Jimmy Sharman's Boxers Lyrics

Lyric discussion by monster36604 

Cover art for Jimmy Sharman's Boxers lyrics by Midnight Oil

Jimmy Sharman established a boxing tent in 1911 where, for a fee, one could box a few, sometimes bloody, rounds with Aboriginal boxers that were employed by Sharman. Many felt that Sharman exploited the aboriginal boxers. Great song!

Yep, you're spot on there. That's exactly what it's about.

I've always wondered why they chose to take that tack with the lyrics though. As far as I am aware, there wasn't any exploitation going on, not really. No more than any business owner with employees being paid a wage is exploitation.

It's my understanding that nobody was forcing them to fight. They were always free to leave & they were being paid a decent wage, plus bonuses for winning. I don't know where the Oils got the notion that it was some sort of expoititive setup.

Then again, I...