Subject: Lyr Add: THE CALL OF THE NORTH (Jak Sorensen)
From:
Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 12:43 PM
THE CALL OF THE NORTH
Words (poem) by Jack Sorensen
As recorded by Martyn Wyndham-Read on "Starlit Skies" (2002)
Now the western wind is blowing,
So there's rain and storm in store.
The teams have long been going
Down the road to Glindawor.
Where the tropic sun is gleaming,
The breeze is blowing free.
I have wakened from my dreaming,
And the north is calling me.
Oh, the steam is in the engine
In the expert's room below,
And upon the board each shearer
Waits to hear the whistle blow;
For the shearing is beginning
And my heart is fancy-free,
And the friction wheels are spinning,
And the north is calling me.
From the southward to the northward,
Where the long brown tracks wind down,
All my mates are pushing forward,
To the wilderness from town:
Gone by stony hill and hollow
To where I now would be.
Where they lead I needs must follow,
For the north is calling me.
What's the news I have been hearing?
Tidings strange to me indeed:
Bidgemia has started shearing
With Sawallish in the lead.
Straining camel teams are swaying
From the junction to the sea.
Why so long am I delaying
When the north is calling me?
And so northward I am going,
For I cannot linger here.
Now the starting whistle's blowing,
And the guns are into gear;
And to be there I am longing,
And I hail the sheds with glee,
For the friction wheels are turning,
And the north is calling me.
- - -
There are other recordings by:
Wongawilli on "Australian Selection" (1994)
Louise Steding on "Outbound" (2005)
Dingo's Breakfast Oz Music & Poetry Band on "Jack Sorensen Weaver of Dreams" (2017).
These differ somewhat in minor ways, but I didn't find any additional verses.
The lyrics sung by Wongawilli are given here. I did not use those lyrics except to check spelling of names.
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sj