Gordon Bok recorded a couple of Kiwi songs on his 'In The Kind Land' CD. The text of this one differs from the version printed in 'Song of a Young Country' and also the version recorded by Phil Garland but, as they say here in the Territory, good but.

BRIGHT FINE GOLD
(Anon/music reconstructed by N.Colquhoun)

Spend it in the winter
Or die in the cold
One apecker, Tuapecka
Bright fine gold

Bright fine gold, bright fine gold
One apecka, Tuapecka
Bright fine gold

Two little children lying in bed
Both of them hungry, lord
They can't raise up their heads

Bright fine gold, bright fine gold
One apecka, Tuapecka
Bright fine gold

Some are sons of fortune
And my man came to see
But the riches of the river
Are not for such as he

Bright fine gold, bright fine gold
One apecka, Tuapecka
Bright fine gold

I'm weary of Otago
Weary of the snow
Let my man strike it rich
And then we'll go

Bright fine gold, bright fine gold
One apecka, Tuapecka
Bright fine gold

Repeat stanza 1 and chorus

Gordon's note:

Because of the NZ gold rush in the 1860s, the Tuapecka River in Otago Province became the richest place in New Zealand. The results were the same as other gold rushes, mostly misery and poverty. I think that Phil Lobl taught it to me when she came to Maine many years ago.

Bok

Garland

--Stewie.