DARK EYED DAUGHTER
Title no: 246081 - Access copy available.
sound recording, 8 min. 12 sec.

Vocalist: Phyl Vinnecombe
Accompaniments: Phyl Vinnecombe (guitar), Geri Lobl (harmonica and auto-harp), Steve Dunstan (double bass), John Matthews (didjeridu)
Composers: Phyl Vinnecombe (1st and 4th  songs), Margaret Kitamura (2nd song), Geri Lobl (3rd song)
Lyricists: Phyl Vinnecombe (1st and 4th songs), Ian Hills (2nd song), Kath Walker (3rd song)
Sleeve notes: Stan Davey, Director, Aborigines Advancement League
Production company: W&G: catalogue no. E 2773 (7” single), catalogue no. E 2773 (¼” master tape) 

Four songs recorded in the wake of the 1967 Referendum as an interpretation of ‘how…white people view the difficulties and struggles faced by Aborigines of Australia in the 1960s…[and highlighting] the challenge…of the present day Aborigines advancement movement…released in association with the Aborigines Advancement League by courtesy of W&G.’ (sleeve)

1. Dark Eyed Daughter was written after the student bus ride in 1965 (Freedom Ride) when public attention was focused on Aboriginal living conditions and local discriminatory restrictions in outback centers in NSW.

2. Whose Hand? tells of a Nov. 1963 incident where police made a surprise arrest of 10 Aboriginal leaders in old Mapoon (Qld), and relocated them to a settlement 90 miles away from their home. The official reason for this action was because the leaders ‘were having an undue influence’ on the rest of the community.

3. No More Boomerang is a song of Aboriginal humor at modern displacement of traditional customs.

4. Will You Fight, Will You Dare? reflects on 1960s efforts by Aboriginal people for self determination.