The 2010 Indigenous Music Competition received many thoughtful, creative and high quality entries from Indigenous Australians. The stories told in each song were heartfelt and dealt sensitively with the impact of cannabis on Indigenous communities in Australia.
The winner and two runner-ups of this year's competition can be found below. Lyrics are included and songs can be listened to on this website or downloaded to your computer or mp3 player.
The judging panel was comprised as follows:
- Communications Team - NCPIC
- Ms Paulette Whitton - Presenter/Producer, Blackchat, Koori Radio
- Mr Michael Hohnen - Artistic Director, Skinnyfish Music
Winner
Coedie McCarthy of Ocean Shores, NSW
'Yandi Zombies'
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Verse 1
It’s not called weed for nothing and yes it’s nothing but a weed
If you love it so much then why don’t you go drop a knee
But not me oh not I, I won’t be that same guy
Who has a greed in his eyes and always needs to get high
Why ya think they call it dope not 'cause it’s making you smarter
Next time your tempted to toke on that crap marijuana
Do as I do and sit tight 'n write through the night
Just stay away from that life I am shining a light
I’m saying if play with fire the price is your life
I know there’s a lot of bad examples blocking your sight
But take it from me the one that’s up here rocking the mic
I’d rather be rapping with style than be stuck in a fight
No it’s not worth the damage it could leave so ravaged
Just drop the habit and leave behind all the luggage 'n baggage
Live a long life and leave behind the bong and the pipe
There’s nothing wrong with my mind so here’s a song to reciteChorus
You don’t wanna be a yandi zombie
The ones that passing out at every party
It’s might be fun or even funny
But it won’t be when you’re hungry starving the yandi zombie x2Verse 2
All the destruction that’s caused by this one little plant
It’s just disgraceful to see this behaviour first hand
An' I have I’ve seen the way that it can take someone’s soul
My dad has the addiction thats why he's still on the dole
And now look at me I’m 16 and I hardly see him at all
He doesn’t have a phone so I guess he’s not going to call
I wasn’t even old enough to tell him I wanted a father
I never asked him to quit and I’ll regret it ever after
It’s so hard when your idol just goes and disappears
Leaving nothing but memories and two eyes full of tears
Now it’s clear he still loves me too but I was unsure for years
All because of crooked culture grabbing my dad by the ear
I know I’m not alone in this awful epidemic
There’s kids just like me all over the planet
I’m doing all I can to stop it all I can to prevent it
If I could I would send a letter straight to the SenateChorus x2
Verse 3
Slow thinking 'n slow reflexes
Un-coordination and lost connections
Delusional people have hallucinations
Anxiety paranoia and tiny patients
Increased appetite and a touch of psychosis
Wait a minute do ya reckon ya might happen to notice
That sounds like zombie not just a person on yandi
That’s why I call them the icky yucky yandi zombiesChorus x2
(There’s no need for weed) x4
This one here goes to all the mummas 'n papas
The aunties uncles and bubbas
The cousins sisters 'n brothers
The grandmothers and fathers
The ones who are living and loving
Bringing awareness to others
'Cause if I didn’t have them I wouldn’t be nothing but nothing x4
Runner Up
The Cully Kids of Cunnamulla, QLD
'Wanna-Bees'
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Verse 1
Smoking marijuana, doing what I wanna
Till I get locked up, cops is talking to my Mumma
Puffin' on the herb, ninginahs roll by
Now I’m sitting in detention with a tear in my eyeVerse 2
Why you getting high? Sitting around and stressing out
Threatening to kill yourself in your own house
Stressing for a session, suffering from depression
Hoping from this song that I teach you mob a lessonChorus
People smoke marijuana to be a wanna-be
They have a backyard full of yarndi trees
But you see I wanna be the deadliest I can be
That’s why I go to school to learn my ABCs
So freeze! Now rewind it back please
You need to live your life while you’re young and free
So please! You gotta listen to me
While I’m talking to my young black AboriginesVerse 3
Just a fiend on the streets you’re out looking for drugs
But what’s the real issue? You’re looking for love
This is for my brothers and my sisters out there
We’re here to let you know that somebody caresVerse 4
So all my Murris in the hood I got a message for you
Think about your family whatever you do
Look out for your sister, brother, uncles and aunties
And your mum and your dad, don’t worry about the yarndiChorus x1
Runner Up
Katrina Connelly & Elijah Connelly from the Kalka Community, SA
'Stay Alive'
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Verse 1
People travelling on the road
Drinking too much grog
Some people messin' up their minds
Smoking Ukiri (marijuana)
Not thinking about the future passin' by
Not thinking about the future passin' byChorus
Be careful what you do to yourself
Be careful what you do to yourself
Walytja tjuta Kanyila – Kanyila
Think about your family yeah and stay aliveVerse 2
You can hear the people cryin'
Cryin' out so loud
You can hear the children cryin'
Cryin' all night long
Thinking about the trouble on the road
Thinking about the trouble on the roadChorus x1
