Lyr Req: The Australian Hot Meat Pie

Subject: Lyr Add: THE AUSTRALIAN HOT MEAT PIE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Nov 11 - 12:19 AM

Here's my transcription from the recording heard on Spotify. A few words are questionable, mainly due to my unfamiliarity with Australian slang:


THE AUSTRALIAN HOT MEAT PIE
As sung by The Wayfarers on "An Hour of Aussie Comedy – 25 All-Time Favourites" (2008)
and by The Botany Bay Singers on "Australia – Gold" (2010)*

Well, America's got their burgers, and England fish and chips,
Different food the whole world over but it all gives me the ––.
And when I'm feeling peckish, it's then you'll hear me cry:
"How pleased I'll be if you bring to me an Australian hot meat pie!"
How well I still remember when I was just a lad.
Things were tough back in those days for mum and dear old dad.
Butter and tea were rationed, and money in short supply.
To out-stand the crows we lived on those and made hot meat pies.
The Australian hot meat pie, may your future never die,
Topped with peas and taties, variations I have tried.
Whenever I get to thinkin' just what they put inside,
'Cause it's not what they've got for luck(?) the Australian hot meat pie.

Well, I go out to the footie and I'm cheering for the team.
The ref may make some ruling with which I don't agree.
But I don't do me nana(?); I've got a cure to please:
A howl and a cheer, grab a can of beer and a hot meat pie and peas.
I went out to the races; the owner gave me a tip:
"Put all your money on me horse, for I tell ya he is fit."
But his damned old nag got beaten. "I'd like a piece of him!" I cried.
And the owner discreet said, "You can next week, in a tasty hot meat pie."
You Australian hot meat pie, may your future never die,
Topped with peas and taties, variations I have tried;
And often when I'm needy, these things I find inside:
Ah, the gristle bits hurt but the flies are worse in the tasty hot meat pie.

Yes, America's got their burgers, and England fish and chips,
Diff'rent food the whole world over but it all gives me the ––.
Meat pie, that's me pleasure, and it will be till I die.
When I shoot thrills(?) out of you-know-who,
I don't want a steak or an angel-food cake,
I'll have a heavenly hot meat pie.

[* and those recordings sound identical to me!]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 07:32 PM

A web site called The History of Country Music in Australia says:

Then, South Australian radio pulled Rex Dallas' novelty "The Australian Hot Meat Pie" to a high position on the top 10 in that state. That was in May and June of 1973.

Several sources say it's on an album called "The Australian Collection," by The Wayfarers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: GUEST,Arran
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 03:01 PM

I've sent you Bruce the money, thanks again

Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: goatfell
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 09:02 AM

I got the CD Bruce thanks a lot

Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: Hrothgar
Date: 04 Aug 07 - 05:01 AM

I think the only member of the then Wayfarers who could help might be Bob Hall. They put out a string of tapes of "pub songs" and stuff like that in the late 80s, and I think Bob was a member of the group in that era.

I'll try him, anyway.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: goatfell
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 12:18 PM

thanks again

Bruce and everyone else

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: goatfell
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 11:52 AM

Aye I got the tape while on holiday in Australia from SCOTLAND

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: Bruce from Bathurst
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 02:43 AM

Hi Tom,

I have a copy of the album, but there's no lyrics sheet. I'm sure the extra printing cost would have been too much for the Hughes Leisure Group Ltd.

The late Stan Arthur used to visit some of his wife's family here in Bathurst and he would amaze us all with his ability to sing dozens of songs on the trot, only pausing for the occasional healing libation. I think I acquired the LP on one of his visits, but it's all a bit of a blur now.

PM some address details, Tom, and I'll burn a CD for you. I couldn't imagine there are any retailers still holding copies for you to purchase, but I guess you could look for it. The catalogue number is ECON-347 and I think the full title is "Aussie Comedy 25 All Time Favourites" (although that's something of an exaggeration IMO)

Bruce

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: goatfell
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 11:06 AM

all I know about the tape is that it was recored in 1990, I mean 17 years ago.

I know that there will be the slighest possibelity of a tape or the words to these around, but as you I'm not holding my breath.

Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: Shimbo Darktree
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 08:17 AM

Hi Tom,

This thread was passed to me by Richjoy, a keen 'Catter. I am one of the current Wayfarers, but there is a problem. There has been more than one group called The Wayfarers, even within Australia (I know there is at least one in England, because I pinched one of their songs recently ... oops, did I write that?). Anyhow, the tape title sounds like the sort of tape Stan and the mob would have done, but I have a lot of Stan's words, and none of the titles you have listed ring bells. I will have a further look, but don't hold out hope. This is further wrecked by Stan having lost a large chunk of his original collection of words, tapes, etc when his house went right under in the Brisbane floods in 1974. ("The Big Flood of '74", as they would say in Dibley.) The ray of light is that there must have been around a million members of The Wayfarers at some stage or other, plus fans of the group, so someone may still pop up with the words.

Regards,
Shimbo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: goatfell
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:59 AM

I take it is them I mean as I'm from Scotland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 07:13 PM

If you really mean the original Group I know as The Wayfarers, unfortunately Stan, the leader, is no longer with us.

There are a few other Aussies around who may have more info on the full details of all their work (I rearranged my files some years ago, so no longer have easily found specific info on them), so just wait a while till they catch up with this thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: goatfell
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 03:57 PM

However i kept the box in case

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: goatfell
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 03:54 PM

I threw it out years ago JIm, thanks for that advice anyway

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: Jim Lad
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 03:46 PM

The tape is easily fixed if you still have it. Simply cut off the damaged parts at 45- 60 degrees, match the ends and lay them flat on a piece of editing tape. Now trim off the excess, rewind the cassette with a pencil and Robert is your mother's brother.
Make sure the tape is actually on the side which does not touch the heads.
Sellotape will do, in a pinch.

Subject: Lyr Req: the australian hot meat pie
From: goatfell
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 03:40 PM

Hello my name is Tom Hamilton,

I had a tape called Aussie Comedy by a group called The Wayfarers, and one of the songs is called the australian hot meat pie I don't who wrote it or anything about it, and the other songs that I would like the words to are

1. I love you just like a pie
2. Mulga Jack
3. I love a sunburnt football
4. Bachelor's lament
5. Go bit yer bum
6. The city of Melbourne
7. Life's a bugger

the reason I can't write the words is because the tape I had broke.

Thanks
tom
as I said I don't who wrote them or sung them I'm sorry.