I picked up a tape last weekend at Bromyard Folk Festival of field recordings made in Suffolk in the 1980's. On it I was amazed to find this version of the Road to Gundagai - completeley different storyline to the version in DT. (Different tune, too - Mr Whiting uses a fairly standard "Wearing of the Green" tune, closer to the Dubliner's "Rising of the Moon" than to the WotG tune in DT).

But how did it get to Suffolk? My guess would probably be through the army, with UK and ANZAC troops serving together - Boer War, WW1, WW2, etc - although maritime transmission is also a possibility.

Can any 'catters throw further light on this?

LAZY HARRY'S

Well we'd finished up the shearing and we each had took our checks
So we planned a trip to Sydney just to lubricate our necks
So we swung the swags up gaily: we had Sydney in the eye
But we camped at Lazy Harry's on the road to Gundagai

We camped one night at a station and they treated us real swell
Next day we started tramping, and the sun was hot as hell
But we didn't mind the tramping and we didn't mind the flies
But we camped at Lazy Harry's on the road to Gundagai

We camped one night at a cockies, at the next the waterhole was dry
Next day we started tramping beneath the red hot copper sky
But we didn't mind the tramping: we had Sydney in the eye
But we camped at Lazy Harry's on the road to Gundagai

We were miles yet from the railhead and out throats were awful dry
When we spotted Lazy Harry's pub on the road to Gundagai
So we thought we'd have a quick one in the pub as we passed by
But we camped at Lazy Harry's on the road to Gundagai

Now the barmaids there in Harry's pub would melt a heart of stone
They'd make you think you were twice your size like you stood out on your own
And when you knew you'd had enough, they'd convince you you were dry
So we camped at Lazy Harry's on the road to Gundagai

Well we ended up as drunk as lords, woke up with an awful head
Snowy felt down in his pockets and he said "Well, strike me dead!
Someone has fanned me for me money," then he gave a woeful sigh
"That means I won't see Sydney now or get as far as Gundagai"

When we each felt in our pockets, someone had done a proper job
For they'd fanned us for our money, and they'd left us fifteen bob
It's a lesson I'll remember now until the day I die
When we camped at Lazy Harry's on the road to Gundagai


Mr Whiting pronounces Gundagai as Gundygai throughout
From Songs sung in Suffolk, Vol 3. Veteran Tapes VT103. (Field recordings 1985-87 by John Howson). Sung by Fred Whiting of Kenton, Suffolk.


Wassail! V