Origins: Melbourne Tram Song

Subject: Origins: Melbourne Tram Song
From: GUEST,kettecat
Date: 24 Oct 24 - 06:13 PM

There is a modern folk rock song I really like called Melbourne Tram Song. The earliest recording of it I can find is by Australian folk punk band Catgut Mary (from 2008). Did they write it or is it an older song? It has been covered multiple times since by groups such as Rogue Scholars and Bartley's Folly.

The chorus, for reference, is:
Daughter of the Thames
Won't you come out with me then
We can breakfast in the city
Coffee cigarettes and eggs
And if the rain keeps coming down
We'll find a good bar underground
Where they serve up all the merry beers of England