Christine Anu is an Australian pop singer/songwriter/actress of Torres Stra… Read Full Bio ↴Christine Anu is an Australian pop singer/songwriter/actress of Torres Strait Islander descent. She is an Australian icon, and her cover of “My Island Home” is the song that she is most known for. She studied dancing at school, thinking that it would lead her into a singing career.

She has also worked as a cultural ambassador for Torres Strait Islanders, and she is associated with the "Deadlys" - the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music, sport, entertainment and community awards.

Photograph
Christine Anu Lyrics

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Old photograph on the wall
Making the ast come alive
You've got this truth I can tell
From your iron gaze
From your cold stare
It's taking me back

Who's clothes are you wearing

I can see they're from the mission world
Why aren't you smiling
Did you know I'd be staring back
Right into your eyes

You're with me every step I take
You're like the roots in the ground
Passing love to our family
You're the knowledge
Youre the strength
That I've found

Every morning I wake up
There's a reminder on the wall
White clothes, black skin
Cold pose eyes straight ahead
You're longing for another day
That's where it begins

You're with me every step I take
You're like the roots in the ground
Passing love to our family
You're the knowledge
Youre the strength
That I've found

You're with me every step I take
You're like the roots in the ground
Passing love to our family
You're the knowledge
Your the strength of the youth

You're the old, you're the new
You're the past, you're the present

You're my brother, you're my sister
You're the future

Overall Meaning

The song "Photograph" by Christine Anu is a heartfelt tribute to her ancestors and their legacy that is imprinted in an old photograph that hangs on the wall. As she gazes at the picture, she feels like she's transported back in time and can sense the truth of her people's struggles and resilience from the iron gaze and cold stare of her ancestors. She wonders about their lives, their clothes that define their identity, and their pensive expressions that reveal their hopes and dreams. Through the photograph, she connects with them and feels their presence, as if they are watching over her every step of the way.

As the song progresses, Anu realizes that her ancestors' love, knowledge, and strength still resonate with her today, and she feels a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility to pass on their legacy to her family and the youth. She acknowledges that they are a part of her past, present, and future, and she honors them by keeping their memories alive. The song's heartfelt lyrics showcase Anu's pride and appreciation for her tribal heritage and how it shapes her identity and worldview.

Line by Line Meaning

Old photograph on the wall
There is an old photo hanging on the wall.

Making the ast come alive
The picture is coming to life as memories flood in.

You've got this truth I can tell
The person in the photo seems to exude truth.

From your iron gaze
Their intense stare shows resilience and strength.

From your cold stare
The person appears stoic and unemotional in the photo.

It's taking me back
The picture is bringing back memories and emotions.

Who's clothes are you wearing
The singer wonders who the person in the photo is wearing clothes from a mission world.

I can see they're from the mission world
The clothes in the photo appear to be from a mission world.

Why aren't you smiling
The person in the photo does not appear happy, and the singer wonders why.

Did you know I'd be staring back
The singer wonders if the person knew they would be looked at for so long.

Right into your eyes
The singer is staring right into the subject's eyes in the photo.

You're with me every step I take
The singer feels like the person in the photo is always with them.

You're like the roots in the ground
The person in the photo is a strong foundation for the family.

Passing love to our family
The person in the photo has passed love down to the singer's family.

You're the knowledge
The person in the photo holds wisdom and knowledge.

Youre the strength
The person in the photo is a source of strength.

Every morning I wake up
The singer is reminded of the person in the photo every morning.

There's a reminder on the wall
The photo serves as a daily reminder of the person.

White clothes, black skin
The person in the photo appears to have black skin and is wearing white clothes.

Cold pose eyes straight ahead
The person in the photo has a serious expression and is looking directly ahead.

You're longing for another day
The person in the photo seems to yearn for a different time.

That's where it begins
The longing in the photo marks the start of the story.

Your the strength of the youth
The person in the photo is a source of strength for young people.

You're the old, you're the new
The person in the photo represents both the past and present.

You're my brother, you're my sister
The person in the photo is like family to the singer.

You're the future
The person in the photo is part of the future, as they have influenced the singer's present and will continue to do so in the future.

Contributed by Elena A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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