Short Memory Lyrics
The Belgians in the Congo short memory
Plantation in Virginia, the Raj in British India
The deadline in South Africa short memory
The story of El Salvador, the silence of Hiroshima
Destruction of Cambodia short memory
With running water specially bought short memory
A smallish man Afghanistan, a watch dog in a nervous land
They're only there to lend a hand short memory
The friendly five a dusty smile
Wake up in sweat at dead of night
And in the tents new rifles hey short memory
Repeat repeat short memory they've all got it
When are we going to play it again
Got a short, got a short, got a short, got a short
They've got a short must have a short they've got a short aah
Short memory, they've got a.
I'd recommend you get a copy of the Goat Island Concert (its on DVD called best of Both Worlds) fantastioc renditions of this and many other OIls songs. And Short Memory is just as valid today with the Iraq debacle still in full swing with unfortunately the first Aussie killed there today.
Proabably my favourite Midnight Oil song...I've heard some killer live versions of it...I just can't get enough of the way the Peter Garrett rants on for 15 or so seconds right before the song finishes...I wish I knew what he's saying, but it's probably impro.
it's about war and imperialism. and the mistakes many people make from them not remembering the lessons to be learned from those occurences, hence the short memory!
It's all about imperialism, colonialism and the repression of weaker races in their homelands. Hiroshima and Cambodia were places subjected to the most horrific aerial bombardment in the past sixty years. No mention of Dresden though. The song title tells it all; how quickly we forget the lessons of the past. This is an excellent song - one of about 75% of the 10...1 Album that could have been or were successful singles in Australia, way back in 1983.
It's interesting that you mention the allied bombing of Dresden. I just watched the '70's movie "Slaughterhouse Five" for the first time last night on DVD. I did some googling after the movie on the Dresden bombardment. No strategic advantage in bombing, just massive civilian casualties with few military hits as there were barely any in that city - the allies day of infamy.
It's interesting that you mention the allied bombing of Dresden. I just watched the '70's movie "Slaughterhouse Five" for the first time last night on DVD. I did some googling after the movie on the Dresden bombardment. No strategic advantage in bombing, just massive civilian casualties with few military hits as there were barely any in that city - the allies day of infamy.
Great guitars, great synthesisers, great vox, loving it. I've listened the to the Garrett ranting at the end, and I agree Aneuyrysm, its rawks! It is "If you read the history books you'll see the same things happen again and again Repeat repeat short memory they've all got it When are we going to play it again Got a short, got a short, got a short, got a short They've got a short must have a short they've got a short aah Short memory, they've got...." I'm lovin' this gon!!!
Wait... the same Peter Garret that's my local MP? Sweet, I never made the connection with him and this song... just Midnight Oil. Wish I could vote.
Absolutely, Goat Island was an awesome concert. I saw them at Sterwart Hotel at Alexandra Headland in the late 80's. They were supported by the Wurrumpi band who were also awesome. This some is quite interesting. If you think about it, The English kind of stuffed themselves up with Australia. Some of countries mentioned in the song have been used by their invaders to profit from the culture of that country by making slaves and workers of the natives. The English didn't even take the opportunity to this, they tried to turn Australia into a white society by ridding it of anything Indigenous. So now much of the 'known history' of the Indigenous is gone. So, now the problem is trying to piece it all back together again so that Indigenous Australians can have some identity again.
Anybody know the reference to "the friendly five"?
It's about how soldiers are accountable for what they do in wars, not just the countries that send them. A soldier must have a short memory (no conscience) in order to do what they do.
every one blames Imperialism when the fact is, Imperialism was usurped back under the Roman Catholic Axis of Admiralty Jurisdiction through war debts well before the end of the 1900's