A song from the point of view of an Indigenous warrior watching the arrival of Captain James Cook has caused a minor outrage on a conservative radio show after it was revealed it had been played at a Sydney public school.
Bagi-La-M Bargan, meaning "fighting boomerang" in Butchulla, is a song by musician Birdz, told from the perspective of a young man standing on Indian Head on K'gari (Fraser Island), watching Captain Cook sail past during Cook's expedition and exploration of the east coast of Australia.
Birdz, whose real name is Nathan Bird, is a proud Murri man with Badtjala, Juru, Scottish and Melanesian heritage who was raised in Katherine. He released the song in 2020 alongside his cousin, Butchulla man Fred Leone, who sings the verses in his language.
The music video features images of protests, traditional Aboriginal dances, and the Aboriginal flag.
It was revealed the song, which features the lines, "any white devil wanna test my will, then he finna get burnt by the fire I feel," has been played at Ramsgate Public School in Sydney, with one parent complaining to Ben Fordham's show on 2GB to complain.
"I just don't think young children should be exposed to these lyrics," he told the station, arguing the lyrics promoted hatred, and claiming his child had asked him if there was any problem with being white.
"The nature of the song…doesn't provide reconciliation, it doesn't provide inclusion," he said.
The radio station's clip of the discussion later labelled the song "offensive".
The issue of Captain Cook and his legacy has been contentious for many decades, as protests surrounding Indigenous sovereignty and the impact of colonisation have regularly involved commentary about Cook and his place in Australian history and political culture.
Cook ultimately met his end in in 1779 in Hawaiʻi, after a dispute with Indigenous Hawaiians escalated and Cook was killed while attempting to kidnap their king, Kalaniʻōpuʻu.
Multiple statues of his have been felled and desecrated in recent times across the country, including in Naarm earlier this year.
Cook's diary notes passing of K'gari, stating: "At 1 o'clock in the PM we pass'd at the distance of 4 Miles…a black bluf (sic) head or point of land on which a number of the natives were assembled, which occasioned my nameing (sic) it Indian Head."
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The lyrics of "Bagi-La-M Bargan" touch on Cook's legacy.
"Patiently waiting for someone I ain't never seen before. They say he's a captain of men, but he don't believe in our lore. From the land of the white skin. He's self-righteous, a murder without licence."
Before the music video was released in 2020, a statement from Birdz said: "The dominant narratives of Australian history neglect the fact that there was an active Aboriginal resistance against European invasion. The song is inspired by this resistance and the fighting spirit that we continue to carry with us today. Always was, always will be."
"My verses are written from a character perspective of a young Butchulla warrior whose home, people, and overall existence is under threat. Tapping into the mindset of someone preparing for war."
Education Minister Pru Carr called into the show shortly after and said the song being played at a public school was "very concerning".
"I've been really consistent that schools are not places for things like that. Anything that creates any sort of division we can't have in our schools," she said.
"Reading the lyrics, and listening to it, I can understand why parents are concerned."
A NSW Department of Education spokesperson apologised for distress caused to any parents or children at Ramsgate Public School over the song being played.
"The song was chosen to mark Reconciliation Week and was not intended to be divisive," they said. "The school's leadership has been counselled about making appropriate choices for the school bell song."
It is understood no parent raised any concerns with the principal or the school about the use of the song, which was played during the school bell.
It has been removed from the school's playlist.
