There are songwriters who write stories, and there are songwriters who hold a mirror to a nation. On ‘Just Another Day in the Colony’, Sydney’s Dominic Breen confidently plants himself in the latter camp, delivering a rich, literate slice of contemporary Australian folk that feels as indebted to Paul Kelly and Redgum as it does to the restless spirit of Midnight Oil.
Built around wiry acoustic guitars, harmonica flourishes and Breen’s conversational delivery, the track unpacks the mythology Australia has wrapped around itself for generations. References to bush folklore, colonial history and enduring cultural icons aren’t presented as nostalgic touchstones but as questions, inviting listeners to reconsider the stories that have shaped the national psyche. The result is both deeply personal and unmistakably political without ever becoming didactic.
Just another day in the colony
Once a jolly swagman carried his pack
Under the shade of a Big Four bank
He muttered under his breath, scratching his back
“Why’s it got to be this but it can never be that?
It’s always riddle me this and riddle me crap
And if you read it in the news then you know it’s a trap
You’re red or you’re blue
You’re white or you’re black
And if you’re something in the latter
You can wait at the back
You try to find a ways around it
But there isn’t a map
Try to see another angle
There’s a cinematic quality to the arrangement, with its dusty, widescreen atmosphere giving way to a delightfully Australian finale where harmonica duels with kookaburras. It’s an ending that perfectly captures Breen’s ability to balance humour, history and humanity in the same breath. Just Another Day in the Colony is thoughtful, evocative and quietly provocative—a compelling reminder that folk music remains one of the most powerful ways to tell a nation’s story.
‘Just Another Day In The Colony’ is out now through the marvellous Double Drummer label and can be downloaded and streamed here.
Feature Photograph: Jack Moran
