[Reprinted with the kind permission of Ann O'Donovan Pty. Ltd. (Publishers),
56 Claremont Street South Yarra VIC 3141.]

Music by Michael Leyden. The words were written by Dorothy Hewitt and describe conditions in Newcastle during the depression of the thirties. First published in The Second Bushwackers Australian Songbook 1983, published by Ann O'Donovan. This beautiful song and other songs about fighting oppression appear on the self-titled audio cassette of the Solidarity Choir. Price: $10.00. For copies contact Nick on (02) 9560-4553.

On an island in a river
How that bitter river ran
I grew on scraps of charity
In the best way that you can
On an island in a river
Where I grew to be a man.

Chorus
For dole bread is bitter bread
Bitter bread and sour
There's grief in the taste of it
There's weevils in the flour
There's weevils in the flour

And just across the river
Stood the mighty B.H.P.,
Poured pollution on the waters,
Poured the lead of misery
And its smoke was black as Hades
Rolling hungry to the sea.

In those humpies by the river
Where we lived on dole and stew,
While just across the river
Those greedy smokestacks grew,
And the hunger of the many
Filled the bellies of the few.

On an island in a river
How that bitter river ran
It broke the banks of charity
And it baked the bread of man
On an island in a river
Where I grew to be a man.

Last chorus:
For dole bread is bitter bread
There's a weevils in the flour
But men grow strong as iron upon
Black bread and sour,
Black bread and sour.