Boojera, Boojera (A Song of Exile)

A SONG OF EXILE
A Capel district native who had been taken away from his country, and becoming blind while absent from his home, was never able to see his hills and streams again :

Boojera, boojera, naang injal? naang injal?
My country, my country, where is it? where is it?
Boojera, boojera, naang injal? naang injal?
My country, my country, where is it? where is it?
Boojera nyee kwela naang nganya dwonga burt,
This country I know not its name, I know not,
Marreemba yooganin kooroo weeriba ingarda,
Wandering and standing I look far and far,
Marreemba yookain kooroo weeree weeriba,
Wandering, standing, my eyes seek for it afar,
Marreemba yookain tallaroo, marreemba yookain,
Wandering, standing or dancing, wandering, standing,
Boojera boojera, naang injal, naang injal?
My country, my country, where is it, where is it?

An extempore “Song of Exile” sung by a Capel district native who had been taken away from his own country, and left to die in a on strange ground, is eloquent of the native’s love for his own hunting grounds:

Boojera, boojera, naang injal, boojera kwela naang?
Nganya dwon’ga burt, naang ee murnongool,
Mareemba yooganin kooroo weereeba ingarda
Marreemba yookain kooroo weeree weereeba,
Marreemba yookain tallaroo marreemba yookain.

(My country, my country, where is it, my country? What is the name of this country? I do not
know. I look for my country and cannot find it, it is gone. (I am) moving and standing, and
dancing round, but far away is my country).

Baaburs Song an example of extempore
What is the name of the country – it is strange to tire, I cannot tell which way to go etc
Boojera boojera naang injal boojera quella naang
Country Country I don’t know where Country I can’t find
Nganya dwanga burt, Naang ee Murnongal
My I cannot hear I can’t find it it is gone
Mareenba Yu’ganin, Kooroo weeriba ingarda
Moving & standing dancing round far away
Mareemba Yukyne Kooroo Weeree weeriba marrun
Moving & Standing dancing round moving
Yukyne Talaroo Mareemba Yutoyne
Standing a dance moving standing

Baabur’s Song
A Song of Exile
Baabur having been brought away from his country, Vasse, and located on the Government Reserve near Cannington, composed the following song

Boojera boojera naang? injal?
Country (my) country what? where?
Boojera kwella naang?
Country name what?
Nganya dwanga burt?
I understand not
Naang ee murnongul?
What (or where) all my people?
Marumba yooganin?
Moving? standing?
Kooroo weeriba ingarda?
Dancing round far away?
Marumba yookyn kooroo weeree weeriba
Moving? standing? dancing round and round?
Marumba yookyn (Talaroo) marumba yookyn
Moving? standing (name of a dance), moving, standing.

Baaburs Song.
A Song of exile.
Baabur having been brought away from his Country {Vasse} & located on the Government Reserve near Cannington composed the following song.

Boojera boojera naang? injal?
Country (my) country what? where ?
Boojera kwella naang ?
Country name what ?
Nganya dwonga burt ?
I understand not
Naang ee murnongul ?
What (or where) all by people ?
Mareemba ? Yoo’ganin ?
Moving ? Standing ?
Kooroo weeriba ingarda ?
Dancing round far away ?
Mareemba yookyn Kooroo weeree weeriba
Moving ? Standing ? dancing round & round ?
Mareemba Yookyn (Talaroo) mareemba yookyn
Moving? Standing (name of a dance) moving, standing.