G'day,

I've been on the edge of a project ... lying somewhere between the Bush Music Club's regular Monday Night Music & Song Sessions ... and the formation of a new)ish) "Bush Band" largely from Monday night ranks ... The band name chosen was Currawong (an Australian bird of black / grey / white plumage - and vigorous song).

As it happened, one of our early BMC members, Stan Wakefield (died february 1962) wrote a number of fine songs, based on his time working in the Austrlian 'Bush' (... country ...) regions ... and the band likes to use this song of Stan's and a 'band signature.

I think it's worth adding ... if only for the rhyme string of the second stanza! (Kurrajong: Brachychyton populneus ... Australian tree with colourful flowers and yielding useful fibre / Billabong: ~Waterhole .. strictly an isolated anabranch, in dry season ... Wiradhuri language ~ 'dead water' / ... & the afore-mentioned Currawong!).

SONGS OF AUSTRALIA
(Stan Wakefield)

When summer days are long
Then comes a rowdy song
Down by the burrawong,
Fern-like and shady.

High in the kurrajong,
Far up the billabong,
I hear a currawong
Answer his lady.

Wattles of golden hue,
'Lowries of red and blue
Gleam in the morning dew,
Bushland's regalia —

Hark to the merry crew,
King parrot, cockatoo,
Lyre bird, that sing the true
Songs of Australia.

Joe / Mario ... ?

I don't seem to have the MIDI for the tune on this computer ... but my old friend Ralph Pride, who handles the Bush Music Club session's song & tune sheets would have it set in a music program ... so I can cadge the MIDI ... when I next see him!

Regards,

BobB