ADD: Rope Soap and Calico

Subject: Lyr Req: rope soap and calico
From: GUEST,Bardan
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 02:53 PM

the chorus is something like this

let the rope soap and calico take me
I'll grin and I'll hold me head high
and the devil take him who can make me
bow low for I'd far rather die

It tells the story of a really rebellious guy who keeps getting a bit of luck and then getting into trouble with authority figures. He get's transported, joins the gold rush. Might have been in a gang. The last verse is about him being hanged. I think it's australian. My dad spent a year or two busking around there and he used to sing it a few years back.

there's a bit with "the landlord who fenced in our cottage/was a thief..." or something

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rope soap and calico
From: Peace
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 04:18 PM

"It's rope, soap and calico for me," Gursey kept on repeating.
That was how the soldiers used to announce a hanging in the penal
settlements. They would come out into the prison yard and shout
"Rope, soap and calico for one!" and Gursey dreamt that they were
holding him down while they shouted it in his ear. He struggled
with these phantoms till the veins swelled up, blue and knotted, in
his thin neck. "S'elp me God, I didn't shoot him. I didn't! I
didn't! Tell them, Cabell. Tell them I didn't want to shoot
McGovern."

The above is from

"Title:      Landtakers: The Story of an Epoch (1934)
Author:    Brian Penton (1904-1951)
* A Project Gutenberg of Australia eBook *
eBook No.: 0200851.txt
Edition:    1
Language:   English

The rope, soap and calico phrase is one I've never heard before. I think Bob Coltman in Oz would be the guy to ask on this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rope soap and calico
From: Peace
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 04:22 PM

The only rope, soap and calico phrase Mr Google finds is in what's quoted above. (There's one more, but it's basically regarding the same piece of writing.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rope soap and calico
From: Stewie
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 08:34 PM

Peace, I think you meant 'Bob Bolton', not 'Bob Coltman'.

Anyhow, the song's title is 'Jail Away Fremantle'. It was written by Wendy Evans and recorded by The Settlers in Perth, Oz.

I am unable to locate my copy of The Settlers 'Bound for Western Australia' which includes the song. Bugsy may be able to help you locate a copy.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rope soap and calico
From: Peace
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 12:31 AM

Sheesh. This aluminum IS getting to me. Thank you for correcting me, Stewie, and Bob, please excuse me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rope soap and calico
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 01:40 AM

Google is SOoooooo helpful - it suggests

"Did you mean: Sail Away Fremantle "The Settlers" "... hahahaha! which is still no bloody help, as well as being WRONG!

the first link here is just the title, but the last 2 here point to tracks.

viz...

Settlers on DAZ.com, your music resource
The Settlers-Jail Away Fremantle, upload track. favorite, 1. (38) ... The Settlers-Repise:The Fishermans Wife, upload track. favorite, 1. (42) ...

The Settlers - Bound For Western Australia : music-db.org ...
1 The Settlers-The Albany immagrants 2 The Settlers-Jail Away Fremantle 3 The Settlers-Fathers of this Coloney 4 The Settlers-Clare ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rope soap and calico
From: rich-joy
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 01:57 AM

good song - now if I can find MY copy of "Bound for WA" ...

:~)

Cheers! R-J

Subject: add: Let Rope Soap And Calico Take Me
From: GUEST,The Lizard
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 03:28 AM

LET ROPE SOAP AND CALICO TAKE ME

Chorus
Let the rope soap and calico take me
I'll grin and I'll hold me head high
And the devil take him who can make me
Bow low for I'd far rather die


The landlord that fenced in our farmland
Was a thief and he left us to die
The Judge gave five years transportation
But I downed him and blackened his eye.

On the brig we lived worse than them cattle
I was detailed to clean up the ship
That would take us away to Australia
But I laughed when they gave me the whip

Chorus

At Fremantle the rat cell awaited
Some others had died in that place
The guard who released me weeks later
From the person I spat in his face

I was sentenced to work on the chain gang
Lashed our backs as the rocks we did crush
But I struck a grave blow at the weakling
And made a break out to the bush

Chorus

Near starving I met up with Dougan
And rode with his wild Irish band
And plundered the rich, idle squatters
When we levelled our guns and cried “Stand”!

We were caught in an ambush near Collie
And most of us died in that fight
I was locked up in jail for a dawn band
But I broke through the roof in the night.

Chorus

I rode with the rustlers at Moora
And many’s the cattle I duffed
I went to the bush and rode stock routes
And with swag many miles I have roughed.

With a new name I joined in the goldrush
And was lucky and struck a good claim
But the land owner’s syndicate jumped me
And I swore I would blacken his name

Chorus

Now then killing does make a man suffer
It suffers and gets the dispair
But he brought his young wife to the diggings
So I gave the old bastard an heir

And he sent all his hirelings to get me
And I laughed as the bullets did fly
And I’ll laugh when I hang in the morning
Cause I don’t give a damn if I die

Chorus

Let the rope soap and calico take me
I'll grin and I'll hold me head high
And the devil take him who can make me
Bow low for I'd far rather die

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rope soap and calico
From: rich-joy
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 05:52 AM

THANKS! Lizard!!
I've always loved that song and its chorus - always loved the whole LP in fact. WA's Settlers (different to Cooma, NSW's Settlers, it must be noted) were a most excellent duo.

I thought I rem'bered adding some more lyrics from that LP to the Oz & Kiwi Folksongs thread on The Cat a few years back. (hmm .... now that I think on that, I never did get around to finishing my intended posts :((    Time/Life is just speeding by FAR too quickly .....)


Cheers, R-J

Subject: RE: ADD: Rope Soap and Calico
From: GUEST,The Lizard
Date: 09 Sep 25 - 10:09 PM

You are welcome, rich-joy.
The song first came to my attention on the 1979 Western Australia sesquecentenary album by The Settlers, entitled Bound for Western Australia. The song was entitled Sail Away Fremantle.
The album highlighted Alan Ferguson's song "Albany Immigrants" popularised by The Albany Shantymen, but with a slightly different lyric.
I solo the song with the Sunset Coast Shanty Crew in Perth, the crew joining on the chorus. We play at the Pirate Bar in Mt Hawthorn on Monday nights. Once a month we have an open mic Song Circle. If I am there, I will perform it for you. You can google us on the Web.
I sing it a capella, so I haven't bothered with chords.
BTW if anyone knows who wrote it or where it came from, please let us know.

Subject: RE: ADD: Rope Soap and Calico
From: GUEST,The Lizard
Date: 10 Sep 25 - 05:37 AM

I rang well known Perth folksinger and member of the Foc's'l Firkins, Peter Bugden, and he suggested I ring Alan Ferguson and gave me his number. (Alan was a member of the Settlers.) Alan confirmed that Wendy Evans (deceased) had written the lyrics and he had put the music to "Let the Rope Soap and Calico Take Me". He said that he did not think she based it on any specific person, but that all historic mentions were most likely bona fide.
Thanks for this discussion. Not only did it answer your question, but given Peter, Alan and myself a few good memories.
Cheers, and thanks also to Gary (Griz) Greenwald of the Albany Shantymen for his help in this.
BTW, our next open mike/Song Circle is on 22 September at the Pirate Bar in Green Street, Mt Hawthorn. Everyone welcome.

Subject: RE: ADD: Rope Soap and Calico
From: rich-joy
Date: 10 Sep 25 - 06:45 PM

Thanks! If I ever get back to Perth in this lifetime (!), I'll check it out!

R-J

Subject: RE: ADD: Ro,pe Soap and Calico
From: GUEST,Phil Beck
Date: 12 Sep 25 - 03:55 AM

The second last verse I think, should read:

Now killing don't make a man suffer
It's others that gets the despair
And he'd brought his young wife.....

Also, I learned it as, dawn dance, in the sixth not dawn band, but neither is particularly 'elegant'...

Subject: RE: ADD: Rope Soap and Calico
From: GUEST,Lizard
Date: 26 Sep 25 - 04:05 AM

Thanks Phil. I have now amended them in our songbooks.
Do you have the correct words for verse three, last line "from the person I spat in his face"?
Much obliged.

Subject: RE: ADD: Rope Soap and Calico
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Sep 25 - 05:08 PM

Lizard, when you have this all settled, can you please post a complete corrected set of lyrics here?
Thanks.
-Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor-

Subject: RE: ADD: Rope Soap and Calico
From: GUEST,Lizard
Date: 09 Oct 25 - 09:39 PM

This appears to be the final set of lyrics. My son will accompany me and sing chorus on Monday, October 13 at Shanty night at Clancy's in Fremantle, and on our Shanty Circle on 27th at the Pirate Bar in Mt Hawthorn, when Alan Ferguson himself will attempt to get there. Hopefully he will join me in the song and sing a couple of his other compositions. Pretty excited!

LET ROPE SOAP AND CALICO TAKE ME
– Wendy Evans and Alan Ferguson

Chorus
Let the rope soap and calico take me
I'll grin and I'll hold me head high
And the devil take him who can make me
Bow low for I'd far rather die


The landlord that fenced in our farmland
Was a thief and he left us to die
The Judge gave five years transportation
But I downed him and blackened his eye.

On the brig we lived worse than them cattle
I was detailed to clean up the ship
That would take us away to Fremantle
But I laughed when they gave me the whip

Chorus

At Fremantle the rat cell awaited
Some others had died in that place
The guard who released me weeks later
For the prison I spat in his face

I was sentenced to work on the chain gang
Lashed our backs as the rocks we did crush
But I struck a great blow at the weak link
And made a break out to the bush

Chorus

Near starving I met up with Dougan
And rode with his wild Irish band
And plundered the rich, idle squatters
When we levelled our guns and cried “Stand”!

We were caught in an ambush near Collie
And most of us died in that fight
I was locked up in jail for a dawn dance
But I broke through the roof in the night.

Chorus

I rode with the rustlers at Moora
And many’s the cattle I duffed
I went to the bush and rode stock routes
And with swag many miles I have roughed.

With a new name I joined in the goldrush
And was lucky and struck a good claim
But the land owner’s syndicate jumped me
And I swore I would blacken his name

Chorus

Now then killing does make a man suffer
It’s others that gets the despair
But he brought his young wife to the diggings
So I gave the old bastard an heir

And he sent all his hirelings to get me
And I laughed as the bullets did fly
And I’ll laugh when I hang in the morning
Cause I don’t give a damn if I die

Chorus