Subject: RE: Origin: All for Me Grog
From:
GerryM
Date: 22 Sep 23 - 03:02 AM
Way upthread, a Maine reworking of an Australian parody was posted:
"Subject: Lyr Add: CONCRETE AND GLASS parody-All for Me Grog
From: GUEST,Roll&Go-C - PM
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 09:35 AM
"In the interests of folk process, I'm adding this anti-urban renewal parody of this fine traditional song, which itself is a reworking of an earlier parody from the Sidney inner city neighborhood of Wooloomooloo, reworked to fit Portland, Maine's waterfront."
Here's the original parody, as published in Warren Fahey's book, The Balls of Bob Menzies.
Oh, my name it is Fred, in Sydney born and bred,
And the inner-city used to be my home, boys
But it's caused my heart to grieve, for I've had to take my leave,
Now across the western suburbs I must roam, boys!
Chorus:
Under concrete and glass, Sydney's disappearing fast;
It's all gone for profit and for plunder;
Though we really want to stay, they keep driving us away,
Now across the western suburbs we must wander.
Where is my house, my little terracehouse?
It's all gone for profit and for plunder;
For the wreckers of the town just came up and knocked it down;
Now across the western suburbs I must wander.
Before I even knew it, we were shifted to Mount Druitt,
And the planners never gave me any say, boys.
Now it really makes me weep, I am just at home to sleep,
For it takes me hours to get to work each day, boys.
What's happened to the pub, our little local pub
Where we used to have a drink when we were dry, boys.
Now we can't get in the door for there's carpet on the floor
And you won't be served a beer without a tie, boys.
Now I'm living in a box in the west suburban blocks
And the place is nearly driving me to tears, boys.
Poorly planned and badly built and it's mortgaged to the hilt
But they say it will be mine in forty years, boys.
Now before the city's wrecked these developers must be checked;
For it's plain to see they do not give a bugger,
And we soon will see the day if these bandits have their way
We will all be driven out past Wagga Wagga.
[Wagga Wagga is a small town five hours drive West of Sydney. Fahey writes, "Written by Denis Kevans and Seamus Gill...published in Australian Tradition magazine in 1973."
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sj
