarra massacre' was the result.

In the last days of October, eighteen thirty-four,

Governor James Stirling armed his men for war.

They mounted their horses, they rode night and day,

And the river ran like murder - down Pinjarra way.

The blacks were surrounded in the early morning light,

The women held the children and the men turned to fight.

Caught in the crossfire no-one could get away,

And the river ran like murder - down Pinjarra way.

Like wild beasts through the bush the blacks were hunted down,

With spears against lead bulletsthey could not hold their ground.

The troopers shot the wounded and left them where they lay,

And the river ran like murder - down Pinjarra way.

Now the bush along the river bank has overgrown the bones.

The blood has washed away from the silent river stones.

But still the voices speak about that dark and bloody day,

When the river ran like murder - down Pinjarra way.