Black Tears
"Black Tears" | |
---|---|
Song by Powderfinger | |
from the album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence | |
Released | 2 June 2007 (Dream Days at the Hotel Existence) |
Recorded | Sunset Sound, Los Angeles January 2007–April 2007 |
Genre | Folk |
Length | 2:30 |
Label | Universal Music Australia |
Songwriter(s) | Powderfinger (Jon Coghill, John Collins, Bernard Fanning, Ian Haug, Darren Middleton) |
Producer(s) | Rob Schnapf |
"Black Tears" is a
The song did not cause the release of the album to be delayed, despite claims that the song's lyrics could interfere with the 2004 Palm Island death in custody case.
Controversy
On 2 May 2007,
Due to the concerns raised, Powderfinger sought legal advice. Then
Several days after the initial threats of legal action, Powderfinger backed down and announced they would change the song. The band's lawyers sent Shine a copy of the new, altered lyrics. It was then reported that an analysis of the new lyrics found they were safe to release.[6] This was the version that would later be used on the album.[7] A statement from Shine's office stated that "Crown Law has examined the lyrics. Crown Law have advised Mr Shine's office the lyrics raise no legal concern."[8]
In a June 2007 interview, Fanning noted that Powderfinger hoped to re-release the original version of the song in the future, after the case had been settled. He also said that he was not angry about having to change his lyrics, but lamented the lack of Australian musicians willing to challenge the status quo.[9]
The legal threats against the song were attacked heavily by some writers, including Andrew Stafford of The Bulletin. He noted that it was highly unlikely "Black Tears" would be released as a single, so potential jurors would need to "buy a copy of Dream Days in the ten days between its release and Hurley's trial just to hear the song". He also noted that Piticco had stated the lyrics could just as easily refer to a death in Brisbane, not on Palm Island.[4]
Musical content
In a media statement published on the band's
Fanning said the second part of the song, which contained the controversial lyrics, was written following the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions passing down its finding in the death in custody case. He said that the band believed the song would have no bearing on the legal procedure, they would nonetheless include an alternative version of the song on Dream Days at the Hotel Existence.[10][11]
The alternate version of the song still contains the lyrics An island watchhouse bed / A black man's lying dead. but not the lyrics that followed.[12]
Upon announcing that the album would contain an altered version, Fanning noted his initial reasons for the song, stating "to bring attention to the obvious disadvantage that is still being suffered by Aboriginal people in this country", which he said included the issue of "Indigenous deaths in custody".[12] Despite the claimed lyrical change, some early versions of Dream Days at the Hotel Existence were shipped with a version of "Black Tears" that included the controversial lyrics, which were also published on the band's website.[13]
Release history
Original version
- Dream Days at the Hotel Existence – Track 9[14]
Live performances
- Across the Great Divide tour DVD – Disc 1, Track 11[15]
- I Don't Remember – iTunes only – Track 2[16]
References
- The Courier Mail. news.com.au. 2 May 2007. Archived from the originalon 11 August 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
- The Brisbane Times. 2 May 2007. Archived from the originalon 22 May 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
- ^ Lion, Patrick (3 May 2007). "Powderfinger facing lyrics ban". The Australian. news.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
- ^ NineMSN. Retrieved 9 January 2008.[permanent dead link]
- abc.net.au. 3 May 2007. Archived from the originalon 2 April 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
- ^ "Powderfinger in clear". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 May 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
- ^ Mancuso, Roberta (4 May 2007). "Powderfinger amends 'prejudicial' song". The Daily Telegraph. news.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2008. [dead link]
- abc.net.au. Retrieved 11 January 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Adams, Cameron (3 June 2007). "Black tears". PerthNow. news.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
- ^ "Media statement from Powderfinger". PARIAH - People Against Racism in Aboriginal Homelands. 7 May 2007. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
- ^ Fanning, Bernard. "Powderfinger - Media Release". GenerationQ. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
- ^ abc.net.au. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
- ^ "Black Tears". Lyrics. Powderfinger. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
- ^ "Dream Days at the Hotel Existence (Standard edition)". Play4Me. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
- ^ "Across the Great Divide (3DVD set) (PAL)". Play4Me. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
- ^ ""I Don't Remember" with bonus live track available now through iTunes!". Newsletter. Powderfinger. Archived from the original on 21 February 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
External links