In a far away country called Woopland A very rich merchant did dwell He owned Fact'ries galore and ships by the score But something was wrong you could tell
For it seems that those terrible wharfies When loading his vessels with flour Had complained of the task, even ventured to ask For an increase of sixpence an hour.
Now the ship owner being fair minded (They always believe in fair play) To the wharf he did trudge with his colleague a judge To toil with the men for a day.
But the very first bag that they handled Left the pair of them flat as a tack. In a state of collapse each agreed that, "Perhaps We should grant them that miserable zac."
What a wonderful country is Woopland What a pity it's so far away, Though some people insist that it doesn't exist I'm going to find it someday.
Notes
Many thanks to Clem Parkinson for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection.
The Judge and the Shipowner was published in Australian Tradition, April 1967.
The song took joint second prize in the competition for a song about the waterfront run by the Sydney Branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation.
The song is based on a famous short story by John Morrison. Clem Parkinson told me that he sent a copy to John who remarked how well he had done to fit the story into the five verses allowed by the rules of the competion.
Clem sings the song on the MUA Centenary CD "With These Arms"