G'day all,

I remember hearing Wee Eric Bogle sing this at a concert in the School of Arts in the small New South Wales (Australia) town of Carcoar in 1979. The Australian Broadcasting Commission were recording the concert, part of a Folk Festival, for later use on David Mulhallen's "Sunday Folk" programme.

Just as Eric finished the song, while the audience was still momentarily hushed, an old steam traction engine, that was passing by in a parade on the main street, sounded its steam whistle ... right on cue! I think I still have a cassette tape copy of the programme lurking on my shelves. I just loved the accidental synchronicity.

Regards,

Bob Bolton