Aussie Songwriter Condemns Use Of Iconic Work At 'Confused' Rallies

Veteran Australian singer-songwriter John Schumann, of Redgum fame, has spoken out against the use of his iconic peace anthem I Was Only 19 at the Gold Coast's Reclaim Australia rally at the weekend.

One of several such rallies held around the country for the benefit of people with a fundamental misunderstanding of how halal certification works, among other things, the Gold Coast's event gained an extra degree of notoriety after footage circulated online of a protester performing a cover of Schumann's song at the event, prompting the respected muso to pen a public response (via New Matilda, which uploaded the original footage) in order to properly express his disappointment that the rally had — in his words — "co-opted" the song.

Consequently taking to social media on Sunday in the wake of the footage's publication, Schumann said: "I was very disturbed to learn this morning that I Was Only 19 had been performed at least one Reclaim Australia rally."

"All of my work, I Was 19 included, is about understanding, compassion, tolerance and inclusiveness," he continued.

"I am very, very disappointed to see my work co-opted by what I, at my most charitable, consider to be a very confused 'patriotic' movement."

Schumann's response goes a step further than mere condemnation, however, drawing on personal experience in predominantly Muslim countries to further distance himself - and, by extension, his work - from the message being trumpeted by the Reclaim cabal.

"There are many ways in which genuine patriots can improve Australia," Schumann wrote. "Isolating and demonising one section of our community, in ignorance and intolerance, is not one of those ways.

I have travelled throughout Muslim countries and I have been treated as an honoured guest - not once but many times. As a stranger I have been taken in, fed and nursed when I was sick. I will be forever grateful to those people.

"I firmly believe that the overwhelming majority of Muslim Australians look in unmitigated horror at the behaviour of the extremists in their community - just as we look in unmitigated horror at the behaviour of the extremists in ours. I will not be persuaded otherwise."

Schumann concluded his message with a powerful ultimatum regarding the future use of I Was Only 19 (and, presumably, other works): that it simply "honours all those Australians who have put themselves in harm's way in our name".

"It is not to be used to advance ignorance and intolerance, especially as we approach the centenary of Anzac," he said.