Walking Into Doors (1993) – Archie Roach

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this post contains images, voices and names of people who have died.

I always feel humbled and privileged to listen to the late Australian Aboriginal singer-songwriter Archie Roach. He was a proud member of the Stolen Generations. He was forcibly separated from his family, who were living at the Framlingham Mission in Victoria, when he was two years old. Despite much heartache and adversity, through his music he was able to express what occurred to him and his people and bring these issues to the wider Australian public.

Archie, or Uncle as he was fondly known, inspired not only Aboriginal people but the community as a whole. Despite the trauma of removal and the suffering and pain that followed, he forged a way through the darkness of homelessness and alcoholism and transformed himself into a beacon of hope and spiritual strength through his courage and resilience.

This servant leadership, together with the efforts of many other like-minded people, helped bring these issues into the open and contributed to the formal National Apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008, delivered by then Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

His music brings both tears of sadness and tears of happiness. I was fortunate to see Archie perform live in Melbourne many years ago, along with another of my favourite Australian artists, David Bridie, who has also featured here prominently. That concert remains one of my most cherished musical memories.

David, in fact, produced Archie’s album Jamu Dreaming, from which today’s song was released. He and fellow My Friend the Chocolate Cake co-founder and cellist Helen Mountfort appear in the moving video below.

Today’s song, Walking Into Doors, takes a different direction from Archie’s songs about the plight of Aboriginal people and his personal experiences as a member of the Stolen Generations. Here he delivers a powerful message against domestic violence. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten through this song without my eyes welling up with tears.

I do not think I have heard anything as affecting on this disturbing and heartbreaking topic. Archie approaches it with great sensitivity and compassion, and that voice – by golly, what a voice. Uncle has a message for all men in this song, and it feels deeply personal. He is talking directly to his “brothers”:

So my brothers, don’t hurt her anymore
She’s got her hurt Lord, you got yours

Archie spent much of his life with his beloved wife, Ruby Hunter, and in trying to live by the values expressed in this song and many others, he became a role model for many people. He is now at peace with Aunty Ruby, who was also his musical partner. Rest in peace, beautiful man. You are missed.

You say you’re a man, you understand, but you don’t
You should lend her, a helping hand but you won’t
‘Cause I’m a man I don’t understand but I try
She always does, what I command, while she cries
Why should we, do what we do, and sleep at night
The crazy things we put her through isn’t right
It isn’t right

So my brothers, don’t hurt her anymore
She’s got her hurt lord, you got yours

And she’s sick and tired of walking into doors

Her gentle spirit her sacred ways and her smile
May not be there, she may disappear in a little while
Sister Mum, sister girl and giving birth

Mother Nature, mother pearl and mother earth
Sweet Mother Earth

So my brothers don’t hurt her anymore
She’s got her hurt lord, you got yours

And she’s sick and tired of walking into doors

So my brothers don’t hurt her anymore
She’s got her hurt lord, you got yours

And she’s sick and tired of walking into doors
Yes, she’s sick and tired of walking into doors

References:
1. Archie Roach – Wikipedia