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Buriya-la

Music and words (Darug and English) by Stacy-Jane Etal (2019)

Photograph: Liz Phillips

Listen to Buriya-la sung by workshop participants at Singing on Deerubbin Shores 2020 in Richmond NSW, recorded by Oonagh Sherrard. Used with permission.

Darug musician Stacy-Jane Etal wrote this song for Singing on Deerubbin Shores 2019. At the end of our workshop that year we met on the shore of the Deerubbin (the Hawkesbury River) in Windsor NSW, put our feet in the water, and sang Buriya-la together. This beautiful song is both a lament, and a hope for our future.

Buriya-la

Music and words by Stacy-Jane Etal (2019)
Reproduced with permission

Buriya-la, Buriya-la, liby-ila wu Deerubbin murrong
Buriya-la, Buriya-la, liby-ila wu Deerubbin murrong
Buriya-la mootang wel-lama Deerubbin
Buriya-la, Buriya-la, liby-ila wu Deerubbin murrong

Let’s stand on the shores of the Deerubbin
Singing to the custodians of this land
The Darug Boorooberongal people
In song with them we stand

Buriya-la, Buriya-la, liby-ila wu Deerubbin murrong
Buriya-la, Buriya-la, liby-ila wu Deerubbin murrong
Buriya-la mootang wel-lama Deerubbin
Buriya-la, Buriya-la, liby-ila wu Deerubbin murrong

Let’s sing to the Darug spirits
Who remain on this land still
Seeking the wisdom of the dreaming
To help the land and people heal

Buriya-la, Buriya-la, liby-ila wu Deerubbin murrong
Buriya-la, Buriya-la, liby-ila wu Deerubbin murrong
Buriya-la mootang wel-lama Deerubbin
Buriya-la mootang wel-lama Deerubbin
Buriya-la mootang wel-lama Deerubbin