Lyr/Chords Add: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)

Subject: andersons coast-lyrics?
From: GUEST,polesdon
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 11:18 AM

anyone know the words of this song? I heard nancy kerr and james fagin do it at Bromyard Folk Festival - Also any know the words of Lavender blue dilly dilly? THANKS

Subject: Lyr Add: ANDERSON'S COAST (John Warner)^^
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 11:34 AM

Lyrics to Anderson's Coast are in this thread.

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Thread #27958   Message #345123
Posted By: Jeri
22-Nov-00 - 10:48 AM
Thread Name: Songs lost but not forgotten
Subject: Lyr Add: ANDERSON'S COAST^^

Here it is.
I've transcribed it from a CD with people singing in an accent (to my ears), and place names I'm unfamiliar with. If I've misheard anything, please correct me. I'm sure a JoeClone would be willing to edit the lyrics.
Thanks, and enjoy the song!

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Anderson's Coast
by John Warner

Now Bass Strait roars like some great mill race
And where are you, my Annie
And the same moon shines on this lonely place
As shone one day on my Annies face

Chorus
But Annie dear, don't wait for me
I fear I shall not return to thee
There's naught to do but endure my fate
And watch the moon
The lonely moon
Light the breakers on wild Bass Strait.

We stole a vessel and all her gear
And where are you, my Annie
And from Van Diemen's we north did steer
'Till Bass Strait's wild waves wrecked us here

Chorus

And somewhere west port Melbourne lies
And where are you, my Annie
Through swamps infested with snakes and flies
The fool who walks there, he surely dies

Chorus

We hail no ships, though the time it drags
And where are you, my Annie
Our chain gang walk and government rags
All mark us out as Van Diemen's lags

Chorus

We fled the lash and the chafing chain
And where are you, my Annie
We fled hard labour and brutal pain
And here we are and here remain

Chorus

Repeat first verse

Transcribed from the singing of Cockersdale on the CD Wide Open Skies. Cockersdale got the song from John Warner's CD Pithead in the Fern.

Subject: RE: andersons coast-lyrics?
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 11:50 AM

Go Jeri !!
I was just going to go and seek out the NK & JF CD Steely Water for the lyrics. Love that song and find myself just singing the couple of lines I know all the time
Roger

Subject: Lyr Add: ANDERSON'S COAST (John Warner)^^
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 02:16 PM

Here they are anyway with the rest of the notes from the sleeve.

Anderson's Coast (j. Warner)

Australian singer John Warner writes evocative and beautifully poetic songs, many drawing on Australian colonial history. Anderson's Coast concerns of a group of convicts who escaped Van Diemen's Land in a stolen ship, only to be wrecked by the notorious Bass Strait waves on the Gippsland coast (in Victoria). The explorer Strzlecki and his small band stumbled out of dense rainforest and encountered the marooned men. Strzlecki would probably have perished had it not been for his Koori guide Charlie Tarra and this group of convicts who led him to Anderson, a pioneer settler who ran cattle on the South Gippsland coast. Apparently the convicts were pardoned for their contribution to the explorer's survival. We have been constantly singing this in our heads or out loud ever since we first heard it.

Old Bass Strait roars like some great mill race
And where are you, my Annie?
But the same moon shines on this lonely place
As shone one day on my Annie's face.
But Annie dear, don't wait for me,
I fear I shall not return to thee
There's nought to do but endure my fate
And watch the moon, the lonely moon
Light the breakers on wild Bass Strait.
We stole a vessel and all her gear
And from Van Diemen's we north did steer
'Till Bass Strait's wild waves wrecked us here.
And somewhere west Port Melbourne lies
Through swamps infested with snakes and flies
The fool who walks there surely dies.
We hail no ship though the time it drags
Our chain gang walk and our government rags
All mark us out as Van Diemen's lags,
We fled the lash and the chafing chain
We fled hard labour and brutal pain
And here we are and here remain.

Subject: RE: andersons coast-lyrics?
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 02:19 PM

Oops

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 02:35 PM

Danny Spooner includes the verse after "we stole a vessel..."

A mile inland, as our course was laid
And where are you, my Annie?
We found a government stockade.
Long long deserted, but stoutly made.

And he doesn't repeat the first verse when he sings it.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 02:42 PM

John Walters is a damn fine writer,and I would reccomend Pithead and the fern to anybody who likes good songs. I believe Margaret Walters is due over here in UK soon and she is worth catching--She sings a lot of Johns songs,and in fact last time i saw her she had John along.

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 02:48 PM

See also:

Songs lost but not forgotten
Lyr Req: Bass Strait?
Lyr/Chord Req: Anderson's Coast
Chord/Tablature - Anderson's Coast

Mick

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 04:13 PM

Leadfingers-

You mean, I'm sure, "John Warner" who often sings with "Margaret Walters." They're both fine singers, and fine people. We'll be seeing them again in three weeks in Sydney.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 08:00 PM

Thanks for the correction Charley - Only recently heard that Margaret is due here soon so the brain faded on the name !!!

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: breezy
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 05:29 AM

faded full stop.

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 06:24 AM

The stockade verse is hardly known to John's friends - we all learnt Anderson's Coast from his singing at many a session & also from Pithead. Until I heard Danny singing this verse I wasn't even aware it existed. I think it was cut from Pithead because the CD was getting too long.

John is a great songwriter. And a good bloke, too.

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 03:32 PM

The book of words that John and Margaret handed over to people who bought Pithead included the stockade verse as an asterisked verse (ie omitted during recording as the songs would otherwise have proved too long.) Danny Spooner has of course modified it slightly in his version - the original said "path" not "course" and there was only one "long" in the last line.

Having already cut one verse, John and Margaret did not repeat the first verse. I think that was a Cockersdale innovation.

John and Margaret are planning to tour Britain next summer and are looking for gigs.....

Kitty

Subject: Anderson's Coast
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 10:47 AM

I have a PDF file of Anderson's Coast with chords as determined by a good friend. Since this song seems illusive chordwise and everyone plays it a bit differently I thought I'd email the pdf to a few folks and get an opinion on the chords. I heard John Roberts do it at Old Songs this past Saturday on the banjo and that is what prompts this posting. His version is fine and still a shade different from most of the others. I know we have beaten this tune up pretty good over the years but what the hell--why not one more thrashing.

Send me an email address and I'll send along the chords.

Don

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 11:57 AM

I'll send you a PM with my e-mail, but you gotta log in.

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 07:37 PM

for those reading this who don't know the song & backgound Jack Halyard's (aka. John Warner's) very own contribution re the chords here - G'day folks, Jack Halyard needs to contribute.

The problem with Anderson's Coast is that it moves through chords very quickly and that it works a lot better with the instrument playing harmonies along with the voice.

When I wrote it, I built the melody on the whistle and then experienced considerable frustration trying to build a chordal accompaniment on the 12 string. I was going to ditch the song as too predictable, long, box-shaped and boring but that Margaret Walters insisted that I keep trying with it.
Kim Poole suggested that I leave it with him and see if I liked what he did with it. I liked it very much indeed! It is Kim playing the accompaniment on Pithead.
He tunes his guitar in DADEAB for this song. He also uses DADEAD. Once I learned that tuning I re-set many songs to it and wrote a number in that tuning. What is noticable is that there are very few block chords, it is mostly harmony behind voice.

I've since heard a number of settings. Some really fine unaccompanied treatments by such people as Jenny Fitzgibbon are compleat and perfect in themselves. Danny Spooner's concertina gives it a gutsy shantyman's emphasis. I've heard it done with continuo computer, Irish Bouzouki, and I've finally got a 12 string version of my own that works.

Margaret Walters may have some written music from Kim and Kim may have tablature for guitarists who read it. All I want to say is that, as the song's daddy, I'm happy to see my little one getting about and enjoying her relationships with all and sundry. She has not so-far dissapointed her old man - in fact he has been more than rewarded in hearing the song being sung, talked about and arranged.
Feel free to play folks, she's a big girl now.

                               Good health all!

                               Jack Halyard.

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 07:55 PM

My favorite version is on "Pithead in the Fern" but Danny Spooner's concertina version is a powerful second. I just need away for me to play it.

Thanks Jack for a great great song.

Don

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 08:02 PM

It IS a Cracker - But that's what you would expect from John !

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 09:20 PM

John-

It's certainly a fine song but not one to be followed by a set of ship wreck songs, train crashes, and other tragic ballads unless you want to provoke people to suicide.

I tend to think of it as the ultimate despair song, but with a lovely chorus.

I do appreciate your notes to the song that indicate that the convicts were pardoned after they rescued a survey team. However, I'm also glad you didn't add a verse to provide the song a conventional happy ending.

Charley Noble, who also did work out some chords with the autoharp.

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 10:10 PM

Charley - I can see your point , but I feel that a song lik A C , with such wonderful opportunities for Harmonic Chorus participation is NOT a 'Despair' song , despite the unhappy conclusion

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 04:14 AM

I've never thought of it as a "despair" song - it's just one of the best chorus songs we have in the Sydney sessions - & at other singing sessions around the nation/world.

sandra

Charley - if you want John to read what you wrote you'd need to email him as he hasn't posted on Mudcat for years.

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast
From: Tangledwood
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 04:43 AM

Back in this thread Andersons Coast Eileen Anne Moore was attempting to contact John regarding a couple of additional verses that she had written. They added the historically accurate finale to the tale which gave the happy ending which some people look for. Has anybody heard what John's response was?

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 04:59 AM

I emailed John about her request.

I don't know if he contacted her or not

sandra

Subject: RE: Anderson's Coast
From: Tangledwood
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 05:04 AM

Thanks Sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 20 Apr 19 - 03:36 PM

Readacted by Barr

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 20 Apr 19 - 11:58 PM

I worked this up a few years ago. The notes in parenthesis are walking notes.

Anderson's Coast

INTRO:   C G C G

How (b)Bass (c)Strait (d)D roars,

like some (d)great mill-(d)(e)Em race.

And (e)where (f#)are (g)G you, my Annie?

And the (e) same (f#) moon (g)G shines

on this (a) lone-(b) ly (c)C place

As G (g)shone (f#)one (e)Em day

on me (e)Annie's (b)(c)C face.

CHORUS: But (d)G An (b)nie (g)dear, don't (b)G wait (c)for (f#)D me.

I (d)D fear I Em (e)shall (e)not (f#)re-(g)turn to (b)Bm thee.

There's (b)Bm naught (a)to (e)Em do but endure my (b)(c)C fate,

And (c)C watch (d)the (g)G moon,

the (c)Am lone-(d)Bm ly (c)C moon,

(D) Light the (G) breakers

on (D) wild Bass (C) Strait. (b) (a) G C G

We (G) stole (C) a (D) vessel and all her (Em) gear

And (Em) where are (G) you, my Annie?

And (C) from (D) Van (G) Diemen's,
We (Am) north (G) did (C) steer

Till (G) Bass Strait's (Em) wild waves wrecked us (C) here.

CHORUS
And G some-C where D west, Port D Melbourne Em lies
And Em where are G you, my Annie?
Through C swamps D in-G fested with Am snakes G and C flies.
The G fool who Em walks there, he surely C dies.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK a la CHORUS

We G hail C no D ships, though the time, it Em drags.
And Em where are G you, my Annie?
Our C chain-D gang G walk and our Am govern-G ment C rags.
All G mark us Em out as Van Diemen's C lags.

CHORUS

We G fled C the D lash and the chafing Em chain.
And Em where are G you, my Annie?
We C fled D hard G labour and Am brut-G al C pain,
And G here we Em are and we re-C main.
CHORUS & END

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 21 Apr 19 - 09:56 AM

Just heard Nancy Kerr & James Fagan sing this a couple of hours ago at the National Folk Festival in Canberra.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: ANDERSON'S COAST (John Warner)
From: DonMeixner
Date: 19 Feb 20 - 11:51 AM

Several years ago I started a chord request for Information and chords to Anderson's Coast by John Warner. I had donated a bracelet to the auction which was won by a woman in Australia. Along with a thank you she sent me a copy of "Pithead In The Fern". Songs related to mining in Gippsland, Vic. On the CD which is exceptional is "Anderson's Coast" and "Kitty Kane". Two perfect songs. I had promised to post the chords I had developed as soon as i could. Life intrudes and memories fail, until now.

ANDERSON'S COAST John Warner

C G C G                        G

O(G)ld Bass Strait (D)roars like some great mill (Em)race

         And where are (G)you, my Annie?

But the same moon (G)shines on this lonely (C)place

As (G)shone one (Em)day(night) on my Annie's (C)face.


But (G)Annie dear, don't (G)wait for (D)me,
I(D) fear I (Em)shall not return to (Bm)thee
There's (Bm)nought to (Em) do but endure my(C) fate
And (C)watch the (G)moon, the(Am) lone (Bm)ly (C)moon
(D)Light the (G)breakers on (D)wild Bass (C)Strait. GCG

We stole a vessel and all her gear
        And where are you, my Annie?
And from Van Diemen's we north did steer
'Till Bass Strait's wild waves wrecked us here.

And somewhere west Port Melbourne lies
        And where are you, my Annie?
Through swamps infested with snakes and flies
The fool who walks there surely dies.

We hail no ship though the time it drags
        And where are you, my Annie?
Our chain gang walk and our government rags
All mark us out as Van Diemen's lags,

We fled the lash and the chafing chain
        And where are you, my Annie?
We fled hard labour and brutal pain
And here we are and here (shall) remain.

This song is built to have passing notes, walk ups and downs, played either with flat picks or finger picks as you navigate the chords.

I suppose better late than never.

DonMeixner

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: Anderson's Coast (John Warner)
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 22 Feb 20 - 09:50 AM

Roberts and Cowan do a good rendition of the song which is easily located on YouTube.

Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1e5ioorDXk


Studio recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK5Ybwf056w