The Mesmerist from Making Wings by Judy Jacques

Ah lookee ah lookee ah oh • swing on a bead or a bell • the chief protector • the man from the 'friendly mission' • is walking from one side of van diemen's land • to the other • ah lookee ah lookee ah oh • swing on a bead or a bell • the chief protector (he's a government man) • is steppin' out • on a friendly mission • sharing a song with his loyal band • walking the trackless land • promises to do all he can • take 'em to a new land • 'better they pine away • than die from the settler's hands' • ah lookee ah lookee ah oh • annyah! hiya hiya hiya annyah! • annyah! hiya hiya hiya annyah! • swing on a bead or a bell • a cheery cheery oh • a sure road, he reckons
conciliation, ingratiation • and he's speaking back • in the tongue of all tribes
ah lookee ah lookee ah • the man from the friendly mission • throws open his fine blue cloak • his arms spread wide to the wind • 'come now, come along, come' • the flash of a wing of an eye • the flick of a snake's tail • a sleight of hand • and he's helping himself • in the name of the friendly mission • ah lookee ah lookee ah oh
swing on a bead or a bell • swing on a bead or a bell • ya annyah! hiya hiya hiya, pagra! annyah! hiya hiya hiya, pagra! • and when the yolla flew with the moon • when the winter came • the captured ones • betrayed ones • sat on the lip of the sea staring out • and no sound came • just the wind blowing through • invisible, gone, silent
staring out and no sound came • just the wind blowing through • and the spirit and the song! • the one remembered • the one to 'bring the moonbird • the fish • or any other thing' • was sung into a paper shell • and set to float • for a time to come again • and we all know this • lost ones, tall ones • lost, for now • ah lookee ah lookee ah oh • swing on a bead or a bell • swing on a bead or a bell

• Improvisation
• Jazz
• original music
• spoken word
• Australia