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about

This is our protest song.

With much of my extended family hailing from Ballarat, I have always taken a keen interest in that town - its landmarks, attractions and of course, its history.

Peter Lalor was the leader of the Eureka Stockade rebellion of 1854 in Ballarat, one of Australia's few armed uprisings and often characterised controversially as the "birth of democracy" in Australia.

Rather than glorify this incident as so often occurs, I used it in the song as a warning to giving into violence and bloodshed.

It is a song that counters current notions of Western governments, big business and various arms of the military in regard to armed conflicts. It is a song that objects to their justification and active pursuit of war, especially in the Middle East.

We don't say yes to violence, we resist and say no.

'Simple as That' is a live favourite.

Additionally, the front cover artwork to the album 'Lines Are Drawn' was drawn onstage by Steve O'Connor during a gig at the Squatters Arms Hotel, Adelaide in October 2009.

The image of the miner is inspired by the lyrics of the song 'Simple As That' - in particular the reference given of the Eureka Stockade led by Peter Lalor on the Australian goldfields in 1854.

lyrics

This is our manifesto
It is simple and direct
It speaks of protest and non-violence
And disobedience
Peter Lalor at Eureka
Took up arms and made a fight
This is not what we subscribe to
The proclamation starts tonight

We say oh no
Oh no
Oh no!
We say oh no
Oh no
Oh no!
It’s simple as that

This is our time to stand up if we see what is not right
Pushed as in the national interest
To win election night
We look to Gandhi
And to Mandela
And to Martin Luther King
To inspire and to teach us
That violence never wins

We say oh no
Oh no
Oh no!
We say oh no
Oh no
Oh no!
It’s simple as that

credits

from Lines Are Drawn, released May 1, 2010
Matt Reiner: Vocals, Guitars
Matthew Hill: Bass Guitar, Vocals, Percussion
Anne Romeo: Snare Drum
Steve Lennox: Additional Vocals
Sean Kemp: Additional Vocals
Tristan Newsome: Additional Guitar and Vocals

Engineered and mixed by Damian Jolly.
Mastered by Craig Lewis at Mixmasters, Adelaide

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Matt Reiner and the Aunt Sallys Adelaide, Australia

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