The Song Room
Nidjarra (Home) - Bulman School | The Song Room
‘Nidjarra’ was written and recorded in 2023 as part of a workshop run by The Song Room in Bulman School, Central Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. The program is generously supported by The Smith Family, Katherine.
The song was written and filmed on Dalabon country at Djimdjimrurrk, Gropylyal, Klikklikmarra, Weemol and Bulman.
Special thanks to Dalabon Elder Dudley Lawrence for the lessons in Dalabon and for featuring in the song. Thanks also to Emma and the Mimal Land Management ‘Learning on Country’ Team.
This project was provided by The Song Room as a Communities for Children Initiative, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, and facilitated by The Smith Family Katherine
Nidjarra (Home)
Verse 1
We’re going fishing at Djimdjimrurrk (place)
That bo-no (river) never been dried up
Catch ‘em barramundi, wrap ‘em in murlmu (paperbark)
Light up a mimal (fire), dig ‘em in the yulu-no (ground)
Clean up your hands with mayungu (soap bush)
That soap bush will wash ‘em through and through
Now we’re ready for a good bush meh (food, meal)
This mabbarl (country) is where we gonna stay
Chorus:
Nidjarra
Ngah wurdwurd-ninj (When I was a child, I grew up here)
Mak nga wurdwurd nah-ngan (I’m not a child anymore mummy)
Dorrong boyenjboyenj minj-ngah (I’m an adult now)
Verse 2
We gather yakngarra (pandanus) at Buhduhmulah (place)
Making a basket with my grandmother
Hey kakkak (grandmother), are we done?
Gotta fill ‘em up with birbbarh (waterlily) and wun wun (cluster fig)
Now we get some dattam (waterlilly bulb) and grind ‘em up fine
Make a big damper, coz it’s lunch time
Now we’re ready for a good bush meh (food, meal)
This mabbarl (country) will take good care of us … everyday
Turtles Chant:
Djarra woy! (Over Here!)
Damon (You Good?)
Yow (yes!) Yow (Yes!)
Djembe: Dakota, Patrick
Recorder: Jenaya, Phayden, Kylah
Keyboard: Annie, Keisha, Spencer, Cateleyah, Kelsey, Cate.
Guitar: Malena
Snare: Owen
Clapsticks: Scott
Shaker: Victor
Rap: Tishanna, Abriel
Singers: Nathaniel Miller, Dudley Lawrence, Jenaya, Lexi, Ashlyn, Irisha, Jilliesha, Cordelia.
Turtle chant: George, Mary, Rowena, Kayleen, Audrey, Jeffrey, Victor, Dennis, Mossy, Cordelia, Jilliesha, Ashlyn, Irisha, Chadmus.
Teaching Artists: Steve Lane, Nathaniel Miller, Cate U’Ren
Audio and Video Produced by Realtone (www.realtone.com.au)
Mastered by Joe Carra at Crystal Mastering.
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@TheSmithFamily1922
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To learn more about The Song Room and our programs, visit: www.songroom.org.au