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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    This debut solo double album features one album of ten original songs and another album, comprising ten covers of Bruce's favourite folk songs.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Word is the Music the People are the Song via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days

      $70 AUD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    A double CD with one CD of original songs and one CD of Bruce's interpretation of the folk songs which inspired him in his youth.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Word is the Music the People are the Song via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days

      $40 AUD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 AUD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

Written by my brother Ian, back in 1995, in protest at the plight of Aboriginal deaths in custody, a shocking state of affairs which continues to this day.

lyrics

There was a young man from the Alice
He had too much to drink
Found him hanging in the dog box
He had too much time to think

From Queensland to Tasmania
We’ll lock you up at night
From the east coast to west Australia
You’d better hope that your skin is white

Why does it take so long to get an in-qui-ry
Who’s gonna be the next, death in custody

They throw you in the wagon
And they kick you in the head
They find you in the morning
And they pronounce you dead

In every town there lurks a bigot
The biggest coward under the sun
He feels safer in his uniform
And he gets off on the power of his gun

They drag you to the station
And lock you in the cell
No-one else to hear you crying
And no-one left alive to tell

They say that it is murder
Some call it suicide
When you put it all together
It all adds up to genocide

credits

from The Word is the Music the People are the Song, released February 26, 2021
Words and music by Ian Hearn

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

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Bruce Hearn Melbourne, Australia

Bruce Hearn has fronted the iconic Melbourne ska band, Strange Tenants, since 1981, with a back catalogue of 8 albums.
At heart however, he is a masterful singer/song writer, guitarist, banjo and harmonica player, and 2020 sees him releasing not one, but 2 double albums of original and iconic folk songs. His motto has always been 'if you don't stand for something, you stand for nothing'! ... more

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