[Verse 1]
Gather 'round, people, I'll tell you a story
An eight-year long story of power and pride
British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiari
Were opposite men on opposite sides
Vestey was fat, with money and muscle
Beef was his business, broad was his door
Vincent was lean and spoke very little
He had no bank balance, hard dirt was his floor
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 2]
Gurindji were working for nothing but rations
Where once they had gathered the wealth of the land
And daily, the pressure got tighter and tighter
Gurindji decided they must make a stand
They picked up their swags and started off walking
At Wattie Creek, they sat themselves down
Now, it don't sound like much, but it sure got tongues talking
Back at the homestead and then in the town
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 3]
Vestey-man said, "I'll double your wages;
Seven quid a week you'll have in your hand"
Vincent said, "Uh-uh, we're not talking about wages
We're staying right here 'til we get our land"
Vestey-man roared and Vestey-man thundered
"You don't stand the chance of a cinder in snow"
Vince said, "If we fall, others are rising"
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 4]
Then Vincent Lingiari boarded an airplane
And landed in Sydney, great big city of lights
And daily he went 'round, softly speaking his story
To all kinds of men from all walks of life
And Vincent sat down with big politicians
"This affair," they told him, "it's a matter of state
Let us sort it out, why, your people must be hungry!"
Vincent said, "No thanks, we know how to wait"
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 5]
Then Vincent Lingiari returned in an airplane
Back to his country once more to sit down
And he told his people, "Let the stars keep on turning
We got friends in the south, in the cities and towns"
Eight years went by, eight long years of waiting
'Til one day a tall stranger appeared in the land
And he came with lawyers and he came with great ceremony
And through Vincent's fingers he poured a handful of sand
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 6]
That was the story of Vincent Lingiari
But this is the story of something much more
How power and privilege can not move a people
Who know where they stand, and stand in the law
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
