Lyr/Tune Req: Dennis O'Reilly/With My Swag All...

Subject: Lyric/tune Req--Ramble around Australia
From: dulcimer
Date: 17 Mar 99 - 07:07 PM

A song been going around in my head about a knapsack over my shoulder and rambling around Australia like a true born Irishman. A peppy tune, nothing sad about been deported. Can anyone help with lyrics and tune?

Subject: RE: Lyric/tune Req--Ramble through Australia
From: alison
Date: 17 Mar 99 - 08:11 PM

Hi,

It's probably in the database.... it's called Denis O'Reilly, (or possibly with my swag all on my shoulder).... will have a look......

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyric/tune Req--Ramble through Australia
From: alison
Date: 17 Mar 99 - 08:14 PM

Hi,

Words are different from the ones we sing... I'm sure one of the Aussies will put you right.

DENNIS O'REILLY

Slainte

alison

Subject: Lyr Add: SWAG ALL ON ME SHOULDER/BUSH OF AUSTRALIA
From: Barry Finn
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 12:20 AM

SWAG ALL ON ME SHOULDER or BUSH OF AUSTRALIA or a version of DENNIS O'REILLY (your choice)

When first I left ol' Ireland's shores, sure the stories that we were told
How the people in Australia were digging up lumps of gold
And the gold was lying in their streets & the miner's rights were free
Says I my darling golden boy that's one place for me

CH: With me swag all on me shoulder & a blackthorn in my hand
I travel the bush of Australia like a true-born Irishman

When first we came to Melbourne town, sure we all gave her the slip
And both the Captain, cook and I had all abandoned our ship
And all the girls round Melbourne Town threw up their hands in joy
Saying & proclaiming there goes my Irish boy

Now some made their way to Divery (sp?) & others to Ballarat
Where some of us grew mighty thin & others grew stout & fat
Some made their way up to Divery & other to the Boilly Creek
I made my fortune in one day & I drank it all in one week

Now it's many the years I've wondered through new fields further out
And I always had one pound of gold till the Aluivels (sp?) petered out
Then for any ol job of work at all I was prepared to try
And now I've found the Tucker's Track and I'll stay here till I die

Got this (or what was once close to this) maybe 20 years ago from a great Galway banjo player & singer Greg Cotter & hadn't seen him since up until a couple of weeks back. Had a version, that I'd long lost, of the Carlton Weaver from him too called the Longford Weaver but he could no longer remember any of it. Reminds me of a recent thread on What was the thread about? Barry

Subject: Lyr Add: DENIS O'REILLY
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 06:09 AM

G'day,
This version is sufficiently different to include the whole song. It also strikes me as much more authentic. Of course we claim it as an Aussie song.


DENIS O'REILLY

When first I left old Ireland's shore the yarns that I was told
Of how the folks in Australia could pick up lumps of gold
How gold dust lay in all the streets and miner's rights were free
Hurrah I told my loving friends that's just the place for me.

CHORUS: With my swag all on my shoulder, black billy in my hand
I'll travel the bushes of Australia like a true born Irishman.

And then we came to Melbourne town and we all prepared to slip
And bar the captain and the mate the crew abandoned ship
And all the girls of Melbourne town they threw up their arms with joy
Saying one unto the other, "Here comes the Irish boy."

And then we went into Geelong town and north west to Ballarat
Where some of us grew mighty thin and some grew sleek and fat
Some tried their luck at Bendigo and some at Fiery Creek
Well I made my fortune in a day and I blued it in a week.

Now it's many a year I have travelled round to each new field about
And made and spent full many a pound till the alluvial petered out
And now for any job of work I was prepared to try
But now I've found this tucker track I'll stay here till I die.


Not all versions include Geelong, but if you went north west from Geelong you'd end up in Ballarat (approx). I like this version because I grew up in Geelong. I've never heard of Divery.

A "tucker track" simply means a method of making a living (getting your tucker), and of course, alluvial gold is gold found in the sediment of possibly dry creek beds.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyric/tune Req--Ramble through Australia
From: Barry Finn
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 05:58 PM

Nice version Alan O A. I never heard of Divery either, except in this song but then again I've never been closer than 10,000 miles away (at the very least). A friend of mine is in West Geelong, an old time sailor & more recently (the past 60 years) as a master rigger. Do you still get back there from where ever you are now & if you do the fella's name is George Herbert, though he may have passed on now. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyric/tune Req--Ramble through Australia
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 06:29 PM

G'day Barry, Yeah, I get to Geelong every couple of years, my family's still there.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyric/tune Req--Ramble through Australia
From: dulcimer
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 02:57 AM

The midi file cannot be found on Denis O'Reilly in the DT. Is there another way to get the tune?