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Tune Req: American-Australian Songs

14 Nov 99 - 09:11 AM (#135874)
Subject: American-Australian Songs
From: Kathryn

I am looking for songs about the Australian-American experience--people who came to the States from Australia and the music they wrote here about their homeland. Any resources that will help? Names of songs or artists? Thanks in advance for the help.


14 Nov 99 - 05:56 PM (#136055)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: American-Australian Songs
From: John in Brisbane

Hi Kathryn, I must admit that I'll need to put my thinking cap on. My immediate thought are Herbert Hoover's Love Song, plus the sundry ballads about gold mining where many miners had previously worked the diggings elsewhere including USA. Need some more time. Regards, John.


14 Nov 99 - 06:25 PM (#136063)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: American-Australian Songs
From: Lesley N.

This would be in the nature of thread creep rather than help - but everyone I know (including those in previous generations of my family) went to Australia from the US - and neither they or their descendents ever came back.

So I always think of people going TO Australia rather than coming from! Just always assumed the emmigration rate was very low!


14 Nov 99 - 06:43 PM (#136070)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: American-Australian Songs
From: Alan of Australia

G'day,
Can't think of any, a lot of miners came from the American gold rush to the Aussie one which occurred a little later. In fact I think that some of the Aussie gold rush activity was started by people who recognized the same signs here that they had seen in California.

Slightly off the question, there is the true story of The Catalpa, an early US/Australia/Irish incident. It's told in these two songs:- The CATALPA and THE FENIANS' ESCAPE

Cheers,
Alan


14 Nov 99 - 07:11 PM (#136077)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: American-Australian Songs
From: Alan of Australia

Lesley, you're quite right, a lot to do with the timing of the gold rush. On the other hand, why would anyone want to go back. < BG >

Cheers,
Alan


14 Nov 99 - 09:23 PM (#136118)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: American-Australian Songs
From: Phil

The song that immediately came to mind is Doug Ashdown's "Winter In America", written I would think about 20 years ago. It's a love song about a guy on his own if the USA and thinking about his girl in Australia. I had a quick look in the DT but couldn't find it.


16 Nov 99 - 08:38 PM (#137088)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: American-Australian Songs
From: Kathryn

Thanks for all the help. If you think of anything else, let me know


16 Nov 99 - 11:15 PM (#137164)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: American-Australian Songs
From: lamarca

Eric Bogle wrote a fine one about being on tour in America called "Somewhere in America", but I'm not sure that's what you're looking for. A fair number of Aussie sheep-shearers come over here for our shearing season, which is their off season back home. There's some friction with American workers, as I've heard the Aussies are more desirable to the sheep ranchers because they're faster and more skilled. Don't know if there's any songs about it.


17 Nov 99 - 08:10 AM (#137286)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: American-Australian Songs
From: Alan of Australia

G'day,
Judging by Aussie sheep shearing songs our shearers are the best in the world. Of course they were all written by Aussie sheep shearers.

Cheers,
Alan