Lyr req: The Melbourne (John Dengate)

Subject: The Melbourne
From: GUEST,Robin Connaughton
Date: 16 Jan 20 - 08:07 PM

I can't find the lyrics for the song John Dengate wrote about the HMAS Melbourne's habit of hitting destroyers. Anyone got them?

Subject: RE: Lyr req: The Melbourne (John Dengate)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jan 20 - 08:28 PM

Well, here's a Website with John Dengate lyrics. I don't see one called The Melbourne, but maybe one of these others is about the ship.

And here's another list of Dengate lyrics - no Melbourne.

This video (click) has two Dengate songs about the Melbourne.

-Joe-

A start at the first song:

What does the Melbourne on a cruise off Jervis Bay?
She sails on the briny blue with the Voyager in the way.
So, it's hard a-port (for who that's aboard???)
On a peaceful summer's night.
The destroyer would sail or a carrier failed
To give way on the right.

Oh, the weather was fair for a bosun's chair,
So the admiral went for a ride.
He swiped (?) all hands to elastic bands
That loomed on the starboard side.

The ship ... tis the enemy
[no idea]
So they cut her in half, just for a laugh,
And drowned a third of the crew.

Pipe the compass, port the (?)
All that nautical stuff.
The whistle shrieked and the captain (leaped?)
To the bridge in a (???) huff

And West by west (?) is the course that's best
So, come on, all you men
There was great distress in the officers' mess
That night in the R.A.N.

Subject: RE: Lyr req: The Melbourne (John Dengate)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jan 20 - 08:35 PM

Here's the chorus of HMAS Melbourne (to the tune of Wild Rover No More). Wikipedia says the Australian aircraft carrier Melbourne was the only Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions.

So it's duck for cover
Quickly before she arrives;
Here comes the Melbourne, my jolly brave tars,
So swim, swim for your lives

Source: https://www.glebesociety.org.au/wp-content/uploads/bulletins/2013_07.pdf

John Dengate died suddenly on 1 August 2013, aged 75.

Subject: RE: Lyr req: The Melbourne (John Dengate)
From: Helen
Date: 17 Jan 20 - 05:47 PM

I'm only an expert on Strine (that's the Australian pronunciation of "Australian" in case you are competely in the dark, and it also refers to the Australian accent and expressions/slang) but I'm not an expert on John Dengate. I saw him perform a number of times at folk events. What a funny, clever bu66er he was!!

I never heard the songs about HMAS Melbourne.

From listening to Ralph Pride's performance on the video I've made some suggested changes using double asterixes.

First song on the video:

What does the Melbourne **do** on a cruise off Jervis Bay?
She sails on the briny blue with the Voyager in the way.
So, it's hard a-port **for who'd have thought?**
On a peaceful summer's night
The destroyer would sail or a carrier failed
To give way on the right.

Oh, the weather was fair for a bosun's chair,
So the admiral went for a ride.
He **piped** all hands to elastic bands
That loomed on the starboard side.

The ship *cries he** tis the enemy
**Whatever shall I do?**
So they cut her in half, just for a laugh,
And drowned a third of the crew.

Pipe the compass, port the **helm**(?)
All that nautical stuff.
The whistle shrieked and the captain - "bleeped?**
To the bridge in **an awful** huff

**Crying East(??)** by west is the course that's best
So, come on, all you men
There was great distress in the officers' mess
That night in the R.A.N.


Second song:

HMAS Melbourne goes sailing the world
With its radar antenna and its Ensign unfurled.
Here is a fact that I'm sure will astound
The Melbourne goes over what the others go 'round.

CHORUS
And it's duck for cover
Quickly before she arrives.
Here comes the Melbourne my jolly brave tars
So swim, swim for your lives.

There's a man on the Melbourne
And he gets double pay.
His job is to keep shouting
"Out of the way!"
Sing ho for a carrier out on the blue
If you gets in their way they will cut you in two.

CHORUS

Now all you destroyers take a warning by me.
Beware when the Melbourne is out on the sea.
Subs go below, planes above and it's true
Other ships go around but the Melbourne goes through.

CHORUS

And sing with pride of the suicide
And cheer for the Commonwealth
Who needs a war there's a wind offshore
We'll go and sink ourself, we'll go and sink ourself.

Subject: RE: Lyr req: The Melbourne (John Dengate)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Jan 20 - 09:45 AM

Helen-

You've done a great job of filling in most of the blanks.

I too have great memories of Dengate singing, and even swapping songs at his home in Glebe one fine evening.

Cheerily,
Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: Lyr req: TheMelbourne (John Dengate)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Jan 20 - 09:05 AM

Thanks, Joe & Helen.

I'll contact Ralph for the words. Also Robin!

Ralph learnt John's songs when they were newly created in the 60s, when they were young blokes in the Bush Music Club. John joined in 1961, Ralph joined in 1963.

We have a holograph copy of 'The Melbourne goes through' in Archives & I've posted it on the blog Songs & poems of John Dengate as published in My Shout!(1982) etc

I've also posted the other songs listed as Unpublished songs & poems & will ask Leyne to include them on The John Dengate Collection

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr req: The Melbourne (John Dengate)
From: Helen
Date: 19 Jan 20 - 02:16 PM

Hi Sandra,

I knew you would have expert knowledge of John Dengate!!

I looked through the list on your link because Joe Offer posted the link on 16 Jan as "And here's another list of Dengate lyrics - no Melbourne."

I couldn't find any songs with Melbourne in the title.

When I did a quick Google about the HMAS Melbourne songs I think I saw a comment among the short descriptions on Google saying that Ralph Pride added some verses to one or both of the songs. I just saw the comment as I quickly scanned the search results page, so I might be wrong on that.

Helen

Subject: RE: Lyr req: The Melbourne (John Dengate)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Jan 20 - 07:00 PM

see image no. 5, Unpublished Songs & poems

I think the reference to people adding verses to John's songs refers to
this article

Subject: RE: Lyr req: The Melbourne (John Dengate)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jan 20 - 07:27 PM

This is fun. Thanks, Helen and Sandra.
How

Subject: RE: Lyr req: HMAS Melbourne Medley (John Dengate)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 02:38 AM

the words from Ralph

HMAS Melbourne

What does the Melbourne do on a cruise from Jervis Bay?
She sails on the briny blue with the Voyager in the way.
So it’s hard a-port for who’d’ve thought on a peaceful summer’s night.
A destroyer would sail and a carrier fail to give way on the right.

Oh, the weather was fair for a Boson’s chair so the Captain went for a ride.
He piped all hands to elastic bands as it loomed on the starboard side.
“A ship” cries he “It’s the enemy! Whatever shall I do?”
So they cut her in half just for a laugh, and drowned one third of the crew.

Box the compass, port the helm and all that nautical stuff.
The whistle blew and the Captain flew to the bridge in an awful huff,
Crying East by West is the course that’s best, so come on all you men.
There was great distress in the officer’s mess that night in the RAN.

So, sing with Pride of the suicide and cheer for the Commonwealth.
Who needs a war? There’s a wind off-shore, we’ll go and sink our-self.
    ................

HMAS Melbourne goes sailing the world,
With her radar antenna and her ensign unfurled.
Here is a fact that I’m sure will astound,
The Melbourne goes over what the others go ‘round.

chorus -
And it’s duck for cover, quickly before she arrives,
Here comes the Melbourne my jolly brave tars,
So swim, swim for your lives.

There’s a man on the Melbourne and he gets double pay,
His job is to keep shouting “Out of the way”.
Sing ho for a carrier out on the blue,
If you get in their way they will cut you in two.

All you destroyers take warning by me,
Beware for the Melbourne is out on the sea.
Subs go below, planes above and it’s true,
Most ships go around but the Melbourne goes through.

John Dengate

Joe, can you aa]dd a note to the posts above that the official words are in this post!

Subject: RE: Lyr req: The Melbourne (John Dengate)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 05:33 AM

Robin's poem about John

Joe - my previous post is a LYR ADD, could you also fix that, please.

many thankyous

sandra