Lyr Req: Time for a Laugh and a Song (H Robertson)

Subject: Lyr Req: Last of the home brew. Harry Robertson
From: Patart
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 01:22 AM

Can anyone help me with this, (my first thread), I heard it at Top Half Festival, North Australia last June, and would love to sing it. the chorus goes:
Then it's time fa' a drop o' the juice fra' the stil,
and it's time for a laugh and a song.
Well you sing and you fight, and you drink through the night,
till the last of the home brew is gone.
the lyrics are a little on the lonely side.   thanks P@

Subject: ADD: Time for a Laugh and a Song (Harry Robertson)
From: Stewie
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 02:20 AM

Patart, here you go. The next Top Half is at Glen Helen Gorge in 2005 - hope to see you there.

TIME FOR A LAUGH AND A SONG
(Harry Robertson)

In the dark of the morning – where day seldom comes
And the night time is long and it's dark -
Where yer world is a cluster of huts upon ice
And the climate is cruel and it's stark.

Chorus:
Then it's time for a drap o' the juice from the still
Then it's time for a laugh and a song
Ye sing and ye fight and ye drink through the night
Till the last o' the home brew is gone.

Long months on an island - with nowhere to go,
And loneliness filling yer head
So you put on a front - let a joke take the brunt,
While some stay alive - but they're dead

Chorus

Some people are different - take Pat or take Jim
The pair of them couldn't agree
For Pat he would slaughter the truth with a tale
The funny side Jim couldn't see

Chorus

On islands - in cities - you'll find it's the same
Where thinking has somehow gone wrong -
Where the man with a lot – he behaves like a clot
And the man who is broke sings a song

Chorus

Source: transcription in booklet insert for Harry Robertson 'Whale Chasing Men' CD/SSA/WC0022.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last of the home brew. Harry Robertson
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 02:25 AM

G'day Patart,

That's a song of Harry Robertson (Scottish-born sailor / ship fitter / poet songwriter, who lived and worked in Australia post WW II). It's the last one in his book Whaling Songs of Harry Robertson which matches his LP Whaling Chasing Men (now released by the National Library of Australia as a CD).

The song is called Time for a Laugh and a Song. I'll dig out the book and scan in the words ... if Hrothgar doesn't pop them in first.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last of the home brew. Harry Robertson
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 02:26 AM

A ... good on you Stewie ...

I was digging around for the book - but you were in like a flash!

Regard(les)s,

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last of the home brew. Harry Robertson
From: Patart
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 03:45 AM

thank you, you are just amazing. P@

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last of the home brew. Harry Robertson
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 06:03 AM

Is that you Patrick? Hope to see and hear you at the National - not sure whether I'll make it to Central Australia next year but certainly hope to be in Darwin for the Top Half Festival in 2006. Don't suppose that we'll see you ay Woodford over New Year?

Regards,
John