John Williamson Says He Doesn’t Support ‘True Blue’ Being Played at Immigration Protests

It’s ‘a song for all Australians’ the legendary country singer said on social media.

John Williamson performs at The Tamworth Town Hall during the 42nd Tamworth Coutry Music Festival in Tamworth, Australia, on Jan. 23, 2014. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Australian country and folk music singer-songwriter John Williamson has objected to the playing of his song “True Blue” during a March for Australia protest against mass immigration on Sunday, Oct. 19.

“True Blue is a song for all Australians and should not be hijacked by any group that seeks to use the song to sow division,” Williamson wrote on Facebook.

“I believe in a multicultural society—one where all Australians come together in unity to celebrate our unique multicultural nature and freedoms,” he added.

Reaction from his fans was mostly positive, though some praised both him and the song while defending its use at the rally.

One person pointed out that the term isn’t Australian at all, but British.

In fact, it was first recorded in Britain in 1655 with the meaning “faithful, staunch, unwavering in one’s commitments or principles; extremely loyal.” It later also came to mean “staunchly conservative” in a political sense.

Other commenters were more critical, one quoting the lyrics which include the lines “Are you really disappearing, just another dying race” and telling Williamson that when he wrote it 40 years ago, he was “prophetic.”

“But it now seems you have changed your tune. I used to love your music but unfortunately you have compromised entertainment with your political point of view,” the commenter wrote.

Another said, “I’m confused now. So what does True Blue even mean? I think I have been mistaken my whole life, I thought it was about being proud to be an Australian. I guess not.”

This isn’t the first time that Williamson objected to his music being used at political rallies.

In 2015, he also used social media after True Blue was used at Reclaim Australia rallies to say, “They did not have my approval to use it. I would prefer the song be used to celebrate togetherness in our great country. How about holding a rally for ‘Love’ and see who turns up. Hatred never solves anything.”

Other Australian artists, including Icehouse and Jimmy Barnes, have expressed opposition to the use of their music at anti-immigration rallies.

In a statement, their public relations company confirmed that “no approval was sought, and no permission was given, for the use of their works at the rallies.”

Although the musicians didn’t make personal statements this time, when Barnes’ work was also used by the Reclaim Australia marches in 2015, he wrote on Facebook that “the Australia I belong to and love is a tolerant Australia. A place that is open and giving.”

“It is a place that embraces all sorts of different people, in fact it is made stronger by the diversity of its people,” he continued.

“If you look at my family, you can see we are a multicultural family. Australia needs to stand up for love and tolerance in these modern times.

“None of these people represent me, and I do not support them,” Barnes added.