G'day Patart,

(Damn ... Mudcat has taken its accustomed 21.15 (Sydney time) dive to the deep muddy ... again ... while I was answering the 'phone! Anyway - this MAY work.)

Don must have thought that title (which I believe I have heard him use ...) took too much more explaining! This is what he just e-mailed me (after he rang me ... about tomorrow - and I pinned him down for a copy of the song!).

BT: No, it's not Daryl's orchard. This is David Johnson & Ann Pidcock's The Laurels, an old orchard at Penrose (halfway between Sydney and Canberra) where David organically grows traditional and heritage species.

Anyway ... the song:

An Alternative Waltzing Matilda
(born out of the need to explain the story of the original)
Words: © Don Brian
Tune: (Ideally) Christina MacPherson's original tune

There once was a shearer by the name of Samuel Hoffmeister
He burnt the Dagworth woolshed in Queensland's back country.
And he sang as he fanned, the flames for the union
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?
CHORUS
Who'll join the union, the union my darling
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?
And he sang as he fanned, the flames for the union
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

Down came the jumbuck, a symbol of the industry
Owned by the landlords, the rich squattocracy.
And the workers who'd lost to the scabs on the shearing board
Saw the opportunity and grabbed it with glee.
CHORUS
Who'll join the union, …

Down came McPherson, mounted on his thoroughbred
Guarded by the army, troopers and judiciary
"Are you the shearer who just burned down my shearing shed?"
You will not take control of this industry from me."
CHORUS
Who'll join the union, …

But he died like a dog on the banks of that waterhole
Killed with his own gun , where no one else could see.
But his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

The Chorus may be changed to reflect verses if desired or use the original
Sung to an approximation of Christina MacPherson's original tune (her remembered version of Craigielea).

Don suggests the song occasionally needs a bit if squeezing to fit the tune ... and he will vary pace for emphasis ...

Regards,

Bob