Canada and Australia are countries where it is still possible to experience the land unchanged from its state thousands of years ago. There might be fewer and fewer pockets remaining as "civilization" advances, but they are still there in all their pristine harshness and beauty. It's almost impossible to see these places and not understand the spiritual connection the First peoples had with their respective lands.
In his lyrics, and the emotion and passion that he puts into them when singing, it is obvious that Mr. Rudd not only understands that connection but also feels it himself. When he sings about the earth he doesn't pretend to have any special insights to offer, he just wants to say "hey did you see that – isn't it amazing?" and make sure none of us are missing out on just what a wonderful gift it is we have been given with this planet.
He's not one for hiding his meaning behind reams of obscure poetry, and he speaks directly from his heart no matter what the subject. When he wants us to know something he wants to make sure we get the message. His most direct song on the album, "Footprint" is a perfect example of that.
First it’s the hardest rocking song on the album with driving electric guitars and pounding drums and second the lyrics are direct and to the point: "There are leaders who lead/our leaders prefer to deceive/As our oceans they rise, they rise/still they choose to deny". Well you can't get more direct than that can you?
Just when you think the song is ending though, he catches us off guard. The guitars are screaming, the drums pounding and as they fade we hear the sound of a rain stick – which in turn becomes the sound of the Native heartbeat drum. What began in anger ends in prayer as Kennetch Charlette of the Cree nation in Canada sings a closing invocation to Gitchie Manitou – roughly translated as Great Spirit.
The prayer is short and sweet and does not seem to have any specific purpose beyond serving as a means of making sure the song is closed. It's as if Xaiver Rudd doesn't want the anger of the song to permeate the rest of the disc or to escape into the world. It's very easy to get trapped and wrapped up in anger at things and forget what's important, and by closing the song off with the prayer he lets us move on to the remainder of the disc without any hangover.
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