The Song of Respect
The Song of Respect is an Acknowledgement of Country written in song form by Frank Jones and Les Thomas.
It is available for anyone to perform and Frank and Les encourage all artists to use this song to acknowledge, to honour and to thank the first nations people of Australia.
The version here relates to the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Lands around Naarm (Melbourne). Please contact us if you would like help rewriting the 3rd verse to suit your area.
I sing this song to show my respect
I sing this song to show my respect
Show my respect, pay my respects
To the owners of this land
We gather here, we give our thanks
We gather here and give our thanks
Elders present, elders past
Respect to you from all of us
Wurundjeri of the Kulin lands
Wurundjeri of the Kulin lands
Long time keepers of this place
Long and strong from hand to hand
I sing this song to show my respect
To the owners of this land
The custodians of this land
The first people of this land
Here is a call-and-answer version of the Song of Respect
performed by a school choir.