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BLUES FOR TANYA DAY
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BLUES FOR TANYA DAY

Words and music by Lachlan Irvine


It's a [G] true Australian story, and I'll tell it to you [G] plain,
Yes, its a [C] true Australian story, I'll try to tell it to you [G] plain,
About a [D7] Yorta Yorta woman [C] who fell asleep on-board a [G] train.

[G] Echuca down to Melbourne, she knew that journey [G] well,
E-[C]-chuca down to Melbourne, she knew that journey oh so [G] well.
But [D7] this time would be different, [C] this time her life would turn to [G] hell.

[G] The train pulled out of Bendigo, and she drifted off to [G] sleep,
The [C] train pulled out of Bendigo, that's when she drifted off to [G] sleep.
By the [D7] time she got to Castlemaine, [C] she found herself in trouble [G] deep.

[G] The conductor called the police, he claimed the power and the [G] right,
The con-[C]-ductor called the police, he claimed the power and the [G] right,
But he'd [D7] never ever used that power [C] on anyone whose skin was [G] white.

[G] Tanya Day, Tanya Day, it's our shame what you went [G] through,
Tanya [C] Day, Tanya Day, it's our shame what you went [G] through.
My [D7] heart will surely break [C] any time I think of [G] you.

[G] They took her to the lock-up, put her in a cell a-[G]-lone,
They [C] took her to the lock-up, put her in a cell a-[G]-lone.
[D7] Maybe in the morning [C] someone could come and take her [G] home.

[G] She was left there in her cell, until they found her on the [G] floor,
Yes, she was [C] left there in her cell, until they found her on the [G] floor.
She had a [D7] wound on her forehead [C] that had not been there be-[G]-fore.

[G] Seventeen days in a coma, and her life was finally [G] gone,
Yes, it was [C] seventeen days in a coma, until her life was finally [G] gone.
But in the [D7] fight for equal justice, [C] Tanya's story will live [G] on.

[G] Tanya Day, Tanya Day, I'm so sorry for your [G] pain,
Tanya [C] Day, Tanya Day, I'm so sorry for your [G] pain.
No-[D7]-one deserves to die [C] just for sleeping on a [G] train.

No, no-[D7]-one deserves to die [C] just for sleeping on a [G] train.




This is a tragic but true reminder of the kind of injustice that can still happen in Australia in the 21st century.

To hear my home-made recording of this song, go to:

BLUES FOR TANYA DAY

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