"Abe Messiah" is a song by the cast of The Tribe which was used in the end titles of Series 2 and three. It was released on the original Abe Messiah album and remixed for the 2003 re-release of the album.
Personnel[]
- Vocals by Michelle Ang, Ari Boyland, Dwayne Cameron, Meryl Cassie, Daniel James, Jennyfer Jewell, Jaimee Kaire-Gataulu, Sarah Major, Antonia Prebble, Caleb Ross, Ryan Runciman, Victoria Spence, Vanessa Stacey, Ashwath Sundaresan, Michael Wesley-Smith and Ella Wilks
- Accompanied by Lota Nuu Choir directed by Inglese Ete & The Wellington Sinfonia
- Backing vocals by Katie Bonnar and Tari More
- Additional vocals by John Williams and Matt Prime
- Drums and percussion by Steve White
- Percussion by Alan Burden
- Kettle Drums/Tubular Bells/Crash Cymbals by Stephen Harker
- Lead guitar by Adam Thompson
- Guitar by Tom Baxter
- Violin by Gavyn Wright, Kathy Shave and Vaughn Armon
- Cello by Phillip De Groote
- Trumpet by Graeme Stewart
- Recorded by Jane Miles
- Engineered by Jim Lowe and Neil Maddever
- Mixed by Glenn Skinner
Lyrics[]
Liberty, this is our destiny
Liberty, this is our destiny
As long as we're keeping our dignity
As long as we're keeping our pride
We can all build a new history
We can all build a new history
Feeling like something has set me free
Knowing I belong in the tribe
I believe in you and I
That together with a guiding light
Chorus
Abe Messiah Eeya
I’ll be here for you night and day
Abe messiah Eeya
Ohh Just look this way
I can dream my heart is telling me
I can dream my heart is telling me
I have seen this new world or love and peace
I have breathed the air of life
We’ve arrived and can do anything
We’ve arrived and can do everything
Now's the time for us to celebrate
Now's the time to be alive
I believe in you and I
That together with a guiding light
Repeat Chorus
Ooh, just look this way
Instrumental
Repeat Chorus
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Abe Messiah are both Hebrew/Aramaic words. Abe or Aba means father and Messiah is a transliteration of the Hebrew word Mashiach which means "annointed one" (common among Christians) and which usually refers to a king or Kohanim Gadol (high priest of the Temple).
- During the credits of Series 2, the song is spelt as "Aba Messiah". This was changed to "Abe Messiah" in the credits of Series 3 instead. The reason for this change is unknown but it was likely done to avoid religious connections to the show.
- In the liner notes of the original album, the names Jaimee Kaire-Gataulu and Ashwath Sundaresan are both incorrectly spelled as Jaime Kaire-Gataulu and Aswath Sundaresan, respectively.
- The song is used as the end credits for Series 2 and 3.
- The song was remixed for the 2003 album Abe Messiah.
- There are three versions of Abe Messiah. The first was sung by the Series 2 cast, and was used for the end credits during that same season. The second is sung by Meryl Cassie and was used for the end credits for Series 3. The third is also sung by Meryl Cassie, but has different sound effects.
- Danni, Cloe, Patsy, KC and Alice wear costumes in the music video that are never seen in the show. Ellie also wears a unique costume for the music video but she is the only person who was seen wearing it once in Series 2 Episode 11. Cloe's costume is also actually the same outfit she would wear in the middle of Series 2, only that the colours were changed from Red to Blue.
- Zoot is seen wearing a white-themed outfit in the music video which is (obviously) never seen in the show. Fans have theorized that this is the outfit he would have worn if he had lived on and joined the Mall Rats.
- The Mall Rats are formed in a triangle when stepping in reverence of Brady who is held on a cliff in the music video. In spirituality, Triangles represents manifestation, enlightenment, revelation, and a higher perspective. It is often used to mark the cycles of growth that lead to a higher state of being towards enlightenment. This is likely intentional as the Mall Rats view the child as their newfound symbol of hope for their future after the virus.
- According to Raymond Thompson, all the face markings on the characters throughout the show mean something. Ebony's markings in particular foretell the Abe Messiah, a messianic figure whose identitiy will be revealed one day in the future. [1]
- The music video features the cast stepping and chanting in reverence of Brady who is held by Bray and Trudy. Interestingly, the unused Series 6 scripts feature the same scenario as the final scene for the cancelled season. Only this time its Baby Bray being held by Bray and Amber. Baby Bray is even referred to as the Abe Messiah in the unused scripts, but because the scripts were abandoned, it still remains unknown who or what will be the Abe Messiah.