The vanishing race (by Air Supply)

• Before listening:

This is a song about Indians (i.e., aborigines). Why do you think they are called "the vanishing
race"? How would you feel if you belonged to a community which is dying away?

• While listening:

First listening: take down all the words that have to do with Nature.

Second listening: Fill in the blanks (help: pay attention to the rhyme!)
__________________, I can’t slow down
Run, build on sacred __________________
All of the __________________ have blown away
Ghosts on a distant __________________
In a vanishing race.

Sleep, if your eyes must __________________

Weep, over a poisoned __________________
Soon all the __________________ will blow __________________
Dust on a distant highway
In a vanishing race.

Fly, closer to the __________________

Fight, till the __________________ is one
Soon all the __________________ will burn away
Ghosts on a different highway
In a vanishing race.

Oh, shall we sleep __________________

Oh, when there’s no __________________ in sight
Take all your __________________ and drive away
Smoke on a distant highway
From the vanishing race.

INDIAN PRAYER TRANSLATION

All my people
Respect you Mother Earth
Thank you for this life and breath
And all my people’s strength.

• After listening:

Are the values mentioned in the Indian prayer still respected today? If you believe they are,
exemplify. If not, has forgetting them been a change for the better or the worse?