Cabbo Crew - 'Wanna Go Home' (Cabbage Tree Island, NSW)

Desert Pea Media are very proud to announce the long-awaited release of a collaborative music/ film production with JALI LALC and Ngyambul community members from Cabbage Tree Island on the North Coast of NSW.

The Cabbage Tree Island community has faced tremendous, ongoing hardship as the result of traumatic flood events across the region in 2022, forcing it's Indigenous community into temporary housing, while the ‘Cabbo’ community is completely rebuilt.

Initially invited to work with the ‘Cabbo’ community by JALI LALC on a short film/ documentary project title ‘NGUMBINY (HOME)’ – the project was so successful that the community acquired funding from NSW Government Regional NSW Children & Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative to produce a song/ music video that focused on the perspectives of young people.

The song, 'Wanna Go Home,' is a powerful, evocative reflection of the community's experience and highlights the strength and resilience of the young people of Cabbage Tree Island. Collaboratively written and produced by Desert Pea Media (featuring music by Adelaide-based artist JIMBLAH).

The projects have been made possible through the support of Jali Aboriginal Land Council, Desert Pea Media, NSW Government (Regional NSW Children & Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative), NSW Dept Aboriginal Affairs, Ballina Coast High School, M&K Business Solutions and Rous County Council.

Lyrics

The past feels like a dream, like it was almost forgotten
My life was full to the seams, my connection, belonging
My country, dance, and my song this feeling I belong
My culture it was strong since the beginning of time

The ships came along - with a gun and a bible
N what they did was wrong - at the point of a rifle
From arrival they been killing my mob - using yarndi and grog
All my old people wearing tags like a dog

Cabbos what we live for
Unity and family, our culture goin’ live on
There are stories in our river, our river (Ballun) sings the old songs
We tellers of our story, that’s why we gorn’ remain strong

It’s a feeling that the eyes can’t see
I dream of a place where I can be
Where the river meets the creek
My Island Home, still waiting for me.

Reppin the green and gold
Sunset through the cane smoke
Mudcrabs and mangroves
We just wanna go home

Reppin’ the green and gold
Sunsets through the cane smoke
Mudcrabs and mangroves
We just wanna go home

On the 2nd of March - we were torn through the heart
Mother Nature brought the water, ripped my family apart
We were left in the dark in the caravan park
(Brah) We lost our all our belongings, now we back to the start.

So be proud of who you are, we been dancing from the start
With our stories and art, Dreaming came from the stars
Believe we make a change; we’re changing up the past.
Breaking chains from off our heart bringing light to this dark

We got all this water flooding in our plains
And there is all these stories flowing in my veins
We’re rising up to the top that’s never found
And we keep getting pushed to the soil beneath the ground

Reppin’ the green and gold
Sunsets through the cane smoke
Mudcrabs and mangroves
We just wanna go home

Reppin’ the green and gold
Sunsets through the cane smoke
Mudcrabs and mangroves
We just wanna go home

We fight, we fight forever
We flow, we flow together
We stand, we stand forever
We stay, we stay forever

We’re fighting with the weather
We’re flowing with the river
We’re resilient,
And we keep on getting better

We fight, we fight forever
We flow, we flow together
We stand, we stand forever
We stay, we stay forever

We’re fighting with the weather
We’re flowing with the river
We’re resilient,
And we keep on getting better

CREDITS

Toby Finlayson - Project & Film Director/Camera/Editor/Co-Facilitator/Co-Writer/Co-Producer
Scott Large - General Manager/Co-Producer/Co-Facilitator/Photographer/Graphic Design
Daniel Glossop - Sound Engineer/Co-Writer/Co-Facilitator
Jahvis Loveday - Film Co-Director/Camera/Co-Facilitator/Co-Writer
Jannali Doncaster - Co-Writer/Lead Facilitator
Juman Al-Ramahi - Co-Writer/ Vocal Coach/ Co-Facilitator
James Alberts (aka Jimblah) - Music Producer
Kylie Benge - Project Co-Producer
Kris Cook - Photographer
Nathaniel Sherwood - Audio Mixing/Mastering