FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS, I’VE BEEN A FOLKIE

By Bob Townshend

For nearly sixty years, I’ve been a Folkie
Festivals and concerts, sat through plenty
In this country’s clubs and pubs, I’ve shed tears and coughed up blood
The things some people smoke
Make me queasy.

I found an old guitar when I was twenty
I’d learned to play three chords when I was thirty
D and A and G, They were good enough for me
Didn’t practise anymore
They were easy.

In 1974, I went to Darwin
Heard there was a very active folk scene
I didn’t stay too long, When I woke the house was gone
And my guitar blown away
It was breezy.

To the National in North Queensland, made my own way
My guitar is buried by Kuranda’s railway
The train driver was a mate, Let me ride on the footplate
My guitar slid to its fate
The floor was greasy.


Young people of today despise The Folkie
With our Fal-de-Lal –de-La’s, they think we’re crazy
But their swearing and hip-hop, And their bland suburban rock
Won’t last two hundred years
Because it’s sleazy.

For nearly 60 years, I’ve been a Folkie
Sung so much my voice is getting croaky
But I strum my old guitar, And dream that I’m a star
My song is nearly over now
Now I’m easy.

This song’s really over now
Now I’m wheezy .....
Yes, it’s really over now,
Now I’m wheezy .....



“Yorkie Bob” was last heard of living in the chilly Stanthorpe region near Qld’s border with NSW. He says this was written with apologies to Eric Bogle, but that “It was all Roger’s fault” (i.e. Roger Holmes aka Catter “Hrothgar”!)

Eric’s poignant song “Now I’m Easy” was, I thought, posted at the beginning of this thread, but maybe not???
Anyway, here is a version by Scots-Canadian singer, Jim Brannigan, for your chune : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey0MiB4RNCs



Cheers, R-J