OK, I know it's a long time ago, but I am resurrecting this thread in Lockdown time, because I still wanted to find songs written about C.Y. (Charles Yelverton) O'Connor, the brilliant Irish-born engineer responsible for the "Kalgoorlie Pipeline" (the common name) and many other engineering marvels of both West Aussie and EnZed history.
It seems that over the last 18 years, a few songs have indeed been written, in WA at least. Here is what I've found so far. Cheers, R-J
Verse 1 Dig, dig, dig, dig. We're out in the burning desert It's eighteen ninety three Our throats are dry as we dig for gold There's something more precious we need We came here to Coolgardie And to Kalgoorlie too Now ev'ry man and his dog Wants to make their dreams come true
We hear there's a bloke with vision A man who knows his stuff He goes by the name O'Connor Some say he's a genius
Verse 2 He's putting his mind to work He's drawing up a plan He's gonna send some water here Any way he can Gonna build the Mundaring Weir Store the water there Send it over three hundred miles of barren land
We hear there's a bloke with vision A man who knows his stuff He goes by the name O'Connor Some say he's a genius
CHORUS C.Y. build us a pipeline Send us a lifeline Open up this land C.Y. they gave you a hard time History will be kind You opened up this land
Verse 3 Dig, dig, dig, dig. We're out in the burning desert The twenty first century His legacy flows on and on, on through our lives And as we quench our thirst and wash away the sweat We'll think of the name O'Connor And say, 'He's a genius.'
CHORUS C.Y. build us a pipeline Send us a lifeline Open up this land C.Y. they gave you a hard time History will be kind You opened up this land
Opened up this land. Opened up this land. Opened up this land. Lifeline. Words & Music by Glyn Lehmann
C.Y.O'Connor I took my wife & kids to see a statue of a man riding a horse In the surf of South Fremantle beach.
He Devoted his life to supply water To the dry & desert goldfields. Criticized & called a crocodile imposter– He was an Irish engineer from County Meath
His name was CY O’Connor (AND)As I look at the waves beat his statue I see a man looking after the people of his nation That burning dry desert of Western Australia
He took his own life at this beach Riding his horse into the surf He held a gun (and) he shot himself
When the water finally flowed Less than a year from his death I hope the carpers felt ashamed O’Connor, may you rest in peace
His name was CY O’Connor As I look at the waves beat his statue A man looking after the people of his nation that burning dry desert of Western Australia lyrics by The Healys
The Eyes of the Engineer Looking out over the harbour There’s a statue thinking in bronze One of the far- sighted ones with a vision clear
And he’s gazing at life in the harbour The extent of his enterprise Watching the world through the eyes of the engineer
And he’s taking in the speed of the progress The transport and trade there has been The ships that have coloured the scene over all these years
And it’s all a result of his labours Though they slandered and criticized He looked to the future through the eyes of the engineer
And the work was so hard when they blasted the bar But the critics proved harder to move There was so much more to be shifted on shore Before things could begin to improve
And we’ve taken the harbour for granted But we soon came to realise The strength of the vision in the eyes of the engineer
And he’s welcomed all the new arrivals New countries new stories new themes Suitcases filled up with dreams to be planted here
And he’s so much a part of this story Just a statue standing serene Still surveying the scene through the eyes of the engineer He looked to the future through the eyes of the engineer (Bernard Carney)
C.Y.O’Connor, I Wish You Were Here Water was scarce, people couldn’t go on Searching for gold in the blazing sun Goldfields life was at its worst Many died from typhoid, some died of thirst, C Y O’Connor delivered a plan To build a pipeline through rocks and sand Helena River would be the start Where water would flow to the goldfields heart.
Ch. What would he say if he came back today that great engineer Having no doubt his plan would work, C Y O’Connor I wish you were here To see water pumped from Mundaring Weir.
The longest pipe-line the world had seen In by gone days it was just a dream People said it couldn’t be done But O’Connor and his men proved them wrong, From Mundaring on through Southern Cross Reaching the reservoir at Mt Charlotte Days were long, rewards were few Some-how they would see it See it through.
Ch. What would he say if he came back today that great engineer Having no doubt his plan would work, C Y O’Connor I wish you were here To see water pumped from Mundaring Weir.
Came that memorable day in nineteen hundred and three When water, clear water flowed endlessly To O’Connor now we pay our due He made that goldfields dream Dream come true.
What would he say if he came back today that great engineer Having no doubt his plan would work.
A final note made it clear, saying “Put the wing walls to Helena Weir” A final note made it clear, saying “Put the wing walls to Helena Weir" I wish you were here. Carmel Charlton, 2002