Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line (Don Henderson)

Subject: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line by Henderson
From: EBarnacle
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 10:34 AM

A friend, Alan Pomeroy, sent me a tape of songs from OZ over a decade ago. I have been unable to get clear lyrics of the song "Thirty Ton Line" written and performed by Henderson. It's a really good song about towboats whose owners were too cheap with equipment and the results of this policy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line by Henderson
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:14 AM

Info on Don Henderson here - Don Henderson project, one of Mudcatter Mark Gregory's websites.

Mark's Union Songs website has the words to Thirty Ton Line

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line by Henderson
From: EBarnacle
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:57 AM

Thank you for the quick response, Sandra. I will be learning this one and spreading the word. One of my many hats is as a union rep and this one tells the story clearly, especially in these days of cutting staff in the interest of "increased productivity."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line by Henderson
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:01 PM

Danny Spooner recorded this last year, on a CD called Emerging Traditions (or something like that). I played it on my radio program a couple of months ago. The lyrics are in the liner notes, but Spooner doesn't always sing it the way it's written there. The folk process, I suppose, but since the song was written in living memory it should be possible to work out which is closer to Henderson's original, the written or the sung.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line by Henderson
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:17 PM

Last year I retired from a Federal Govt agency which had many cuts in the 18 years I worked there. After one savage cut when many staff worked un-paid overtime to get essential publications out on time, one of the biggest Bigwigs arrived for an all-staff talk.

He thanked everyone for their hard work, tho with no acknowledgement of the undoubted un-paid overtime that led to vital info being released on time, then he said they had cut too much & were recruiting again!

9 months after I retired we changed governments (YAH - we voted little Johnny's government out & he even lost his seat!) but the new Govt cut the Public Service budget & huge cuts were in order across the country.

I have lunch with ex-colleagues most weeks, one of whom was on a Management program one week & lost her job the next when her entire section was abolished. Fortunately she has been redeployed as she is far too good to lose but others have gone & a lot of vital work has gone.

Those of us who remember the past turn-about are waiting till a Very Big Bigwig visits again ...

I'm sure you'll find other good songs on the Union Songs site - most are Oz songs, but there are songs from all around the world. Mudcatters are represented, too, including Steve Suffet, but more would be welcome!

Poms from Oz don't just sing beautifully, they spread good songs around, too.

sandra

Subject: Lyr Add: THIRTY TON LINE (Don Henderson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 09:18 PM

Copied from the Union Songs website – see Sandra's link above.


THIRTY TON LINE
Don Henderson ©1979

Purpose built tugs that like line boats attended
Berthed bulk coal carriers in open sea.
To fulfill that function, the union contended,
Required four deckhands. The owners said three.
Three deckhands and motorman just couldn't handle
Sixteen inch polyprop, double dead eyes.
When the tow-hook was blacked, the company gambled
On a tension winched, ten inch, calm sea compromise.

CHORUS: Broadsound. Belyando. Nebo. Sarina.
The sea snaps your hawsers like thin strands of twine.
Broadsound. Belvando. Nebo. Sarina.
Hundred ton bollard pull thirty ton line.

At two in the morning we made fast the Martha.
By nine the Academy Star had been berthed.
Then all tugs and line boats returned to the harbour.
Their work being finished, the four crews dispersed.
Five the same evening, storm warnings were sounding.
Cyclone approaching, no time for delay.
At their berths the big bulkies were taking a pounding.
Broadsound and Belyando must get them away.

The Martha had cleared just as our line had broken.
The Academy Star was at Wharf Number One.
Though the help we could offer might be but a token,
In her plight that help would be better than none.
Time and again, we tried to position,
So the tow might commence with all possible speed.
With a jury-rigged line and in such bad conditions,
Three deckhands and motorman could not succeed.

Well, not fully laden and high in the water,
The Academy Star could not be controlled.
With a strong on-shore wind by her bow on the quarter,
She slammed at the pylons till her hull had holed.
And yet the ship owners and those who do their will,
Send tugs to sea, light on gear, under-manned.
One million dollars will be the repair bill.
They'd pay that in preference to one more deckhand.

To Hay Point at full speed the two tugs went dashing;
Got lines on the Martha at Wharf Number Two.
Though twelve foot green water on our decks was crashing,
The order for maximum tow had come through.
With the whole hull vibrating, the tension winch slipping,
Then came the moment that all tugmen dread.
The sudden lurch forward, the broken line whipping.
The thought of old shipmates; the injured, the dead.


Notes:
Don Henderson wrote:

"Arriving in Mackay for me to assess the songwriting situation for "The Flames of Discontent" album created a bit of suspicion among maritime workers.

Willsie had stayed C.P.A. when E.V. Elliott had led the union to the S.P.A. and who was this ageing hippy in Chelsea Flair cowboy boots and a burgundy and gold brocade coat that understood the struggle for tug jobs anyway?
A well known P&D knuckle man was delegated to ask me why I wore a coat like that. I answered that it got me into a better class of fight. He took back the verdict that I was O.K. After a week's work and no song had appeared, this verdict was being questioned. Back in Brisbane going over notes, a bit of paper appeared on which I'd written down the names of the tugs and line boats as they were tied up at the wharf.

Broadsound, Belyando, Nebo, Sarina. Said quickly it seemed to sing. Getting the facts of the night right, I wrote the song and sent a cassette to Mackay.
The original O.K. verdict was confirmed. I might look like an old ponce but the song was the one they wanted."

Don first recorded this song on the 1979 LP "Flames of Discontent". It is also on the MUA Centenary CD "With These Arms"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line by Henderson
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 10 Sep 08 - 02:02 AM

The last verse above, the one starting "To Hay Point...," should actually be the third verse. That's the way Henderson sings it, that's the way it is in Spooner's liner notes, and that's the way it makes sense. I've sent email to Mark Gregory to point this out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line (Don Henderson)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 01 Aug 20 - 02:44 PM

Look for it in Monday's Singaround.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line (Don Henderson)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Aug 20 - 09:13 PM

my post date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:14 AM

Info on Don Henderson here - Don Henderson project, one of Mudcatter Mark Gregory's websites.

The Don Henderson Project website is defunct, but I found it on the Wayback Machine, first time I've used it & I've added it to my bookmarks.

Don Henderson website on Wayback machine, latest copy July 2018

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line (Don Henderson)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 01 Aug 20 - 11:53 PM

Sandra, by any chance do you have the lyrics to his various labor ballads?
When I looked at the list of his songs on the site, I did not see 30 ton line listed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line (Don Henderson)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 02 Aug 20 - 04:36 AM

EBarnacle, looking forward to hearing Thirty-Ton Line on Tuesday (Sydney time). Any particular Henderson lyrics you're looking for?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty Ton Line (Don Henderson)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Aug 20 - 05:45 AM

Mudcatter Mark Gregory's site uUnion songs is a great source of such songs, I clicked on Author Henderson,Don as author & got a list of his songs.

sandra