G'day Charley,

I'm hoping you will appreciate the song ... and take it in the spirit in which John Dengate wrote it. John has a great respect for the blokes who defended everything we hold dear ... but little for politicians - and their military underlings.

I'm now pondering whether I should transcribe the next song on the aforementioned 1975 cassette (a recording of a Bush Music Club Songs of Members, Past & Present) ... The Melbourne Song ... written after the Melbourne's subsequent collision with the USS Evans. This one has the chorus (as far as I may remember it ...):
Duck for cover - quick before she arrives.
Here come the Melbourne, my jolly Jack Tars, so swim, swim for your lives!

and, elsewhere, a line that includes: "... the Melbourne goes over what others go round!"

Oh well ... I'll listen through it tonight ... and think about it!

Regards,

Bob