Help: Felisi Blues

Subject: Felisi Blues
From: Felisi 52'
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 06:24 AM

This is sort of a continuation of a lyric request thread for a Sea Shanty. In my origional thread I recieved the lyrics to "Captain Matheson" but still had a few questions about the wording. Here is the portion of the lyrics I have questions about:
Oh, you ought to see his ugly mug when things don't suit him well,
As black as any riding boot worn by the Earl of hell
Oh, his head is like a pumpkin and his belly is like a whale,
And the holes in his snout when well rigged out would mke Mt. Eden jail.
Chorus
Roll up me humble bluey as from town to town we steer,
I'm a reight good hearty fellow and I likes me lager beer,
I'm a reigh dood hearty fellow and I likes me whisky clear,
I'm a ramblin rake of poverty, I'm a sone of a gun for beer.

My Questions:
First, what does "And the holes in his snout when well rigged out would mke Mt. Eden jail" mean ??
Second, from the chorus, what is a "bluey" ??

I did an internet search for "bluey" and I found this listing on The Australian National Dictionary web site:
The word bluey in Australian English has a variety of meanings. The most common is the swag (i.e. the collection of possessions and daily necessaries carried by a person travelling (usually on foot). So called because the outer covering of the swag was traditionally a blue blanket hence the word bluey.

I was told that I was "completely off track" in that deffination and that a "bluey" refers to sheep shearing. But I could not for the life of me think of why sailors would be shearing sheep.
I was THEN told that "bluey" Was actually a slang for Blue Nose. Now this I could understand, but could not think of any reason someone would want to roll one up... I was also told that it could mean anyone who came from Newfoundland, but they wern't sure.

Does anyone know the "right" or at least the best answer to this bluey thing? Also, don't forget my question about Mt. Eden.

Thank you,
Kathleen

Subject: RE: Help: Felisi Blues
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 10:07 PM

Kathleen,

I know this probably doesn't help much, but when I was in New Zeland I heard people referring to wild flowers that were blue in colour as blueys - regardless of ther type.

My point being, that it could mean anything really. I might stick with the roll sack. Isn't that what a swag is? That would seem to be the most reasonable meaning you have come across so far. "Humble" may also reffer to a sailors "meager" possesions. I do not believe they would have been allowed many items of their own on long voyages.

Best of luck,
Henry B.

Subject: RE: Help: Felisi Blues
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 10 Apr 00 - 04:30 AM

Hi Felisi,

BLUSH - my humble apologies - must've been tiddly - I missed out "mainly used in sheep shearing circles" - then got completely sidetracked, and forgot to post "Felici Blues", which was to have been an expansion of a "bluey".

The definition you have is quite correct!

Here's what I intended to say in this thread. YOU weren't "completely off track" - MY wording was!

To make a "bluey" (not a "blue", which is a mistake - like I made above..;^) You fold your blanket in half, place your "billy" (a big tin can, with looped wire handle used for cooking) towards one side. Then, pack your spare clothes (if any) etc. along the centre line.

Fold in the sides, then roll into a sausage shape. Tie one end tight with a long leather strap, or a length of clothes line you've "flogged" (stolen) off the "cocky" (rancher) at the last "run" (sheep ranch) you "shore".

Tie the other end of the sausage with the far end of the strap (or clothes line). Make sure there is plenty of slack - because:

To "hump your bluey" or "Waltz Matilda" you sling the sausage diagonally across your back, with the middle bight of the clothes line across your chest.

If you've come across the Australian "anthem" called "Waltzing Matilda", it's about humping your bluey between jobs as a shearer - or in times of Depression being "on the swag" - ie a "Bum" (of the "Halleluja" variety) wandering the country looking for work.

Ther's some wonderful yarns and poems of those days ca 1880-1930 - another thread.

Shearers used to go from Australia to New Zealand looking for work - and still do. The term "bluey" was/is often used here in NZ for an entirely different type of el-cheapo "Bum's-backpack". VIS - a "pikau" to make this:

Take a sugar bag and put a stone or potato in each bottom corner (spuds are preferable cos you can scoff 'em when desperate). Flog yet another length of clothes-line from a "squatter" (Aust) or "Cockie" (NZ) - ie farmer.

Tie each end of the line above the spud - so the spud stops the line slipping off the corner of the bag. Fill the bag with your worldly possessions, then take the midpoint of the bight of the line, and use it to tie the mouth of the bag tight. Use the (now) two bights to shoulder your swag in normal backpack fashion. Carefull packing is essential, otherwise your "billy" will dig you in the back!

Wheewwwwwwww.....

The above description was too long for the Shanty thread - hence "off-topic" - again apologies for getting sidetracked and not posting Felici Blues..;^)

SO - in the context of "Matheson" - "bluey" as in your definition is TOTALLY correct.

In the context of the song, nuttin to do with Bluenose Schooners - will go to my shipwreck references and (hopefully) post further details of Cpt Matheson's craft on the original thread.

Henry - nuttin' to do with flowers...;)

NOW - onto Mt Eden Jail - new message - this one's confusing enough...;)

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: Help: Felisi Blues
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 10 Apr 00 - 04:44 AM

Mt Eden Jail,

This is still the Auckland NZ version of Alcatraz - onshore though - but stone-walled, bleak, "hold 'em don't reform 'em" - a couple of teenagers have suicidd ther in the last few years.

Off the top of Mt Eden was built about 1870-80. When I lived there in 1967 (outside the walls I hasten to assure you) there were still the remnants of a quarry, where the customers turned "Big rocks into small rocks".

My punt for the meaning of the "Cpt Matheson" line:

"And the holes in his snout when well rigged out would mke (match?) Mt. Eden jail."

There were tunnels into the rock that were just like the nostrils of the thundering greatest "hooter" (NOSE - not what you Goddam Yanks are sniggering about) yoiu ever did see.

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: Help: Felisi Blues
From: Felisi 52'
Date: 10 Apr 00 - 11:28 AM

Thank you! Both of you.
You are truly beautiful individuals!

Kathleen