Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By Archie Roach, Simon & Schuster, $49.99.
Celebrated singer-songwriter and storyteller Archie Roach is a keen observer and soulful poet and known as a campaigner for the rights of First Nations people. His memoir commands attention. He’s rightly described as a true Australian legend: stolen child, musical and lyrical genius and leader.
A part of the Stolen Generations, it is clear to see that not many have lived as many lives – from stolen child, teenage alcoholic, seeker, lover, father, musical and lyrical genius, to social advocate and First Nations leader – but it took almost a lifetime to find who he really was.
In Tell Me Why he voices the joy, pain and the hope he found on his life’s journey through song which is fitting as the memoir has a companion album featuring three brand new recordings, 11 classic Archie songs re-imagined, two previously unreleased songs and two songs that influenced Archie in his early years. Both make a critically important contribution to the Australian story for us all.
As he points out in the prologue, “sometimes you can go years without really changing as a person. Same values, same hopes, pretty much the same bloke. Sometimes, though, it can all change in a day”. The latter happened to Roach.
He was only two years old when he was forcibly removed from his family. Brought up by a series of foster parents until his early teens, his world imploded when he received a letter that spoke of a life he had no memory of.
In this intimate, moving and often shocking memoir, Archie’s story is an extraordinary odyssey through love and heartbreak, family and community, survival and renewal – and the healing power of music. Overcoming enormous odds to find his story and his people, Archie voices the joy, pain and hope he found on his path through song to become the legendary singer-songwriter and storyteller that he is today.
This is a stunning account of resilience and the strength of spirit – and of a great love story.
