Actually, I get the feeling that this song is about the Black War, a particular low point in Australian history that ended in the genocide of the Aboriginal Tasmanian population. This is particularly noticeable in the lyrics
"I am one of a gang set to work on the land, a clearin' and fellin'
and killin',
The best of us here has a conscience clear and he goes about it keen
and willin',
We're shooting them from the rocks, and we're shooting them in the water and when they're runnin' we're shootin' them in the backs and we do it without a thought or care?"
Which indicates that they are being forced to fight against innocent people, and the soldiers in charge gladly partake in the slaughter, while the narrator is conflicted.
Actually, I get the feeling that this song is about the Black War, a particular low point in Australian history that ended in the genocide of the Aboriginal Tasmanian population. This is particularly noticeable in the lyrics
"I am one of a gang set to work on the land, a clearin' and fellin' and killin', The best of us here has a conscience clear and he goes about it keen and willin', We're shooting them from the rocks, and we're shooting them in the water and when they're runnin' we're shootin' them in the backs and we do it without a thought or care?"
Which indicates that they are being forced to fight against innocent people, and the soldiers in charge gladly partake in the slaughter, while the narrator is conflicted.