DT error ~ Streets of Forbes

Subject: DT error ~ Streets of Forbes
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 04:05 AM

The last verse of the DT version of "Streets Of Forbes" [aka "Death of Ben Hall"] states that they tied his body to his 'prop', before they "dragged him through the streets of Forbes To show the prize they had". 'Prop' doesn't rhyme with 'had'. The word should be PRAD ~~

"www.my-free-dictionary.com

prad
   
noun Australian .
Informal . horse.

Origin:
1790–1800;  metathetic variant of Dutch paard  horse (cognate with German Pferd ) ≪ Late Latin paraverēdus  post horse for lesser highways. See palfrey"

~Michael~

Subject: RE: DT error ~ Streets of Forbes
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 07:27 AM

Once heard some chap sing " They tied him to his bread"

Subject: RE: DT error ~ Streets of Forbes
From: GUEST,Howard Jones
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 09:00 AM

I'd intepreted it as "'bred", ie an abbreviation of "thoroughbred". I hadn't come across "prad" before, but that makes more sense and is a better rhyme, so thanks to Michael for clarifying that.

Subject: RE: DT error ~ Streets of Forbes
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 09:54 AM

It's "prad" in the Streets of Forbes (2).

Subject: RE: DT error ~ Streets of Forbes
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 10:39 AM

"prog" (food) is another words which confuses folks who don't know bygone Australianisms



sandra

Subject: RE: DT error ~ Streets of Forbes
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 12:04 PM

"Prog" for food occurs in "Orderly Day, or The orderly's song" on which we have a thread still ongoing ~~last entry only about a fortnight ago ~~

"For spotted dog's magnificent prog
And so is Irish Stew..."

This appears to have originated at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire during WW1, and to be sung in schools in England & Scotland, also according to one post in NZ, having been included in a school songbook by Walford Davies, sometime Master Of The King's Musick.

No Australian connection mentioned; so perhaps 'prog' not an exclusively Australian usage at that?

~M~

Subject: RE: DT error ~ Streets of Forbes
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 12:42 PM

Jeri ~~ Yes; so it is. Reason I missed it is that DT has "Streets Of Forbes" under S, but "The Streets of Forbes" under T. Another error, or anyhow an anomaly, IMO, which could do with sorting.

~M~

Subject: RE: DT error ~ Streets of Forbes
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 12:44 PM

...and indeed, it is, in full, under T, The Streets Of Forbes 2; leaving those who come upon it there first-off to wonder where Sts Of Forbes 1 can have got to...

Subject: RE: DT error ~ Streets of Forbes
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 25 Apr 12 - 12:25 PM

More on 'prog' = food. Eric Partridge's Dictionary of Slang & Unconventional English defines it as "Food in gen.", giving as first citation, Fuller, "The Abbot", 1655; & refs to Swift & Disraeli. So quite an ancient usage; but odd that it appears to have survived best in Oz ~~ tho, as mentioned above, appears in the Orderly Day song which appears to date from 2nd decade of C20.

Subject: RE: DT error ~ Streets of Forbes
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 05:03 PM

I always had it as "prad", probably from the Penguin Australian Song Book (J.S. Manifold) and possibly also from June Tabor's recorded version. Can't find the book at the moment, but as I recall it explained "prad" as in MtheGM's OP, ie related to paard/pferd.

When I sang it a while back in Preston, Tom Walsh reckoned it was a cant word for horse.

The Routledge Dictionary of Historical Slang by Eric Partridge has prad = horse with references from 1799, also various related items:
prad-cove; a horse-dealer
prad-holder; a bridle
prad-lay; Cutting bags from behind horses (sic!); the stealing of bridles etc
prad-napper, -napping; horse-thief, horse-theiving
There is also a reference to a secondary definition of "prod", but I can't get Google Books to bring that up for me.

Ross