Formed by singer-songwriter Shane Howard in the late 1970s, they produced three full albums, and a very rare four song EP. The original name of the band was "The Goanna Band", which was the name used on the EP release in 1979. However, the original name was soon shortened to "Goanna" by the time that the album Spirit of Place was released in the early 1980s.
Goanna's debut album Spirit of Place won the ARIA Best Album of the Year for 1982, with their first major hit, "Solid Rock", winning Best Single of the Year. This song touched on the displacement of aboriginal tribes by the encroaching European settlers. It became a worldwide hit, and was the first rock record to feature extensive use of an Australian didgeridoo, one of the world's oldest wood instruments. Goanna also recorded "Let the Franklin Flow", a song about the ecological damage caused by damming Tasmania's Franklin River for hydroelectricity, and "Sorry", a song about Australia's stolen generation of aborigines.
Shane Howard and his bandmates, including sister Marcia Howard and friend Rose Bygrave, have all recorded solo projects in addition to their time in Goanna.
The members of the group do not rule out future Goanna recordings and have never officially disbanded. The 1998 album "Spirit Returns" is reportedly a result of the group's members desire to "get together" again and make a musical statement.
In October 2006, a number of Goanna's songs have been featured in the Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown of songs (which was voted and chosen by the listeners).
Solid Rock
Goanna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can feel the endlessness, with the comin' of the light of day
We're talkin' 'bout a chosen place
You wouldn't sell it in a marketplace? Well
Well, just a minute now
Standin' on solid rock
Standin' on sacred ground
And the winds of change blowin' down the line
Right down the line
Round about the dawn of time, the dreamin' all began
Proud people came
Well, they were lookin' for their promised land
We're runnin' from the heart of darkness
Searchin' for the heart of light
It was their paradise
But they were standin' on solid rock
Standin' on sacred ground
Livin' on borrowed time
And the winds of change were blowin' cold that night, oh
No
Well, they were standin' on the shore one day
They saw the white sails in the sun
Wasn't long before they felt the sting
White man, white law, white gun
Don't tell me that it's justified
'Cause somewhere, well, someone lied
Yeah, well, someone lied
Someone lied, a genocide
Well, someone lied, oh, ah
And now you're standin' on solid rock
Standin' on sacred ground
Livin' on borrowed time
And the winds of change are blowin' down the line
Solid rock
Standin' on sacred ground
Livin' on borrowed time
And the winds of change are blowin' down the line
Solid rock
Standin' on sacred ground
Livin' on borrowed time
And the winds of change are blowin' down the line
Oh-oh, oh, no
No oh
The Goanna song Solid Rock is a powerful anthem that addresses the displacement of traditional Indigenous Australians from their land and the subsequent cultural collision that occurs between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The opening lines acknowledge the everlasting nature of the Australian outback, where time seems to stand still. There is a sense of insignificance that a human being might feel standing in the vastness of the land. This idea is built upon with the following imagery, where the endlessness of the outback is juxtaposed with the transient nature of human existence. The reference to a "chosen place" is significant because the song implies that Indigenous Australians have a spiritual connection to the land that is incomprehensible to non-Indigenous Australians. The question "You wouldn't sell it in a marketplace?" is rhetorical as it highlights the sacredness of Indigenous land and the inherent incompatibility between a capitalist system and a spiritual connection to land.
Line by Line Meaning
Out here nothin' changes, not in a hurry anyway
The environment around is consistent, changes occur slowly
You can feel the endlessness, with the comin' of the light of day
The vastness and continuity of nature can be felt every day at dawn
We're talkin' 'bout a chosen place
The singer is referring to a special or spiritual location
You wouldn't sell it in a marketplace? Well
The singer is questioning whether the listener would commercialize this special location
Well, just a minute now
The singer pauses to let the listener consider the significance of the question
Standin' on solid rock
Being on a stable or permanent foundation
Standin' on sacred ground
Being in a holy or special place
Livin' on borrowed time
Life is short and fragile
And the winds of change blowin' down the line
Change is imminent and unstoppable
Round about the dawn of time, the dreamin' all began
At the beginning of Creation, dreams and spirituality emerged
Proud people came
A group of people with a strong sense of identity and self-worth
Well, they were lookin' for their promised land
They were searching for a place that was sacred and meaningful to them
We're runnin' from the heart of darkness
Refers to fleeing from oppressive government or conquerors
Searchin' for the heart of light
Looking for a place that is full of life and vitality
It was their paradise
Refers to the ideal location that they found after their journey
But they were standin' on solid rock
Despite their ideal location, they are still on a stable foundation
And the winds of change were blowin' cold that night, oh
Change arrived suddenly and negatively
Well, they were standin' on the shore one day
Refers to when the group encountered the arrival of white colonizers arriving by sea
They saw the white sails in the sun
The shining white sails were a symbol of the impending takeover by the colonizers
Wasn't long before they felt the sting
The arrival of the colonizers led to violence and subjugation
Don't tell me that it's justified
The singer is expressing frustration with the idea that colonization was justified
'Cause somewhere, well, someone lied
The singer implies that someone lied to justify colonization
Someone lied, a genocide
The lie justified a genocide of the native people
And now you're standin' on solid rock
The singer is reminding the listener that they are also standing on the land stolen from the native people
And the winds of change are blowin' down the line
Change is still happening, and justice may come for the native people
Solid rock
A symbol of stability and permanence
Standin' on sacred ground
In a holy location
Livin' on borrowed time
Life is short and fragile
And the winds of change are blowin' down the line
Change is approaching
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Shane Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@beklerken1
This is not only a national credit to Mr. S. Howard/ Goanna and everyone else involved in producing, composing and arranging this song, it should have attracted worldwide credit in my opinion with the support of our officials here in Australia.
On the contrary, our officials, as always interpreted the song politically and found it to be "divisive", and didnt give it their approval and most probably, instructed the high echelons of the corporate monopoly of the music industry to treat the song like an infectious disease.
The song in essence was basically telling us that there is no power greater than God,Cosmos/universe, creation,,nature etc and that we all were created by it, as mortals that live and share a finite order of system that has the power to claim back, and end its own system of creation, being us and where we live, with a grand natural disaster in an instant.
Yes the song did carry factual events of our lived history in the infancy stages before becoming a commonwealth as a federation to later years, then we created our own identities as Australians with the legendary ANZAC`s thereafter with the world wars etc. But undeniably, When colonialism arrived here, there were numerous amount of unspeakable crimes that were committed to our First Nation People without any remorse, empathy or compensation, or even an acknowledgement for way too long in my opinion.
In the time when the awareness of those crimes were, or had come to light to the people, mostly exposed by authorities/academics along with solid evidence of the crimes imposed/committed, it would have been seen as a threat to their political careers and agendas, therefore to protect their own interests (the politicians), there would have been "black covert ops" deployed to "murder" the publicity and popularity process of this great song from our beloved Goanna group, that none of the pollies would ever disclose or confess, if they were ever put in that position i dont believe, as we witnessed how our so called leaders mismanaged the whole COVID conundrum.
On that note, After Solid Rock, I personally feel an attachment/association or an obligation along with compassion in metaphoric terms, every time i hear the song "Walk In The Light Green" (I was only 19) by Redgum, to all of our Diggers past and present, along with all of their immediate families and loved ones, that are courageously, proudly and tirelessly providing their services for this beloved nation of ours selflessly.
In this day and age, we need a million more Shane Howards in support of the unknown heros that truly exist and are currently still active in organising to spread the truth at all levels and contributing so much more at other areas unselfishly in our collective endeavour to cleanse our nation of the crime and corruption that has infested every corner of our beloved Australia by the incompetent actions of despotic tyrants, that are AKA politicians, in hope to make our nation great once more to the future generations.
@Jordan-lv8cf
Lyrics:
Out here nothin' changes, not in a hurry anyway
You feel the endlessness with the comin' of the light o' day
We're talkin' about a chosen place
You wouldn't sell it in a marketplace, well
Well just a minute now
Standing on solid rock
Standing on sacred ground
Living o-on borrowed ti-i-i-ime
And the winds of change are blowin' down the line
Right down the line
Round about the dawn o' time, When dreamin' all began
A crowd o' people came
Well they were looking for their promised land
Were running from the heart of darkness
Searching for the heart o' light
Well it was their paradise
But they were standin' on - solid rock
Standing o-on sacred grou-ound
Living o-on borrowed ti-i-i-ime
And the winds of change were blowing cold that night
Oh
They were standin' on the shore one day, Saw the white sails in the sun
Wasn't long before they felt the sting, white man, white law, white gun
Don't tell me that it's justified, 'cause somewhere, someone lied
Yeah well someone lied, someone lied, genocide
Well someone lied, oh, ahh
And now you're standing on - solid rock
Standing o-on a sacred grou-ound
Living o-on borrowed ti-i-i-ime
And the winds of change are blowin' down the li-ine
Solid rock, Standing on sacred ground
Living o-on borrowed ti-i-i-ime
And the winds of change are blowing down the line
Solid rock, Standing o-on sacred grou-ound
Living o-on borrowed ti-i-i-ime
And the winds of change are blowing down the line
Oh-oh-oh no, NO-O
@BudBhabie13
So proud of my uncle bobby, he is the man playing the didgeridoo at the beginning, r.i.p to a beautiful man wish i got the chance to meet him ❤❤
@sharonm4986
My family moved here in 1982. I couldn't speak a word of English and I lived in Mildura for a few months with a relative. This song reminds me of that time; how difficult it was adjusting to a new environment, being alone, catching the school bus and just feeling out of place - the little foreign 8 year old in a strange country town. It was a catchy tune and I remember wanting to learn the words. It wasn't until as an adult, I heard it again and finally understood the lyrics. Such a gutsy song for that time and era. Today, there's a lot of emotion when I hear this song, it takes me back to that place and time; how far I've come, our country's history and proud to serve this great country in my line of work.🇦🇺
@bravohotel
Awesome, mate 👏🏻🇦🇺💯
@mwaddo71
Sounds like you're an Aussie mate 👌
@jamosandcoke3256
Thanks for posting this mate 👍
@jamesgonzales5285
Dirt road farm boy, from Colorado, loving this, and getting it!
@jimmac5176
This has to be one of the best Australian songs ever written.
@ioannisuntonevris3724
jim mac no f#%king doubt good sir, no bloody doubt.
@smurfylee
I would agree 👍🏽
@rebeccaadamski7743
💯% 😁😁