G'day ...

This is the version of The Wee One (an alternative name for what you have been discussing as the "Town of Kiandra" - collected by Australian folklorist John Meredith from the prolific source of Australian songs - Sally Sloane:

The Wee One

I am a young man cut down in my blossom,
I married a young girl to comfort my home,
She goes out and she leaves me
And falsely deceives me
And leaves me a wee one that ne'er was my own.
Chorus
Oh, dear, oh, the day I got married,
I wish I were single again,
With my weeping and wailing
And rocking the cradle
And nursing a wee one that ne'er is my own.

While I'm at work, my wife's on the rantan,
On the rantan with another young man,
She goes out and she leaves me
And falsely deceives me
And leaves me a wee one that ne'er is my own.

All you young men that are fond of the lassies
Take my advice, leave those flash girls alone,
For by the Lord Harry
If one you should marry,
She'll bring you a wee one that ne'er is your own.


John met Sally in Lithgow (country town west of Sydney) in the mid 1950s ... and ended up visiting Sally for many weekends collecting trips. after recording many new and interesting songs from Sally, John discovered that she would sometimes unconsciously start singing over the 'washing up' after dinner ... yet another song John had not yet heard! He hung a microphone above the sink mounting - and played back to Sally many snatches of yet another song ... and Sally woulod then record yet another of her vast repertoire!

This text is from the small "Songs of Sally Sloane" booklet I published for sale and distribution around the Bush Music Club ... quite a few years back!

BobB