Video Of The Week: Chasing Ghosts, ‘Dig’

Using archival footage with full cultural permission from Uncle Gathaniba, Chasing Ghosts’ clip for ‘Dig’ serves as a conversation-starter.

As it delves into Australia’s history and treatment of Aboriginal peoples from the English invasion through to the modern period in a chronological order, we are asked to dig deeper into our own stance as we benefit from this land and its culture.

“Dig, dig, just a little deeper,” sings frontman Jimmy Kyle as he asks the listener to consider Australia’s frontier wars, Aboriginal resistance, the mission area of assimilation, the stolen generations, indentured servitude, the mining industry, native title and deaths in custody.

It’s a powerful message, presented with the kind of raw visual display that Chasing Ghosts are now known for.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this video may contain images and sounds relating to deceased persons.

Check out Chasing Ghosts’ clip for ‘Dig’:

‘Dig’ marks the third and final single from the Melbourne band’s just-released EP Homelands.

Jimmy Kyle, a proud Goori man, of the Thungutti mob from the mid-north coast of NSW said of the EP:

“I was scared to write these songs, because a lot of the topics are challenging. But that’s how I knew I was onto something. It made me feel nervous,” he said.

“I know people are going to come after me with some of these songs,” he added. “But I know in my heart that telling these stories is right and telling them in the way I do is the right thing to do. I know my audience is predominantly non-Indigenous, so I have to engage them in a way that engages their heart. Because that way they’re not going to be judged, but they can put themselves in an empathetic position to go on the journey.”

Check out Chasing Ghosts’ Homelands EP:

‘Dig’ Lyrics

VERSE 1:
Dig, dig, just a little deeper,
you’ve only started to scratch the surface now.
Dig, dig, dig until your nails bleed,
until you know what you’re calling your home.
Ya Dig? dig, you’ve dug yourself a hole now,
can you fill it and build upon our bones?

CHORUS:
Seen a black flag fly
Flying above
See blood and sand – that’s what we’re standing on.
And someone’s lying,
but what have we done?
We’re more than just holding on.

VERSE 2:
So Dig, dig until the scrub surrenders
Dig, dig ‘til you claim it as your own
Dig, dig can you make it through the winter?
If we’ll burn your crops black in their rows

CHORUS:
See a black flag fly
Flying above
See blood and sand – that’s what we’re standing on
And someone’s lying,
but what have we done?
We’re more than just holding on.

VERSE 3:
Dig, dig, they promised salvation
Dig, dig, and dragged them from their homes
Dig, dig, just another blast now
Dig, dig, until they find coal

CHORES:
Seen a black flag fly
Flying above
See blood and sand – that’s what we’re standing on
And someone’s lying
but what have we done?
We’re more than just holding on.

VERSE 4:
Dig! Dig! We’ll bury another cousin!
Dig! Dig! We’ll bring their body home
Dig! Dig! We’ll scratch underneath the surface
Until you stop to count the broken bones.

BRIDGE:
Well I hope that you know
Well I hope that you know
Well I hope that you know
Well I hope that you know

OUTRO:
Dig, dig, just a little deeper
Dig, dig, just a little deeper
Dig, dig, just a little deeper
Dig, dig, just a little deeper
Dig, dig, just a little deeper
Dig, dig.

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