Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs

Subject: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Wotcha
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 12:40 PM

The local folkies in Kuwait are putting together a package of songs for the expat Aussie and NZ community of Kuwait (ANZAK) around ANZAC Day. > We want to do some songs that will be familiar to your average expat Aussie/NZ'er, singable (if any of these folks are coherent by then) and not too obscure: > Here are some suggested titles: > > Waltzing Matilda > And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda > Black Velvet Band > All for me Grog > South Australia > Wild Colonial Boy > >I've rejected "Wee Dark Engine Room", since it is already in the 90s here. > >Appreciate your collective thoughts. > Cheers, Allahamdalla, Brian > P.S. Q8 Mudcatters jump in too ...! We need backup singers.

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Amos
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:31 PM

Many of them will know Finnegan's Wake, Wild Rover, and other popular Irish trads; some may know some of the better known sailing songs and chanties such as "Blow Ye Winds in the Morning", "Haul Away, Joe", and possibly even "The Eddystone Light" and "Oh, You New York Girls". Not that these are ANZAC songs, but the sort they might know.

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: selby
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 02:02 PM

HOW ABOUT Botany Bay, The Wild Colonial Boy, Bold Jack Donahue, Click Go The Shears, The Ballarat Horse Auctioneer, The Red-back on the Toilet Seat. for starter,s Keith

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Teasle
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 04:34 PM

What about Billy of Tea? Or Gentle Annie (beautiful song), Our Andy's Gone A-Shearing ... and of course you can't possibly have an Aussie sing-a-long without the old Ryebuck Shearer!!!

Have a goodun!!

Teasle

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 06:30 PM

Not an ANZAC song either - but how about 'Mothers Daughters Wives'? - Susanne

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Helen
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 07:51 PM

Hi Wotcha,

A classic Oz song is the Pub With No Beer. I don't know how well known this one is, but it's a good one: When the Rain Tumbles Down in July.

You could add Willy McBride to go with And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda - 2 Eric Bogle war songs.

I looked up the Mudcat Links page, and here are a couple of Australian music sites.

http://www.chepd.mq.edu.au/boomerang/songnet/
Australian Folk Songs

Mark Gregory's great collection of Aussie lyrics, mostly trad.

http://folk.mountaintracks.com.au/Folk_Australia/index.html
Folk Australia

Australia's heritage and traditions through word music and song. Many links to Aussie performers and music related sites.

Helen

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Callie
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 08:33 PM

What about "My Youngest Son Came Home Today", and as singalongs: Lime Juice Tub, South Australia, I Was Only 19, Anything by The Seekers. --Callie

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 06 Apr 00 - 12:21 AM

Hope there's going to be a few Kiwis along for ANZAC day - hmm... could be a couple of pilots I know. Anyway, for a couple of NZ contris, try some Peter Cape or Pat Rdgers....

"She'll be right", "Taumarunui", "Down the Hall on Saturday Night", "Okaihau Express" - if you aren't too tongue-tied you could try "Taumatawhakatangihangakauautamateapokaiwhenuakitinataha"

Or "The Gumboot Song"

Then, for Anzac Day "Maori Battallion" etc.

You'll find words for some of the above at John Archer's Site

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: alison
Date: 06 Apr 00 - 08:26 AM

The Shores of Botany Bay (Farewell to your bricks and mortar), tie me kangaroo down sport....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Bugsy
Date: 10 Apr 00 - 05:38 AM

How about "The Springtime It Brings On The Shearing"?

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 10 Apr 00 - 06:44 AM

Nah Bugsy,

Title is:

"The Springtime It Brings on the ShearERS"...;)

And winter approacheth here...;)

Chers - Sam

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Wotcha
Date: 10 Apr 00 - 12:24 PM

Mates,
Thanks for your suggestions. Having gotten my hands on a tape of bush bands, I now know that "Click Go the Shears" goes to the same tune as "Strike the Bell Second Mate." Singing Aussie songs is going to be easier than I thought (as long as I bring something to stop the bottles trouncing me bonce ...).
Here's what we will do, so far:
"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda."
"Morning Town Ride."
"South Australia."
"Wild Rover."
"Black Velvet Band."
"My Old Man's an All Black,"
"Click Go the Shears."
"Wild Colonial Boy."
"Queensland Drovers."
"Waltzing Matilda."
"All For Me Grog."


One thing about singing in this part of the world struck me as odd was the requirement for venue to inform the Ministry of Information to know who is performing ....
Cheers, Allahamdalla Brian

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Helen
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 07:53 PM

So, Wotcha, how is Anzac Day shaping up for you over there in Kuwait? Let us know how the songs go - did we pick some good ones, can we come up with some even better ones for next year, etc.

Helen, in Oz

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 09:06 PM

Hope you don't mind input from a Yank. How about The Road to Gundegai and Van Deieman's Land? Neil

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Wotcha
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 12:35 PM

Helen,And all:
I posted general comments to the other ANZAC Day threads but thanks for the songs. I had about a week to learn completely new material, as did my fellow singers. I now own the equivalent of 3 CDs worth of Aussie songs.
I was struck by how familiar some of the songs are. As a sea chantey singer, it was relatively easy to sing the Aussie versions of "Click Go the Shears" (somewhat like "Strike the Bell SEcond Mate" and actually recognized as such by another Yank in the audience whose father used to sing it!);"All For me Grog" (just change the chorus); "Queensland Drovers" (easier to learn than "Spanish Ladies" but I used the more uptempo tune). The other songs were supplemented by other guitar tunes --so the set actually lasted 2 hours and got everyone through their tucker.
Having listened to the myriad of songs, I'd add "The Shores of Botany Bay," "Ryeback Shearer" (which has some similarities to "The Irish Rover"), and "Billy of Tea."
The ANZAK, ANZAC Day Ball was "Brill."

Cheers,
Brian

Subject: RE: Help: Aussie Songs for Expat ANZACs
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 09:39 PM

Good on you Brian, cobber. Thanks for your efforts for the ANZACs. Sam