Lyr Add: New Zealand Folksongs

Subject: NZ Folksongs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 May 00 - 09:43 PM

Sam (Billy the Bus) made a Freudian slip and selected a rather curious title for his thread about New Zealand folksongs. I'll transfer the messages over into this thread. The messages will appear to have been posted by "guest so-and-so."
Thanks for all the songs, Sam.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: FAST PAIR OF SKIS^^
From: GUEST,Billy the Bus
Date: 05 May 00 - 09:52 PM

Joe, here I go.

Contri #1

Fast Pair of Skis ================= [Tune] Sweet Betsy from Pike To get full effect "ski" is pronounced "she" - see below

I love to go tramping around Dawson Falls,
The climate's superb and the scenery enthralls,,
There's punga and mamaku and Fuschia trees,,
It's a swell place to go with a fast pair of skis.

[Chorus] When it's cold, and you freeze,,
You can always keep warm with a fast pair of skis.,

Along comes [Joe Offer] with a drip on his nose,,
And what has he brought with him do you suppose?,
Some pineapple chunks, and a half pound of cheese,,
A dozen pork sausages and a fast pair of skis.

And here comes [Catspaw] that promising lad,,
It's clear he's been up to some mischief, the cad;,
He's covered in snow from his ears to his knees,,
For he got tangled up with a fast pair of skis.

King David lay dying and couldn't get warm,,
They brought a fair virgin to take him by storm,,
Said David, "To hell with prescriptions like these,,
Tell the eunuchs to bring me a fast pair of skis.

[Last verse, sung as a dirge]

Alas, and alack, even trampers grow old.,
With mountains too lofty and virgins too cold,,
But while we can totter, we'll puff and we'll wheeze,,
Up the old hill, for the old thrill - a fast pair of skis.

---

I assume this song originated with VUW Tramping Club in the 1930s or 40s, when there was a raging controversy over the pronunciation of the word "ski" - was it "Skeee" or "Sheee". Dawson Falls is on Mt Egmont, in Taranaki, North Island NZ, it was the nearest base for Wellingtonians to go skiing.

Think the only Kiwism's you need to know are "punga" (pronounced "poong-ah" and "mamaku" ("Ma-Ma-Coo") both species of tree fern. Incidentally, "Fuchsia trees" is quite correct. NZ's Fuchsia excorticata is just a tad bigger than the tender South American pot-plants you devote TLC to. They grow to 50' feet with a trunk as wide as me. TRUE

Hmmm... the [name] should be obvious.

C'mon Catters......

The above is a true classic, that deserves air time. I'm sure it can be adapted to most parts of the world if you give a "ski-she" intro.

"Wee Tarts", gimme a cuddle. I need it! I "plighted my troth" (proposed) to Linda at Dawson Falls.

Fuggit, despite those memories, it's a fuggin' good song!

Tears streamin' down my cheeks.

Sam

Subject: Lyr Add: GOLIATH OF GARTH^^
From: GUEST,Billy the Bus
Date: 05 May 00 - 09:53 PM

Bluddy elle #2

Goliath of Garth
================

[Tune] O Worship the King
Thong to be thung with a lithp for full effect.

Goliath of Garth, with his helmet of brass,
One day he sat down, upon the green grass,
When up slipped young David, the servant of Saul,
Who said I will smite thee, although I am small.

Young David slipped down to the side of the brook,
And from its still waters six small stones he took,
He skillfully slung one, right high in the sky,
And struck poor Goliath right over the eye.

Goliath fell down, in a swoon on the sward.
Young David slipped up and swiped his great sword.
He lifted his helmet and swiped off his head.
And all Israel shouted "Goliath is Dead"
_______________________________

I'm surprised this classic isn't in DT. I doubt it's NZ in origin, but it may be. I can't remember where I first heard it - certainly before I was singing it in tramping huts in the 1950s. Oh you should have heard me lithp it out when I was a boy soprano. The tears would have run down your legs.

Sam

Subject: Lyr Add: DOUBLE BUNKING^^
From: GUEST,Billy the Bus
Date: 05 May 00 - 09:56 PM

Jeeze Joe,

It took 10 mins for the post to get back to me. Mind if I send the other "offerings" by e-mail?

Here's an udder - should be in the Breast Thread, "fed?" hate to think what the wee tarts will do with this (sigh) Spaw, where are ya when I need ya?

Double Bunking
==============
[Tune] "The more we are together"

I heard this sad song-oh
In the Orongorongo,
"There'll be no more double-bunking, double-bunking for me"
I said to the vocalist,
Oh, why do you so insist.
"There'll be no more double-bunking, double-bunking for me"

[Chorus]
"There'll be no more double-bunking, double-bunking, double-bunking.
No more double-bunking, double-bunking for me"

He said "I've had a gutsful,
Of tramps where the hut's full.
"There'll be no more double-bunking, double-bunking for me"
I've weakened and lost weight,
I'm nervously prostrate.
"There'll be no more double-bunking, double-bunking for me"

[Chorus]

My tongue's covered with fur too,
And, I can't eat my burgoo.
"There'll be no more double-bunking, double-bunking for me"
I'm washed out like a dish rag,
And, I've ruptured my sleeping bag.
"There'll be no more double-bunking, double-bunking for me"
______________________________________________
The Orongorongo Ranges are close to Wellington (NZ) and were the ideal place for an introduction to tramping (hiking). The "Five Mile" Track (actually three from memory) took you into the Orongorongo Valley, where there were three public and a number of private huts (cabins). Most were basic, with slab walls, corrugated iron roof and fireplace, and a dirt floor. Most huts slept from 6 to 12. Bunks were basic, either sagging sacking or wire netting. When you tried cramming 20+ people in, "double-bunking" (ie sleeping top to tail) was not comfortable. Some had a "Maori Bunk", a two-level platform, where you could always "squeeze in one more". Ahhh the memories. I think the only other Kiwism I need to explain is "burgoo", and I can't for the life of me remember whether it's porridge or stew.

Sam

Hell, I've just gone through the above post. Our Kiwi songs are boring.

Apologies for starting this thread. Have deleted the other 50 odd sons I was going to post.

Haerira - Hami

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: GUEST,Snuffy
Date: 05 May 00 - 09:58 PM

Billy,

My mother used to sing the Goliath song - learned it at (church-run) college during WWII. 2nd & 3rd verses not quite the same - I'll post her version tonight when I get back from work.

I always thought burgoo was a Liverpool/Scouse word for porridge (goo that the three burs ate in the Goldilocks story).

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: GUEST,doesterr
Date: 05 May 00 - 09:59 PM

"Burgoo" in the US is a stew.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 00 - 10:00 PM

Please be respectful enough to couch your vulgarity in asterisks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: GUEST,Praise
Date: 05 May 00 - 10:02 PM

Is Hami Sam?

THESE ARE NOT BORING!!!

Yes, use asterisks, but keep typing!

Cap the titles for us please, just because.

~S~

Subject: Lyr Add: Goliath of Garth
From: GUEST,Snuffy
Date: 05 May 00 - 10:03 PM

Sam

My mother was at teacher training college in the early 1940s, where they used to sing a version of your Goliath song. As the college was run by the church (St Hild's College), even their comic songs had to be on biblical themes and set to hymn tunes!

Goliath of Gath, with a helmet of brass
Was seated one day upon the green grass.
Along came young David, the servant of Saul,
And said I will smite you, although I'm so small.

Then David he took some stones from the brook
And fastened a sling from pieces of string
And with his suspender he let the sling fly
And caught poor Goliath a bat in the eye.

Goliath he swore, and likewise he spake
- - - (She can't remember this line)
The air all around them was turning quite blue.
He spake all the old words, and thought of some new.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: GUEST,Lonesome EJ
Date: 05 May 00 - 10:05 PM

Great songs, Billy. But because my daughter sometimes reads these,asterisks are probably a good idea. Thanks, LEJ.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: GUEST,katlaughing
Date: 05 May 00 - 10:07 PM

Well done, Sam and thnaks for the descriptive background!

yerkattart

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: GUEST,Billy the Bus
Date: 05 May 00 - 10:09 PM

Humble apologies, I was confused about my "vulgarity" until I realised what I had titled the thread. That was a genuine typo or Freudian slip, I seldom use the word! Can Max get in and change it to "Folksong", as it is supposed to be?

Sam

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 05 May 00 - 11:56 PM

Whewww Thanks Joe - I can carry on with a clear conscience

Sam

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: Ana
Date: 06 May 00 - 01:15 AM

...and "Hammy" please check your spellings of Te Reo (makes it's use a little more respectful!) Thanks Ana

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 06 May 00 - 02:01 AM

G'day Billy the Bus and Joe Offer,

Being an Australian, I had just assumed that the title was merely a phonetic transcription of the New Zealand pronunciation. It is interesting that, while the rest of the world can't tell our accents (Oz / NZ) apart, Aussies and Kiwis get hours of fun out of mocking each other's pronuciations - particularly in respect of the relative length and stress of vowels.

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 06 May 00 - 02:54 AM

Hi Ana,

Glad you are here to keep an eye on my "Te Reo", it's rusty. Quite a few Maori words will creep into the songs I post, so I'd be grateful if you would check my translations and attempts at "pronunciation". You are quite right - I'm decidedly "Hammy"

BTW - Are you in Aotearoa? You'll find some of my Maori spellings "southern".

Haere-ra - Sam

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 07 May 00 - 02:50 AM

Calling "Roger from NZ" - played autoharp on HearMe tonight, I hear. Must be Roger Frost - hows' the weather in Murch' mate, frosty. We'll be due for one tonight I reckon. C'min here and help me out, mate.

Cheers - Sam (ex-Rotoiti)

Subject: Lyr Add: GOLIATH OF GATH
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 05:37 AM

Goliath of Gath, with his helmet of brath,
Was seated one day upon the green grath,
When up slipped slim David, the servant of Saul,
Who said "I will slay thee although I am small."

Slim David slipped down to the side of the brook,
And from its still waters five small stones he took.
He skillfully slung one right high in the air
And got old Goliath right under the hair.

Goliath he swore and he swore and he swore:
"Blank, blankety blank, blank, blank blankety" some more.
The air all around him it turneth quite blue.
He used up the old words and made up some new.

Goliath fell down in a swoon on the sward.
Slim David slipped up and swiped his great sword.
He lifted his helmet and swiped off his head,
And all Israel shouted, "Yippee! Goliath is dead!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 02:23 PM

So did Sam ever post the other 50 odd songs he mentions above?
Robyn

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: GUEST,Mike Power
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:43 AM

Goliath of Gath:

I think that this might have originated with the Scout Show, as I learned while in the Boy Scouts (29th SW Herts Troop) in the late 1940s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 05:58 AM

I learned this song from a person who sang it with a lisp. gween gwath, bwath etc etc.
It's very funny done like that, but very non PC

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: Archie.L
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 03:24 PM

Yeth, the lithp ith thignificant. In fact, if emphathithed properly, you end up with a wet chin, and heaven help anyone within thpitting distance!
I firtht heard this in the early sixties, here in Scotland, and I think it was a Boy Scout thing then.
Just for further amusement, this came from that era too...
"My mother thays that I have a lithp, but I don't think tho. I can thay black thoap, white thoap, thoft thoap, and thoda!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: GUEST,Roger Jones
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 10:25 AM

Found among dad's papers. He was a teacher ans used to relate this to me as a child with a 'lithp' - not me, the poem, which made it all the more humerous. Shows the flexibility and breadth of English.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: NZ Folksongs
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 11 Apr 22 - 01:11 PM

Looks like the entire DT Study thread (Gath vs Garth, threadID 171166) got eaten, so I'll post my current research here ....

Goliath of Gath was my father's party piece, which he sang at high treble (as did I in the Singaround). I now understand he got it from a book called "Youth Club Songs", which had been given to my mother as a Christmas present in 1946. He described the book as "unbound" and now in poor condition, and with no obvious author or publication date; for some reason he had the year 1909 in his mind, but couldn't remember why. Discussion ensued over the lack of publication details in older documents, so 1909 doesn't seem especially outrageous.

The song Goliath of Gath (with that spelling) has only three verses, and is attributed to Sid G Hedges; my father remarked that said person has a Wikipedia entry. Does this help the search, folks?

Subject: Lyr Add: ABOLITION OF THE PROVINCES (S Bullock)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Aug 22 - 12:08 PM

I don’t know if this is actually a folk song, but I found it mentioned in The Ballad Index at Fresno State University.

This political poem, which apparently evolved into a song, concerns a proposal to abolish the provincial governments of New Zealand. (They were actually abolished in 1876. See Wikipedia.)

From The Press , Vol. 18, Issue 2578, (Christchurch, New Zealand: Friday, August 4, 1871), page 3, column 7:

PROVINCIAL COUNCILS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Sir.—

There follows a commentary on the political issues of the day, followed by:

For the following lines I have no excuse to offer, save that they are apropos to the subject in hand, and can only trust that your readers will not be too critically disposed:—

John Bull of New Zealand is canny and keen,
And no one knows better what two and two mean,
But exceptions, they tell us, are proofs of a rule,
So in proof of the Sage we must show up the fool.

Does John ever look to the state of his till,
With eight little Senates to run up his bill?
Does John never think that the work might be done
By eight little Senates rolled into one?

Eight little Parliaments, sitting in state,
Eight little Speakers, and Ministers eight,
All sit but to show they need never have sat,
And the country grows lean, as officials grow fat.

Has John ever heard of the froggie who died
Of a great deal of wind in his little inside?
How he puff’d himself up, till his poor little skin
Was bound to let out what he’d just taken in?

Let Johnny take warning before it’s too late:
One rat in the larder is better than eight,
And Councils Provincial are dear at the rate,
If John, like the froggie, must die to be great.

Yours, &c.,
S. B.
Opawa, August 3rd, 1871.

- - -
On November 18, 1872, the Timaru Herald contained an article:

GERALDINE ELECTION.

CAPTAIN BULLOCK AT TEMUKA.

On Friday last, Captain Stanley Bullock addressed the electors of the provincial district of Geraldine at the Crown Hotel Assembly Rooms, Temuka. About 100 persons were present….

After a long account of his speech, the article continues:

He would with their permission read some lines he had written on the subject, and which had been published in the Press newspaper. He did not mean that he held precisely those views now, but he still considered that the Provincial Council was open to improvement.… Captain Bullock then read the following lines:—

and the poem is repeated.

The poem was reprinted in several other New Zealand newspapers:

Evening Star [of Auckland, indexed as Auckland Star], 30 November 1872, presents the poem with this introductory paragraph:

The following lines were recently recited in an election speech down South:—

North Otago Times, 24 December 1872, presents the poem only, with no discussion, titled PROVINCIALISM, attributed to “Press.”

Marlborough Press, 15 January 1873, presents the poem, with no title, but with the introductory paragraph:

The following lines, which will be generally appreciated, were delivered by Captain Bullock at a recent election:—

Evening Star [of Dunedin], 25 January 1873, presents the poem, with the same introductory paragraph, under the title EIGHT LITTLE PARLIAMENTS.

West Coast Times, 8 February 1873, simply reprints the Dunedin Evening Star article verbatim.

All of these may be seen at https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/

The poem/song is said to be included in

Rona Bailey & Herbert Roth, editors, Shanties by the Way: A Selection of New Zealand Popular Songs and Ballads (Christchurch: Whitcome and Tombs, 1967), page 32, under the title ABOLITION OF THE PROVINCES.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New Zealand Folksongs
From: GUEST,John Flynn
Date: 27 Aug 22 - 12:06 AM

I can confirm that the poem is in Bailey & Roth, but only verses 2 & 3 from the above

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New Zealand Folksongs
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 27 Aug 22 - 08:01 AM

Abolition of the Provinces from The Ballad Index  https://mudcat.org/blickifier2.cfm#:~:text=%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A//www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/BaRo032.html%22%3Ehttp%3A//www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/BaRo032.html%3C/a%3E

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New Zealand Folksongs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Aug 22 - 03:48 PM

Well there's the shanty that was a hit during lock down, then there's Here's to the Gold, and there's the one about the bloke who went to bed with a bloke, and all he found in the morning was a shaving kit, and some woman's clothing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New Zealand Folksongs
From: rich-joy
Date: 27 Aug 22 - 07:43 PM

Apropos of this thread's title, I feel there should be a link to the thread Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook which has garnered lyrics, links, and info to many hundreds of songs over the last 2 years (since Aug2020!!)

Though "The Team" have been a bit "time-poor" since February 2022, anyone is welcome to add to the collection.
Check it out!!

/mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=168402

Hmmm, that doesn't seem to work for me (well, it is Sunday, Down Under :)    https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=168402&messages=1333&page=1

Cheers, R-J