Who would be most likely to read and/or view this text and why?
This is a very central theme that many people can relate to, losing someone because of an order of priorities.

Textual structures and features
What are the structures and features of the text?
It is a song with 7 verses and a chorus that is repeated 3 times. The language used in this is generally quite emotive. Reminiscing on past times can often give the feeling of euphoria and this text gives you that feeling. It is telling this as a story by telling of the writers first impressions upon returning and slowly getting more in depth.

What sort of genre does the text belong to?
Rock in the Cold Chisel version but more towards pop on the Sarah Blasko version.

What do the images suggest?
These images are reminiscing on the singer’s youth. “Kids out driving Saturday afternoon” is demonstrating this and showing how simple this life was. The feelings that this evokes is a happiness yet an emptiness. It is ironic though as even though he has gone to fulfil this, everything that was important to him is right here.

What do the words suggest?
This song gives induces regret and sadness. This makes his message very clear and everyone that listens to this song must feel some form of sympathy. “And I can’t stop that long forgotten feeling of her”

What kind of language is used in the text?
There is strong use of emotive language throughout this song. Just makes it harder to believe that she won’t be around”, “Takes more than just a memory to make me cry”.

Key concept
How is the concept of change evident in this text?
This song is demonstrating the effects that time has on people. In this case it is negative as the writer has lost someone that meant a great deal to him. “There’s a girl falling in love near where the pianola stands With her young local factory out-of-worker, holding hands.”

Is the change presented as positive or negative ?Is it enforced? is it short term ? Is it long term ? Is it gradual or dramatic? Is the change planned? Unplanned ?
When the writer made the choice of leaving, he also made the choice of leaving the one that he loved. Upon returning, he has realised this and realised that it is too late.

What form does the change take – physical, emotional , perceptions, world?
I believe that this change takes form in all of the above. It is emotional because when someone leaves you you feel a deep sadness and it generally effects you psychologically. It is perceptions and world as the singer has returned to this town regardless of the fact that nothing has changed he feels nostalgia and has a different outlook on this town.

• What other evidence in the painting suggest a Euro centric focus: the colonist’s belief in white man’s supremacy and their view of the aboriginal people as a primitive people.
Robinson is depicted as a respectful man dressed nicely and the disparity of the aborigines. Facial expressions also support this as Robinson seems quite confident but the aborigines seem a little perplexed and hesitant.
• What do the gestures of the individual gestures of individual aboriginals in the painting suggest about their attitudes towards conciliation?
They seem quite hesitant as the aborigine that is shaking Robinson’s hand is also patting another one for support. Others seem quite indifferent towards it and are continuing as if this should not really affect them.
• After studying this painting what thoughts does it give you about the calls nowadays for “reconciliation with the aboriginal people”? What are the connotations of this term?
I think that even though certain actions are made for reconciliation with the aborigines, these may be in good intention but do not necessarily have a positive outcome. This was proven with Robinson’s actions as his what he initially did was good for the aboriginal population but when he abandoned them, illness and camp conditions deteriorated resulting in death. this can be related today with the stolen generation.

What is this text about? How do we know?
This song is about someone going back to Grafton, where they had grown up, and seeing how it hasn’t changed at all. It is about the sense of nostalgia that he feels, knowing that “she won’t be around”. “After all this time you boys look just the same”. This line outlines the stagnation of Grafton, and how life moves very slowly there.

Who would be most likely to read and/or view this text and why?
There is no set audience for this text, as the message is very central to all ages and cultures. It has a meaning that anyone can relate to, and so become part of the audience.
What does the composer of the text want us to know/feel?
The composer wishes us to empathise with his sense of longing for “her” and recall our own experience of coming back to a childhood residence and seeing the stagnation that is present. This journey emphasises the process of ageing and the recognition of lost youthfulness.

Textual structures and features:

What are the structures and features of the text?
This song is composed of seven verses, three of which are choruses. This long structure allows the composer to elaborate on the message of the song. “Who needs that sentimental bullshit, anyway?” This allows almost anyone to relate to the composers feelings. “There’s no change, there’s no pace” and “there’s nothing else could set fire to this town”. These images of stagnancy help us to get a more coherent idea of the message of the text.
What sort of genre does the text belong to?
This text doesn’t really belong to a specific genre. It could possibly be classified as a free verse song. It has been appropriated from the original song by Cold Chisel, written in the 70’s.
What do the images suggest?
“I’m just savouring familiar sights” and “Everything within its place”. These sorts of images, accompanied with the slow tempo of the song, articulate the stagnancy of a small country town. Specific imagery such as this allows the listener to gain a better sense of the past and present, which shows how his perception of the town has changed.
What kind of language is used in the text?
Throughout the piece, much colloquial, idiomatic language is used. For example, “Number two is the happy hour at one of two hotels, Settle in to play “Do you remember so and so?”” is very basic, idiomatic, colloquial language, which allows anyone to understand and empathise with the feelings of longing and nostalgia in the composer.

Key concept:

How is the concept of change evident in this text?
Change is a key part of this song. It expresses, through the use of familiar images, the typical, slow moving life of a country town. The main change is that “she won’t be around”. Also, by using both past and present tense, a sense of changing perspective towards the town itself, and also her old friends. Her feelings of constant similarity, and stagnation are evident throughout the song.
Is the change presented as positive or negative? Is it enforced?
The change represented in this song portrayed as being negative, as the composer seems to be constantly mournful over the loss of a loved one. The fact that everything is the same, except “her” absence makes it more difficult to return, as expressed in the line “Just makes it harder to believe that she won’t be around”. This feeling of remorse is enforced several times throughout the piece, with almost exact repetition of the line above. There is no imperative language used, however the repetition of the idea helps to enforce it. The composer is feeling the effects of age, and yearns to undo this change, and go back to her old life, as is articulated in the line, “I’m happy just to sit here round a table with old friends”.
Is it short or long term? Is it gradual or dramatic?
It really is long term, showing the effect of growing out of her previous life.
Is the change planned or unplanned?
The physical change, of her growing up, was inevitable, however, the composer seems not to have planned for it, or been unaware of the consequences of lost youth that come with age.
The mental change that came with her age, that of experiencing new things, seeing things through new eyes, seems to have been the goal of her change, yet she didn’t realise that she would forget what it was really like to be a part of the small Grafton community.

What form does the change take – physical, emotional, perceptions, world?
The change that is represented is personal, as her particular issue only really affects the composer. “And I can’t stop that long forgotten feeling of her”. This line suggests her private struggle with loss. The main change represented in the song involves a change in perception. This perception change is directed towards things from her past, and affects the way that the way that the composer views her old town and old friends.

• The dictionary defines conciliation as:
the state of manifesting goodwill and cooperation after being reconciled; “there was a brief period of conciliation but the fighting soon resumed”

• The painting depicts the British colonists attitudes and values of the time (1840). The central figure is George Robinson. How does the use of colour and positioning suggest Dutterau’s admiration of him?
The use of positioning is a main feature in this painting. The image is a salient as it focuses on the central character which is George Robinson. This enthacises the importance of Robinson and shows Dutterau’s admiration for him. Robinson also stands out as he is dressed in bright colour and all the others people are focused on him, with positive body language, towards him.

• What other evidence in the painting suggests the Eurocentric focus: the colonist belief in the white mans supremacy and their view of the Aboriginal people as a primitive people.
Euro centricity is shown, as the Robinson is the only bright, colourful thing. Robinson is dressed in nice cloths, while the Aboriginal people are naked. The colour of the Aboriginals may also suggest they belief that they are part of the land, and they don’t own the land, but are part of it. The expressions on the faces also suggest a euro centric perspective, as the Aboriginals are not smiling, while Robinson is. This may be suggesting the happiest that each culture provides, as the Aboriginals are primitive so not as happy, while Robinson is happy as he has the technology in an advanced culture.
• What do the gestures of the individual Aboriginals in the painting suggest about their attitudes towards “conciliation”?
The gestures shown by the Aboriginals, shows the fascination with anything foreign. The Aboriginals are friendly and fasciated by Robinson, as he is the centre of their focus as they all point towards him.
• After studying this painting what thoughts does it give you about the calls nowadays for the “reconciliation” with the Aboriginal people? What are the connotations of this term?
Reconciliation is a major issue in Australia today; I just went to a concert where the reason for it was reconciliation. Trying to establish a healthy relationship between as and the native Aborigines, I believe this will be a very hard, but worthwhile thing to do in our society. There is a lot of tension and issues surrounding reconciliation and the equality of all cultures. I believe these issue will never be fully reconciled as there will always be divisions and differences in Australia between cultures. I think is a great step in easing the barriers but these barriers will always remain.

Purpose
This text is about a man who goes home to his childhood town to find that physically nothing has changed, but emotionally he has and that he will never be able to go back to how he was when he lived in the town as a child. We know this through the imagery that is set down as well as several sentences. Such as “We share some history, this town and I” and “Do you remember so and so?”. The people most likely to listen to this text are rock fans, which at the time was the younger generation. This is because at the time rock music was the younger people’s music. The composer wants us to feel a sense of: loneliness, opportunities gone by, going home.

Textual Structures

This song has a chorus that is repeated 3 times, with 4 verses and a bridge as well. The bridge is the line “Do you remember, nothing stopped us on the field In our day”. This is a bridge between remembering the old days and thinking about how he wishes it was the same, to just accepting that the change has happened and there will be no going back. This song belongs to the genre of Aussie Rock. The imagery in this song shows a sleepy old town that has jacarandas lining its roads, hasn’t changed since he left it. Also suggested is a group of old friends sitting in a pub drinking a few beers and reminiscing about the old days. The words suggest that on the inside he is in turmoil about having left a childhood sweetheart. The language used in this text is colloquial, is very imagery and has symbols. An example of this colloquial language is “Number two is the happy hour at one of two hotels”, this is Australian colloquial language. Some of the symbolism is the Jacarandas, which I believe are a symbol for change as they are deciduous and change seasonally, and are the only things that actually change in the town.

Key Concept
The concept of change is shown through the imagery, symbolism and the repetition of the chorus with its message of change. The imagery starts within the first line where he says “Kids out driving Saturday afternoon pass me by”, this shows a sleepy old town where nothing happens and to pass time the kids drive. This adds to the physical change of the song in which nothing physical changes other then the flame trees. With his reminiscing of the old days, switching of time periods back to modern times is very effective at showing the concept of change. I think the change is presented in a negative way. By the way the language is used you can tell that he regrets leaving the girl and changing from childhood to adulthood. This is presented in the two lines “Just makes it harder to believe that she won’t be around, But Ah! Who needs that sentimental bullshit, anyway”. This isn’t really enforced though. The change can be seen as both short term and long term. Personally I see it as a long term change. He has changed over a long period of change to become an adult and he has regretted his leaving for a long time not a short one. The change for his regret I think is very dramatic while the change from childhood to adulthood is very gradual. I am sure that the change is unplanned. I think that he planned to leave the girl but not the consequences of it, and he most definitely didn’t plan to grow older. The change takes the form of emotional, and a little bit of physical change. The emotional change is the way that he feels about coming back to the town and the way that he left the girl. He is feeling that the town will now be nothing and completely different now that his girl is gone, but as he finds out the town is still exactly the same it is him that has changed. As for the physical change this is in the way he grows older and also in the way that the jacarandas are the only thing that changes in the town. This is shown in the lines “Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver, And there’s nothing else could set fire to this town” This refers to the jacarandas and the way it is the only thing that changes. His perception of the world also changes as he immediately associates the town to her and loneliness.

The song appeals to a wide range of people, and is a very popular song. It is a simply writer, catchy and entertaining song. Many people can relate to it as the central theme of lost and regret is a main issue in many people’s lives, there fore is very popular. The Cold Chisel version would appeal to older people, as Cold Chisel were popular in the early eighties, while the Sarah Blasko’s cover version would appeal to modern listeners, as the alternate genre has become very popular recently.

The composer wants us to feel the feeling of regret, loss and longing as he has lost his love. It does this though the tone of the song and the emotive language used, I can’t stop that long forgotten feeling of her. The nostalgic tone of the text is a major feature of portraying the mood therefore the overall feeling of the text. He remembers how things used to be and regrets he had left, there’s a girl falling in love near where the pianola stands.

This is a very long song as it has 7 verses, 3 choruses and 1 bridge. It is planned very uniquely, as it builds up to the first chorus then drops down as the tone changes, in the forth stanza, “Ah! Who needs that sentimental bullshit, anyway”? It then builds again in the 5 stanza and climaxes in the bridge before the chorus, then drops once more for the repetition of the last 2 choruses.
There are many language features of this text, emotive language is used to express the sadness the composer is feeling, takes more than just a memory to make me cry. Imagery is used to paint a picture in the reader’s head about the environment that he describes, such as kids out driving Saturday afternoon pass me by. A rhetorical question is used to make the reader think, such as the question do you remember; nothing stopped us on the field in our day. Past and present themes are used to describe the differences or lack of differences over the years and also in his own perspective. Repetition is used as in most songs as the chorus is repeated.
The cold chisel genre is rock anthem and pub rock, this means it is something the majority of people could relate to. Sarah Blasko’s version is alternative.
Kids out driving Saturday afternoon pass me by, try to book a room to stay tonight, happy just to sit here round a table with old friends, there re’s a girl falling in love near where the pianola stands. These image rich lines suggest a old dull town with many familiar memories and scenarios it also expresses the sadness and regret he is feeling as everything else seems the same apart from his lost relationship, and I can’t stop that long forgotten feeling of her, this line clearly represents his feeling of regret as everything is the same, but he can’t forget his feeling of her.
The song is written in colloquial language, which is typical for pub anthems. Imagery, descriptive and emotive language are also used to create a tone to express the feeling of sadness and loss.
The concept of change is evident as he wishes he hadn’t left but had stayed with his girl.

Change is presented as negative, as he wishes it could be like it used to be. Change is enforced and unplanned as he didn’t think he would’ve feel the way his way. It is long term, as he has left and come back to his hometown, that he left many years ago. The change is emotion and perceptional, “But Ah! Who needs that sentimental bullshit, anyway, but not physical as the town remains the same, everything within its place.

Who would be most likely to read and/or view this text and why?
A lot of people can relate to this text because the theme is very universal i.e. loss of a girl.

What does the composer want us to know/feel?
Don Walker wants us to feel a deep sense of loss of youth and love. This is evident in the last line of the chorus “just makes it harder to believe that she wont be around”.

TEXTUAL STRUCTURES AND FEATURES
What are the structures and features of the text?
The chorus is repeated 3 times (2 at the end) which is good use of repetition and within the chorus is the feelings of the composer (Don Walker) without stating any events that happen.
Within the verses there are the actual plot points and events e.g. “Kids out driving Saturday afternoon pass me by”

What do the images suggest?
The images suggest that the writer really misses the lost girl “Nothing else could set fire to this town”.

What do the words suggest?
My interpretation of the words are that the composer left behind everything but then returned to what he thought would be the same place he left but was wrong. “There’s no change there’s no pace, everything is in its place”

What kind of language is used in this text?
This text is in pros in the verses “Who needs all that sentimental bull shit anyway”, but in the chorus it is in rhyme “ There’s no change there’s no pace, everything is in it’s place”.

How is the concept of change evident in this text?
The change in this text is evident in the way that the composer reminisces about how things used to be “Nothing stopped us on the field in our day” and opposes it to how it is now “Takes more than a memory to make me cry”.

Is the change presented as positive or negative?
The change is obviously presented as negative “Takes more than a memory to make me cry”

Is it enforced? Long/short term? Gradual/dramatic? Planned/unplanned
The change was enforced by an accident that happened to the girl “Flame trees will blind the weary driver” and “Harder to believe that she wont be around” lead me to suspect that the girl is either dead or injured. Saying that “She won’t be around” implies that she will never be around again. This means that it is Long term, dramatic and unplanned.

What form does the change take?
The change is one of the perception of the place that he grew up “can’t stop that long forgotten feeling of her”

∑ The painting depicts the British colonist attitudes and value of the time (1840). The central figure is George Robinson. How does the use of colour and positioning suggest Dutterau’s admiration of him?
o George Robinson is positioned in the middle of the painting and is surrounded by the Aborigines this sets Robinson above those surrounding him suggesting that Duterrau admires him. Also the colours in the grass and the dirt are dark except for around Robinson where it becomes considerably brighter.
∑ What other evidence in the painting suggests a Euro-centric focus: the colonist belief in White Mans supremacy and their view of the Aboriginal people as a primitive people.
o The most striking piece of evidence that points toward a Euro-centric focus is that Robinson is in the middle of the painting with the Aborigines around him very interested in him. The fact that he is in the centre is symbolic of saying that Europe is in the centre. Also the colours of the grass around Robinson are brighter, this combined with the clouds, that form around Robinson’s head, form an aura or a halo around Robinson. This is a biblical symbol with Robinson being Jesus and the Aborigines being the sinners and Robinson/Jesus come to save the Aborigines/Sinners. This is saying that the Europeans are the saviour and are therefore superior to the rest.

∑ What do the gestures of the individual Aboriginals in the painting suggest about their attitudes towards “conciliation”?
o The expressions on the faces of all the Aboriginals are of unhappiness, resignation and perplexity. These feelings would come about because they have had their homes destroyed and their land taken from them; lots of them have been murdered for no reason other than spite. So lots of Aborigines are unhappy some of them are resigned all of them would be perplexed as to what was happening to them and why. The gestures of the Aborigines portray much the same thing. The gesture that is the most striking is the Aborigine that is shaking Robinson’s hand as well as putting a hand on a friends shoulder. This gesture has two sides to it one is the Aborigine is shaking Robinson’s hand in agreement and on the other side is putting a hand on his friends shoulder this is showing his support and/or sorrow that he is feeling towards his people.
∑ After studying his painting what thoughts does it give you about the calls nowadays for “reconciliation” with the Aboriginal people? What are the connotations of this term?
o This painting makes me feel in full support of the reconciliation towards the Aborigines because of what we as a whole have done to the Aborigines although I wouldn’t blame them if they didn’t want anything to do with the reconciliation.

I believe the text ‘Flames Trees’ is a representation of a journey of a man’s life that experiences many significant changes. These changes are represented by the journey of a man who leaves his hometown of Grafton as well as leaving a special individual that he has intimate feelings towards. The song explores many feelings and emotions that he experienced on the return to his hometown. Emotions such as optimism, lust, empathy as well as sympathy are evident amongst the text. This is seen when the song talks about how he cant stop that forgotten feeling of her “And I can’t stop that long forgotten feeling of her”. Also in verse three there is a sentence that says “Just makes it harder to believe that she won’t be around” this particular segment identifies the strong feelings that are expressed about these individuals and how close they were. Another aspect of change that is expressed is that concept of a man, in this case the composer going back to his hometown, of Grafton, and finding his perceptions of the town had changed dramatically but physically nothing had changed at all. This is reinforced by a quote from the song “There’s no change, there’s no pace” meaning that even though he had changed and grown up the place that we assume he once called home is just as it was when he left it. This paints a picture of the town being old, still, stagnant and in some cases depressing.

Although it is easy for us to say that anyone who likes the music of Cold Chisel or Sarah Blasko can relate to this song but the real truth is that the most likely audience that are able to genuinely relate to this are the people who share the same ideals that are expressed in the song. Some people might be able to relate to the concept of ‘the one who got away’ or the concept that people move away from small towns to make something bigger and better of their life but then they come back and they hit rock bottom of reality when they realise that sometimes things just don’t change “There’s no change, there’s no pace”.

The composer of the text wants us, the audience, to have the opportunity to relate to some of the ideals, consequences and emotions that are revealed within the text. Much of the text revolves around the value loneliness, sadness and regret. They use these techniques I believe to send across the focus that relationships and loved ones are special and they should be the number one priority. Also that if you know that you have someone that is special to you then hold on to them and treat them well other wise you will suffer the consequences. Some of which are revealed in the song “And I can’t stop that long forgotten feeling of her”.

This text is made up of 7 verses one of which is repeated twice at the end of the song to emphasis the message being sent across to the audience, the message that is discussed above. It also contains a bridge between the 5th and 6th verses. The 5th verse is when the composer breaks down completely, and then bursts into the bridge section of the song.

This song belongs to many genres pop/rock/alternative
But as different people sing it then obviously the genre is going to change accordingly.

The language of the text, I believe is emotive. This is supported by the fact that some of the verses express dominant emotions. “But Ah! Who needs that sentimental bullshit, anyway?
Takes more than just a memory to make me cry”. This quote shows sarcasm in the tone of his voice through the use of a rhetorical question then that is followed by a sentence trying to make excuses. To me this is enough evidence to persuade me to believe this is emotive language.

The images suggest that life goes on no matter how much you want it not to. It suggests how everything changes if it’s for the good or the bad or whether you like it or not. “Everything within its place” and “There’s no change, there’s no pace” this illustrates that everything is the same except for him [composer] and how the past is only catching up with him now.

It is obvious to the audience that the composer has left town some time ago and during that time he had changed. He then ventures back to the same old town and says to us that everything is the same although he is noticing some change in his perspective of different things for example the pianola scene.

The change in the texts originates form a negative event but looking at it as a bigger picture it can be seen as neutral. The original changed happened over a short time but as a consequence it has sprawled out into a long-term change. Although the change happened gradually its effects were still felt to the extreme extent. The change had such an affect on the composer’s life that now his perceptions of the world are viewed through a whole different set of eyes.