Lyr Add: Songs of Australia (Stan Wakefield)

Subject: Lyr Add: SONGS OF AUSTRALIA (Stan Wakefield)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 07:36 PM

G'day,

I've been on the edge of a project ... lying somewhere between the Bush Music Club's regular Monday Night Music & Song Sessions ... and the formation of a new)ish) "Bush Band" largely from Monday night ranks ... The band name chosen was Currawong (an Australian bird of black / grey / white plumage - and vigorous song).

As it happened, one of our early BMC members, Stan Wakefield (died february 1962) wrote a number of fine songs, based on his time working in the Austrlian 'Bush' (... country ...) regions ... and the band likes to use this song of Stan's and a 'band signature.

I think it's worth adding ... if only for the rhyme string of the second stanza! (Kurrajong: Brachychyton populneus ... Australian tree with colourful flowers and yielding useful fibre / Billabong: ~Waterhole .. strictly an isolated anabranch, in dry season ... Wiradhuri language ~ 'dead water' / ... & the afore-mentioned Currawong!).

SONGS OF AUSTRALIA
(Stan Wakefield)

When summer days are long
Then comes a rowdy song
Down by the burrawong,
Fern-like and shady.

High in the kurrajong,
Far up the billabong,
I hear a currawong
Answer his lady.

Wattles of golden hue,
'Lowries of red and blue
Gleam in the morning dew,
Bushland's regalia —

Hark to the merry crew,
King parrot, cockatoo,
Lyre bird, that sing the true
Songs of Australia.

Joe / Mario ... ?

I don't seem to have the MIDI for the tune on this computer ... but my old friend Ralph Pride, who handles the Bush Music Club session's song & tune sheets would have it set in a music program ... so I can cadge the MIDI ... when I next see him!

Regards,

BobB

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Songs of Australia
From: Amergin
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 07:44 PM

This link has chords to it. I really love the words.

Songs of Australia

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Songs of Australia
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 08:38 PM

G'day Amergin,

Thanks for posting that link to Dave Johnson's site ... I should have looked around for other Bush Music Club stalwarts ...

David is another long-time assembler / arranger / publisher of Australian song and dance-tune material ... Having moved out of Sydney to Penrose ... a hamlet on the Southern Highlands Scenic Route - about midway between Sydney and Canberra - and very active in both Sydney end (where he is long time 'arranger / conductor' of the "Heritage Ensemble" that plays for the Bush Music Club's annual "Heritage Ball") and the Canberra region - the (now-)permanent site of the Australian National Folk Festival ... one place where most Aussie 'Catters get to see each other without a keyboard and monitor in the way!

Regards,

BobB

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Songs of Australia
From: JennieG
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 11:29 PM

Ah yes.......memories flooding back of singing this song as a round, first in two parts then when we became braver in four parts!