ADD Versions: South Australia

Subject: South Australia
From: Hesk
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 04:46 PM

The words to this in the Digitrad are not the same as the ones that I hear at various festivals and folk clubs. I am not sure how to submit the alternative version, and wonder if anyone would care to do this. The version I am referring to is called "Rolling King" and is on page 150 in the paperback Hugill.
I would also be interested in any extra verses that are commonly sung. Apologies in advance if this is already covered in similar threads.

Subject: RE: South Australia
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 05:31 PM

Ah, there's an open space on the bookshelf where my Hugill ought to be. I wonder what I put that book....

I don't see that version in any of the threads I've crosslinked above, Hesk. Why don't you post it here in this thread?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: South Australia
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 05:52 PM

Hugill's text version can be analyzed as a composite of prior text (book) presentations. I've done so here:

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=48959#3200725

It is not a "version" per se that Hugill/someone used to sing, rather, I understand it to be a set of verses that Hugill chose to put together in presenting the song in his book.

The version (i.e. the typical verses and tune) that Hugill performed as a singer is different. That one is more in line with the popular folk revival form. Without any testimony yet to the contrary, I am assuming he probably went with the flow of what was by then being sung everywhere in the revival, and I even think it's *possible* that prior to that he did not have a solid (or --gasp!--*any*) version that he followed. I'd love to hear info (real evidence) to the contrary.

If you're hearing Hugill's book-version "Rolling King" in folk festival/clubs, then
1) That's kinda cool, I think, that some are not singing only the main popular style,
but also
2) Yeah, it means that they are singing something based in Hugill's book (since his book version is not strictly based in "tradition" -- does that make sense?).

If you hear "Nancy Blair" in it, and a melody that sounds kind of like a children's taunt, then it's the folk revival form.

If you hear "wallop" in it, it's the post-Clancys folk revival form!

Subject: RE: South Australia
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 05:55 PM

Might I add that though I think what Hugill performed for "South Australia" was highly influenced by what was going on in the revival, he also had his unique touches that are quite fine and, in my opinion, more enjoyable than the Rise-Up-Singing-hoedown kind of way of doing it.
Just personal opinion.

Subject: RE: South Australia
From: Hesk
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 06:28 PM

Verse 1:- Doerflinger.

Oh, in South Australia where I was born , Heave away, haul away!
In South Australia round Cape Horn, I'm bound for South Australia!
Heave away you ruler, King, Heave away, haul away.
Heave away, don't you hear me sing? We're bound for South Australia.

Verse 1:- Hugill.

South Australia is me home, Heave away! Heave away!
South Australia is me home, An' we're bound for South Australia!
Heave away! Heave away! Heave away you Rolling King, an' we're bound for South Australia.


2. My wife is standing on the quay,
   Heave away! Haul away.
   The tears do start as she waves to me,
   An' we're bound for South Australia.

Ch. Heave away! Heave away!
Heave away you rolling King
For we're bound for South Australia

Chorus as commonly sung nowadays:-

Haul away you Rolling Kings,
Heave away! Haul Away!
Haul away! Can't you hear me sing,
For we're bound for South Australia.

3. An' when I'm on a foreign shore,
   I'll think of my darlin' that I do adore.

4. There aint but one thing grieves me mind,
   To leave my wife an' child behind.

5. There aint but one thing that grieves me,
   An' that's me wife an' dear ba-bee.

6. An' as I stand on a foreign shore,
   I'll drink to me wife that I do adore.

7. Now I'm on a foreign strand,
   With a glass o' pisco in me hand.(Or any other drink)

8. I'll drink a glass to my own shore,
   I'll drink to the gal that I adore.

9. I'll tell you now, it ain't no lie,
   I'll love that gal until I die.

10.This cross you see at the bottom of the line,
   Is only to keep you in me mind.

11.Now we're homeward bound again,
   I'll soon be seeing Sarah Jane.

12.Oh, fare-ye-well, now fare-ye-well,
   Oh, fare-ye-well, I wish ye well.

Subject: RE: South Australia
From: RTim
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 07:22 PM

I have been involved with the Morris dance tradition in Adderbury, Oxfordshire since 1974, and there is a non traditional dance done in the Adderbury style (ie. a dance not done by the old team or either of the current village teams) - all around the World, to the South Australia tune.
I Hate it!!!

For that reason, I will never sing this song.

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: South Australia
From: Andrez
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 11:20 PM

No worries RTim, I am less than enamoured of Morris dancing and have been so since I first came across it in the 70's. For that reason I will never do Morris!

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: South Australia
From: GUEST,Bill S in Adelaide
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 11:48 PM

The South Australia dance you refer to was created by the Adelaide morrismen long ago for performances in South Australia as a signature dance. Adderbury style was chosen. Since then, it has been "collected" and passed on and crops up all over the place (I was once asked in Minneapolis whether I'd heard of it!)

Adelaide sing the first verse as
In South Australia I was born
In South Australia round Cape Horn

Subject: RE: South Australia
From: GUEST,Skipper Jack
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 01:56 PM

Here are some of the verses that I have come across:

There ain't but one thing grieves my mind
To leave Miss Nancy Blair behind.

When I left Miss Nancy Blair
She was ringing of her hands and tearing of her hair.

Where we're going, nobody knows
Perhaps we'll meet Sir Alec Rose?

When we met Sir Alec Rose
He was up in the rigging and a-picking his nose

And here is a verse that I wrote:

I wish I was in Botany Bay
It's better than watching "Home and Away!"

Dave Robinson.

Subject: RE: ADD Versions: South Australia
From: Hesk
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 05:25 AM

And now I'm ending all me labours,
Heave away, Haul Away,
I'll soon be home a watching Neighbours.
An' we're bound for South Australia.