From Little Things Big Things Grow
Paul Kelly and The Messengers Lyrics

Gather round people let me tell you're a story
I have a story to tell, so gather around and listen.

An eight year long story of power and pride
This is a story that spans eight years, about people and their pride.

British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiarri
There were two men involved in this story, British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiarri.

Were opposite men on opposite sides
They were completely different from each other and were on opposing sides of the issue.

Vestey was fat with money and muscle
Lord Vestey was wealthy and powerful.

Beef was his business, broad was his door
He made his money through the beef industry, and had influence and connections.

Vincent was lean and spoke very little
Vincent was a thin man, and was not very talkative.

He had no bank balance, hard dirt was his floor
He was not a wealthy man, and lived a simple life on his land.

From little things big things grow
This line serves as the chorus to the song, and emphasizes how small actions can lead to big changes.

Gurindji were working for nothing but rations
The Gurindji people were working hard, but were only receiving basic necessities in return.

Where once they had gathered the wealth of the land
They used to be able to make a living from the land, but that was taken away from them.

Daily the pressure got tighter and tighter
The situation for the Gurindji people became increasingly stressful and oppressive every day.

Gurindju decided they must make a stand
The Gurindji people decided they needed to take action against their situation.

They picked up their swags and started off walking
The Gurindji people packed up their belongings and started walking away from their land.

At Wattie Creek they sat themselves down
They stopped at Wattie Creek and decided to set up camp there.

Now it don't sound like much but it sure got tongues talking
This small action caused a big reaction, and people started talking about what the Gurindji people were doing.

Back at the homestead and then in the town
The news of the Gurindji people's actions spread to the homestead and the town.

Vestey man said I'll double your wages
Lord Vestey offered to double the Gurindji people's wages.

Seven quid a week you'll have in your hand
He promised them a wage of seven pounds a week.

Vincent said uhuh we're not talking about wages
Vincent refused the offer of a wage increase, because they were fighting for their land, not for money.

We're sitting right here till we get our land
They were not going to move until they were given back their land.

Vestey man roared and Vestey man thundered
Lord Vestey became angry and started shouting.

You don't stand the chance of a cinder in snow
He believed that the Gurindji people had no hope of winning their fight.

Vince said if we fall others are rising
Vincent believed that even if they did not win, others would continue their fight for Indigenous rights.

Then Vincent Lingiarri boarded an aeroplane
Vincent flew to Sydney to speak with politicians about his people's cause.

Landed in Sydney, big city of lights
He arrived in Sydney, which was a very different place from his home.

And daily he went round softly speaking his story
Vincent spent his days talking to people about his people's struggle.

To all kinds of men from all walks of life
He spoke to people from all different backgrounds and professions.

And Vincent sat down with big politicians
Vincent met with important political figures to discuss his people's situation.

This affair they told him is a matter of state
They told Vincent that his people's situation was a matter for the government to handle.

Let us sort it out, your people are hungry
They promised to help, and emphasized the need to address the hunger and poverty faced by the Gurindji people.

Vincent said no thanks, we know how to wait
Vincent refused their help, and insisted that they would continue to wait for justice.

Then Vincent Lingiarri returned in an aeroplane
Vincent returned home, flying again in an aeroplane.

Back to his country once more to sit down
He returned to his homeland, and sat down with his people again.

And he told his people let the stars keep on turning
Vincent urged his people to be patient and to keep waiting for their land to be returned to them.

We have friends in the south, in the cities and towns
He reminded them that they had allies in the cities and towns who were fighting for their cause.

Eight years went by, eight long years of waiting
The struggle for justice continued for eight more years.

Till one day a tall stranger appeared in the land
A stranger arrived, who was tall and unfamiliar to them.

And he came with lawyers and he came with great ceremony
He arrived with lawyers and made a big show of his arrival.

And through Vincent's fingers poured a handful of sand
The stranger marked the ground with a handful of sand, symbolizing the return of the Gurindji people's land to them.

That was the story of Vincent Lingairri
This song tells the story of Vincent and his fight for his people's land.

But this is the story of something much more
This is not just a story about Vincent, it represents a larger struggle for Indigenous rights.

How power and privilege can not move a people
This song emphasizes that even those with power and privilege cannot control or suppress a people who stand up for their rights.

Who know where they stand and stand in the law
Those who stand up for their rights and believe in the law will ultimately succeed.

Chorus: From little things big things grow
The chorus repeats the message that small actions can lead to big changes.