I first heard the song Bright Fine Gold sung in Australia by a number of New Zealand "expats" (for want of a better word) and always loved the song.

In my copy of "New Zealand FolkSongs: Song of a Young Country" edited by Neil Colquhoun (1973), the credits for the lyrics are listed as Anon with the claim for the music as being "reconstructed" by the aforesaid Neil Colquhoun.

Credits for recorded versions are also given to Phil Garland, Gary and Everill Muir and The Song Spinners. The documented lyrics are as follows:

Spend it in the winter
or die in the cold
One a pecker, Tuapeka,
Bright fine gold

Ch: Bright fine gold, bright fine gold
One a pecker, Tuapeka, bright fine gold

Some are sons of fortune
And my man came to see,
But the riches in the river
Are not for such as he.

I'm weary of Otago,
I'm weary of the snow.
let my man strike it rich,
And then we'll go.

So then the connection with Ruth Park is complete news to me..... not that I am any kind of expert here but I wonder if anyone out there in 'catter land can elaborate on the history of these lyrics? Are we talking simply the folk process? Or can the connection with Ruth Park be expanded fer us ignorant Aussies?

Cheers,

Andrez