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Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Nov 23 - 05:12 AM Rich-joy said - the Poppy Sellers can still be found - on the city streets and in country towns, at least - in the days leading up to November 11th. It is unlikely to ever again reach the outpouring of the centenary in 2018, where I among many, many tens of thousands of people - the world over - hand-crafted poppies and delivered them via the local libraries etc, to be inserted into massed displays around the countries and particularly at the memorials to the fallen, extant in every city and town. Fellow Catter and Crafter, Sandra in Sydney, may have done the same!? World War I armistice centenary to be marked with 62,000 handmade poppies at Australian War Memorial ... Almost one million poppies were sent in, but only 62,000 were staked outside the war memorial ... no, I didn't make poppies, but several friends did & one even saw one of her her poppies amongst the 62,000 at the Australian War memorial. It had a distinctive centre & was near the path! another friend made several dozen for a display on a local church gate & makes more every year. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 06 Nov 23 - 03:24 AM Thanks Sandra and Jennie for those verifications!! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 04 Nov 23 - 03:52 AM I’m not sure if "Armistice Day" is still widely recognised by the general population in the UK, North America, or in other countries that participated in WWI, 1914-18 [ also known as "The Great War" and “the war to end all wars” as the scale and suffering was unprecedented and grew to involve over 80% of the world ]. But here Down Under, in Australia and in New Zealand, the signing of the armistice in 1918 to end the war (the European theatre, at least), is still commemorated, but tends to now be known as "Remembrance Day", honouring all Service Veterans of all conflicts. [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day ] The Poppy Sellers can still be found - on the city streets and in country towns, at least - in the days leading up to November 11th. It is unlikely to ever again reach the outpouring of the centenary in 2018, where I among many, many tens of thousands of people - the world over - hand-crafted poppies and delivered them via the local libraries etc, to be inserted into massed displays around the countries and particularly at the memorials to the fallen, extant in every city and town. Fellow Catter and Crafter, Sandra in Sydney, may have done the same!? [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_poppy ] [ Why Poppies? http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/john-mccrae-in-flanders-fields.htm ] The once-common mark of respect - a one (or two) minute's silence at the 11th hour (and where in past times, even the traffic in many places, pulled over and came to a standstill!!!) - is also regaining its place. [on the origins : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-minute_silence ] I note that the 10th Maleny Music Festival, being held here next weekend, has The Minute’s Silence built into its program, followed by a presentation of “Songs of Peace and Remembrance”. [ https://www.malenymusicfestival.com/ ] The remembrance is not glorifying war, as some folks loudly insist. In my case, I think of the grandfather I never got to meet. A man who, like myself, loved reading, poetry and song (and my grandmother!), but who died from the effects of Tuberculosis (contracted whilst he was a medical orderly with the 3rd Austn General Hospital in Abbeville, Abbasia and Lemnos), resulting in my mother and her baby sister, growing up without a father (and their mother without a beloved husband). As it turns out, I had 6 other relatives serving in WWI, but thankfully they all returned to ‘resume’ their peacetime lives. Except for my grandfather, who passed from “The White Plague” (as TB was known), in 1926 and now, all who once knew him are also passed from this world, and while his name is on the cenotaph at Kings Park Botannic Garden, on the hill overlooking Perth in West Aussie, I have some photos and some books - and some thoughts of what life might have been …........… [ https://www.flickr.com/photos/peculiarhand/5799286616/in/album-72157626763214889/ ] The following song was written late last century by my brother-in-law, Noel Gardner, and he dedicates it to a friend of ours who used to live nearby and whose military service had resulted in on-going ill health, but, as is very sadly often the case, he was treated badly by the Powers-that-Be, once he had returned home. ARMISTICE DAY ~ Noel Gardner, Nov2007 Silence tolls an hour ‘fore midday on the second-last month of the year Images flash on the eleventh day, as memories disappear Now medals hang proudly and tributes flow as politicians push their line Another year, less truth said, another war to justify Defend your country the posters read, in the name of national pride But they don’t defend our soldiers of war, as disease eats them inside Lying on his back in his hospital bed, he recalls in tales of pain Denials, whitewash, cover-ups, protect the government’s shame Chorus May we remember, lest we forget But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet May we remember, lest we forget But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet High in the sky, a target is selected from dots on the face of a screen But the pilot never sees or hears from his cockpit the blood-soaked tears and screams Out in the field an innocent child, falls prey to clusters of time Inhumanity, ideology, combines with greed and science Hide the coffins, distort statistics, don’t let anyone see Rape for profit, kill for oil, in the name of liberty Hollow words laced with fear fuel the government’s guise And in the in the name of deceit, spin and business, another soldier dies Chorus May we remember lest we forget But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet May we remember lest we forget But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet Silence tolls an hour ‘fore midday on the second-last month of the year ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here is a YT video of Noel Gardner and Alex Bridge performing this song, in 2016 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpvMc5PPw3c Cheers – and here’s to armistices being sincerely signed, the whole sorry world over. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: JennieG Date: 04 Nov 23 - 05:48 PM Himself and I have been in Toronto, Canada, a couple of times on 11th November, and it is certainly commemorated there. Poppies everywhere - we had a couple with us that a friend had made before we went, our Canadian DIL requested them so we left them with her - poppies for sale in the weeks leading up to 11th November. Displays in shop windows....the music shop on the corner (now sadly closed, as the owner retired after 50 years) had a display of memorabilia, including the battle jacket worn by the owner's father in WWII. There was even a music evening there singing songs from war years, which I was able to join in - they let me borrow a ukulele. So yes+, very much in Canada. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART (MAKARRATA SONG) From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Oct 23 - 05:51 PM Another great song comes from Tripple Effect winners of the 2020 Alistair Hulett Songs for Social justice award - Straight From the Heart (the Makarrata Song) - Tripple Effect with Thomas Mayor Tripple Effect first performed Straight From the Heart at the protest event to mark the first anniversary of the Uluru Statement, held in Sydney in May 2018. It was the band's first public performance. The photo near the end of the video of Tripple Effect with Thomas Mayor holding the Uluru Statement canvas was taken at that event. STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART (THE MAKARRATA SONG) lyrics by John Sutton 2018 They gathered in the heart of the wide brown land Put their differences aside, said “Together we stand You ask what we want, so we’ll tell you straight “That our people are hurting, but it’s not too late “If you really want to help heal the wounds of the past “And really close the gap with some justice at last “We’ll tell you straight from the Heart “Straight from the Heart of this land” So they spoke and they sang till they worked it all out Three tasks to do, one word to shout There’s a Voice to be heard, there’s Truth to be told There’s a Treaty to be signed, to right wrongs of old It’s Makarrata we want, Makarrata’s the cry From the great red rock under this southern sky “We speak straight from the Heart “Straight from the Heart of this land” To Canberra they came, said “Here’s what we say If you wanna walk with us, this is the way” But Canberra said “No, you ask for too much We wanted something with a much lighter touch Something we could sell to those on the right Who can’t see past their blindfolds into the light Of what’s straight from the Heart Straight from the Heart of this land" Well it’s been said before they know how to wait But Makarrata's already two hundred years late There’s no time like now to do what we must And bury terra nullius under the dust Of this blood-stained country, this heart-broken land Where the red rock itself cries in the sand Straight from the Heart Straight from the Heart of this land Now the Heart of this land isn’t just Uluru It’s what beats in the chest of me and of you It’s what cries in the soul of this country we share It’s what sings in the sighs of the dreams that we dare It’s what lifts us to hope and to care for each other It drives the blood in the bond of sister and brother It’s what gives us our strength to rise above fears It’s the rock of our dreams and our hopes and our tears That come straight from the Heart Straight from the Heart of this land So if we want it to be, it’s over to us We can’t leave it to others we’ve learnt not to trust. It’s Makarrata we need, Makarrata’s the way To a much better future, to a bran nue dae Where the clear light of Truth will finally be shone On all of the lies about what has been done Where those who’ve been silenced will be given their Voice And those who won’t listen won’t have any choice But to sign the damn Treaty, pay the damn rent For country and lives stolen and spent So we’ll sing it and shout it throughout this land Until justice prevails, and as one we all stand Singing straight from the Heart Crying straight from the Heart of this land So let's sing it and shout it throughout this land Until justice prevails, and as one we all stand Singing straight from the Heart Crying straight from the Heart Singing straight from the Heart Crying straight from the Heart of this land |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Oct 23 - 05:46 PM your BinL was also the winner of the 2018 Dale & John Dengate Parody award with 'A Bicycle Built for Three' & words are on this blog, unfortunately it's a .jpg & I don't want to type up the words! |
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Subject: Lyr Add: TOGETHER (Jess Hitchcock) From: rich-joy Date: 21 Oct 23 - 08:26 PM Here is another song regarding the recent Referendum. No, not too late. It's from Torres Strait singer-songwriter, Jess Hitchcock. "A special performance by Jess Hitchcock to bring us together. #Yes23 Jess Hitchcock is a Melbourne-based Indigenous singer-songwriter who has stirred the Australian music and performing arts scene as a genre-defying force. Her powerful voice and knack for storytelling has seen her shine across pop, country, folk, opera and music theatre, sharing the stage and studio with some of Australia's favourites. One of Jess's most notable collaborations is with legendary Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly. Together they performed and recorded Paul's song, ‘Everyday My Mother’s Voice’, earning standing ovations across the nation. You can occasionally find Jess in Paul's band on vocals and percussion. Jess has also collaborated with Archie Roach, Tina Arena and Kate Miller-Heidke." TOGETHER We’re armed for this fight There’s no place to hide But we’re ready Behind me there stands One million people And we’re all ready This is our time We must fight for a future That we can give to our children They’ll have nothing left If we don’t stand, together now Each day it gets worse There seems like no end To gain power We’ve all lost our way Desensitised to pain To gain power Wars are all the same, the casualties and pain Are there any boundaries, that we will not cross The road ahead seems rough, but there’s no turning back We can only rectify all of this with us This is our time We must fight for a future That we can give to our children They’ll have nothing left If we don’t stand, together now Listen to Jess sing her song TOGETHER, here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNDTkNOPbIA "This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community." |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 11 Oct 23 - 06:51 AM Here is the first song of two, that Aussie singer-songwriter, Noel Gardner, wrote regarding the Referendum issues : HISTORY IS CALLING OUT ~ Noel Gardner (7th Sept 2023) Now, for sixty five times ….. thousands of years The Dreaming has sung up this land, through respect, love and tears In tune with mother nature .… rivers, sky, trees and sand Only taking, what was needed, just leaving, footprints on the land When those, cloud-like white sails ……… appeared upon the shore A flag was planted on a lie, land never, ceded in law And from a false proclamation …… lives were torn apart Language, culture, children, ripped from parent’s hearts History, is calling out, across this Southern land It’s time for a reckoning, on which side will you stand Will you stand for justice, and to walk, side by side A new path is beckoning, to correct what was denied For two hundred, and more years ……..with a system stacked one way The cover ups continue, with land still stolen today The jails are overflowing ………. as disadvantage grabs a hold Family ties and separations, interventions take their toll Programs designed for reasons ……… as per, white fella’s way Black knowledge is ignored, so money flows, just one way Ignorance of culture ……. and deep meaning of this land Are cast aside for profit with no Voice to make a stand History is calling out, across this Southern land It’s time for a reckoning, on which side will you stand Will you stand for justice, division, lies or hate A new path is beckoning, which way will you relate No farming recognition …… grains or with fish traps Were included in the history books …. excluded were the facts The culture and the frontier wars ……. are yet to be told With a Voice unlocking stories and truth telling to unfold So will you grasp this history ………. are you up for the task A dialogue from Uluru, A Statement From The Heart History is calling out, across this Southern land It’s time for a reckoning, on which side will you stand Will you stand for justice, and to walk, side by side A new path is beckoning, to correct what was denied Will you stand for justice, or division, lies and hate Will you stand for justice, and to walk, side by side ***** This is the link to a first performance of this song, on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQlNB753-HU "Oct 11, 2023 This Song was inspired after listening to Indigenous Elders from Cherbourg explaining the benefits that The Voice would provide to their Community. They talked about how funding had been taken away from their community-run Night Patrol and given to some corporation. They weren't able to find out who it was or why, but A Voice would allow them to have their questions answered." Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 10 Oct 23 - 07:24 AM Here is a link to Catter, Daniel Kelly's song "Yes to The Voice" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO9aa9_W9P4 He says : "Hopefully this weekend Australians will take another long-overdue step in moving to #truth, #treaty and a #voice for indigenous people." Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 08 Oct 23 - 08:40 PM Here is the Paul Kelly song regarding Australia's imminent Referendum : PAUL KELLY - IF NOT NOW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFNu5QeVtcM It’s a splinter in the mind, a whisper in the heart A feeling something’s missing, some crucial little part It’s business that’s unfinished, a reckoning that’s due If not now, then when? If not us, then who? It’s a simple proposition to join the new and old A chance to make our country larger in its soul It’s an invitation offered to set our course anew If not now, then when? If not us, then who? How long can we keep walking with this stone in our shoe? If not now, then when? If not us, then who? We may never get another chance like this again If not us, then who? If not now, then when Too many falling far behind, shut out of the deal If you called and no-one heard you, imagine how you’d feel This land was never given, it was taken and then sold But its ancient songs and stories are a gift greater than gold The status quo is busted, let’s stop kicking that old can If not us, then who? If not now, then when? It’s business that’s unfinished, high time to see it through If not now, then when? If not us, then who? Cheers, R-J PS still looking for the NO songs published online, in the interests of balance, here. I've no doubt they are being sung in pubs and clubs around the traps ..... |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 07 Oct 23 - 09:01 PM Here is another song regarding the imminent Oz Referendum : The Goodwills - Should We Say Yes "This is the YouTube version of a song for Yes23 released on September 30. It asks what kind of country would we be living in now if we'd had citizens' referenda over controversial issues like the Vietnam and Gulf wars." (complete with visual historical footage) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRpmvQz5m5o Any more songs out there?? (for Yes or for No) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 06 Oct 23 - 11:17 PM Here are the lyrics for Noel Gardner's song : "A SIMPLE PROPOSITION" regarding Australia's current Referendum, as discussed 2 posts below. It can be found on various platforms, but here it is on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n58BiBwuSo A Simple Proposition It was a simple proposition, with a simple plan A simple way to recognise, the first peoples of this land A simple ask for a Voice from those at Uluru But the government ignored it, and then lied about it too After years of consultation, the elders gathered in the dust In the centre of Australia through dialogue and trust Just fifty years after, they had won the right to Vote Looking for a better way, from despair to hope The Libs. twisted its intentions, and distorted truth and fact Mixed it up with hate and lies and other hurtful crap But hope was never ceded, and elders pushed on with their plan Until a politician said I’ll, support you in your stand When he announced he would pursue it, and heeded to their call Hope swelled for a future bright, a better path for one and all But they under estimated, darkness pushing through A negative agenda, with big backing from the few The few who scuttle progress, the ones who lie and hate The one’s who add confusion, with division they create Who spread their propaganda or promote religious creed Who cast aside people’s rights, and ignore heartfelt plea’s So before you mark your ballot, please open up your heart Reach for generosity, a new way to make a start Ignore that negativity, let compassion be your guide A heartfelt plea from Uluru to walk and recognise It was a simple proposition, with a simple plan A simple way to recognise, the first people’s of this land A simple ask for a voice, to create a better way So simply consider that, on referendum day So simply consider that, on referendum day And remember that you are The Voice come referendum day Noel Gardner ( C ) 5th Sept 2023 Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 06 Oct 23 - 07:34 AM The latest thing to get many Aussies knickers-in-a-twist is the coming Referendum to vote on The Voice, set to be held on Sat October 14th, 2023. (Voting is compulsory for all over 18, in Australia) Considering Australia is one of the few 'first world' countries with a Colonial past, that does NOT recognise its Indigenous Peoples (yes, that has been "Fact-Checked" :), you'd think that a simple proposition to enshrine the Voice to Parliament of our First Nations folk, via our Constitution, would be a shoe-in. Basically Yes or No, to the (strictly advisory) Indigenous Voice regarding Indigenous affairs. However, apparently the Naysayers, whose objections range widely and wildy from the cautious to the ludicrous, consider it's A Very Bad Thing, with some claiming it will cause more Racism and Division in the Population (check : they've already achieved that on their own .....) and some even say (like Hanrahan), that “WE’LL ALL BE RUUUU-INED!!!” – and have our property stolen. (Oh, you mean like what was done to Aboriginal peoples by our British Lords and Masters???) Yeah - Nah, reminds me of the kind of silliness spoke by the Daylight Saving Objectors in previous State referendums : "It'll fade the curtains and the paintwork!!!" (true story) Anyway, we're not gonna go there now; there's been far too much of it already, in the media and on social media - and round the Barbie and in the Pub!!! This post is actually to bring attention to a song written and performed by my BinL, Noel Gardner, who is a well-known singer/songwriter Down Under. I've still gotta get the definitive lyrics from him and post here, but you can watch and listen to it on his much under-used You Tube channel : A SIMPLE PROPOSITION - Noel Gardner, 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n58BiBwuSo recorded at The Bug Folk Club in Brisbane, last Tuesday evening. I believe that Paul Kelly and a number of other Aussies have written songs too – maybe they’ll be appearing in this thread??? (she asks hopefully ??) I guess I really should have included more of an explanation about The Voice, for Catters and for posterity - but to be honest, I’m a bit tired – AND I’ve already voted!!! (Gawd, I do so love “early voting”!!) Cheers!! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 06 Nov 23 - 03:24 AM Thanks Sandra and Jennie for those verifications!! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: JennieG Date: 04 Nov 23 - 05:48 PM Himself and I have been in Toronto, Canada, a couple of times on 11th November, and it is certainly commemorated there. Poppies everywhere - we had a couple with us that a friend had made before we went, our Canadian DIL requested them so we left them with her - poppies for sale in the weeks leading up to 11th November. Displays in shop windows....the music shop on the corner (now sadly closed, as the owner retired after 50 years) had a display of memorabilia, including the battle jacket worn by the owner's father in WWII. There was even a music evening there singing songs from war years, which I was able to join in - they let me borrow a ukulele. So yes+, very much in Canada. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Nov 23 - 05:12 AM Rich-joy said - the Poppy Sellers can still be found - on the city streets and in country towns, at least - in the days leading up to November 11th. It is unlikely to ever again reach the outpouring of the centenary in 2018, where I among many, many tens of thousands of people - the world over - hand-crafted poppies and delivered them via the local libraries etc, to be inserted into massed displays around the countries and particularly at the memorials to the fallen, extant in every city and town. Fellow Catter and Crafter, Sandra in Sydney, may have done the same!? World War I armistice centenary to be marked with 62,000 handmade poppies at Australian War Memorial ... Almost one million poppies were sent in, but only 62,000 were staked outside the war memorial ... no, I didn't make poppies, but several friends did & one even saw one of her her poppies amongst the 62,000 at the Australian War memorial. It had a distinctive centre & was near the path! another friend made several dozen for a display on a local church gate & makes more every year. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 04 Nov 23 - 03:52 AM I’m not sure if "Armistice Day" is still widely recognised by the general population in the UK, North America, or in other countries that participated in WWI, 1914-18 [ also known as "The Great War" and “the war to end all wars” as the scale and suffering was unprecedented and grew to involve over 80% of the world ]. But here Down Under, in Australia and in New Zealand, the signing of the armistice in 1918 to end the war (the European theatre, at least), is still commemorated, but tends to now be known as "Remembrance Day", honouring all Service Veterans of all conflicts. [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day ] The Poppy Sellers can still be found - on the city streets and in country towns, at least - in the days leading up to November 11th. It is unlikely to ever again reach the outpouring of the centenary in 2018, where I among many, many tens of thousands of people - the world over - hand-crafted poppies and delivered them via the local libraries etc, to be inserted into massed displays around the countries and particularly at the memorials to the fallen, extant in every city and town. Fellow Catter and Crafter, Sandra in Sydney, may have done the same!? [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_poppy ] [ Why Poppies? http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/john-mccrae-in-flanders-fields.htm ] The once-common mark of respect - a one (or two) minute's silence at the 11th hour (and where in past times, even the traffic in many places, pulled over and came to a standstill!!!) - is also regaining its place. [on the origins : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-minute_silence ] I note that the 10th Maleny Music Festival, being held here next weekend, has The Minute’s Silence built into its program, followed by a presentation of “Songs of Peace and Remembrance”. [ https://www.malenymusicfestival.com/ ] The remembrance is not glorifying war, as some folks loudly insist. In my case, I think of the grandfather I never got to meet. A man who, like myself, loved reading, poetry and song (and my grandmother!), but who died from the effects of Tuberculosis (contracted whilst he was a medical orderly with the 3rd Austn General Hospital in Abbeville, Abbasia and Lemnos), resulting in my mother and her baby sister, growing up without a father (and their mother without a beloved husband). As it turns out, I had 6 other relatives serving in WWI, but thankfully they all returned to ‘resume’ their peacetime lives. Except for my grandfather, who passed from “The White Plague” (as TB was known), in 1926 and now, all who once knew him are also passed from this world, and while his name is on the cenotaph at Kings Park Botannic Garden, on the hill overlooking Perth in West Aussie, I have some photos and some books - and some thoughts of what life might have been …........… [ https://www.flickr.com/photos/peculiarhand/5799286616/in/album-72157626763214889/ ] The following song was written late last century by my brother-in-law, Noel Gardner, and he dedicates it to a friend of ours who used to live nearby and whose military service had resulted in on-going ill health, but, as is very sadly often the case, he was treated badly by the Powers-that-Be, once he had returned home. ARMISTICE DAY ~ Noel Gardner, Nov2007 Silence tolls an hour ‘fore midday on the second-last month of the year Images flash on the eleventh day, as memories disappear Now medals hang proudly and tributes flow as politicians push their line Another year, less truth said, another war to justify Defend your country the posters read, in the name of national pride But they don’t defend our soldiers of war, as disease eats them inside Lying on his back in his hospital bed, he recalls in tales of pain Denials, whitewash, cover-ups, protect the government’s shame Chorus May we remember, lest we forget But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet May we remember, lest we forget But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet High in the sky, a target is selected from dots on the face of a screen But the pilot never sees or hears from his cockpit the blood-soaked tears and screams Out in the field an innocent child, falls prey to clusters of time Inhumanity, ideology, combines with greed and science Hide the coffins, distort statistics, don’t let anyone see Rape for profit, kill for oil, in the name of liberty Hollow words laced with fear fuel the government’s guise And in the in the name of deceit, spin and business, another soldier dies Chorus May we remember lest we forget But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet May we remember lest we forget But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet Silence tolls an hour ‘fore midday on the second-last month of the year ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here is a YT video of Noel Gardner and Alex Bridge performing this song, in 2016 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpvMc5PPw3c Cheers – and here’s to armistices being sincerely signed, the whole sorry world over. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 21 Oct 23 - 08:26 PM Here is another song regarding the recent Referendum. No, not too late. It's from Torres Strait singer-songwriter, Jess Hitchcock. "A special performance by Jess Hitchcock to bring us together. #Yes23 Jess Hitchcock is a Melbourne-based Indigenous singer-songwriter who has stirred the Australian music and performing arts scene as a genre-defying force. Her powerful voice and knack for storytelling has seen her shine across pop, country, folk, opera and music theatre, sharing the stage and studio with some of Australia's favourites. One of Jess's most notable collaborations is with legendary Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly. Together they performed and recorded Paul's song, ‘Everyday My Mother’s Voice’, earning standing ovations across the nation. You can occasionally find Jess in Paul's band on vocals and percussion. Jess has also collaborated with Archie Roach, Tina Arena and Kate Miller-Heidke." TOGETHER We’re armed for this fight There’s no place to hide But we’re ready Behind me there stands One million people And we’re all ready This is our time We must fight for a future That we can give to our children They’ll have nothing left If we don’t stand, together now Each day it gets worse There seems like no end To gain power We’ve all lost our way Desensitised to pain To gain power Wars are all the same, the casualties and pain Are there any boundaries, that we will not cross The road ahead seems rough, but there’s no turning back We can only rectify all of this with us This is our time We must fight for a future That we can give to our children They’ll have nothing left If we don’t stand, together now Listen to Jess sing her song TOGETHER, here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNDTkNOPbIA "This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community." |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 11 Oct 23 - 06:51 AM Here is the first song of two, that Aussie singer-songwriter, Noel Gardner, wrote regarding the Referendum issues : HISTORY IS CALLING OUT ~ Noel Gardner (7th Sept 2023) Now, for sixty five times ….. thousands of years The Dreaming has sung up this land, through respect, love and tears In tune with mother nature .… rivers, sky, trees and sand Only taking, what was needed, just leaving, footprints on the land When those, cloud-like white sails ……… appeared upon the shore A flag was planted on a lie, land never, ceded in law And from a false proclamation …… lives were torn apart Language, culture, children, ripped from parent’s hearts History, is calling out, across this Southern land It’s time for a reckoning, on which side will you stand Will you stand for justice, and to walk, side by side A new path is beckoning, to correct what was denied For two hundred, and more years ……..with a system stacked one way The cover ups continue, with land still stolen today The jails are overflowing ………. as disadvantage grabs a hold Family ties and separations, interventions take their toll Programs designed for reasons ……… as per, white fella’s way Black knowledge is ignored, so money flows, just one way Ignorance of culture ……. and deep meaning of this land Are cast aside for profit with no Voice to make a stand History is calling out, across this Southern land It’s time for a reckoning, on which side will you stand Will you stand for justice, division, lies or hate A new path is beckoning, which way will you relate No farming recognition …… grains or with fish traps Were included in the history books …. excluded were the facts The culture and the frontier wars ……. are yet to be told With a Voice unlocking stories and truth telling to unfold So will you grasp this history ………. are you up for the task A dialogue from Uluru, A Statement From The Heart History is calling out, across this Southern land It’s time for a reckoning, on which side will you stand Will you stand for justice, and to walk, side by side A new path is beckoning, to correct what was denied Will you stand for justice, or division, lies and hate Will you stand for justice, and to walk, side by side ***** This is the link to a first performance of this song, on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQlNB753-HU "Oct 11, 2023 This Song was inspired after listening to Indigenous Elders from Cherbourg explaining the benefits that The Voice would provide to their Community. They talked about how funding had been taken away from their community-run Night Patrol and given to some corporation. They weren't able to find out who it was or why, but A Voice would allow them to have their questions answered." Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 10 Oct 23 - 07:24 AM Here is a link to Catter, Daniel Kelly's song "Yes to The Voice" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO9aa9_W9P4 He says : "Hopefully this weekend Australians will take another long-overdue step in moving to #truth, #treaty and a #voice for indigenous people." Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 08 Oct 23 - 08:40 PM Here is the Paul Kelly song regarding Australia's imminent Referendum : PAUL KELLY - IF NOT NOW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFNu5QeVtcM It’s a splinter in the mind, a whisper in the heart A feeling something’s missing, some crucial little part It’s business that’s unfinished, a reckoning that’s due If not now, then when? If not us, then who? It’s a simple proposition to join the new and old A chance to make our country larger in its soul It’s an invitation offered to set our course anew If not now, then when? If not us, then who? How long can we keep walking with this stone in our shoe? If not now, then when? If not us, then who? We may never get another chance like this again If not us, then who? If not now, then when Too many falling far behind, shut out of the deal If you called and no-one heard you, imagine how you’d feel This land was never given, it was taken and then sold But its ancient songs and stories are a gift greater than gold The status quo is busted, let’s stop kicking that old can If not us, then who? If not now, then when? It’s business that’s unfinished, high time to see it through If not now, then when? If not us, then who? Cheers, R-J PS still looking for the NO songs published online, in the interests of balance, here. I've no doubt they are being sung in pubs and clubs around the traps ..... |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 07 Oct 23 - 09:01 PM Here is another song regarding the imminent Oz Referendum : The Goodwills - Should We Say Yes "This is the YouTube version of a song for Yes23 released on September 30. It asks what kind of country would we be living in now if we'd had citizens' referenda over controversial issues like the Vietnam and Gulf wars." (complete with visual historical footage) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRpmvQz5m5o Any more songs out there?? (for Yes or for No) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 06 Oct 23 - 11:17 PM Here are the lyrics for Noel Gardner's song : "A SIMPLE PROPOSITION" regarding Australia's current Referendum, as discussed 2 posts below. It can be found on various platforms, but here it is on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n58BiBwuSo A Simple Proposition It was a simple proposition, with a simple plan A simple way to recognise, the first peoples of this land A simple ask for a Voice from those at Uluru But the government ignored it, and then lied about it too After years of consultation, the elders gathered in the dust In the centre of Australia through dialogue and trust Just fifty years after, they had won the right to Vote Looking for a better way, from despair to hope The Libs. twisted its intentions, and distorted truth and fact Mixed it up with hate and lies and other hurtful crap But hope was never ceded, and elders pushed on with their plan Until a politician said I’ll, support you in your stand When he announced he would pursue it, and heeded to their call Hope swelled for a future bright, a better path for one and all But they under estimated, darkness pushing through A negative agenda, with big backing from the few The few who scuttle progress, the ones who lie and hate The one’s who add confusion, with division they create Who spread their propaganda or promote religious creed Who cast aside people’s rights, and ignore heartfelt plea’s So before you mark your ballot, please open up your heart Reach for generosity, a new way to make a start Ignore that negativity, let compassion be your guide A heartfelt plea from Uluru to walk and recognise It was a simple proposition, with a simple plan A simple way to recognise, the first people’s of this land A simple ask for a voice, to create a better way So simply consider that, on referendum day So simply consider that, on referendum day And remember that you are The Voice come referendum day Noel Gardner ( C ) 5th Sept 2023 Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Oct 23 - 05:51 PM Another great song comes from Tripple Effect winners of the 2020 Alistair Hulett Songs for Social justice award - Straight From the Heart (the Makarrata Song) - Tripple Effect with Thomas Mayor Tripple Effect first performed Straight From the Heart at the protest event to mark the first anniversary of the Uluru Statement, held in Sydney in May 2018. It was the band's first public performance. The photo near the end of the video of Tripple Effect with Thomas Mayor holding the Uluru Statement canvas was taken at that event. STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART (THE MAKARRATA SONG) lyrics by John Sutton 2018 They gathered in the heart of the wide brown land Put their differences aside, said “together we stand You ask what we want, so we’ll tell you straight “That our people are hurting, but it’s not too late “If you really want to help heal the wounds of the past “And really close the gap with some justice at last “We’ll tell you straight from the Heart “Straight from the Heart of this land” So they spoke and they sang till they worked it all out Three tasks to do, one word to shout There’s a Voice to be heard, there’s Truth to be told There’s a Treaty to be signed, to right wrongs of old It’s Makarrata we want, Makarrata’s the cry From the great red rock under this southern sky “We speak straight from the Heart “Straight from the Heart of this land” To Canberra they came, said “here’s what we say If you wanna walk with us, this is the way” But Canberra said “no, you ask for too much We wanted something with a much lighter touch Something we could sell to those on the right Who can’t see past their blindfolds into the light Of what’s straight from the Heart Straight from the Heart of this land" Well it’s been said before they know how to wait But Makarrata's already two hundred years late There’s no time like now to do what we must And bury terra nullius under the dust Of this blood-stained country, this heart-broken land Where the red rock itself cries in the sand Straight from the Heart Straight from the Heart of this land Now the Heart of this land isn’t just Uluru It’s what beats in the chest of me and of you It’s what cries in the soul of this country we share It’s what sings in the sighs of the dreams that we dare It’s what lifts us to hope and to care for each other It drives the blood in the bond of sister and brother It’s what gives us our strength to rise above fears It’s the rock of our dreams and our hopes and our tears That come straight from the Heart Straight from the Heart of this land So if we want it to be, it’s over to us We can’t leave it to others we’ve learnt not to trust. It’s Makarrata we need, Makarrata’s the way To a much better future, to a bran nue dae Where the clear light of Truth will finally be shone On all of the lies about what has been done Where those who’ve been silenced will be given their Voice And those who won’t listen won’t have any choice But to sign the damn Treaty, pay the damn rent For country and lives stolen and spent So we’ll sing it and shout it throughout this land Until justice prevails, and as one we all stand Singing straight from the Heart Crying straight from the Heart of this land So let's sing it and shout it throughout this land Until justice prevails, and as one we all stand Singing straight from the Heart Crying straight from the Heart Singing straight from the Heart Crying straight from the Heart of this land |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Oct 23 - 05:46 PM your BinL was also the winner of the 2018 Dale & John Dengate Parody award with 'A Bicycle Built for Three' & words are on this blog, unfortunately it's a .jpg & I don't want to type up the words! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 06 Oct 23 - 07:34 AM The latest thing to get many Aussies knickers-in-a-twist is the coming Referendum to vote on The Voice, set to be held on Sat October 14th, 2023. (Voting is compulsory for all over 18, in Australia) Considering Australia is one of the few 'first world' countries with a Colonial past, that does NOT recognise its Indigenous Peoples (yes, that has been "Fact-Checked" :), you'd think that a simple proposition to enshrine the Voice to Parliament of our First Nations folk, via our Constitution, would be a shoe-in. Basically Yes or No, to the (strictly advisory) Indigenous Voice regarding Indigenous affairs. However, apparently the Naysayers, whose objections range widely and wildy from the cautious to the ludicrous, consider it's A Very Bad Thing, with some claiming it will cause more Racism and Division in the Population (check : they've already achieved that on their own .....) and some even say (like Hanrahan), that “WE’LL ALL BE RUUUU-INED!!!” – and have our property stolen. (Oh, you mean like what was done to Aboriginal peoples by our British Lords and Masters???) Yeah - Nah, reminds me of the kind of silliness spoke by the Daylight Saving Objectors in previous State referendums : "It'll fade the curtains and the paintwork!!!" (true story) Anyway, we're not gonna go there now; there's been far too much of it already, in the media and on social media - and round the Barbie and in the Pub!!! This post is actually to bring attention to a song written and performed by my BinL, Noel Gardner, who is a well-known singer/songwriter Down Under. I've still gotta get the definitive lyrics from him and post here, but you can watch and listen to it on his much under-used You Tube channel : A SIMPLE PROPOSITION - Noel Gardner, 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n58BiBwuSo recorded at The Bug Folk Club in Brisbane, last Tuesday evening. I believe that Paul Kelly and a number of other Aussies have written songs too – maybe they’ll be appearing in this thread??? (she asks hopefully ??) I guess I really should have included more of an explanation about The Voice, for Catters and for posterity - but to be honest, I’m a bit tired – AND I’ve already voted!!! (Gawd, I do so love “early voting”!!) Cheers!! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 11 Feb 23 - 09:13 AM I've also been waiting for these words. This is my favourite of Bruce Watsons's lockdown project 30 Songs in 30 days - all stories were heard by Bruce (& probably all the carriage) in his commute, except for the conversation about the itch, which was heard by his wife, Jill I’M ON THE TRAIN © Bruce Watson 2020 - This song is not so much sung, as yelled. https://brucewatsonmusic.bandcamp.com/track/im-on-the-train CHORUS: I’M ON THE TRAIN … YEAH … NO I’M ON THE TRAIN … HELLO? I’M ON THE TRAIN I RECKON I’LL BE HOME IN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR YEAH, WE’RE GOING THROUGH RICHMOND JUST NOW YOU KNOW … I WAS THINKING … SORRY … WHAT? NO, I DIDN’T GET THAT. MUST HAVE BEEN A DEAD SPOT I’M ON THE TRAIN … YEAH … NOT TOO BAD … YEAH … A BIT HARD TO SAY EXCEPT FOR THAT PRICK JASON. OTHERWISE IT WAS OK NO, THAT’S BEEN GOING PRETTY WELL SO FAR BUT I STILL NEED TO SORT OUT THAT THING WITH HR I’M ON THE TRAIN … SO, I WAS THINKING. WE COULD HAVE STIR FRY TONIGHT YEAH … MMMM … I GUESS SO … RIGHT WHAT WAS THAT? … OK, GOOD … THAT’D BE NICE I’M ON THE TRAIN … WHO!!!??? … BUT WHAT ABOUT …. I KNOW DIDN’T THEY ….. OH! YEAH … YEAH … YEAH …… NO I’M ON THE TRAIN … DID I TELL THAT JACK’S FRIEND NEVILLE’S EX-WIFE’S NEW PARTNER’S DOG WALKER’S BABY’S HAD SOME TUMMY GRIPE? YEAH. HE SAID THAT SHE’S BEEN SPEWIN’ JUST EVERYWHERE I THINK THEY’RE IRRESPONSIBLE PARENTS. BUT I WON’T GO THERE. I’M ON THE TRAIN … I SAW BRENDA TODAY. MY GOD! WHAT A BITCH OH, HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO THE DOCTOR YET ABOUT THAT ITCH? I’M A BIT WORRIED THAT IT’S SORE TO THE TOUCH IT MIGHT BE GONORRHEA — OR IT COULD BE THRUSH I’M ON THE TRAIN … IT’S SO NOISY HERE, I’D BETTER SPEAK UP. YEAH FOR SOME REASON I’M GETTING THESE ANGRY STARES GOTTA GO NOW, GOT ANOTHER CALL — WHAT A PAIN HELLO . . . I’M ON THE TRAIN |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 11 Feb 23 - 09:03 AM about bloody time - only about 4 decades in the creation! She launched it at 2022 National Folk festival pic 63 & I've been waiting for news of it being out |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 10 Feb 23 - 04:06 AM Just received an email from Brisbane singer-songwriter, Ann Bermingham, advising that a new Australian songbook has been published : The First Australian Women's Songbook an archive of 50 Australian women's songs from the 1970s through to the 1990s. compiled by Kerith Power : "Every generation has its music. Most of these 50 songs were collected from women all over Australia following four national women’s music festivals in Lismore NSW, who responded in the late 1980s to a national call for songs that expressed their daily lives, cultures, communities and causes. Many are relevant today to issues such as peace, gendered violence, environmental justice, and equality. Some of the artists are well known, others not." Kerith invites comments, so checkout the website : https://firstaustralianwomenssongbook.com/ Cheers, R-J CONTENTS A Heroine of Mine Judy Small Aqui y Alla Soledad Gallardo and Alba Martell Atomic Lullaby Dorothy Hewett and Mike Leyden Ballad of Women (long version) Dorothy Hewett Beat Your Breasts Sue Edmonds Birthing Song Jen Brown Bitter Winds Lina Eve Contact Zone Kerith Power Derby Hall Phyl Lobl Desert Rain Jill Stevens Dreams and Therapy Sue Moss Dreams and Visions Kath McMillan Earth Magic Barbara Stephenson For the Earth Deb Dare for Judy Leng Im Annie Kia Gentle Annie Creek Kerry Steer Gutzy Woman Ge??rge I’ll be at the Pub Tonight Pat Ann, Kelly & Mace Indian Pacific Joy McKean I’ve got the Munchies for You Sorell Liberation Road Kerith Power Losing Lady Phyl Lobl Love and Justice Kavisha Mazella Monogamy Shbedogamy Jan Cornall and Elizabeth Drake One Husband Away from Welfare Merriel Hume One is a Whole Number Fay White Patchworking Jen Brown Put Away to Die Ineke Veerkamp Railway Pie Merriel Hume Reclaim the Night Jo Belford Red Dust Jeannie Lewis Refuge Bay Lynne Muir Settler’s Wife Caroline Bushby Song for Jacqueline Judy Small Stimulatin’ Baby Anna Pemberton Suburban Sonnet Robyn Archer and Sweet Solitary Blues Robyn Archer Take the Toys from the Boys Deb Dare That Good Old Double Standard Robyn Archer The Call/Beryl, oh Beryl Chrissie Shaw The Ballad of Jenny Whittaker Wendy Joseph The Meaning of Life Sue Edmonds Tower of Strength Kath and Ini Vinegar Merriel Hume What do Lesbians Do? Barbara David We Are All One Carmel de Franchi When I Speak Openly – ‘?ta? ?????t? ???? Demeter Tsounis Women Like That Kerith Power Women Speak Justice Helen Kearins Whose Hand?/Whose Land? Margaret Kitamura/Ian Hill Yandeyarra Vi Lewin You Deserve Your Pay Rita Menendez |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 30 Jan 23 - 09:26 PM This is only a slight thread creep! Due to my recent computer issues, I was unaware that Australia's National Library and its fantastic essential newspaper/magazine/picture digitised archive "TROVE" - along with many other history "collecting" institutions, on behalf of all Australians - are in dire straits with funding running out this year and none in the pipeline. Apparently the funding has been reducing for over 30 years, just as legit requirements for more, increase with every year. Words fail me...... Although personally, I consider ensuring Australia's historical records are kept and publically available for us all, is far more important than helping fund NATO's latest little games, but that's just me I guess. Here are a couple of recent articles explaining the situation : https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/national-library-s-treasure-trove-under-threat-from-budget-cuts-20221212-p5c5m6.ht https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/06/national-library-of-australias-free-digital-archives-may-be-forced-to-close-with Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Jan 23 - 03:09 AM thought I'd contact a muso friend, but as he started that thread I won't! If Dave can't find it with all his contacts in the Bush Music Club & Bush Traditions I dunno who would know, so it's up to Mudcatters & friends. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Helen Date: 28 Jan 23 - 09:26 PM Hi R-J, There is a page of his tunes. You might know a lovely tune called Starry Night for a Ramble. It's the first link on this page and there is an audio function at the bottom of the page. Stan Treacy |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 28 Jan 23 - 06:50 PM Sorry Helen, not being an instrument player, tune names often escape me, though the name of Stan Treacy is strangely familiar!! (Crookwell was a nice little town; hopefully it survived the floods?) Cheers! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Helen Date: 28 Jan 23 - 06:01 PM Sandra and rich-joy, have you looked at this thread: Req: Name of this Stan Treacy tune??? A mystery tune from Stan Treacy, fiddle player who lived in Crookwell, NSW. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 28 Jan 23 - 09:01 AM fingers crossed, I've also got a song or 2 to add. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 27 Jan 23 - 05:54 PM Crikey, this thread has escaped me - still more I meant to post but 'Life' keeps intervening :) Will 2023 be the year I get back to it??? Here's Hoping. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Jun 22 - 04:48 AM I was just looking at Penny & Roger's youtube channel, saw they had recently recorded Craig Edmonson's 'Used to be a River' so Gerry will be adding the link to the entry to the lyrics on page 16, dec 2020. Then I saw Ballad of Eureka & realised we'd never added that classic - shock, horror ... Ballad of Eureka A Song by Helen Palmer © Helen Palmer 1950 Tune Doreen Jacobs © Doreen Jacobs 1950 video They're leaving ship and station, They're leaving bench and fold, And pouring out from Melbourne To join the search for gold. The face of town and country Is changing ev'ry day, But rulers keep on ruling The old colonial way. "How can we work the diggings And learn how fortune feels If all the traps forever Are yelping at our heels?" "If you've enough," says Lalor, "Of all their little games, Then go and get your licence And throw it on the flames!" "The law is out to get us And make us bow in fear. They call us foreign rebels Who'd plant the Charter here!" "They may be right," says Lalor, "But if they show their braid, We'll stand our ground and hold it Behind a bush stockade!" It's down with pick and shovel A rifle's needed now They come to raise a standard They come to make a vow There's not a flag in Europe More lovely to behold, Than floats above Eureka Where diggers work the gold. "There's not a flag in Europe More lovely to the eye, Than is the blue and silver Against a southern sky. Here in the name of freedom, Whatever be our loss, We swear to stand together Beneath the Southern Cross." It is a Sunday morning. The miner's camp is still; Two hundred flashing redcoats Come marching to the hill Come marching up the gully With muskets firing low; And diggers wake from dreaming To hear the bugle blow. The wounded and the dying Lie silent in the sun, But change will not be halted By any redcoats gun. There's not a flag in Europe More rousing to the will Then the flag of stars that flutters Above Eureka's Hill. Notes Many thanks to Doreen Bridges (formerly Doreen Jacobs) for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 15 Mar 22 - 08:45 PM I'm not usually in the habit of a long C&P from Wiki, but I felt this was pertinent! With the passing of legendary West Aussie cricketer ROD MARSH - on the same day and of almost the same condition as legendary cricketer SHANE WARNE, I felt this famous Aussie ditty should be recorded on the Cat! UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS I STAND " ..... is the victory song of the Australian cricket team. It is typically sung by the players in the style of a raucous chant[1] after every victory and "treated with reverential consideration and respect" within the team.[2] The official lyrics are as follows.[3] Under the Southern Cross I Stand A sprig of wattle in my hand, A native of my native land, Australia you fucking beauty.[4] The authorship of this "Under the Southern Cross I Stand" is credited to former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, who was apparently inspired by Henry Lawson's 1887 poem, "Flag of the Southern Cross".[2] Marsh initially had the role of leading the team in singing it, and on his retirement he passed it on to Allan Border. The other players to have taken on the role are David Boon (when Border took over the captaincy), Ian Healy (on Boon's retirement), Ricky Ponting (on Healy's retirement), Justin Langer (when Ponting took over the captaincy), and Michael Hussey (on Langer's retirement). Hussey has now passed it on to Nathan Lyon upon his retirement in January 2013.[5] The song is based upon the chorus of the 1890s patriotic song “Australia; or Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand”, written by the Rev. Thomas Hilhouse Taylor (1861-1925).[6][7] One source says that "The evidence suggests that this cricketers’ chant began as a patriotic song in the late 1890s, was turned into a military drinking song in the 1940s, and then finally developed into the victory song of the Australian cricket team in the 1970s. From such beginnings has this raucous verse become popular with cricket fans in particular, and with Australians in general."[8]" references are on the WIKI page : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_the_Southern_Cross_I_Stand https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-04/rod-marsh-defined-a-generation-of-great-australian-cricketers/100860168 Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 22 Feb 22 - 11:19 PM more! more! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 22 Feb 22 - 07:40 PM SONGS OF EARLY ABORIGINAL WARRIORS AND LEADERS – Part 1 On March 21st last year, Stewie posted this song referencing Aboriginal Heroes : HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY by Luke O’Shea & Kevin Bennett and also Wiki links to the Heroes mentioned within. I said soon after, that (with Stewie’s blessing), I intended to research and post songs pertaining to each Hero mentioned, as very few are recognised outside of the Indigenous Communities – and IMHO, they should be!! So, after a fairly long break from this Mudcat Aust-NZ Songs thread [coz of “LIFE, The Universe & Everything”!!] I’m finally gonna make a start! History is, of course, the story (and propaganda) of the victors and rarely of the vanquished. But I’ll try to source songs, mainly from the Aboriginal perspective, of the Frontier Wars, focussing on a few of the historical Resistance and Freedom Fighters – and the odd bushranger too! Starting with WINDRADYNE (aka Saturday), the Wiradjuri warrior of the Bathurst (NSW) area, and then Jimmy Governor …….. and then hopefully continuing with heroes like Pemulwuy, Yagan, Jandamarra (aka Pigeon), Fanny Balbuk, Bennelong, Musquito, Calyute, Major, Multuggerah, Bussamarai, Truganini (& many other Tasmanian leaders) e.g. - and ALSO men like explorer, Bungaree/Boongaree, who journeyed with Flinders. MUCH depends on if any songs have been written yet!!! (hint hint to songwriters :) [NB I’m a little hesitant to use Wiki references, considering it can be as untrustworthy as much other MSM these days, but I’ll take the chance. Hopefully someone will alert me if there’s a serious problem with the text.] WINDRADYNE (c.1800 – 1829) “Windradyne – A Wiradjuri Koorie” by Mary Coe – 1986 - “A true account of resistance fighter Windradyne of the Wiradjuri Nation. Windradyne was a warrior and a leader who lived in and around the Eastern Murray River area. He is remembered in this book for his fight for land rights and the wellbeing of approximately 12,000 of his people.” Read here, a review by Tracy Sorenson of Stephen Gapps’ 2021 book : “Gudyarra – The First Wiradyuri War of Resistance – The Bathurst War, 1822-1824” https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/lets-just-call-it-war https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwXs80EGaIU&t=5s Windradyne, the black Ned Kelly – 2003 (a short film by Mathew Jampijinpa Curtis) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windradyne WINDRADYNE [1] ~ Bill Murray There was a great black man, a leader in the land of the Nations of the great Wiradjuri When the white man came across the mountain range, to the Bathurst Plains in 18-13. WINDRADYNE! WINDRADYNE! Mighty black warrior of the great Wiradjuri WINDRADYNE! Of Wiradjuri Leader of the blacks, they called “Saturday”. Now the whites declared Marshall Law on the blacks, at Bathurst in 18-23 Because the Wiradjuri fought for their land, to save their people, homes, and history. CH (2nd line is) : Gathered all his people and fought to keep them free, Now the whites used poison, guns, and swords, to clear the blacks from the land Killed women and kids without any fear, of reprisals from the laws of the land. CH (2nd line is) : Fought back the whites, to keep his people free, Now they couldn’t catch Windradyne, so they tried to trap him with bribes The Governor of the day pleaded : “Saturday, come in, give up your life of crime.” CH (2nd line is) : Roamed the Bathurst mountains like a bird in the breeze, Wild and free was Windradyne Leader of the blacks, they called “Saturday”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmAJDy1SIBI&t=93s Australian country singer, Bill Murray, from his album “Children of the Dreamtime (all original Aboriginal Songs of Australia)”, written 1994. WINDRADYNE [2] ~ Bob Campbell Won’t you listen to my story, of a leader on the Western Plains The white man called him “Saturday”, to his people he was WINDRADYNE To his people he was WINDRADYNE. Invaders crossed the mountains, drove the people off Wiradjuri lands Brought diseases and poisoned blankets, they brought bullets that killed Windradyne They brought bullets that killed Windradyne. William Cox said kill all the black men, wipe out the women and the young Manure the ground with their bodies, point your weapons at Windradyne Point your weapons at Windradyne. Marshall Law was enacted, in eighteen twenty four The soldiers and the white-skinned settlers, became the murderers at Bell’s Forge Gorge Became the murderers at Bell’s Forge Gorge. Windradyne was defeated, marched on Sydney with the children and the wives But the people on the plains across the mountains, they won’t forget brave Windradyne They won’t forget brave Windradyne. Now, you’ve heard my story, about the people of the Western Plains Think a little bit more on the history, of The Wiradjuri, and Windradyne The Wiradjuri, and Windradyne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj1JKNIYYmk blues-style performance from Bob Campbell in 2012 Next will be the tragic story of Jimmy Governor. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 22 Feb 22 - 06:41 AM Top little AUSSIE country number! Proud to say I have some Smiths in my heritage : of the blacksmith, whitesmith, tinsmith, sheetmetal worker, wheelwright, kinds – and my late Beloved was a Sculptor whose favourite medium was steel. :) THE RINGING OF THE STEEL ~ Peter Denahy The old man used to tell me, when I was just a boy He was blessed because he had a job that he enjoyed Not everyone would like it, but to him its main appeal Was the breathing of the bellows, and the ringing of the steel. I started working early, holding horses for my pa It was a little town we lived in; only one man had a car And the old man used to watch him, whenever he drove past He said it's just a fad you know, it's never gonna last. All around the forge the old man strolled Grabbed a bit of iron and shoved it in the coals He was good at what he did, and he cut end on a steel Amongst the breathing of the bellows and the ringing of the steel. The old man's head got greyer, but it didnt slow him down He kept on shoeing horses that were brought from round the town He showed me bits and pieces, and before too long I could make a decent set of shoes and shape and whack 'em on. We'd sometimes have a shoeing race, and sweat from start to end The old man was the master, but sometimes he'd let me win And a crowd of eager passers-by would watch the mad ordeal Amongst the breathing of the bellows and the ringing of the steel. After years of teaching, after years of toil The old man was buried, deep in mountain soil I kept on with the shoeing, but the job was in recess The old man wasn't right about the motor car, I guess. Now I've all but had it and the forge is very quiet But I heat the coals up now and then and tinker round inside I do it for the old man, and remember how I'd feel Amongst the breathing of the bellows, and the ringing of the steel. The ringing of the steel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2j6IviKZ-w Peter Denahy, c.2007 https://www.petedenahy.com/ website https://www.song-list.net/peterdenahy/songs songlist I also like that first verse sentiment, coz my late Beloved also used to say, that he felt gratitude for all the many jobs he'd had in his life, as he'd enjoyed them all for the great variety of experiences and learning that they brought him. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 22 Feb 22 - 06:34 AM refresh |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 18 Feb 22 - 06:24 PM Oh, is the Summer Holiday almost over then, Sandra?? CRIKEY!! Admittedly, this "in abeyance" thread crossed my mind just a few days ago, so, soooooooon ........ Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Feb 22 - 03:17 AM oops - I posted the second half of what I had in draft (silly me) this was a post by Bob Bolton 13 Sep 04 - 10:25 AM Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song 'original' (1908 or earlier) popular song words - and the version remembered by Ina Popplewell and collected from her in 1953 … and an ABC version of the tune sung by Ina Popplewell. Take me Down the Harbour from the 199(?)7 Jacaranda Publication The GI Years, where the song is attributed to The Imperial Songster No 83 of 1908. TAKE ME DOWN THE HARBOUR Now Gertie's a girl, a sweet little pearl. She works down in the city; And she has a beau, his name it is Joe, So handsome and so witty. On each Saturday, when he gets his pay, A message soon he's reading, I feel so alone, ring me up on the 'phone, You're just the one I'm needing." CHORUS Take me down the Harbour On Sunday afternoon - To Manly Beach or Watson's Bay, Or round to Coogee for the day; Call around to Clifton., Or Mosmans, it will do. Dear old Harbour, Sydney Town, They can't beat you. Way over the tide, how softly they glide, Out on the Harbour Ferry, Whilst music so sweet makes life feel complete, Their hearts are light and merry. Then homeward once more, they part on the shore, And Joe says to his girlie, "If you feel alone, ring me up on the 'phone, And call me quick and early." CHORUS Take me down the Harbour On Sunday afternoon - To Manly Beach or Watson's Bay, Or round to Coogee for the day.' Call around to Clifton, Or Mosmans, it will do. Dear old Harbour, Sydney Town, They can't beat you. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Feb 22 - 03:03 AM TAKE ME DOWN THE HARBOUR As collected by John Meredith, from Mrs lna Popplewell (1953) audio of Mrs Popplewell Mrs Ina Popplewell interviewed by John Meredith Take Me down the Harbour on a Sunday afternoon To Manly Beach or Watson's Bay Or round to Coogee for a day. Call around at Clifton, or Mosman, it will do; Good old Harbour Sydney Town, They can't beat you. CHORUS Way over the tide, how softly they glide, Out on a Harbour ferry. If you feel alone,. ring me up on the 'phone, You're just the girl I'm needing, Take me down the Harbour on a Sunday afternoon To Manly Beach or Watson's Bay Or round to Coogee for a day. Call around at Clifton, or Mosman, it will do; Good old Harbour Sydney Town, They can't beat you. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 22 Nov 21 - 04:02 AM Posted by Stewie 20 years ago! My good mate, Sean Roche, in Perth, Western Australia, recorded this on his excellent CD 'A Celtic Heart'. Here's my transcription:^^ FREMANTLE BAY (Bonner) video - Fremantle Bay sung by Andrew Clarke Oh my name hasn't mattered for many a day I was born on the west coast of Clare By the time I was married and had my own land There was many who envied me there Our home was contented, the years quickly passed We had four lads to carry our name Then one year the crops failed and the hunger set in I was certain that I was to blame And oft times I think about Doolin And my cottage a lifetime away Though I'm chained here and bound, my heart can't be found In this prison on Fremantle Bay It was oft of an evening I stood by the door I looked out where my crops used to be But the pain deep inside as I looked in the eyes Of our children, it drove me to steal It was raining the night when the sheriff's men came And the judge gave his verdict next day For the lamb that you've stolen you'll have to be sentenced To a colony where you will stay And oft times I think about Doolin And my cottage a lifetime away Though I'm chained here and bound, my heart can't be found In this prison on Fremantle Bay Oh the sun it beats down from a merciless sky And the rocks they eat into our feet Oh the work's very hard but there's never a break For unfortunate men such as me My crime costs a shilling and sixpence to mend But it sends me away o'er the sea And now I must spend out the rest of my days In this land that means nothing to me And oft times I think about Doolin And my cottage a lifetime away Though I'm chained here and bound, my heart can't be found In this prison on Fremantle Bay Source: transcription from Sean Roche 'A Celtic Heart' Tempo DFCD 240 --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Nov 21 - 12:22 AM introducing an American note into this thread Merriam-Webster - How do you regale someone? : to entertain or amuse (someone) by telling stories, describing experiences, etc. He regaled his party guests with stories of his adventures abroad. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 02 Nov 21 - 10:58 PM ..... did I say "regaled" for their yodelling prowess???!!! It was rather late and I think I meant "renowned"!!! R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 02 Nov 21 - 05:17 PM Watched it last night, r-j.....interesting! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 02 Nov 21 - 09:49 AM Melbourne Cup Day in Australia (which this post is NOT about!) Tonight (Tues 2nd Nov) saw the start of a 2-part music series on Aussie TV’s ABC1 : “Going Country” – a road trip into the heart of Aust'n Country Music. Actress and musician, Justine Clarke, takes the long journey in a 1959 FC Holden, but in this first Ep at least, sticks to NSW which is, after all, the home state of country music’s capital Down Under : Tamworth! It also featured conversations with or songs from, Aussie luminaries: Paul Kelly, Emily Wurramara, Kasey Chambers (and Bill), James Reyne, Troy Cassar-Daley, Slim Dusty (and Joy & Ann), Bob Randall, Dobe Newton, Jimmy Little, Fanny Lumsden, Mary Schneider and Tex Moreton (both regaled for their yodelling prowess), Lionel Rose, The Dingoes, Auriel Andrews, and others. Down Under viewers can catch up on ABC’s iView website : https://iview.abc.net.au/show/going-country PS Earlier this year, I read John Lomax III’ s “Red Desert Sky : The Amazing Adventures of the Chambers Family”, and as the last chapter discusses “A Brief History of Country Music in Australia”, I had fully intended to rat this for more songs to include in this database. But like so many of my Projects at present, it is In Abeyance :( One day ………....... Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GerryM Date: 20 Oct 21 - 07:03 AM Chopsticks Peter Combe [This isn't "Chopsticks", it's *about* "Chopsticks". Where it says "Bridge", play a little bit of actual "Chopsticks".] I play the violin every morning and every evening of every day, Suzuki, Bach, Vivaldi, Schuman, but really all that I want is to play (Bridge) I play the grand piano, practice my chords and scales and arpeggios. So boring, and it drives my family up the wall. Dad says, why don't you play (Bridge) I play the flute, the silver flute, but it doesn't sound much like James Galway. I wonder if, when he was ten, whether sometimes he was allowed to play (Bridge) I'd really love to sing a classical song or two at the Opera House And sound like Pavarotti, la la la la la la, la la la la la (Bridge) x 2 Repeat 1st stanza, repeat 4th stanza, bridge. Recording here. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 19 Oct 21 - 11:06 PM CROCODILE RIVER (Stephen Pigram) Ah the Sunday smell of pizza at the Five Rivers Club tonight Is shattered by a disco of red and blue lights Hear the sirens wailing, the cops hot on the tail of a Busted Hilux doin’ fifty, tryin’ to get away and It’s six miles to the old town and a whole six back again Maybe he’ll run ‘em outta fuel before they run ‘im into jail And all the town is watching, it’s on for young ’n old Dis mellow drama in Five Rivers, the car chase in slo mo He’s up a crocodile river on a moonless night Tryin’ to shine a light on those red beady eyes In a dinghy with no paddle on a turning tide At the mercy of a salty, ah such is life Well we used to spray weed for the APB Now secret agent orange is investigating me In a rainbow river take a bogey every night And bring home more than the pay to the darlin’ wife Up that crocodile river on a moonless night Tryin’ to shine a light on those red beady eyes In a dinghy with no paddle on a turning tide At the mercy of a salty, ah such is life Well Ned and Ben were talkin’ tough on who would right the wrongs Who would stand and fight and who was gonna run Are you gonna hold the candle or you gonna hold the gun? When there ain’t no use in waking if your dreaming’s done They’re up a crocodile river on a moonless night Tryin’ to shine a light on those red beady eyes In a dinghy got no paddle on a turning tide At the mercy of a salty, ah such is life From his 'Wanderer' album. Lyrics as printed in album booklet. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Oct 21 - 06:51 AM Life does get in the way. So much to do, & only one lifetime - Several months back I wrote a list of Stuff To Do on yellow sheet of paper - in black marker pen - so I wouldn't lose it in all the white paper - a few things got crossed off (pats self on back!) list got lost (oops) so I wrote another on green paper - crossed off one or 2 ... green list got lost ... yellow list has risen to the top , & I can see green list on my desk, hmmm might need to look at them & consolidate on the piece of blue paper that has also surfaced. maybe sandra Reminder to our fans - if you want copies of the spreadsheets giving access to the collection, one for Aug-Dec 20, the other for 21 to date, please PM me. If you aren't a member, email joe@mudcat.org - subject OZ/NZ songbook & he can pass on your details. (thanks, Joe!) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 15 Oct 21 - 03:08 AM Glad you think so, Joe!! (we try :) I think both Stewie and I are still flat out with other Life stuff, but fully intend getting back to the Oz-Kiwi material (there's A LOT still to go, after all - LoL!) Meanwhile, at least Sandra is doing a valiant job holding the fort on her lonesome. I keep hoping to see some other names posting, but ..... sigh ..... Cheers, R-J (who has joined The Seniors brigade now - double "sigh" ...... :) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Joe Offer Date: 14 Oct 21 - 08:47 PM Ahhhh. The click that refreshes. Somebody was looking for this thread, which is one of the most interesting threads we've had in years. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 10 Oct 21 - 08:58 AM THE DEATH OF LES DARCY - collected from Joseph C. Caines of Nyngan by historian Marion Dormer of Collie. Sung to the tune of Back home on Tennessee which was first published in 1915. Here's the crackly 1915 gramophone record sung by Collins & Harlen with music written by Walter Donaldson & lyrics by William Jerome Words from an article by John Meredith, published in Strinybark & Greenhide 2(4), p.4 1980s Have you heard it? Have you heard it? Les Darcy's dead they say. He died on the 24th of May. Broken hearted When he parted From this sunny shore Dad and Mother, Sis & Brother Saw his face no more. In Maitland Cemetery, There lies poor Les Darcy, His mother's only boy, His sister's pride and joy. How I longed for the night To see Les Darcy fight - How he beats them Almost eats them, Every Saturday night. The critics by the score, They say they never saw A boy like Les before Upon the Stadium floor. Some says that he's a skiter But he proved himself a fighter; But they gave him dope And he gave them hope And he died in the U.S.A. as I found several songs with similar names, I asked Ralph Pride if the 1915 music fitted. Ralph is responsible for the song & tune books put out by BMC's Concert Party over the decades, and has scanned old BMC archival material and converted recorded material to modern formats. It fits if you’re good at jigsaw puzzles. It’s a nice old fashioned raggy tune. I could write it out if you think it’s worth a couple of hours effort. I’ve filed it all away in my steadily evolving song collection. Cheers, Ralph |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 28 Sep 21 - 10:14 AM JUST A LITTLE LEFT by Daniel Kelly 2020 video Just [G] because your gonna vote for Bernie [D] Sanders Doesn’t [C] mean that you’re a fan of Mao [G] Zedong, And [G] believing in fair and living [C] wages, Doesn’t [D] mean you think that enterprise is [G] wrong. [A C] little to the left, just a [Bm] little to the [C] left, You [G] only have to move a [D] little to the left, The world can be [C] kind and fair, [Bm] With just a little [C] care, All you [C] have to do is [D] move a little [G] left, Jeff Bezos doesn’t need 100 billion, He could probably get by with one or two, When there are people working who cannot break even, It seems pretty clear what we should do. You don’t have to cast your lot with Che Guevara, Don’t have to tear the whole damn system down, Trump will tell you that the democrats are commies, But that’s clearly just the ravings of a clown. You’re not a traitor if you care about the forest, Or want to keep the skies and rivers clean, We can have industry as well as social conscience, Just ask IKEA they will tell you what I mean, |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 28 Sep 21 - 10:11 AM CRUSH THE UNION words © Daniel Kelly video In [G] January of [D] two thousand [G] eighteen Transport [C] workers [D] conditions were [G] obscene [C] Salaries replaced by [D] contract [Bm] Overtime out of [Em] control, And [C] ten years without real increase in [D] pay [C] Crush the Union, [G] Crush the Union [G] You don’t have the right to [D] strike, We’ll pay you [G] what we damn well [D] like, Make [C] worker’s rights a relic of the [D] past, [C] Crush the Union, [G] Crush the Union, [G] Capital has [D] won the war at [G] last. The Union made the call to strike, 24 hours of no work was sure to bite, Sydney Trains force back To sit at the table, To negotiate a fair and living wage, Andrew Constance was ready for a fight, Taking from the union what should be their right, To the commission he did go, Lawyers in a row, Fair Work such an ironic name, Brisbane 1912 they wore a badge with pride, Union members should never have to hide, 10,000 in King George Square, Union power in the air, They fought with courage for their right. Up the Union, Up the Union, We will keep our right to strike, A fair wage is our right, Worker’s together to the last, Up the Union, Up the Union, Solidarity our message from the past, |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 28 Sep 21 - 10:08 AM CLIMATE CHANGERS words © Daniel Kelly video [G] Well you may not believe in [C] climate [G] change, But you [C] surely [G] concede that the [Am] weather’s been [D] strange. The [G] Snow in the Spring as the [C] fires they [G] burn, [C] Hailstones [G] fall and the [D] hurricanes [G] turn. [C] Do something, do something [G] now, I don’t [Am] really care [G] what, And I [C] can’t tell you [D] how, The [G] planet she [C] needs us to, [C] Turn things [G] around, Or [C] humanities [G] future, will be [D] dust in the [G] ground It don’t really count if you share Greta’s tweets, Or like it when movie stars change what they eat, It has to be action, that real and concrete, The kinds that others, will see in the street Recycle your garbage, and plant out a tree, If you’re really excited, you might just plant three Ride your cycle to work, if it isn’t too far, To offset the pollution you made in your car. But don’t get too cocky about things that you’ve done, Remember that life, is supposed to be fun, If you use your actions to judge and to shame, The others you hurt, will not join in our game. I don’t really think that our house is on fire, Or that all politicians should be sent to the pyre, We are all to blame, for our ignorant greed, Instead of caring together, for our mother in need. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Sep 21 - 11:48 PM I've just been listening to The People Have Songs, Miguel Heatwole's celebration of singing sessions, double CD issued in 2001, & love this song sung by Frank Moore. Daintry Frank – a mate of Simon’s from up north – was one of those discoveries that make folk festivals so worthwhile. I’ve not seen any of the films he’s in but oh, what a voice! If you want to hear Daintree Frank's version (I also love that voice!) the CD is available from Miguel tracks are also available on bandcamp METHO MAN by Graeme Connors video - Graeme Connors singing Metho Man On the edge of the mangrove, down by Casey’s hole There lives the Metho Man Beneath rusting wrought iron, a fire’s burning low There lives the Metho Man CHORUS Come my beauty and dance They’re playing the Varsovienna Come my beauty and drink Drink to the memory of a younger man’s dreams Late at night you can hear them float by on the wind The songs of the Metho Man His voice at times booming, sometimes high and thin The songs of the Metho Man CHORUS My Grandfather knew him, from his time on the rails Said he was real quiet, always kept to himself On the edge of the mangrove, down by Casey's Hole There died the Metho Man They say he just fell asleep in the flames And there died the Metho Man CHORUS x 2 |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 21 - 06:28 AM VERY URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL FROM NIGERIA © Bruce Watson, April 22 2020. Bruce Watson Music video - Very urgent business proposal from Nigeria 30 New Songs in 30 Days - a Covid-19 Social Isolation Project. Song 22 Dear Mister Sir Madam, I most humbly send you my greetings, Dearest Blessed One. I understand that this message will come to you as a surprising, but I have some private highly urgent business to be done. With due humility and respect, I write to you of this proposal, though this note is unexpected because you not knowing me. My name is Joseph Baraghan and I seek your cooperation. I found your contact details in your country’s directory. I am a close confidant of the former chief of staff of the daughter of the late Prince Motu of Blessed Memory. You may have heard that the Prince and his closest aide-de-camp were killed in Benin’s civil war by the rebel military. Following his assassinated, his daughter miraculously escaped, till she finally arrival in Nigeria. She smuggled out two trunks which held a large amount of cash which she has deposited anonymously for a strictly limited period. In strictest confidence I can advice you that this cash amount is more than $US18 million. She is now desirous to emigrate to your country with these funds, due to the stable situation with which country’s blessed. So I seek a foreign partner who will assist with the transfer, and be a respected guardian of these funds which will in the future be invested. I believe you are the trustworthy, and a fit and proper person to investment of this sum. If you are willing to assist, please reply to this email as soon as you can possible, as time is of excess. Moreover you are requested to kindly send the following details: Your full name, nominated bank account details, and address. Needless to say, the trust reposed in you at this juncture is substantial. In return, you shall receiving recompense. I please advise, you will receive 15 per cent of the total, and you need only send £200 to cover the expense. When I received your reply I will send you the document that will legal you to have complete access to these funds. Your earliest response will be highly appreciable to assist my worthy client in the problem she confronts. Please kindly assure me that you will act strictly accordingly to my instructions as I have stated above herein. Please to expedite your action or I will seek another partner, as my client’s situation requires urgent to begin. My identity must not be revealed to any other party and strict confidentiality is required. I remain sincerely yours, humbly in Christ Joseph Baraghan, Esquire. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 21 - 06:23 AM AUSTRALIA'S LOST LANGUAGES © Bruce Watson 2009 In 1788 Australia had over 250 languages. Fewer than half are still spoken and on current trends almost all will cease to be spoken in a generation if nothing is done to save them now. Each language contains a universe of knowledge, wisdom and culture — the voice of humanity. Some people are doing fabulous work to sustain and revive languages. This song lists just a few of our lost languages. Note on music: Musical notation has not been provided for this song because the words are spoken against the musical background of alternating chords. [Am] Ngunawal, Gunditjmara, Burduna, Kuring-gai, [G] Wathawurrung, Gayiri, Bunurong, Manangkarri, [Am] Jiwarli, Kuyani, Nuenonne, Dhuduroa, [G] Peramangk, Birladapa, Wakaya, Taungurong, [Am] Wadi Wadi, Damala, Yaralde, Ngawun, [G] Bidjigal, Yorta Yorta, Warungu, Plangermaireener, [Am] Kaurna, Binikura, Nauo, Djabwurung, [G] Daruk, Gugu Muluriji, Amangu, Eora, [Am] Ladji Ladji, Awabakal, Garawa, Yangman, [F#m] Nukunu, Bandjin, Nyawaygi, Darkinjung, [Em] Parnkalla, Ayabadhu, Paredarerme, Jardwadjai, [Am] Tyerrernotepanner, Worimi, Duulngari, Gulidjan, [G] Bidjara, Angkamuthi, Doolboong, Walgalu, [Am] Mingin, Barrow Point, Djiru, Djadjawurrung, [F#m] Nganyaywana, Yukgul, Dharawal, Nhuwala, [Em] Warnarrang, Ngarigo, Kalaamaya, Dhirari, [Am] Tatungalung, Muruwari, Thiin, Yaburarra, [G] Lairmairrener, Wanamara, Bidawal, Bangerang, [Am] Kwat Kwat, Brabralung, Bugurnidja, Jurruru, [G] Djilamatang, Djirringany, Woiwurrung.[Am] |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 21 - 06:15 AM SONG FOR LEONARD Words © Bruce Watson, (Tune: Suzanne, Leonard Cohen) Bruce Watson Music bandcamp I am a Cohen addict. I called my first guitar Suzanne! I wrote this to sing for a group of friends who used to get together to sing for each other. There were only two rules: 1. No Leonard Cohen; 2. Especially no Suzanne. A challenge I couldn’t resist! Leonard Cohen brings you down to the depths of depression, You can listen to him for hours, you can spend the night just crying, And you know he'll send you crazy, that's why you want to stop it, And you start to slash your wrists and hang yourself from the ceiling, And just when you start believing that this world you're finally leaving, Then somebody stops the record, and you feel a little better, 'Cause his songs are so depressing. Refrain: And you want to smash the record, And destroy the record player, But you know that you can't do it, 'Cause he's destroyed the very fabric of your mind. Now, the only thing that's worse than all those hours of Leonard Cohen Is to spend a long time listening to all his imitators going Through all those incomprehensible songs like Suzanne and So Long Marianne, Who think that all men should be Cohen freaks and sing all songs in A minor, Their guitars should all be broken, they should be banished to New Zealand, They're disgusting, not quite human — they should sink into the ocean Like a stone. Refrain: And they want to travel with you, And they want to travel blind, But you know you shouldn‘t let them, They'll destroy the very fabric of your mind. Of your mind, Of your mind, (Repeat, getting crazier, until you explode) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 21 - 06:03 AM THE RULES OF ENGLISH © Bruce Watson. Bruce Watson Music video - The Rules of English bandcamp This offering is based on the late William Safire’s Rules for Writers, extrapolated and set to music. Now when I was a boy one was taught English grammar These days standards have gone down the drain We had it banged into us, with an unsubtle hammer And it’s firmly lodged into my brain There’s a million mistakes that you see people make Now and then there’s an absolute whopper So here’s a few tips to avoid future slips To help you all speak and write proper: Chorus: Be sure to never split an infinitive Don’t use no double negatives And never generalise, that’s a rule you see everyone break! Be clear as a bell, profread everythnig well Be more or less specific, don’t be vague And (last but not least) avoid clichés like the plague! It’s incumbent upon us to eschew obfuscation And where feasible to employ the vernacular Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice And understatement is absolutely spectacular Use language that’s inclusive of all men And here’s something else you should know The use of foreign words is just not de rigeur Nor is it apropos Chorus Always avoid awkward annoying Unattractive affected alliteration Avoidification of George Bushian neologisms Will strengthenify your prosification If you see a mixed metaphor take the bull by the horns And knock it right off of its perch And vary your words variously So that you use various words Chorus Exaggeration is a trillion zillion times worse Than just stating the plain simple facts And use words correctly, irregardless of what others do To show you’ve got the language knack The passive voice should always be avoided Heed should be taken of that suggestion And what I now ask of all of you is: “Who needs rhetorical questions?” |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 21 - 05:59 AM CAPTAIN MOONLITE - A LOVE STORY © Bruce Watson https://brucewatsonmusic.bandcamp.com/track/captain-moonlite-a-love-story Andrew George Scott led a chequered life, eventually becoming a bushranger under the moniker of Captain Moonlite. His career ended when he took hostages in a siege which resulted in several deaths. His dying wish to be buried next to his lover James Nesbit was not granted, but 100 years later there was a successful campaign to have his bones disinterred and reburied at the Gundagai Cemetery where he now lies near James, under a beautiful gum tree. Tomorrow I will step up to the gallows I only ask you grant me one last wish for when I’m gone I’m a man who’s done wrong, I will face the fiery flames All I ask is to be laid beside my true love, dear young James Chorus: May we lay together, side by side, my friend May we rest in peace I did the crime, I served my time in Pentridge Seven years for robbery and other deeds besides But I treasure that time yet, for it’s there that we two met To never part again till he lay in my arms and died Chorus Well the traps they gave us no peace back in Melbourne So me and James and a few young men, we headed for the bush Captain Moonlite and his gang raising hell across the land Till we met our match at Wantabadgery, up past Gundagai When that squatter said move on, well my patience it was gone So we drew our guns and bailed them up, we would fight or we would die Chorus When the troopers came my young boys fought so bravely Poor Gus was only 15, and they shot him in the side But when I saw my James lying there where he was slain I lay my head upon his breast, I kissed him, and I cried Chorus Tomorrow I will step up to the gallows I will pray for God’s forgiveness and whisper my love’s name On my finger is a ring that I will wear unto my grave It is woven from a lock of the hair of my dear James Chorus (twice) May we lay together |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 21 - 05:42 AM THE MAN AND THE WOMAN AND THE EDISON PHONOGRAPH © Bruce Watson Bruce Watson Music video of Bruce recording onto a wax cylinder on an Edison Phonograph Recorded on 18 April 2014 at the National Folk Festival in Canberra by the National Film and Sound Archive. bandcamp recorded with Fannie Cochrane's descendant Ronnie Summers Fanny Cochrane Smith was born on Flinders Island in Bass Strait in 1834. She was the last speaker of Tasmanian Language, and the last keeper of their songs and stories following the Tasmanian genocide of the 19th Century. Whether she really was the last full blood Tasmanian or not is academic. There is a vibrant Aboriginal community in Tasmania today, among whom are many descendants of Fanny’s own 11 children. The recording of this song is sung with Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder Ronnie Summers. There’s a photo on a wall in a museum in Hobart, it was taken in October of 1903 Of a woman and a man with an Edison phonograph, recording her songs of the land and the sea There’s a button on the wall there next to the photo, if you press it you can hear the ghosts of her songs As they echo through the halls of that museum in Hobart, a scratchy reminder of all we’ve done wrong Chorus: The man and the woman and the Edison phonograph, salvaging pieces of song, White man’s black cylinder, the story of progress, the song lives on, but the singers are gone. Not yet 50 years since white man first settled she was born on an island in Bass Strait’s cruel seas, Where the few who remained of her people were herded, and left there to die of despair and disease. And at 7 she was taken from her mother and family to work as a servant and be taught about God, But she still learnt the old ways, the songs and the stories, and with old Truganini she’d go bush for food, Bridge: And after Truganini, the scientists descended. Was Fanny Smith now the last of her race? The futile debates it seemed never ended, as they took her dimensions and examined the shape of her face. Chorus And the man in the photo was born to an immigrant, he married a woman of inherited wealth, And he lived in a mansion overlooking the harbour, worked hard for their business, did well for himself. And in time he became a gentleman of leisure and developed an interest in the native folks’ ways, He collected and catalogued those cultural treasures, archived and referenced for future display. Bridge He was a member of the Royal Society, propertied wealth, a man of propriety. She and her people were torn from their land, betrayed, dislocated, dissected - according to plan, But they came together through song. There’s a photo on a wall in a museum in Hobart, it was taken in October of 1903, Of a woman and a man with an Edison phonograph, recording her songs of the land and the sea. And the man had a son, who in turn had a son, Who in turn had a son, who was me. And the woman had a son, who in turn had a daughter Who in turn had a son, who in turn had a son, and the next one was me) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 21 - 05:33 AM LANDLUBBER'S SHANTY © Bruce Watson Bruce Watson Music bandcamp Like all my songs, this is a true story, inspired by a rather unpleasant sailing experience. I'll tell you of a story, lads, that happened once to me, HEAVE, HAUL, HO, AND OPEN UP WIDE, Of the only time that I went out upon the briny sea, HEAVE FROM YOUR STOMACHS, LADS, AND CHUNDER OVER THE SIDE. As I went out one Sunday arvo on Port Phillip Bay, HEAVE.... The Captain said, "She's blowing lads, we'll get some waves today, HEAVE.... My friends had all impressed on me how sailing was so easy, If that's the case, excuse me asking why I feel so queasy? While looking at the sea so green my face was getting greener, Whoops! I didn't make it to the side, we'll have to call the cleaner! The First Mate and the Skipper said the boat was going beautiful, But I grew more in need of some assistance pharmaceutical. I wanted to be like those men at sea, who all go, "Arrrghh!" But when I tried to go like that it seemed to come out, "Yeuargh" The Captain said, "Now heave that yard-arm mizzen to the tops'l", I says, Bollocks to your bulwarks, man, you can stick it up your fo'c's'le!" Well, finally we made for home, returned to terra firma, I says, "The firmer it is the less terror there'll be," and went off without a murmur. The owl and the pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green craft, But now I've had a go myself, I reckons they was daft! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 21 - 05:29 AM BAD ABBOTT - © Bruce Watson, to the tune of Billy Field's 1980s hit 'Bad Habits'. Bruce Watson Music video - Bad Abbott Tony Abbott was, for our sins, Australia’s 28th Prime Minister from 2013 to 2015. He is now an adviser to the UK Board of Trade. Lucky UK! Can’t help himself – Bad Abbott He’s running wild, lost control It’s a shame to see that our poor country Is governed by – Bad Abbott Says he’ll stop the boats, just to get the votes Says those people smugglers must be stopped But what’s far, far uglier – is his own budgie smugglers Can’t help himself – Bad Abbott Well it’s clear he isn’t … a suppository of all wisdom But he’s a bottom feeder much in need of class Well that ill-considered quote really hit a bum note And it shows Bad Abbott talks out of his arse Well he promised us that there’d be no cuts To health, education, pensions or the ABC Well if I may be so blunt, the man’s an utter conundrum Can’t help himself – Bad Abbott He ignored the facts with the carbon tax And he’s an un-reconstructed misogynist I’d be happier at least if he’d ended up a priest But instead we got a Bad Abbott Yes my mind would be at peace if he’d ended up a priest But instead we got a Bad Abbott |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 21 - 05:22 AM Pauline © Bruce Watson (Tune: Jolene, Dolly Parton) Bruce Watson Music video- Pauline Pauline Hanson is a crazy right-wing Australian politician. For songwriters and satirists she is the gift that just keeps giving! Chorus: Pauline, Pauline, Pauline, Pauline You’re bigoted, you’re racist and inane Pauline, Pauline, Pauline, Pauline I`m begging of you Pauline, please explain. You’re ignorant beyond compare, your flaming locks of bright red hair Don’t hide the fact that you’re so cruel and mean. Your smile is like a breath of hate, your voice is like a thumbnail grating On a blackboard – but you’d prefer a whiteboard, eh, Pauline! You think that it’s really no big deal that you’re so xenophobic Homophobic and halalophobic too. I’m sick and tired and fed up with you being sick and tired and fed up With everyone who’s different from you. Chorus You don’t fool me, I’m no chump, One Nation’s just a racist rump You’re Australia’s own Donald Trump, Pauline. You say on the loo we should sit, that squatting’s not appropriate You’re really such a shining wit, Pauline. (Spoken: – that was a spoonerism) You say that we’ll be swamped by Asians but don’t acknowledge white invasion Stole this land from those who were here first. You’re fine with kosher, but not halal, you’re uninformed and so banal If I get any angrier I’ll burst. Chorus |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 15 Sep 21 - 03:03 AM Another song about Arafura is 'Arafura Pearl' by Ali Mills. I can't readily find the words online, but I'm sure they are there somewhere! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 14 Sep 21 - 11:25 PM BY THE ARAFURA SEA (Eric Bogle) When the warm tropic winds blow down from the north I fancy I can taste the salt sea spray And smell once more the sweet hibiscus bloom Hear the rustling of the palm trees as they sway And in another time, in another place I'm a young man again I used to be When I fell in love with the Tiwi girl By the Arafura Sea Her soft dark skin was velvet to the touch Her eyes were black as coal And in those eyes I sometimes glimpsed A wise and ancient soul The moon and the stars caught in her hair And lit a path to infinity When I made love to my Tiwi girl By the Arafura Sea Too soon the money and the jobs moved on And as a slave to both then so did I Though I swore to her that one day I would return She knew it far beyond man's careless lies So sure of her world, so sure of her place She would not go away with me And so I left my Tiwi girl By the Arafura Sea When the warm tropic winds blow down from the north To my home here in the dry dusty south Those old memories that those north winds bring Are bitter sweet ashes in my mouth But the bitterness is just a vain regret The sweet dust somehow comforts me When I think of my Tiwi girl By the Arafura Sea Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Sep 21 - 07:02 AM I AM THE VERY MODEL OF A MODERN FOREIGN MINISTER, Words © Bruce Watson (Tune Arthur Sullivan) Bruce Wa https://brucewatsonmusic.bandcamp.com/track/i-am-the-very-model-of-a-modern-foreign-minister video- The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company Andrew Downer was Australian’s from 1996 to 2007. He was quite a character. I am the very model of a modern foreign minister, My name is Alexander, and I’m not the least bit sinister, I trot around the globe to proudly represent Australia, I got the job ’cos as a party head I was a faili-ure. My Mummy and my Daddy gave me such a dandy start in life, They introduced me early to the joys of Liberal Party life, I really am a pillock — (whoops, a pillar) of Adelaide society, I’m cuddly as a teddy bear — that’s why you all desire me! I can name the states of Africa in order alphabetical, I never answer questions that are purely hypothetical. In short, across the Commonwealth, from Canberra to Westminister, I am the very model of a modern foreign minister. I am the very model of a modern foreign diplomat, Take any third world country I can say precisely where it’s at, I’ve met with all their leaders and I get on just a treat with them, They call me Alexander, which is really rather sweet of them. Those nasty pasty terrorists will soon no longer trouble you, ’Cos me and Little Johnny are such mates with old George W, I’ll fight that war on terror, I’ll be strong, I won’t be lenient, Except in certain circumstances where it’s not convenient. With rhetoric impressive my opponents I deflate ’em, I can quote the words of Gladstone and of Churchill all verbatim. In short, across the Commonwealth, from Canberra to Westminister, I am the very model of a modem foreign minister. I am the very model of a cocktail party animal, With huge expense account, although my impact is quite minimal, My overwhelming charm I use in full and frank discussi-ons, And when I stuff it up I just ignore the repercussi-ons. I’ve an extraordinary grasp of international relati-ons, In tough negotiati-ons I show a lot of pati-ence, I deal so diplomatically with problems I confront (you see), That the leaders of the world they say to me, “What a great count-ery!” I initiate initiatives completely ineffectual, But that’s of no concern to me because I’m so cute and sexual. In short, across the Commonwealth, from Canberra to Westminister, I am the very model of a modern foreign minister. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Sep 21 - 06:43 AM AMAZON © Bruce Watson Bruce Watson Music video - Amazon bandcamp This tragic loss of forests continues. The song has been recorded by several artists including Eric Bogle. It won the Declan Affley memorial Songwriting Award at the 1990 Australian National Folk Festival in Kuranda. Chorus: In the time it takes to sing this song, There’ll be four acres cleared in the Amazon. The jungle burns all through the night, They say you can see it from a satellite. The smoke's so thick for miles around, They have to close the airports down. The green of the jungle turns to ?aming red, As another cattle ranch gets the go-ahead. Now hamburgers grow where the forest once stood, Somehow I get the feeling that we've all been fooled. Chorus I heard a man on the TV say That if they take the forest away The world will be ruined, our future will go, He's a Kayapo, so he should know. But this very same man still cuts down trees, For him it's a question of necessity, A family to feed, and he must pay the rent, But when you add it all up it just doesn't make sense. Chorus I heard about a man called Chico Mendes, He fought the cattle ranchers head to head, He taught the rubber-tappers to stand up and fight, To protect the forest, to protect their rights. But the ranchers had their claims to lay, They wouldn't let a conservationist stand in their way, One night at his home they took him unawares – Forty bullets in the back for Chico Mendes. Instrumental (first half of verse) (Repeat second half of Verse One) Chorus Now hamburgers grow where the forest once stood, Another twenty years it might be gone for good |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Sep 21 - 06:18 AM THE BEANIE SING © Bruce Watson 2010. Bruce Watson Music video -The Beanie Song at Humph Hall, with a singing, beanie wearing audience Bruce sang this one winter night at my folk club, The Loaded Dog in 2010 & took pics of members wearing beanies as he was collecting photos at the time. As always, I was wearing a hat, not a beanie, so I sent him a pic of one of my bears wearing a lovely felt beanie & if you don't blink you can see it! Way way back around the dawn of time When humans stepped out of the primordial slime First they invented clothes then they invented the hat Then someone said, "You can do better than that!" Chorus: You gotta have a beanie (You gotta have a beanie) You gotta have a beanie (You gotta have a beanie) You gotta have a beanie Put it on your head You can make 'em out of polar fleece or make 'em out of wool You can make' em out of felt, which is really really cool You can weave 'em, you can knot' em, they can even be crocheted If you've got yourself a beanie, you've really got it made Chorus Now, every year in June way out in Alice Springs They have a beanie festival, and oh what joy it brings But Alice is so far to go for folks like you and me So now we've got a festival right here in Torquay Chorus What do you call a beanie that's past its prime? A has-beanie What do you call a beanie designed by Paris Hilton? A wanna beanie What do you call a beanie that's been cooked and put into a can? A baked beanie Bridge: I don't adore a fedora A trilby doesn't thrill me A beret isn't very good - compared to a beanie A sombrero I won't wear, oh A panama's anathema A turban's so suburban - compared to a beanie Chorus So if you've listened to my story, to all the things I've said You'll get yourself a beanie, and put it on your head They're every shape and size, from a house to a zucchini And an itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot beanie Chorus |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Sep 21 - 06:00 AM THE OLD BUSH DANCE © Bruce Watson. Bruce Watson Music bandcamp video - with the Emu Creek Band, 1998 Old time dances are one of the most delightful parts of Australian folk culture. This song is sung to two slightly adapted traditional tunes: the Old Valetta Waltz and the beautiful Spanish Waltz. It’s Saturday night in a small country town, The women squeeze into their long flowing gowns, The men swap their overalls for a tie and a suit, Round up the kids, and it’s off in the ute. At the hall ladies glide through the still summer air, As the young and the old dance away the week’s cares, Chasséeing, swinging and clapping their hands, As they sway to the tunes of the accordion band. Chorus: They played, they played, those fingers danced lightly, The notes cascade, we all danced so sprightly, Those far off days, those Saturday nights, When we danced the Waltz Cotillions & the Polka Quadrille. (Instrumental - same tune as chorus) It’s “Take your partners, please,” says the caller once more, As the weary hot couples find their way to the floor, For the Alberts Quadrille and the Waltz Country Dance, A short introduction, then up strikes the band. Young couples dance closely, some awkward and shy, As the mothers and fathers keep a close watchful eye, The kids weave and dart like a flock of galahs, As the music drifts up through the night to the stars. Chorus and instrumental Now it’s karaoke bars and it’s poker machines, For some people that’s what a good time out means, Not for them the concertina, the banjo and bones, The button accordion or the fiddle’s sweet tones. Real music is people like you and me here, Not woofers and tweeters and electronic gear. So let’s sing and let’s dance for the music of old, May it live on and on, may it shine through like gold. Chorus and instrumental |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Sep 21 - 05:47 AM it must be Christmas! Bruce Watson just sent me his promised list of songs - 25 of them, & only one has been posted - Reedy River Still flows, winner of the Bush Music Club 2014 Diamond Jubilee Song Competition, posted 28th Dec 2020. THE THREE LIVES OF SHIRLEY ANDREWS, (Tune: Mudgee Waltz), © Bruce Watson Bruce Watson Music video Shirley Andrews was Australia's foremost authority on traditional social dance. She was also a driving force behind the 1967 referendum on Aboriginal rights, and a bio-chemist who made a significant contribution to the treatment of bi-polar disorder. The tune for this song is the Mudgee Waltz, a traditional Australian dance tune that Shirley danced to many many times. Chorus: She danced with all her heart and she showed us how She fought for people’s rights, speaking strong and loud And she showed us what a woman in science can do We thank you so much, Shirley Andrews As a young girl she saw Pavlova on the stage Lit a fire in her heart from an early age She wrote the bible of Australian folk dance She’d be up on that dance floor when she had half a chance Chorus When she saw injustice she stood up to fight it Racism was rife — she vowed to right it She led the campaign in ’67 when all Australians were asked To recognise our First Peoples as equals at last Chorus In the face of male bias she showed her defiance She shone as a woman in the men’s world of science Her research into lithium was so thorough and so clever That it changed mental health care forever |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Aug 21 - 08:50 AM THE PORK BARREL SONG by of former Mudcatter Chris Maltby 2021 – Tune: “Travelling Down the Castlereagh” Written for the 8th John Dengate Memorial Get Together, video of the entire Zoom concert Chris's contribution starts about 1.01: My name it is Scott Morrison, I like to speak in tongues, There’s nothing I like better than slithering up the rungs But when it comes to leadership, I haven’t got a clue So to win the next election boys, I’ll tell you what I’ll do: Pork, boys, pork – there’s not the smallest doubt, We’ll need a lot of pork or we’ll be voted out I’ll whistle up Josh Friedenberg, he also loves a lurk And we’ll gussy up the budget for a bit more pork. There’s always an inducement or a scam a vote to buy, Building women’s change rooms or car parks in the sky Bridget’s got a spreadsheet all black, blue and pink To identify the marginals and cover up the stink. And it’s cash, boys, cash – there’s never any doubt, Announce loads of cash or we’ll be voted out It’s easy making promises when you rarely have to pay Just don’t forget the donors and you’ll be OK. Now if there is a crisis, well I don’t hold a hose Quarantine or vaccines you can stick ‘em up your nose I’ll just make more announcements, they’ll never seem to stop I’ve got a new one ready whenever any flop. And it’s dodge, boys, dodge – there’s never any doubt, I can’t be held responsible or I’ll be voted out I’ll background all the media, and other clever lurks Rupert will protect me, that’s how the system works. So he’s got a useless front bench and women he can’t stand, It’s plunder and destruction all across the land This sorry tale of Scummo, you know it’s bloody true, Take my advice, just listen and I’ll tell you what to do. So it’s shift, boys, shift – there isn’t the slightest doubt, If you want a bloody future, you’ll have to vote him out Go tell your friends and neighbours, use body, heart and soul And remember on election day to dump him in a hole. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 28 Aug 21 - 04:17 AM Good to know, John!! R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GUEST,John Flynn Date: 28 Aug 21 - 02:04 AM Re Posting by Stewie on 26 July - Cob & Co This was also recorded by Dunedin Band "Bluegrass Expedition" on Kiwi Records SLC-146 "Settling In" (1976). I'm still here regularly John in Perth |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Aug 21 - 11:59 PM spreadsheet no. 1, 625 songs alphabetically by title, Aug - Dec 20 spreadsheet no. 2, 390 songs by date from Jan 21 both spreadsheets give name of Catter, time & date posted & sheet number as we have 26 sheets on this thread |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 27 Aug 21 - 11:36 PM Well, good to know that We Three are in it for the long haul !!! And JennieG reads everything - and hopefully GerryM too?! But anyone else still visiting/reading??? And, Anyone Else care to post any Aussie/Kiwi songs - pleeeeeze! Sandra can send you the spreadsheet indices of what already exists in this thread (although I sadly admit to being behind in indexing from April 21 onwards :( This turning 70 business puts added stresses on Life's Workload!!! But sooooon!!! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Aug 21 - 10:16 PM I haven't forgotten either, I'm collecting stuff - one project is 4 songs written in the 60s about the same event! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 27 Aug 21 - 08:34 PM R-J, my apologies for double posting. Before posting, I did an edit/find and it was not found. If I had removed 'Drover' from the title search, it would have found your post. I too have been busy with other things, but will get back to posting some songs soon. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 26 Aug 21 - 12:01 AM Bugga. That "TAB" button gets me every time! I was going to say that Chris Priestly seems to be going through his "back catalogue" at present and posting misc. recordings from earlier times. He has many excellent songs and stories and his website is well worth investigating : https://www.youtube.com/user/chrisjpriestley/videos R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 25 Aug 21 - 11:55 PM Nice one, Stewie - very fond of this song. And lovely to sing along with (like so many Kiwi comps). Consequently, I posted it as "Rainbird in the Tea Tree" on March 25th of this year :) Which just goes to show that you can't keep a good song down, eh!! I'm still a few weeks away from getting back to my intended/promised songposts here in this thread, as I'm still rather busy. But some day soon ..... :) Cheers, R-J PS |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 25 Aug 21 - 08:58 PM DROVER (RAINBIRD IN THE TEA-TREE) (Peter Cape) When the rainbird sings in the tea-tree And there's cloud on the hills at the back Look out your window and you'll see me Riding down the track I'll be droving a mob of black-polls And me dogs'll be footsore and done But I'll sing out as I go past your window To show you, you're the one It's a long drove out from the Puhoi By Woodcocks and Kaipara Flat And I'm sick of me oilskins and gumboots And the rain belting down on my hat Got a stock whip over my shoulder And a plain golden ring in my pack So perhaps when I get to your window I'll be pulling in off the track Lyrics as printed in 'An Ordinary Joker: the life & songs of Peter Cape'. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Aug 21 - 09:08 PM eek! I hit the wrong button - Petula singing 'Downtown' for those who need reminding of the tune! Ralph lives in a large regional city that has not (yet?) had a lockdown, but as it is on a major highway & not far from other lockdowns, covids are probably eyeing the population. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Aug 21 - 08:59 PM The Lockdown Song - Sincere apologies to Tony Hatch from Ralph Pride. Tune: “Downtown” Petula Clark, 1964. When you’re at home, and you are feeling so lonely It’s because - you’re in ...... .........LOCK DOWN Staring at walls and wandering aimlessly ‘round Is so much fun - you’re in ..............LOCK DOWN Listening to Gladys, on the telly listing cases Of people in the hospital, with plumbing in their faces, Gasping for breath...............Bloody near death ! Chorus: But that will not happen to you – You can forget all your troubles, Forget all your cares, you’re in ...LOCK DOWN You will be safe - you’re in .......LOCK DOWN Socially distancing ................LOCK DOWN No better place you can be........Lockdown......Lockdown Stay home from work, no need to go anywhere And it’s because - you’re in ......LOCK DOWN Think about the money, you can save on the fare And it’s because - you’re in ......LOCK DOWN But you can still go out and have, a run around the city But don’t you go too far away, it’s really such a pity, They’ll send you back home.................Wearing your mask! Isn’t it nice we can rely on the army It’s because - you’re in ............LOCK DOWN Keeping us safely far away from each other It’s because - you’re in ............LOCK DOWN If you’re quarantining and, don’t answer at the knocking They’ll send around a Bushmaster, and copters chop, chop, chopping Coming for you............. A big hefty fine! When it’s all over, and we’re all out in clover And we’re all - not in...................LOCK DOWN We can go take a cab, because we’ve all had our jab And we’re all - not in...................LOCK DOWN We won’t have to go and get those, things stuck up our noses, Tough about the ones who now are, pushing up the roses They didn’t survive.................Where were their jabs? Last Chorus: (sung softer & softer until you finish with a whisper) But that did not happen to you, So, forget all your troubles, Forget all your cares, because.....LOCK DOWN We were so safe, because...........LOCK DOWN Socially distancing................LOCK DOWN Wearing our masks, because.........LOCK DOWN Staying at home, because...........LOCK DOWN Jabs in our arms, because..........LOCK DOWN Queued up for hours, for ...... ...LOCK DOWN Swabs up our noses, and ...........LOCK DOWN Bloody near destitute.................LOCKDOWN etc. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 01 Aug 21 - 10:45 PM MY YOUNGEST SON CAME HOME TODAY (Eric Bogle) My youngest son came home today His friends marched with him all the way The flutes and drums beat out the time As in his box of polished pine Like dead meat on a butcher’s tray My youngest son came home today My youngest son was a fine young man With a wife, a daughter and two sons A man he would have lived and died Til by a bullet sanctified Now he’s a saint, or so they say They brought their saint home today Above the narrow Belfast streets An Irish sky looks down and weeps On children’s blood in gutters spilled For dreams of freedom unfulfilled As part of freedom’s price to pay My youngest son came home today My youngest son came home today His friends marched with him all the way The flutes and drums beat out the time As in his box of polished pine Like dead meat on a butcher’s tray My youngest son came home today And this time he’s home to stay An old’un but a good’un related to the period of the ‘troubles’ in Ulster. From Eric’s ‘Scraps of Paper’ album. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 27 Jul 21 - 09:25 PM Fair point, Jennie. I didn't mind it. After almost 40 years exclusively collecting CDs, I have bought a new turntable and have been dipping into my extensive bluegrass vinyl collection. However, I primarily posted the link because I had never heard of the lass. Given the price of vinyl records, I reckon I'll stick to purchasing CDs. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Jul 21 - 06:25 AM WHAT IS IN DOCUMENT J? by Joe Fernside, 1954 audio - Joe singing it in the John Meredith Collection, NLA Oral History collection Oh, what is this Document J? That's what we ask today. There's no-one knowin', says Justice Owen, What's in Document J? Oh, there is a dirty big spy, He's got a big Yankee eye. He's a workers' snob, his name is Bob, Would that be in Document J? They're selling us out to the yanks, The marbled millionaire cranks; They control our oil, our uranium spoil, Would that be in Document J? They sympathize with the Japs. They're saying they're very good chaps. For war they'll train, they'll addle the brain Would that be in Document J? The poor are all born to be slaves, They work them to their graves. Let us unite, defend our right, Would that be in Document J? Oh, we love our own native land, But we don't like the rich robbers' hand. We will cleave to the poor, for evermore, Would that be in Document J? I've been doing a bit of research recently into Document J which was a prominent item in the Petrov affair. It was written by an Australian journalist, Rupert Lockwood who was a member of the Communist Party, & was one of the papers brought out of the embassy by Petrov when he defected in 1954. The day it was declared secret by the Royal Commission, the Communist party printed copies of what Lockwood said was his original document, not the fake referred to in the Royal Commission! John Meredith was one of the members who sold copies for a shilling. Document J was of great interest to the Commission & the public, including Communist Party members so Joe, a bean farmer in Terrigal who was a Communist, wrote a song about it, & sent the words to John Meredith. Lyrics & info from Keith McKenry's biography of John Meredith. wikipedia reporting on Soviet espionage in Australia, aka Petrov affair National library Public List (36 items) Research Question: In what ways was the Petrov Affair used as propaganda by various interests in Australia from 1954 to 1956? |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Jul 21 - 05:45 AM Lionel Long's version is everywhere on youtube, but he was more a country singer than a folk singer. extract from wikipedia (early 60s) - It was this folk music revival that made EMI Columbia insist that Long move away from his love of country music and record folk music. But he did put out a lot of folk records. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 26 Jul 21 - 11:38 PM Oh my, Stewie....."The cross of the south" bluegrass style......not so sure. I do like bluegrass music but perhaps this one could have been left alone, it's too fast to get the words - and, as it's telling a story, that's a bit of a waste. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 26 Jul 21 - 10:21 PM THE BALLAD OF COBB & CO (Anon) There's a hustle and a bustle in the old hotel tonight The bar is full to bursting and the lights are gay and bright They're waiting for the horses that are beating through the night And they're waiting for the coach of Cobb & Co Cobb & Co, Cobb & Co And they're waiting for the coach of Cobb & Co There's Billy Jones the jackeroo still breathless from his ride He’s bought a brand-new sulky and it’s standin' just outside He's waiting for the pretty girl who's going to be his bride And she's coming on the coach of Cobb & Co Cobb & Co, Cobb & Co And she's coming on the coach of Cobb & Co Now the horses hooves are drumming, in the distance they're a-coming A far-off cloud is moving ‘cross the plain At breakneck speed they're driving, pretty soon they'll be arriving There'll be lots of cheer when old friends meet again There's Dan the old prospector and he's made his bag of gold He made a lucky strike, about two thousand pounds I'm told He's off to see the city lights before he gets too old And he's leaving on the coach of Cobb & Co Cobb & Co, Cobb & Co And he's leaving on the coach of Cobb & Co Jim Burke is mighty worried 'cause the drinks are running dry Unless he gets some money soon, he'll kiss his farm goodbye He’s written to the bank and now he's waiting their reply And he hopes it's on the coach of Cobb & Co Cobb & Co, Cobb & Co And he hopes it's on the coach of Cobb & Co The driver's whips are cracking and the horses hooves are dragging As across the red and dusty plain they race There's a distant light a-burning and the passengers are yearning For the comfort of a warm and kindly place And someone shouts ‘they're coming’ and the door is opened wide There's a rattle and a clatter and the coach is there outside With horses hot and steamy from their long and dusty ride With the coach that bears the name of Cobb & Co Cobb & Co, Cobb & Co With the coach that bears the name of Cobb & Co Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Jul 21 - 09:54 AM I learnt that song by hearing it when it was Top 40! I'd forgotten it, but sometime after a friend took over a folk club in 1995 (folk club? are there still folk clubs?) I heard it again & sang along cos I remembered all the words. sandra (who still does & nowadays sings along with the video) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 25 Jul 21 - 08:01 AM Crikey! So you did! (not sure I even remembered that song, at that time :) Apologies, Sandra. At least we don't have too many duplications for the overall amount of songs, eh?! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Jul 21 - 04:31 AM oops, I posted this 17 Sep 20 - 05:41 AM, page 5. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 25 Jul 21 - 01:01 AM Back on May 23rd, I posted Kevin Johnson’s song “THE WHALES ARE SINGING TO ME (A WHALER’S LAMENT)” and I had meant to also post Fielding & Dyer’s popular number from c.1971, loosely based on Melville’s “Moby Dick”. Now I notice Sandra has posted in that old thread about a remake of the film/story/song, so here it is : THE WHALE Terry Fielding & Fred Dyer (Refrain :) Di Di Di Di Di Di Di Di They sailed from port one morning when the weather it was fair A gentle breeze it pushed them and no one gave a care They sang and danced and laughed that night and opened up a keg They're out to catch the monster whale that took the captain's leg. Refrain The Captain said a piece of gold for he who sees my whale So bend your backs and row me lads; I know that we won't fail (Chorus :) Bend your backs and row me lads and take me to me whale To-night we'll sing and dance and tomorrow night we'll sail We'll sail into the harbour; no prouder men there'll be We'll show them all we've captured the monster from the sea. Refrain They saw the whale one morning when the weather it was fair The men were white as ghosts, but the Captain didn't care I'll take this whale myself he said; the weak can stay behind The strong can share my glory and tonight they'll share my wine. Refrain The whale it came up closer; it was bigger than the sky They lowered down the longboat and they heard the captain cry. Chorus The whale it came so close that it almost tipped the boat The captain raised his spear and he rammed it down its throat The whale it gave a mournful cry and lifted its great tail And brought it down a-smashing on their small boat like a gale. Now a hundred years have passed since the Captain and his men Went below to spend their days in Davy Jones' den The whale it goes on living but inside it wears a scar And if you’re ever near that place, a voice calls from afar. Chorus We’ll show them all we've captured the monster from the sea (X3) c.1971 and loosely based upon Herman Melville’s classic MOBY DICK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYxE5FevaYg&t=72s [YT clip is illustrated with clips from the film “Moby Dick” with Patrick Stewart] R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 24 Jul 21 - 11:28 PM Back in December last year, JennieG posted the lyrics to 'The Cross of the South'. I stumbled upon this rollicking rendition in a clip by Seona McDowell who was totally unknown to me. Evidently, she made an LP of Australian folksongs for Folkways which later became Smithsonian Folkways. Despite the incongruous bluegrass backing, it is not without its charm. Youtube clip Some info on Seona McDowell on Paul the Stockman's site: Click Where did she perform in Australia? --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 20 Jul 21 - 10:25 AM More from the pen of the wonderful Kev Carmody. I was reminded by Amergin's 2013 post in the currently resurrected thread "A Last Song Circle for Katlaughing" : MOONSTRUCK Kev Carmody When the western sky’s ablaze And the sun lays down to rest When the curlew starts to cry And the birds fly home to roost When the full moon begins to rise Satin moon beams on my face Beauty of the night goes far beyond Far beyond both time and place [Chorus] No-one’s lost who finds the moon Or the sweetness of the wattle’s bloom Rebirth with the rain in spring Or the dingo’s howl on the autumn wind Spirit of the moon here calls me home Spirit of the moon here guides me home Moon it draws me to the scrub Night voices raised in song Past the water lilies bloom In that tranquil billabong Walkin’ on the shadowed leaves That are reflected by the moon To the rocks and hills an’ caves Where the dingo’s pups are born No one's lost who finds the moon Or the sweetness of the wattle's bloom Rebirth with the rain in spring Dingo's howl on the autumn wind Spirit of the moon here calls me home, whoa Spirit of the moon here guides me home Stars ablazin’ across the sky In the brilliance of the Milky Way I’m surrounded by the beauty Of every night and every day Walkin’ towards that morning moon set Caress of moonlight on my skin Knowin’ that freedom of not carin’ Of why I’m goin’ or where I’ve been No one's lost who finds the moon Or the sweetness of the wattle's bloom Rebirth with the rain in spring Dingo's howl on the autumn wind Spirit of the moon here calls me home, whoa Spirit of the moon here guides me home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=340mRtOIWvw sung by Sara Storer, and Kev Carmody speaks from 2007 Cannot Buy My Soul : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannot_Buy_My_Soul R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Jul 21 - 11:41 PM Warren has been busy posting his albums, 3 on the 8th July, must have been a lockdown activity! Maybe there are more to come? |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 17 Jul 21 - 10:53 PM PINT POT AND BILLY (Anon) I dined with the swells in famed Piccadilly Took tea with my cousins in Horsemonger Lane And now I am stranded on my own native shore I'll go back to Australia to the goldfields again When I asked for a nobbler they asked what I meant, sir I called them all 'new chums' and that served them right Oh dear, don't I sigh for my famous stock horses I had when droving on One Man Plain A mountain flash rider, a son of old Scroggins Oh dear, don't I wish I was back there again Oh don't you remember Ben Hall and his troupe, sir Who stuck up the escort and well-guarded mail And about that wretch Morgan I could yet relate, sir But history would serve me to tell a sad tale Then give me Australia with my pint pot and billy Making tea in the shade of a gum tree again Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 15 Jul 21 - 08:43 PM Sandra, thanks for posting Dale's review. Here is another good'un from the album. Note in lyric booklet: Mary Gilmore clearly felt that fellow poet, Henry Lawson, was very poorly treated during his life and that his state funeral in 1922 was no compensation. The Dead Poet (for the pioneer) (M.Gilmore/M.Somerville) Turn down his glass on the bar Take up the cards he let fall Sort them and count what they are Now he has taken the call Joker and sequence and flush - Trumpeters blowing before - Flowers, cathedral and crush What could we give to him more? Sorrow he had for his portion Shame - and the cold of a cell Cruelty, blame and extortion Hatred, bitter as hell Poverty, pity, contempt Patronage, judgment of fools Always some clerk to pre-empt Right to read him the rules! Lonely he walked in your streets Solitude lone as the grave Now with your mighty he seats Spotlight, centre and nave Ah, had you but given him half Living, you gave at his death! Surely his ghost of a laugh Shakes on the air like breath! 14 October 1922 - published in 'Murray Pioneer', 15 December 1922. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Jul 21 - 10:58 PM Review by Dale Dengate of 'The Forest Prayed. Poems of Mary Gilmore' The Forest Prayed is a truly delightful CD of Maggie Somerville’s settings for the poems of Mary Gilmore. The music is totally appropriate & such pleasant listening one wonders why it hasn’t been done before, in the way Henry Lawson’s poems walked off the pages into songs. Maggie has written tunes, which are so evocative of the bush melodies that you can almost smell the gum leaves burning beneath the billy tea. The backings are varied but over all seem to include every instrument found in a bush band & more. These musicians play sensitive accompaniments to Gilmore’s words that are sung with great clarity enabling every word to be heard Dame Mary Gilmore led a distinguished & romantic life as a humanist, political activist and social reformer and supporter of other artists. She was an acclaimed writer in her own day and I well recall the portrait of her in the Fellowship of Australian Writers rooms where the Bush Music Club met. On her death, the Bush Music Club put out a special Singabout magazine with a pen sketch of Mary and an obituary by John Meredith, page 6 . The most famous portrait of Gilmore was Dobell’s painting commissioned for her 90th birthday; it aroused controversy as it depicted an old woman with slim face & wispy white hair that Dobell painted so delicately but dressed in formal old fashioned lace and satin brocade quite different from the younger portrait once on the ten dollar note. Dobell’s portrait has been included on the attractively presented CD cover & booklet. This booklet is very comprehensive with dates of publication of the poems. The historical context of the poems is significant to the varying sentiments expressed. There are 16 tracks that cover Gilmore’s poems set to Somerville’s music. The topics include many Australian themes including the environment and a love of nature as well as a concern for the plight of the indigenous peoples, women’s experience and World war II fears with the threatened invasion of the Japanese forces, and tributes to contemporary poets, Henry Lawson and Shaw Neilson. Maggie Somerville has taken on a well over due task and created beautiful and thoughtful songs that I hope many will learn to sing or they will continue to enjoy listening to the poems of Mary Gilmore. In the 50s & 60s musicians including John Arcott (better known as Ralph Traill) put some of her poems to music, but the arrangements unfortunately didn't get in to the public consciousness. Another composer was 16 year old BMC member Jennifer Mann |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 14 Jul 21 - 08:21 PM WAR (M.Gilmore/M.Somerville) Out in the dust he lies Flies in his mouth Ants in his eyes I stood at the door Where he went out Full-grown man Ruddy and stout The beat of the drum Was clods on the heart For all that the regiment Looked so smart I heard the crackle Of hasty cheers Run like the breaking Of unshed tears And just for a moment As he went by I had sight of his face And a flash of his eye He died a hero's death They said When they came to tell me My boy was dead But out in the street A dead dog lies Flies in his mouth Ants in his eyes Words by Mary Gilmore 2 April 1916. Published in 'Under the Wilgas' 1932. Music by Maggie Somerville who set several Mary Gilmore poems to music and recorded them on her 'The Forest Prayed: Poems of Mary Gilmore' album. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Jul 21 - 06:26 AM CALL TO SONG by Chris Clarke video Oh come all ye who carry songs And have the voice to share them They’re only songs, they right no wrongs But tyrants do beware them A song can carry all our grief Our story and our laughter So come and join your voice to ours And we’ll be friends hereafter So if you hear this call to song Come up and join our number Or else your voice and all your songs Are lost in idle slumber Come one and all who heed the call And bring your voices’ power Undying friends when singing ends We’ll live no finer hour. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Jul 21 - 08:16 AM I'm not a musician, I'd need to ask someone - looks like a job for Dave Johnson who has put tunes to old songs. sandra (who can't hold a tune on her own & forgets words = chorus singer!) Sydney is in a 3-week lockdown at the moment ending next week, & my folk club meets the following weekend (covid willing & fingers crossed.) We had to move our June concert to later in the year but would find it very hard to move another concert as there are a number of festivals later this year (covid willing) & finding a spot for an extra concert is probably impossible. Singing along to my CDs is not good enough |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 07 Jul 21 - 06:03 AM B'coz I'm still busy here at home, I'm just gonna quickly stick this one in here, that is the latest post on the "VERANDAH MUSIC" blog : https://verandahmusic.blogspot.com/2021/07/an-australian-hunting-song-1861.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campa AN AUSTRALIAN HUNTING SONG - 1861 Here’s a little ditty from 1861 that reflects the settler fascination with shooting everything on sight. Not a great piece of literature, but an amusing sidelight on attitudes and also an indication that the bush ballad was nt the only way to write about the bush. AN AUSTRALIAN HUNTING SONG. [BY ONE WHO PADDLES HIS OWN CANOE.] I've travelled about a bit In my time, of amusements I've seen a few. But found all tame compared with the game of hunting the kangaroo. Your wants are small, and you care not at all, so your dogs are but swift and true; On your pig-skin across, you may shout till you're hoarse, as you follow the kangaroo. If fond of sport of any sort, I'll try to prove to you That there's no sort of fun can come up to a run with an old-man kangaroo. I like no strife, but enjoy this life as much as a man can do, And don't think It wrong to spend all day long in chasing the kangaroo. I lie down at dark, and ' rise with the lark,' and seek out a friend or two, Who delight in the fun of a rattling good run with an old-man kangaroo. Some talk of the Play, which is good in its way— that is, if it's something new, But I think it folly, and not half so jolly, as hunting the kangaroo As on horse, with your dogs, over fences and logs, and swamps you go slushing through, You care not for wet il you only can get a good run with a kangaroo. If far from your home you should happen to roam, and your tucker is quite done, too ; What need you desire but a good roasting fire, and steaks from a kangaroo? For though hunted for pleasure, 'tis thought quite a treasure, by those who are fond of a stew, And gourmands will stoop to a basin of soup from the tall of a kangaroo. This parody's fair as far as it goes, but, better than that, 'tis true That many men aim at less Innocent game than hunting the kangaroo. And stories are told of those who have sold themselves and their fortunes too. For the head of a woman— but give me the tail of a plump young kangaroo. I'm fond of tales of any sort, but this is the tale that's true, No tale you can tell will go down half so well as the tail of a kangaroo— FOR SOUP. Hamilton Spectator and Grange District Advertiser (Vic. : 1860 - 1870) Wed 17 Jul 1867 Page 3 Sandra may be able to suggest a likely tune? R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 Jul 21 - 08:08 PM checking Mudcat today I see Mudcatter Daniel Kelly’s take on the Suez Canal debacle ON THE SUEZ CANAL by Daniel Kelly, March 2021 video Oh, dat ship she stuck and she ain’t gonna move, Ain’t gonna move Oh Lord, Oh, dat ship she stuck and she ain’t gonna move, On dat Suez Canal, On the way from China up to Rotterdam, .. Oh, dat ship she called the Ever Given, .. In the big dust storm she ran aground, .. The tug-boats could’na turn her ‘round, .. The small back hoe gonna dig her out, .. Gonna Take ten year, or round about, .. The shippers they is a mighty sore, .. Lost ‘em a few billion or more, .. ~~~~~~~~~~ My tribute to the unfolding #Evergiven #SuezCanal situation. Before people comment with cultural appropriation claims, I have sung this in the style of African American/Slave/Worker songs, often sung in the canal shipping industry. It was these songs that were picked up by European sailors and turned into many of what we call 'shantys'. 'Roll the Woodpile Down' being an excellent example. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Jul 21 - 06:28 AM I was listening to my 3 CDs of Harry Robertson's songs & remembered Evan & Lyn's website with all his lyrics! The Mathiesons had been friends of the Robertsons since the 60s & are the official guardians of his legacy. We've only posted 9 of his songs, so here's a less famous one, about the Vietnam War. FREEDOM FREE FOR ALL, Lyrics: Harry Robertson Music: “Ring The Bell Watchman” by Henry Clay Work 1855 Arranged by Evan Mathieson video-Ring the bell watchman On Queen Street tramway tracks — a young conscript stands clutching a paper in one of his hands he lights up a match — the paper starts to glow and on the television you can see the demons go. Chorus See how the cops run — eight — nine — ten Nicklin’s gallant heroes, but none of them men they quickly seize the youth and knock him to the ground and with strangle holds and kicks and blows they take him to the pound. The freedom march is on — they’re marching round the town they hold their placards up, but the coppers knock them down the crime rate rises high — but the cops can’t spare a man they’re busy knocking over boys who won’t fight in Vietnam. Chorus The women are out there — they think Australia’s free but let them show a placard, and they will quickly see that chivalry’s gone astray in the struggle of today and the copper’s fist will find them first if they are in the fray. Chorus A slim-built youth is there — he won’t go to Vietnam be sure you grab him tightly and twist his broken arm we’ll take him to the dungeon — we’ll throw him in the tank we got our orders to be rough from ‘Pineapple Frank’. Chorus Pineapples may be rough — on Frankie’s Nambour farm but brutal cops in Brisbane have really done Frank harm for opinions here today — on the Nazi-type display are that you were wrong and you’ll be gone on next election day. Chorus Down in the city’s cells — among the conscript boys some one started singing and soon we heard the noise of the people standing in the street whose voices did return the song that freedom fighters sing, “We Shall Overcome”. Chorus © Harry Robertson and subsequently ©1995 Mrs Rita Robertson, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA Registered with APRA/AMCOS www.apra-amcos.com.au |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Jul 21 - 08:29 AM I can't believe I didn't post Charlie Mopps, in the early days it was the Bush Music Club' anthem. sandra (blushing) here are the original words as published in Singabout The Journal of Australian Folksong, Vol 3, no.3, 1958, referring to Sydney pubs, followed by the version as sung at BMC in the 21st Century. CHARLIE MOPPS (Anon) A long time ago, way back in history, When all they had to drink was nothing but cups of tea Along came a man by the name of Charlie Mopps And he invented a wonderful drink and gave it the name of hops Chorus: Oh, he oughta been an admiral, a sultan or a king And to his praises we should always sing Oh, look what he has done for us, he's filled us up with cheer Lord bless Charlie Mopps, the man who invented beer The day that Charlie died, he knocked at heaven’s gate He said to St Peter; ‘Now tell me how I rate’: St Peter looked at him and he said, ‘Now who are you?’ He said; ‘I’m Charlie Mopps’ and Peter said; ‘Pass through’ Chorus At the Windsor, the Marble Bar, the Castlereagh as well One thing you can be sure - it’s Charlie’s beer they sell So come on all you lucky lads, at ten o’clock she stops For five short seconds, remember Charlie Mopps. One... two... three, four, five - - (spoken) CHARLIE MOPPS, an additional verse. A bushel of hope, a quarter of malt and mix it all up with a stick - The kind of lubrication that makes your engine tick: Forty pints of wallop a day will keep away the quacks, It's only 4½d a pint, a shilling and tuppence in tax. SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME (Tam Murrell, Twickenham, Eng) ============= As published by Ralph Pride in BMC's Singabout booklet 1, as sung by BMC in the 21st century - A long time ago, way back in history, When all they had to drink was nothing but cups of tea Along came a man by the name of Charlie Mopps And he invented a wonderful drink and he made it out of hops Chorus: Oh, he ought to be an admiral, a sultan or a king And to his praises we should always sing Oh, look what he has done for us, he's filled us up with cheer Lord bless Charlie Mopps, the man who invented beer. First you malt the barley, then you boil the hops, You pitch a bit of yeast in, and when the action stops, You pour it into bottles, then put on the tops, And in another week or two, it's 'Cheers for Charlie Mopps.' The day that Charlie died, he knocked at heaven’s gate He said to St Peter, 'Tell me how I rate’ St Peter looked at him and he said, ‘Now who are you?’ He said; ‘I’m Charlie Mopps’ and Peter said; ‘Straight through.’ At the Windsor, the Castlereagh, the Marble Bar as well One thing you can be sure, it’s Charlie’s beer they sell So come on all you lucky lads, the froth is on the top, For five short seconds remember Charlie Mopps. One... two... three, four, five - - (spoken) Chorus: Oh, he ought to be an admiral, a sultan or a king And to his praises we should always sing Oh, look what he has done for us, he's filled us up with cheer Lord bless Charlie Mopps, the man who invented beer. =================== |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 01 Jul 21 - 10:09 PM CHARLIE MOPPS (Anon) A long time ago, way back in history, When all they had to drink was nothing but cups of tea Along came a man by the name of Charlie Mopps And he invented a wonderful drink and made it of malt and hops Chorus: Oh, he oughta been an admiral, a sultan or a king And to his praises we should always sing Oh, look what he has done for us, he's filled us up with cheer God bless Charlie Mopps, the man who invented beer Oh, the day that Charlie died, he knocked at heaven’s gate He said to St Peter, ‘Now tell me how I rate’ St Peter looked at him and said, ‘Now tell me who are you?’ He said, ‘I’m Charlie Mopps’ and Peter said, ‘Pass through’ Chorus At the Hotham, Young & Jackson’s and the Sarah Sands as well There’s one thing you can be sure - it’s Charlie’s beer they sell So come on all you lucky lads, at ten o’clock she stops For five short seconds, remember Charlie Mopps A-one-two-three-four-five Chorus An Australian version of a song that was created somewhere in the British Isles. The above is as printed at pages 94-95 of 'Australian Folksongs of the Land and its People' compiled by the Folk Lore Council of Australia 1974. Youtube clip Version collected by Bush Music Club Mudcat thread --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 29 Jun 21 - 09:22 PM Another parody of 'The dying stockman'. This one is from Alan Musgrove's 'A Young Man and Able' album. He noted that it is 'a picture of inner Melbourne street life in the 1990s'. THE DYING JUNKIE (Alan Musgrove/Trad) A skinny young junkie lay dying The kerbstone supporting his head There were no mates around him a-cryin’ As he lay in a coma near dead But an ambulance must have been called for For the bold paramedics appeared And they gave him a big shot of Narcan They saved the boy’s life it was clear Then he screamed at the bold paramedic ‘You bastard, you’ve ruined me stone!’ And he left-hooked the bold paramedic And he walked down the street to go home Some days after that I was walking When I happened to see the same boy Being bundled into the meat wagon On a street corner down in Fitzroy Wrap him up like piece of fresh topside And bury him deep down below Where the demons and the wallopers can’t harm him In the place where all dead junkies go On the subject of parodies, this YT clip is worth a look if you haven't seen it. It is a parody of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Shirley Serban, a kiwi lass. The lyrics are in the clip. Menopause Rhapsody She is also responsible for this Covid parody: Do Re Mi --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Jun 21 - 09:26 AM THERE'S A RAINBOW OVER THE ROCK by Kevin Bloody Wilson. Recorded on "Looking Forward Looking Back" (2000) video - Slim Dusty There's a rainbow over the rock And the Sun has started shining I just see a flock of cockatoos fly by And I see a silver lining On the clouds as they roll on Bringing life to the desert and stock And you've gotta believe in a god When there's a rainbow over the rock Call it Ayers Rock or Uluru They both mean much the same Named after our ancestors From both our yesterdays Now here we stand on common ground Still drenched from the desert rain In awe of what's before us And breathing in being Australian There's a rainbow over the rock And the Sun has started shining I just see a flock of cockatoos fly by And I see a silver lining On the clouds as they roll on Bringing life to the desert and stock And you've gotta believe in dream time When there's a rainbow over the rock There stands that magic, majestic rock The rain has washed her clean Dressed in the colors of the rainbow As if for a new beginning And there's a brand new day in the horizon And there's a brand new feeling in the air And now that the dust has settled Advance Australia fair There's a rainbow over the rock And the Sun has started shining I just see a flock of cockatoos fly by And I see a silver lining On the clouds as they roll on Bringing life to the desert and stock And you've gotta believe in a god When there's a rainbow over the rock And you've gotta believe in dreamtime When there's a rainbow over the rock And you've gotta believe together When there's a rainbow over the rock |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Jun 21 - 03:25 AM THE BLOKE WHO SERVES THE BEER by Peter Denahy. Recorded on "Looking Forward Looking Back" (2000) video - Slim Dusty My name is Tom I own a Queensland pub There’s Bundy on the shelf and the ice is in the tub No lemon lime and bitters just Bundy and Fourex If they wreck the joint tonight I’ll ring their flamin' necks. There are so many songs about ringers out hell raisen' But what about the bloke who pulls the beers When they’ve all gone I’m still out wipen' tables When they’ve all hit the hay while i’m still here I’m the bloke you never hear of servin' beer. I give change to the fellas if they want a game of pool Got pies in the oven mate when the weather's gettin’ cool If the boys get rowdy and decide to have a scrap I just chuck 'em out the door and I go back to the taps. My name is Tom I’m a diplomatic thinker I can listen to the woes of a broken hearted drinker When the boys come in I say how ya goin’ tonight They get a bit wild but they’re young and alright. They tell me how to break a horse and how to brand a steer I take their dough and listen cause that is why i’m here They tell me bout musterin' but they don’t seem to know That Tom their local publican did that years ago When they’ve all hit the hay while I’m still here I’m the bloke you never hear of servin' beer. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Jun 21 - 03:17 AM CLEAN UP OUR OWN BACKYARD, by Joy McKean. Recorded on "Looking Forward Looking Back" (2000) video - Slim Dusty There's an old rhyme that pits out time take it for what it's worth Things are crook at Tallarook and there ain't no work in Burke But we still find room for the many who come a-knockin' at our door And we sell our wide brown acres without a second thought. Some will say we are building a nation rich and strong But if you take a closer look at it perhaps we've got it wrong Makes you think maybe we're a bit crazy doing it quite so hard Shouldn't be a crime to take the time to clean up our own backyard. In the country towns and the land around, in the city streets and slums The dreamtime lore has gone before and the walkabout is done On the streets at night you see the plight of our old ones and our young And the Salvo refuge overflows, but still the people come. Just a little drop of caring in an ocean of neglect Can't stem the tide of anger from the lost and dispossessed In the land of promise keepin' our promise gets to be too hard Shouldn't be a crime to take the time to clean up our own backyard. Make you think maybe we're a bit crazy doing it quite so hard Shouldn't be a crime to take the time to clean up our own backyard on some lyrics sites "refuge" is spelt "refugge" & on other sites 'And the Salvo refuge overflows" becomes "And the sound old rep you go the flow" |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 24 Jun 21 - 08:27 PM WHERE CAMEL PADS GO DOWN (Jack Sorensen) Last night I dreamed that Father Time had turned life's pages back And once again a sturdy youth I took the northern track With my lost mates of long ago I left behind the town And headed for the country where the camel pads go down But down the long brown highways, over plains and ranges grey The speedy motor transports bear the shearers of today Now spinifex has overgrown the camel pads at last The camel train and bicycle have drifted to the past Creator of the spinifex, the hungry sandhills brown The brazen sky, the creek beds dry, the plains where tracks wind down Give back to me that which I had, the heart, the strength of limb That I may do the things I did before my eyes grew dim Those youthful dreams that once I had of heights to which I'd bid Are shattered by the memory of things I really did And down forsaken highways where the twining snakewoods grow I yearn to travel northwards as I did long years ago Roger Montgomery put a tune to this poem. It may be found on Dingo's Breakfast 'Jack Sorensen: Weaver of Dreams' album. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 21 Jun 21 - 08:28 PM THE FOGGY FOGGY BANKS (Anon) Out on the foggy foggy banks We pitch and toss about And blow our frozen fingers When we hear our skipper shout Chorus: Heave away on your capstan, lads Give a hand to heave the trawl When we get the fish on board We’ll have another haul Heave away on your capstan, lads Give a hand to heave the trawl In the middle of the night, heave ho ye all When I was but a lad at school, I would not stay at home Like lots of other foolish lads, I thought I’d sooner roam Soon I joined a trawler and there I quickly found It wasn’t no plain sailing, when I reached the trawlin’ ground Chorus Sailing on the ocean far from the Port of Bluff The southern gale is rising and the sea starts getting rough When waves are falling ‘round us and pounding on the deck It’s hard to keep your footing as you try to save your neck Chorus We work our guts out day and night, our backs are stiff and sore There’s nothing more inviting than safe ashore once more When the work is finally over, hard up our tiller goes West by south to the harbour’s mouth, to the big jib on her nose Chorus (x2) A song from the fishermen of Bluff. The above lyrics are those in Phil Garland's recording. This version is longer than that printed at page 48 of 'Song of a Young Country'. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Jun 21 - 10:30 PM LAWSON CENTENARY SONG by John Dengate, 1967, tune Gartan Mother's Lament. First published in Singabout 6(2), 1967, page 3 as part of the Bush Music Club's celebration of the Centenary of Henry Lawson's birth. video - Gartan Mother's Lament by The Corries Come now all Australians and tell me did you know - - Henry Lawson, he was born a hundred years ago, He was born in a leaky tent, the night was stormy and cold All on the fields of Grenfell where his father dug for gold. Henry Lawson spent his boyhood at Eurunderee, They were years of deprivation, want and poverty. He humped his swag in the nineties drought, across the plains out-back, And in the Country west of Bourke he starved upon the track. Lawson wasn't what you'd call a sober, steady bloke, Partly deaf and usually drunk, and nearly always broke, Yet his verses still synthesize what every conscience feels, Be loyal and steadfast to your mates and stick to your ideals. He was not the kind of man the sophists love to praise; Proper education was denied him all his days; Lawson's lines were bitter and harsh, but touched with humour too, For Lawson's words came from the heart, and Lawson's heart was true. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 19 Jun 21 - 08:12 PM REFRESH (to rescue from falling off!) Once I have done the summer holiday washing and cleared the bombshell debris now in my rather cold winter house, I will post songs again!! Any other lurking readers, grab your thread Contents Lists from Sandra - and please post some Aussie-Kiwi songs!! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 16 Jun 21 - 10:32 PM BONNIE MOON (Traditional) I wandered many a night in June Upon the banks of Clyde Beneath the bright and bonnie moon With Mary by my side A summer wedding unto my eyes And to my heart of joy For well she loved to roam with me Her Ireland minstrel boy Her presence stood on every star Two million fields so clear I thought the flowers sweeter by far When they were seen with her Although her heart was true to me Her Ireland mintrel boy I played for ladies fair and gay In many a southern hall But there is one far, far away A world above them all And though many a weary year has fled I think with mournful joy Upon that day when Mary wed Her Ireland minstrel boy Collected for the National Library by Rob Willis from Carrie Milliner of the South Coast of NSW. She was from a family of sleeper cutters and traced the song back to her great-grandfather. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Jun 21 - 09:39 AM corrected verse as suggested by JennieG It's a greeting that you'll hear across Australia From Geraldton to Goulburn, Gundagai It's as dinkum as the Dingo and the failure And you spell it with a G, apostrophe, a D-A-Y tho the "a" before D-A-Y seems to be superfluous. do we need to fix that too? |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 13 Jun 21 - 11:00 PM They are indeed, Sandra.....but at least 'dahlia' rhymes with Australia, one of few words which do! Another which comes to mind is 'failure'...... |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Jun 21 - 10:43 AM G'DAY, G'DAY by Robert Fairbairn video - Slim Dusty G'day g'day, how ya goin', what d'ya know, well strike a light G'day g'day, and how ya go-o-o-in' Just say g'day g'day g'day and you'll be right Isn't great to be an Aussie Takin' a walk along the street Lookin' in shops or buyin' a paper Stoppin' and havin' a yarn with people that you meet Down at the pub or at a party Whenever you're stuck for what to say If you wanna be dinky-di, why don't you give it a try Look 'em right in the eye and say goo'day G'day g'day, how ya goin', hat d'ya know, well strike a light G'day g'day, and how ya go-o-o-in' Just say g'day g'day g'day and you'll be right Now when Italians meet they all go crazy The blokes all like to hug each other too The Yanks invented "hi" "and see you later" While the Pommy will shake your hand and say "how do you do" Now watch out for a Frenchmen or he'll kiss you The Spaniards go for "Olah" and "Olay" But in the land of the cockatoo, pole cats and the didgeridoo When you meet an Aussie ten-to-one here's what he'll say G'day g'day, how ya goin', what d'ya know, well strike a light G'day g'day, and how ya go-o-o-in' Just say g'day g'day g'day and you'll be right It's a greeting that you'll hear across Australia From Geraldton to Goulburn, Gundagai It's as dinkum as the Dingo and the Dahlia And you spell it with a G, apostrophe, a D-A-Y G'day g'day, how ya goin', what d'ya know, well strike a light G'day g'day, and how ya go-o-o-in' Just say g'day g'day g'day and you'll be right G'day g'day, and how ya goin', what d'ya know, well strike a light G'day g; day, and how ya go-o-o-in' Just say g'day g'day g'day Just say G'day g'day g'day and she'll be right Bonus extra - lyrics - bowdlerised (really??? yes!) & here are the naughty words, properly replaced by asterisks so as not to cause offence. - If you wanna be d***y-di, why don't you give it a try - But in the land of the c***atoo, cork hats and the didgeridoo - It's as d***um as the Dingo and the Dahlia at least they use "cork hats" instead of "polecats" (native to Europe, Asia, & Africa) as given on many other lyrics sites - & dahlias are natives of Central America! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 11 Jun 21 - 09:50 AM Total number of entries on our 2 spreadsheets (Aug-Dec 2020 & Jan to date) is 992, some of these entries are duplicated, due to an error or lyrics & video/audio entered separately, The first spreadsheet has 625 songs sorted into alphabetical order, the second has 367 entries in numerical order & some of these are duplicates. If anyone would like a copy of the spreadsheets, PM your email address, & of course if any of our viewers have any songs to add, please do so! sandra |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Jun 21 - 11:42 PM I wanna see a couple of photos (not on facebook tho, cos I'm not a member) please & thankyou sandra |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 07 Jun 21 - 07:12 PM REFRESH Stewie and I are about to descend upon the 50th Top Half FF at Mary River Bush Retreat, between Darwin and Kakadu (starts Friday), so plenty of space here on this thread for Aussie-Kiwi postings by other Catters and our esteemed Guests, eh!!! (hint hint) Cheers, R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 05 Jun 21 - 09:26 AM As this Aussie favourite has just been sung tonight, Australia-wide, on SBS- TV’s “Australia’s Biggest Singalong”, I figure it’s time to include it in our collection!! THROW YOUR ARMS AROUND ME Mark Seymour I will come for you at nighttime I will raise you from your sleep I will kiss you in four places As I go running along your street, I will squeeze the life out of you You will make me laugh and make me cry And we will never forget it You will make me call your name And I'll shout it to the blue summer sky. chorus : And we may never meet again So shed your skin and let's get started And you will throw your arms around me Yeah, you will throw your arms around me. I dreamed of you at nighttime And I watched you in your sleep I met you in high places I touched your head and touched your feet, So if you disappear out of view You know I will never say goodbye And though I try to forget it You will make me call your name And I'll shout it to the blue summer sky. And we may never meet again So shed your skin and let's get started And you will throw your arms around me Yeah, you will throw your arms around me. Ohhh, yeah Ohhh, yeah You will throw your arms around me (ohhh, yeah) Yeah, you will throw your arms around me (ohhh, yeah) Yeah, you will throw your arms around me (ohhh, yeah) Yeah, you will throw your arms around me (ohhh, yeah) Yeah, you will throw your arms around me (ohhh, yeah) Yeah, you will throw your arms around me (ohhh, yeah) Originally sung by Melbourne band, Hunters & Collectors, though covered by many : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunters_%26_Collectors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e69wQsfrbSU This is the slower, more laid-back version that we all love to sing along with, whether with Astrid Jorgensen’s famous Pub Choir, or in that sentimental, late night session with your boozy mates!!! [ But for those who prefer the faster, slightly more “serious”?! original from 1986 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zON9sg6ADjQ ] It has been described as Australia’s secular hymn. Here is Guardian writer, Brigid Delaney’s take on this Anthem’s important place in our history : https://www.theguardian.com/music/australia-culture-blog/2014/feb/25/hunters-and-collectors-throw-your-arms-around-me OK, now everyone take a swig then raise those arms, sway, and sing along with me : "Ohhhhhhhh, Yeah, you will throw your arms around me" R-J :)) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 05 Jun 21 - 02:02 AM Stewie - I have a CD "Music of the diggings: songs and tunes of the central Victorian goldfields" which contains "The 'public' by the way", originally written about a pub at Smeaton, Vic., sung by Judy Howell. The CD was made in May 2000. I've just looked it up, it's now no longer available new but used copies can be found on ebay. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 05 Jun 21 - 01:41 AM SHANTIES BY THE WAY (E.J. Overbury et alia) It's in a first-rate business section Where four bush roads cross and meet It stands in a quiet and neat direction To rest the weary traveller's feet Chorus: Rows of bottles standing upright Labelled with bright blue and gold Beer so cold it needs no icing From the cellar's drear dark hold. Kerosene lamps are shining brightly Cards, and lo, the billiard balls Men and women are dancing lightly To the music inside those walls. There’s quoits and games and bagatelle All to suit your fancy-0 But better far behind the bar Stands smiling darling Nancy-0 Nancy's smiles are quite beguiling To make some fun she's willing-0 You give a rap she turns the tap And thanks you for your shilling-0 Landlord stands with smiling face He likes to see your cash forked out Landlord stands with smiling face Sometimes he will stand a shout Landlord “shouting” is uncommon He’s kidding you to dance and play How the devil can a bloke keep sober In those shanties by the way? When you wake up in the morning In your thirst without a mag You cast around a sad reflection As you shoulder up your swag Penniless you'll have to wander For many a long and dreary day Till you earn another cheque to squander In those shanties by the way This began life in Australia as a poem by E.J. Overbury. It became a song that was carried back and forth across the Tasman by itinerant workers. The above version was collected in 1940 in NZ. Youtube clip Overbury's original poem, published in 'The Creswick & Clunes Advertiser' in 1864. Info from NZ folk song site: THE PUBLIC BY THE WAY On a first-rate business section; Where four bush roads cross and meet. Stands a large and fine erection, Dear to weary traveller's feet. Should he for a moment linger, 'Tis a case for all the day; For his cash they'll supply finger In the public by the way. In he steps, p’raps never dreaming More than half an hour to stop. Tastes the liquor, foaming, creaming, On the polished pewter pot. One pint soon brings on another. Then he feels inclined to stay: Oh, his cash he'll quickly smother In the public by the way. Rows of bottles stand enticing Radiant with bright blue and gold: Beer so cool it needs no icing From the cellar's dusky hold: Cards and billiards always ready Landlord presses him to play; How, then, can a cove keep steady In these publics by the way. Landlord stands with smiling features Glad to see the cash shell out; Seems the best of generous creatures For he sometimes stands a shout. Then he neatly lands his salmon. By "kidding" him to drink and play Oh, there is a deal of gammon In these publics by the way. Morning finds him in dejection. Thirsty, sick, without a mag; Prey to many a sad reflection, As he shoulders up his swag. On the road he's free to wander Penniless for many a day; Thus it is with all who squander In the public by the way. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 02 Jun 21 - 10:31 PM WAKE OF THE BOUNTY (The Currency) Put him in a lifeboat And said goodbye Goodbye to Captain Bligh A gypsy curse, not gentle verse By all reports no gentleman he Spitting, "Fletcher Fletcher I bet you etch your name in infamy When you touch land you'll be tried and hung May your men breathe their last before me" Chorus: Banned from the ports Damned in the courts No more throwing dice on the wharf There are those Those are we Slaves to the sea A cruel mistress she Heave away you rolling kings Show me your mercy Haul away you howling winds Fill the sails and sing In the wake of The Bounty When they saw the Pandora Some swam out to her Saying The Bounty left us marooned Taken by boat by the ship-wrecked coast To the new out-post of the Crown When they hit the rocks, more lives were lost Poor souls locked below deck Now it's swinging time From Norfolk pine For the mutiny nine Chorus When the storm had cleared She had disappeared And for twenty years not a word Then a man named John Adams Said "I'm the last of them and I saw The Bounty burn" It was burnt, cinders burnt from the bow to the stern That night there was a new sun We drowned in rum Took to the gun And when bullets there were none Sticks and stones Chorus Heave away you rolling kings Show me your mercy Haul away you howling winds Fill the sails and sing In the wake of The Bounty Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Jun 21 - 03:58 AM a source we haven't mined ... & here's Joan Baez singing 'Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream' |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GerryM Date: 02 Jun 21 - 02:56 AM The Weirdest Dream (to the tune of Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream) Clem Parkinson Last night I had the weirdest dream I'd never dreamt before. I dreamt our politicians all went off to fight the war. It seems they decided it was time to join the ranks, To do their bit to help save face for Nixon and the Yanks. And as they marched along the street, the crowd just stood and gasped. "I never thought I'd see the day," an old ex-digger rasped. "And have you heard the latest news?" I heard a woman cry, "They're bringing home the conscripts, not another one need die." There was Snedden and McManus, even Santa-strewth-Maria, With Peacock, Lynch, and Andrew Jones all bringing up the rear. And as they marched down Collins Street to sound of drum and flute, His Eminence, Archbishop Knox, stepped forth to take salute. His hands began to tremble as he then, with courage true, Threw down his crucifix and cried, "Hey, boys, I'm coming, too." "Left wheel," the sergeant shouted. McManus shook with fright. No matter how he tried, he kept veering to the right. They marched down to Port Melbourne, to embark at Station Pier, Where some wharfies, somewhat rudely, gave a rather loud Bronx cheer. McManus got the jitters, and he beat a quick retreat. He grabbed a wharfie's bicycle, and pedaled down the street. "I've left behind my toothbrush," he mumbled as he fled. Then I awoke, and found that I had tumbled out of bed. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Lyrics copied from Warren Fahey, The Balls of Bob Menzies: Australian Political Songs 1900-1980. The men named in the song were all supporters of the Australian military involvement in the war in Vietnam. Billy Snedden was Minister for Immigration and then Minister for Labour and National Service. Frank McManus was from the Democratic Labor party, an anti-communist breakaway from the Labor Party. "Santa-strewth-Maria" was B A Santamaria, associated with Democratic Labor. Andrew Peacock was Minister for the Army and then Minister for Territories (and, much later, leader of the Liberal Party). He died in April 2021. Phillip Lynch was at various times Minister for the Army, Minister for Immigration, and Minister for Labour and National Service. Andrew Jones was a very conservative member of Parliament, but only served one term, 1966-69, and never as a Minister. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 02 Jun 21 - 12:17 AM DINGO (Gary Shearston) He was nought but a windy old bushranger, sir His ways, I know, appearing somewhat strange He roamed the country wide with a song-thorn in his side And a memory of an old blue mountain range Well now, it really doesn't matter, I know Just how it came to pass that A bounty got placed on his hide No, the only thing that matters and The thing that he done wrong was To lose it in the morning one time That poor boy He did lose it in the morning one time Dingo, dingo there's a hunter coming Up dingo, run From his lair hidden so well by ghost gums and pine And the tracks that he covered far behind Taking leave of his mate, he ran down to meet his fate Upon the plain just as the sun began to climb Well now, it really doesn't matter, I know Just how it came to pass that He paid for the ways of his kind No, the only thing that matters and The thing that he done wrong was To lose it in the morning one time That poor boy He did lose it in the morning one time Dingo, dingo there's a hunter coming Up dingo, run Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 29 May 21 - 10:31 PM R-J, looking forward to seeing you again. It has been a long time. THE DIGGERS SONG (Tom Smith/Wongawilli) By the side of the creek with shovel and pan I see the gold diggers, a bold, sturdy clan They are sinking for wealth and ‘neath the red mould Lies all that they seek for, the long wished for gold Chorus So dig ‘neat the mould, boys Where you’ll find gold, boys Aye, find it the same as you’ve found it before The rock and the cradle sounds constant and clear ’Tis music indeed to the gold-seeker’s ear For when fortune favours, it makes their hearts bold Contented and happy though toiling for gold Chorus Ah, what can compare with the life that they lead Unvexed by those cares of which others take heed And when with their pile they visit the town Repine not in finding they’ve knocked it all down Chorus Come, I’ll pledge you a toast and now let it be ‘The diggers’ who here give a welcome to me May fortune be theirs as they toil in the mould And each one go home with a good pile of gold Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 29 May 21 - 06:46 PM Good One, Stew! I really should have thought to save some of Lawls' ashes for His Beloved Shed; guess there were just too many other places in line, LoL! Sorry I've fallen a bit behind with posting songs. Hopefully some other Catters or Guests will help 'take up the slack' for we regular Posters! Cheers, R-J (and only 12 more sleeps til we meet again at the Top Half! :) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 28 May 21 - 08:30 PM THE OLD MAN’S SHED (Luke O’Shea) Well, the old man kicked the bucket about seven months ago They left me with his ashes and he left me with a note It read, 'Son, you know I love you, from this world I've been released And I know you'll know just what to do so I can rest in peace' So I hung on to his ashes and the words he said And I went out for inspiration to the old man's shed I opened up the door, I could still recall his face As he would try and tell me sternly, everything must have its place Well, he tried to educate me but I never quite could see 'Cause he had so many hammers, how many hammers do you need? Oh, of all these nuts and bolts and washers, there is nothin' he would waste Yes, in my old man's shed, everything must have its place Well, that man could build the Taj Mahal with nails, clips and glue If somethin' ever broke, he knew exactly what to do And I would watch him at that workbench in a state of grace Yes, and everything he touched, it was meticulously placed Well, there were ropes and there were ladders, there were brushes, there were leads And a poster on the fridge when the Dragons won in '63 I'd try and borrow somethin' and leave without a trace Well, every tool, it had an outline, everything must have its place Well, yes, he tried to educate me but I never quite could see 'Cause he had so many chisels, how many chisels do you need? Oh, of all these nuts and bolts and washers, there is nothin' he would waste Yes, in my old man's shed, everything, it had its place Then suddenly it struck me, I knew exactly what to do I opened up a jam jar and I emptied out the screws And then I poured the old man's ashes in with a smile upon my face And then I left him there within the shed, everything must have its place Well, yes, he tried to educate me and finally I see When you find your place within the world, how happy you can be Oh, of all these nuts and bolts and washers, there is nothin' we should waste Yes, in my old man's shed, everything must have its place In my old man’s shed, everything has got its place In my old man’s shed, he found his final resting place Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 25 May 21 - 09:51 PM SYRIA (Donna Simpson) Nails and bombs and dying son, daughter is nearly three Give a man my coin, take a boat with my family I’ve heard all about the sunshine, but all I'm seeing is rain, rain, rain Raining bombs upon our home - cannot return again What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do When everything’s been taken from you What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do Nails and bombs and a dying son, what’s a man to do I know nothing of the ocean, I’ve been reared a farming man Chin up above the water until your feet hit the sand We’re floating in the darkness, now they are talking about tides , tides , tides I’ve got everything to lose, my wife and children by my side What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do When everything has been taken from you What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do Nails and bombs and a dying son, what’s a man to do Life’s my God-given right, God damn this holy war Don’t know who they are fighting against, don’t know who they are fighting for I spend my time praying to God, praying for peace, peace, peace.. What’s the use of praying to God if my God ain’t hearing me What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do When everything has been taken from you What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do Nails and bombs and a dying son, what’s a man to do Pray, pray, pray … Yutube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GerryM Date: 24 May 21 - 12:35 AM That's Australia Lyrics: Dennis Watkin Tune: Chris Harriott There's a country road, somewhere back of Bourke, Where flies the size of a dingo like to lurk. Locals swear they've been there, Can't tell you how to get there, But sure as hell they will tell you where to go. That's Australia! x2 There's a farm down South where kangaroos can speak, And cows meow like a tomcat that's on heat. You won't find a drover, Just an old Land Rover, And a bloke with a camera making docos on the cheap. That's Australia! x2 From East to West across this land, as they sip their favorite brew, You'll hear folks tell the strangest tales, and swear to God...that they're all true. There's this crocodile in a Northern creek That takes a break from eating tourist once a week. He likes a change of diet, So weekly on the quiet You'll find him drinking mineral water neat. That's Australia! x2 There's a jackaroo who told me that he knew A bloke who choked on a dish of rabbit stew. He died and went to Heaven, Came back at half past seven, And told his mate ... there was nothing there to do. That's Australia! x2 From East to West across this land, as they sip their favorite brew, You'll hear folks tell the strangest tales, and swear to God...that they're all true. That's Australia! Everyone's got a story or two. That's Australia! Everyone swears their shaggy dog story is true. This was the theme song for a program on Australian TV in 1988. Recording by John Derum, the emcee of the program, backed by The Bushwackers. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 23 May 21 - 07:41 PM 888 (The Currency) You said you'd meet me at the corner Of Russell and Victoria When I arrived you weren't there So I opened up the bottle Of red I brought to share And sat upon the monument stairs It says here Of battles fought and won It says here Of victories a long time coming An eight hour day An honest working wage It's just history Sitting on the steps of the Eight Hour Monument Drinking my day away Sitting on the steps of the Eight Hour Monument Thinking what would the ghosts of our great-grandparents say Across the road Trades Hall And behind me the Old Melbourne Gaol I bought a souvenir mug To drink out of With the death mask of Edward Kelly It says here Ned's parting words It' says here "Such is life!" Where the heavens are you, what the hell am I to do And how on earth did it end up this way? It's just history Sitting on the steps of the Eight Hour Monument Drinking my day away Sitting on the steps of the Eight Hour Monument Thinking what would the ghosts of our great-grandparents say Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 23 May 21 - 12:56 AM Despite a love of folk songs featuring the historical practices of Whaling, many of us were also part of the 60s-70s campaigns to try and stop the slaughter of these extraordinary, intelligent and sentient beings on this planet - or, at least many remember those times. Apparently this song was used by the International Whaling Commission to assist in the campaign to stop International Whaling, but so far I’ve not found the info on-line to corroborate this ….. THE WHALES ARE SINGING TO ME (A WHALER’S LAMENT) Kevin Johnson I went to sea; there were no other choices for me A Whaling ship – what greater adventure could there possibly be The first day out we found them; circled our ships around them Fired our harpoons till the sea ran red In no time at all, those whales were dead. We towed them in; oh how we drank that night at The Sailor’s Inn Singing whaling songs, as the Captain played on his violin But drinking was something I’d never known So I staggered back to the ship alone As drunk as a young man could ever be, listening to the night around me. Was it the sound of the violin, drifting in on the cool night wind Or was it something that came from the moon (?) Could it be? That whales were singing to me Perhaps they sung of those terrible things I’d done. I have to say, when I look back over that dreadful day There was treachery, that hadn’t really occurred to me There seemed to be a kind of trust, as though they had nothing to fear from us We got so close like we were friends, but then We slaughtered them. It wasn’t the sound of a violin, drifting in on the cool night wind No, it was something that came from the moon, yet to me Those whales were singing to me Now they sung of the terrible things I’d done. I left the sea, there were no other choices for me A Whaling ship – what greater misfortune could there possibly be And now I’m as old as a man can be, even today it’s still haunting me Though my deeds have long since gone, sadly I see It still goes on. Now the Captain plays on his violin and I walk by the sea in the cool night wind And I hear something that calls from the moon, has to be The whales are singing to me, those things we’ve done Of those terrible things we’ve done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoiHgTrWb0o&t=12s an illustrative film clip with a recording from Kevin Johnson’s 2018 album entitled “Milestones 1”, but I think the song is much earlier. Also, there are a few words I am having difficulty discerning! I’ve not found the song’s provenance currently online. If anyone can assist, I’d be grateful. Cheers, R-J (who still has her LP of Dr Roger Payne's iconic recording of "Songs of the Humpback Whale" 1970 :) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/31/calls-from-the-deep-do-we-need-to-save-the-whales-all-over-again : "Calls from the deep: do we need to Save the Whales all over again?" 1st Jan2021 |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 22 May 21 - 09:38 PM SHOULD I DUMP YOU SOMEWHERE PRIVATE (Andrew London) In spite of all our efforts, it’s apparent now to me our romance just hasn’t blossomed like it should despite a dozen dates and dinners disillusionment decrees that our directions deviate, we have divergent destinies And so it falls to me I guess to do the decent thing before we’re inextricably entwined I hope you’ll soon get over it and we can still be friends with benefits perhaps if you’re inclined Should I dump you somewhere private or in a neutral public place. etiquette says gentlemen of breeding should always do it face to face should I opt for somewhere open, shunning small cafes and bars could be an awkward silence after, should we maybe take two cars? Should I take you to a restaurant, will you react with some reserve? I’ll try and get the whole thing over just before the mains are served I understand you’ll be downhearted and your feelings may be hurt but such a shame to let a tantrum ruin both of our desserts Could I ‘unfriend’ you on Facebook, send a text in lower case or an email to your office with a little smiley face? No, there’s just no way around it, it’s a job that must be done can we meet at 12 tomorrow – you’ll be back at work by one Should I take you to a sad movie, betray my sensitivity Because then you’d be upset already, but not directly cos of me should I dump you somewhere private or in a neutral public place Oh, look, there’s a message on my cellphone – well I’d have done it face to face Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 20 May 21 - 08:49 PM SAM GRIFFITH (Anon) One night while lying on my bunk In my humble six by eight I dreamt I saw Sam Griffith With a darkie for a mate I thought I met them travelling On a dreary Queensland track And Sam was decorated with A collar-fashioned pack I thought that it was summertime And Sam had o’er his eyes A little piece of muslim To protect him from the flies Through his boots his toes were shining And his feet looked very sore I knew his heels were blistered From the Alberts that he wore When Sam saw me coming towards them He sat down upon his swag Said he, ‘Look here, stranger Got much water in your bag? We are victimised by squatters For we are two union men’ And Sam had on as usual His same old polished grin Said I, ‘Look here, Sammie Griffith You have a flamin’ cheek If you want a drink of water You can get it from the creek As for the South Sea Islander I do not wish him ill For well I know, poor devil He’s here against his will’ ‘You said, with wife and family One time you’d emigrate If they did not stop kanakas That was in eighty-eight You spoke against black labour then And talked of workers’ rights You spoke from lips but not from heart Australia for the whites’ ‘You should loaf to those you crawl to The sugar-growing push For you’re hated and detested By the workers in the bush They might give you some easy billets Such as boots and shoes to clean Or driving the kanakas as They work amongst the cane’ I thought Sam jumped up Froth around his mouth like spray Said he, ‘My agitator Just let me have a say I remember you at Longreach How you did hoot and groan I believe you would have mobbed me But for Constable Malone’ I thought Sam tried to rush me A shape before my face But I got home the LaBlanche swing And gave him coup-de-grace The darkie raised his tomahawk And gave a savage scream Then all at once I wakened up And found it all a dream John Meredith recorded this in 1953 from then 81-year-old Jack Luscombe who had picked up his songs from various shearing sheds. Audio of Meredith recording Sir Samuel Griffith was Premier of Queensland and first Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. He won his election largely on his policy of preventing the importation of kanaka labour. His policy was inoperative but the practice was brought under some control. Sir Samuel Griffith Some trivia: LaBlanche swing, also known as the "pivot blow" or "La Blanche pivot" was named after middleweight George LaBlanche, who reportedly used it to knock out Nonpareil Jack Dempsey (John Edward Kelly) in their 1889 bout. The 'Tacoma News Tribune', a Washington newspaper, described the punch in 1919: 'This blow is delivered by closing the eyes, turning rapidly on one heel and letting the right go at random'. I couldn't find any reference to 'Alberts' on the Net. The term could relate to the Balmoral boot which was a favourite of Prince Albert. A shearer would perhaps surmise that it was the type of boot that Sam Griffith would wear. I found this on a site relating to the history of boots: The Balmoral boot (or Bal) was originally designed for Prince Albert and consisted of a close fitting lace up boot, similar to those worn by today's wrestlers. They could be front or side lacing and acted as a galosh to protect the feet from the wet gorse. The upper section of the toe box was treated with water proofing. Queen Victoria must have approved because she had several pairs made and wore them regularly. Possibly because Prince Albert expressed a liking for the style because it had a slendering effect. Balmoral boots became popular with both men and women. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 19 May 21 - 08:13 PM Staying on the subject of women in the bush, here's a good'un from the Prickle Farmer. LETTER TO NARELLE (Mike Hayes) She sits down by the light of the kerosene lantern And wearily brushes the moths from the glass Takes her pen in her hand and she starts on a letter To her girlfriend Narelle back at home from the past They had grown up as one, they were schoolgirls together Til time and the pull of her heart changed her life Took her far far away from her friend and the city To this bare backblocks kingdom she now rules as a wife And she writes: Dear Narelle, the drought's getting worse now And I don't know if we're gonna make it this time And I've been on my own since my man went a-droving But, apart from these dust storms, everything's been fine But oh dear Narelle, I wish you could be here When the rain finally falls and the country turns green And the wind moves the hills in an ocean of grasslands And the gulleys sing loud with the song of the stream And she writes how she misses the kids, off at school now But she knows that it's better that they're both away And she hopes the supply truck comes in with some stores soon 'Cos there's just one or two things that she ran out of today And she writes: Dear Narelle, it's been almost three years now Since I shopped in the city or took in a show But when my man's back and the bank gives us credit He's promised me this time we'll definitely go But oh dear Narelle, I wish you could see him As he rides through the gate when the rains finally fall With his old hat thrown back and his eyes warm and smiling These long months on my own just won't matter at all And oh dear Narelle, you should be here at sundown When the easterly breeze hunts the heat from the day And the stars shine like diamonds in a sky of black velvet And I'm glad that my city life's far far away And the moon rises softly like a far away bushfire And I'm glad that my city life's far far away Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 19 May 21 - 02:28 AM R-J, he has written some fine songs. Thanks for posting the links. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 18 May 21 - 11:15 PM Good one, Stew - Thanks! Just reading the lyrics had me in tears! Here is a documentary on the great Kev Carmody, whom many regard as our best ever Aussie songwriter : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzaZkjJL5E0 In this version by Paul Kelly & Co, we see and hear from Kev about his early life and him writing this song to help depict his Mum and the women of that era - their lives and and inner strength and dignity : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR4ioLnFWq4 R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 18 May 21 - 10:19 PM DROVING WOMAN (Kev Carmody) She buried him down on the edge of town Where the brigalow suckers on the cemetery creep She stood with them children in a heavy brown gown What you want you just can't always keep "I'm sorry", I says, "I knew him so well" Though your body is young you just never can tell When the hand of fate rings the final death knell" She just turned with the saddest of smiles She says "At the start well we knewed it so hard We were always dealt the severest of cards Honeymoon spent droving Jamieson's stock Through the wildest winter you seen Romantic notions of horses and land They were soon dispelled as a fantasised dream Watching cattle at night in the mid-winter cold Turns a person, both wiry and old The flame of the breakfast fire'd be dead As the sun rose up he'd be miles up ahead I'd be breaking the camp there and rolling the beds While he fanned the stock wider for feed When the weather turned sour with the onset of rain An' the truck'd bog down to the axle mains He'd move ahead with pack saddles and chains And I'd wait in the mud by the road With the blankets and canvas there hung out to dry With nothing for heat 'cause you couldn't light a fire With no stock permit for the forthcoming shire The dog'd whimper in the winter wind rain Cattle don't camp where they're sloshing in rain They keep walking all night like a dog on a chain He'd be red eyed and weary with a pack horse gone lame I'd sit miles behind in the mud It was down through Charleville up to Julia Creek Living on syrup and damper and salted corn meat We had nothing but the ‘roos and the mailman to meet We'd move up and down with the rains But them inland skies have the starriest of nights With the dance of the fire throwing flickering lights The beauty of it's sunsets were a constant delight I felt that nature had let me intrude The enormous vastness of them inland plains Gives you a lonely contentment to which you can't put a name It's satisfied glow city folks seldom attain They spend life on a right rigid rail The kids got their schooling from the government mail We posted their work in at each cattle sale They considered the learning a self imposed jail They'd rather help their father and fail Early last month at the end of the dry He was given a horse nobody could ride Alert were his ears with a fire in his stride He was young and his spirit was wild To catch him each morning was an hour long battle We had to collar rope his near side to throw on the saddle He'd bite and he'd strike, he made my nerves rattle Pandemonium reigned with each ride It was a hot summers' mornin' at the government bore There was stillness around that I'd never felt before How could he know it was fate at his door That was stealthily watchin' his moves He mounted up quick taking slack from the reins Grasped a full hand of hair from the horses long mane He'd just hit the saddle when the horse went insane Churning dust in a frenzy of fear The girth on the saddle let go at the ring The surcingle slipped it was impossible to cling The horse felt it go made a desperate fling He was thrown to the length of the reins I heard his spine snap like a ‘roo shooters' shot He'd busted his back on the concreted trough Sickness and fear were the feelings I got For the doctor was a six hour drive I looked at his face and his colour turned white He turned slowly and said "I can't make it till night My body is broken, I'm bleedin' inside" And the life slowly drained from his eyes I'll sell up the plant and I'll move here to town Before the winter returns with a chill on the ground For what I've just lost can seldom be found I was blessed with the gentlest of men Eventually the children will move to the east But I couldn't stand the bustle of even a quiet city street I'll stay in the scrub here where my heart really beats For some dogs grow too old for change Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 18 May 21 - 08:25 PM OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY Kevin Johnson Throwing stones at the embassy, policeman come and arrested me Paper at the university, said I was a hero, And the wise old judge that I went before, wouldn’t believe what I did it for Said this is no way to stop the war, But, how the hell would he know? Singing songs of dissolution, ban the bomb and beat pollution Writing on walls about a revolution, that’s guaranteed to grow, And I see on the news some identity, with an old man’s views on society Said there’s no room for guys like me, But, how the hell would he know? CHORUS Over the hills and far away I’m gonna understand one day What the other half believe in, if they’re real or just deceiving So until I find that day I’ll go along my way And I’ll look back on my life and I’ll know I lived it right. Lying down across the roadway, almost lasted out the whole day Drivers trying but there was no way left for them to go, And the wise old judge that we went before, wouldn’t believe what we did it for Said this is no way to help the poor, But, how the hell would he know? CHORUS 1995 came quickly, crept right up and now it’s hit me Seems the mayor of a busy city, don’t know where the days go, Build a bridge and move the highway, spend the rest and mend the byways Someone wrote things across my driveway, and someone broke my windows, And I see on the news some identity, with a young man’s views on society Said there’s no room for guys like me, But, how the hell would he know. FINAL CHORUS Over the hills and far away, I’m gonna understand one day What the other half believe in, if it’s real or just deceiving So until I find that day, I’ll go along my way And I’ll look back on my life and I’ll know I lived it right. Over the hills and far away, merrily on my way….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py8yU2hiY28 KEVIN JOHNSON album : “A Man of the 20th Century” KEVIN JOHNSON website : https://www.rocknrolligaveyou.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Johnson_(singer) KEVIN JOHNSON : WIKI BIO R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 18 May 21 - 08:21 PM KEDRON BROOK Kevin Johnson In the last light of evening sun, when summer grasses spoke of early dew I took an unfamiliar turning, And so I wandered In the power of some strange subconscious yearning, Down the turnings and the twistings of the road Till the sun was gone from the distant hill And Kedron Brook seemed strangely still. 1st REF. Visions of sunsets and soft summer skies Like cellophane papers that danced in my eyes Echoes of footsteps that wandered their way Through the last, lonely lights of the day, Feelings of feelings that sent my head reeling just wondering how it could be That the feelings of something so strangely confusing were strangely familiar to me Like the feeling of something I seemed to recall, but I couldn’t remember it all The feeling as though I had stepped through a door And I knew I had been there before. 2nd REF. When the gentry were waltzing to the gentle maxinas And the hansom cabs swayed, like young ballerinas And life was as sweet as an old concertina, that rattled its way through a holiday, When the night was the sight of the weary lamplighters And the crowded marquees of the bare-fisted fighters And the bustles and bows of the Saturday nighters, were rustling their way through a Saturday, When the world twirled around to an old-fashioned sound, and the seasons were young in the ground Did I once stand there at Kedron Brook Watching the sun going down? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rluy2hta5y0 KEVIN JOHNSON album - “Rock&Roll, I Gave You All the Best Years of My Life” KEVIN JOHNSON website : https://www.rocknrolligaveyou.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Johnson_(singer) KEVIN JOHNSON – WIKI BIO R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 May 21 - 10:34 PM BYE BYE AWARDS ©1996 Bernard Carney Audio Since the Libs and Nats got in Unions take it on the chin Bye Bye awards Johnny Howard have no fear Will whip the workforce into gear Bye Bye awards No more extra rates for working over Businesses will soon be all in clover Workers working extra hours Management with extra powers Unions Bye Bye I just can't wait for the day To argue for my weekly pay bye bye awards When I feel a rise is due I'll make my bargaining debut Bye Bye awards And if I want employment to stay in tact Better sign the individual contract Divide and conquer that's the trick Work conditions get the flick Unions Bye Bye Pre-strike ballots sent to undermine me If I refuse maybe they would fine me I'm free to choose in this dispute Choose these rates or get the boot Unions Bye Bye So hoist the flag of profits high Upon the good ship enterprise Bye Bye awards Democracy defiled deflowered That's the word from Johnny Howard Bye Bye awards The razor gang is sure to make you nervous Especially if you're in the public service So just to keep your budget right You'll be working late tonight Unions Bye Bye - no way 'Cos unions won't die |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 May 21 - 09:32 PM PERCENTAGE GAMES by John Warner, 05/11/11, Tune: Calon Lan [Trad Welsh], Simpler version of the tune “Miner’s Life” Audio One per cent plays games with money, One per cent is in control, One per cent controls our labour, One per cent can buy our souls, One per cent is greedy bankers, One per cent plays stocks and shares, One per cent owns starving nations, They’re not one per cent that cares. Ninety-nine per cent are angry, Ninety-nine per cent declare To the one per cent who own us, Cut your profits, pay your share. One per cent can ground an airline, Hack computers, bug your phones, One per cent has no compassion, For the world it thinks it owns Ninety-nine per cent are workers, Unemployed or over aged, With the rising cost of living, Ninety-nine per cent enraged. Ninety-nine per cent are angry, Ninety-nine per cent declare To the one per cent who own us, Cut your profits, pay your share. Pay the taxes you’ve avoided, On our resources, pay the rent, Cut the interest, increase wages, Give us ninety-nine per cent. One per cent had better listen, One percent, let go of power, Ninety-nine per cent have risen, We’re prepared to seize the hour. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 May 21 - 09:11 PM JUSTICE DELAYED by John Warner 1998. Tune: Mixture of Muckin' o' Geordie's Byre and Bonnie Dundee/Billy of Tea Audio Justice delayed is justice denied, Four judges have ruled that the right's on our side, Now give us our jobs back and fling the gates wide, For justice delayed is justice denied. We've maintained the peace as we stood for our right, They brought in the dogs and armed thugs for the fight. They went to the courts and the courts ruled our way, Why are we still standing outside today? It's comic to hear business men crying poor, They can't pay fair wages yet they pay for the law, The law goes against them, as rightly it ought, And still they have money to try the next court. They say they can't pay us, the company's broke, And we'd all be laughing except it's no joke. They're still paying scabs on the big hired bus, But they've stripped all the assets, there's no cash for us. We're sick of injunctions, we're sick of the wait, While scabs wreck equipment we see through the gate. Our trust in the law's wearing weary and thin, It's time to do justice and let us back in. Visit John on the web at: www.folkjohnwarner.com John and Margaret sing the song on the MUA Centenary CD "With These Arms" |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 16 May 21 - 09:27 PM WARNING: This song contains offensive elements. This is from Stewart and Keesing's 'Old Bush Songs'. It was supplied by the late Bill Harney. Ron Edwards also collected it from Harney in 1957 and included it in his big book. It has been recorded by Ted Egan who also sang it in Keith McKendry's 'White on Black' themed concert that was mentioned in an earlier post. Bill Harney said that the song was composed by Jim Burgoin, a Territorian, in the 1930s. (The name is spelled 'Burgoyne' in S&K's book). As noted by Edwards, the final stanza refers to the an Aboriginal tree burial, a custom that persisted among some tribes until relatively recent times. Ted Egan and Bill Harney's son, Bill Yidumduma Harney, will be sharing their stories and experiences at the 50th Top Half Folk Festival next month. THE DALY RIVER-O! (Jim Burgoin) Now come all you sports that want a bit of fun. Roll up your swags and pack up a gun, Get a little bit of flour and sugar and tea, And don’t forget a gallon of Gordon’s O.P. And crank up your lizzie and come along with me, And I’ll show you such sights that you never did see, Down on the Daly River-O! . There was Wallaby George, there was Charlie Dargie, There was Old Skinny Davis, there was Jimmy Pan Kwee, The Tipperary Pong and old Paree And where’er you may roam you will find yourself at home, For they are noted for their hospitality. You are wakened in the morn, and your heart’s full of glee, With a little dark maid and a pannikin of tea, And she’ll give you such a welcome that you don’t want to go, Away from the Daly River-O! Now I saw a buffalo and a fat Chinee Run a dead heat to the foot of a tree, The chinaman flew, he didn’t feel the ruts, Till the buffalo stopped with a bullet in the guts, And the wild birds rose at the sound of the gun, And the water dropped a foot in the silver billabong, With ducks, geese and feathers, you couldn’t see the sun, Down on the Daly River-O! Well the buffalo kicked, we poured in the lead, We killed him ten times to make sure he was dead, Then we out with our knives and we all hopped in, Two whites, a chow, five blacks and a gin, We ripped him up the backbone, we slit him up the guts, We took little fancy tit-bits, funny fancy cuts, Then we cranked up the Lizzie and shouted “Right-oh !” All aboard for the Daly River-O! Now I saw a black man sitting in a tree, The crows had picked his eyes out so he couldn’t see, (And never and never a word spoke he,) For he was as dead as dead could be. He was just about ripe, the smell was high, Like a billabong of fish when the water goes dry, When Dargie threw a gibber that hit him in the mush, And the native went “Phoosh” and we all went bush, Down by the Daly River-O! Ted has made some minor alterations in his rendition. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 15 May 21 - 10:33 PM SAINT PETER (H.Lawson/P.Duggan) Now, I think there is a likeness 'twixt St Peter's life and mine For he did a lot of trampin' long ago in Palestine He was union when the workers first began to organise And I'm glad that old St Peter keeps the gate of paradise When the ancient agitator and his brothers carried swags I've no doubt they very often tramped with empty tucker-bags And I'm glad he's heaven's picket, for I hate explainin' things And he'll think a union ticket just as good as Whitely King's When I reach the great head-station that is somewhere 'off the track' I won't want to talk with angels who have never been outback They might bother me with offers of a banjo meanin' well Or a pair of wings to fly with when I only want a spell I'll just ask for old St Peter and I know when he appears I will only have to tell him that I carried swag for years 'I've been on the track,' I'll tell him, 'and I done the best I could' And he'll understand me better than the other angels would He won't try to get a chorus out of lungs that's worn to rags Or to graft the wings on shoulders that is stiff with humpin' swags But I'll rest about the station where the work-bell never rings Till they blow the final trumpet and the Great Judge sees to things I first came across this Lawson poem on Alan Scott and Keith McKenry's 'Travelling through the storm' album. Unfortunately, that rendition is not available on YT. Whitely King was the secretary of the Pastoralists’ Union of New South Wales, an employers’ body established in 1890 to further the interests of farmers, especially with their dealings with labour unions. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 May 21 - 09:30 AM 500 YEARS - Written by Peter Klein arranged by Patrick Harte. Inspired by a tree that was planted when a church was built in the 1600's in England. The church had a fire in the 1980's and the tree was used to rebuild the roof. Long term planning- we need more of it! video - Ecopella Oh ya gotta think five hundred years from now Plant a tree today and put it in the ground Ya gotta water it and nurture it and watch it grow Be gentle with the earth 'cause we all know... Five hundred years from now Make a plan today and take it to town We want the rivers to flow, trees to be tall Ya gotta think big and not too small We want the water to sparkle, fish to swim Birds to fly high, it isn't a sin Trees to be tall, the forests to grow Ya gotta think big and let it flow Ya gotta think five hundred years from now, plant a tree today and put it in the ground Ya gotta water it and nurture it and watch it grow Be gentle with the earth 'cause we all know That it's your great great great great, Great great great great grand kids Who'll see what you do It's your great great great great, Great great great great grand kids Who'll love what you do Five hundred years from now... You know I heard a politician just the other day He said: "We'll plan for three years and that should be okay We'll dig a huge hole in the ground And see how much uranium can be found Turn the sky purple, make the earth explode Lots of money in the bank, yeah, that's the way to go 'Cause all I really care about is my next election plan Five hundred years I just don't understand!" Ya gotta think five hundred years from now... Five hundred years starts... now! from Ecopella's 2nd CD - 'Songs in the Key of Green' available from www.cdbaby.com/cd/ecopella2 |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 May 21 - 09:19 AM LET'S PRETEND - that climate change is not happening: a song about climate denial Words: Geoff Francis 2011 Melody: Peter Hicks 2011, Arranged: Miguel Heatwole 2012 as sung by Ecopella at the Short and Sweet vocal competition at Chatswood, Sydney 15th March 2015. video - Ecopella sings Let's pretend. Lyrics: Let's pretend it isn't happening. Let's pretend it isn't true, let's pretend that we can go on just the way we used to do. Let's pretend that cutting carbon ten percent or maybe five will be enough to shape a climate that our children can survive Let's pretend that giving handouts to those polluters who are worst will in some strange way save our future from forever being cursed Let's pretend it isn't happening. Let's pretend it isn't true, let's pretend that we can go on just the way we used to do. Let's pretend that there's a method of burning coal that's clear and clean Let's pretend that nuclear power is safer than it's ever been Let's pretend that turning lights down and giving plastic bags away by itself is all that's needed to usher in a brighter day Let's pretend that growing output more and more and more each year is our best hope for tomorrow rather than our deepest fear. Let's pretend it isn't happening. Let's pretend it isn't true, let's pretend that we can go on just the way we used to do. Let's pretend that Tony Abbot isn't really all that bad let's pretend for just one moment that he isn't barking mad Let's pretend the sun goes 'round the earth. let's pretend the Earth is flat. That those scientists don't know anything and that climate change is crap. Let's pretend it isn't happening. Let's pretend it isn't true, let's pretend that we can go on just the way we used to do. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 May 21 - 06:51 AM THE MAN FROM IRONBARK by Banjo Paterson, music by Wallis & Matilda video - Walls & Matilda It was the man from Ironbark who struck the Sydney town, He wandered over street and park, he wandered up and down. He loitered here, he loitered there, till he was like to drop, Until at last in sheer despair he sought a barber’s shop. ‘ ’Ere! shave my beard and whiskers off, I’ll be a man of mark, I’ll go and do the Sydney toff up home in Ironbark.’ The barber man was small and flash, as barbers mostly are, He wore a strike-your-fancy sash, he smoked a huge cigar; He was a humorist of note and keen at repartee, He laid the odds and kept a ‘tote’, whatever that may be, And when he saw our friend arrive, he whispered, ‘Here’s a lark! Just watch me catch him all alive, this man from Ironbark.’ There were some gilded youths that sat along the barber’s wall. Their eyes were dull, their heads were flat, they had no brains at all; To them the barber passed the wink, his dexter eyelid shut, ‘I’ll make this bloomin’ yokel think his bloomin’ throat is cut.’ And as he soaped and rubbed it in he made a rude remark: ‘I s’pose the flats is pretty green up there in Ironbark.’ A grunt was all the reply he got; he shaved the bushman’s chin, Then made the water boiling hot and dipped the razor in. He raised his hand, his brow grew black, he paused awhile to gloat, Then slashed the red-hot razor-back across his victim’s throat; Upon the newly-shaven skin it made a livid mark — No doubt it fairly took him in — the man from Ironbark. He fetched a wild up-country yell might wake the dead to hear, And though his throat, he knew full well, was cut from ear to ear, He struggled gamely to his feet, and faced the murd’rous foe: ‘You’ve done for me! you dog, I’m beat! one hit before I go! ‘I only wish I had a knife, you blessed murdering shark! ‘But you’ll remember all your life the man from Ironbark.’ He lifted up his hairy paw, with one tremendous clout He landed on the barber’s jaw, and knocked the barber out. He set to work with nail and tooth, he made the place a wreck; He grabbed the nearest gilded youth, and tried to break his neck. And all the while his throat he held to save his vital spark, And ‘Murder! Bloody Murder!’ yelled the man from Ironbark. A peeler man who heard the din came in to see the show; He tried to run the bushman in, but he refused to go. And when at last the barber spoke, and said ‘’Twas all in fun — ‘’Twas just a little harmless joke, a trifle overdone.’ ‘A joke!’ he cried, ‘By George, that’s fine; a lively sort of lark; ‘I’d like to catch that murdering swine some night in Ironbark.’ He raised his hand, his brow grew black, he paused awhile to gloat, Then slashed the red-hot razor-back across his victim’s throat; Upon the newly-shaven skin it made a livid mark — No doubt it fairly took him in — the man from Ironbark. He fetched a wild up-country yell might wake the dead to hear, And though his throat, he knew full well, was cut from ear to ear, He struggled gamely to his feet, and faced the murd’rous foe: ‘You’ve done for me! you dog, I’m beat! one hit before I go! ‘I only wish I had a knife, you blessed murdering shark! ‘But you’ll remember all your life the man from Ironbark.’ He lifted up his hairy paw, with one tremendous clout He landed on the barber’s jaw, and knocked the barber out. He set to work with nail and tooth, he made the place a wreck; He grabbed the nearest gilded youth, and tried to break his neck. And all the while his throat he held to save his vital spark, And ‘Murder! Bloody Murder!’ yelled the man from Ironbark. A peeler man who heard the din came in to see the show; He tried to run the bushman in, but he refused to go. And when at last the barber spoke, and said ‘’Twas all in fun — ‘’Twas just a little harmless joke, a trifle overdone.’ ‘A joke!’ he cried, ‘By George, that’s fine; a lively sort of lark; ‘I’d like to catch that murdering swine some night in Ironbark.’ |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 May 21 - 06:45 AM MULGA BILL'S BICYCLE by Banjo Paterson video - Walls & Matilda 'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze; He turned away the good old horse that served him many days; He dressed himself in cycling clothes, resplendent to be seen; He hurried off to town and bought a shining new machine; And as he wheeled it through the door, with air of lordly pride, The grinning shop assistant said, `Excuse me, can you ride?' `See, here, young man,' said Mulga Bill, `from Walgett to the sea, From Conroy's Gap to Castlereagh, there's none can ride like me. I'm good all round at everything, as everybody knows, Although I'm not the one to talk -- I HATE a man that blows. But riding is my special gift, my chiefest, sole delight; Just ask a wild duck can it swim, a wild cat can it fight. There's nothing clothed in hair or hide, or built of flesh or steel, There's nothing walks or jumps, or runs, on axle, hoof, or wheel, But what I'll sit, while hide will hold and girths and straps are tight: I'll ride this here two-wheeled concern right straight away at sight.' 'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that sought his own abode, That perched above the Dead Man's Creek, beside the mountain road. He turned the cycle down the hill and mounted for the fray, But ere he'd gone a dozen yards it bolted clean away. It left the track, and through the trees, just like a silver streak, It whistled down the awful slope, towards the Dead Man's Creek. It shaved a stump by half an inch, it dodged a big white-box: The very wallaroos in fright went scrambling up the rocks, The wombats hiding in their caves dug deeper underground, As Mulga Bill, as white as chalk, sat tight to every bound. It struck a stone and gave a spring that cleared a fallen tree, It raced beside a precipice as close as close could be; And then as Mulga Bill let out one last despairing shriek It made a leap of twenty feet into the Dead Man's Creek. 'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that slowly swam ashore: He said, `I've had some narrer shaves and lively rides before; I've rode a wild bull round a yard to win a five pound bet, But this was the most awful ride that I've encountered yet. I'll give that two-wheeled outlaw best; it's shaken all my nerve To feel it whistle through the air and plunge and buck and swerve. It's safe at rest in Dead Man's Creek, we'll leave it lying still; A horse's back is good enough henceforth for Mulga Bill.' |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 14 May 21 - 11:34 PM TO AN OLD MATE (H.Lawson/J.Schumann) Old Mate! In the gusty old weather When our hopes and our troubles were new In the years we spent in wearing out leather I found you unselfish and true I have gathered these songs together For the sake of our friendship and you And I send them along instead of the letters I promised to write to you I remember, Old Man, I remember The tracks that we followed are clear The jovial last nights of December The solemn first days of the year Long tramps through the clearings and timber Short partings on platform and pier I remember, Old Man, I remember The tracks that we followed are clear I can still feel the spirit that bore us And often the old stars will shine I remember the last spree in chorus For the sake of that other Lang Syne, When the tracks lay divided before us Your path through the future and mine I can still feel the spirit that bore us And often the old stars will shine You will find in these pages a trace of That side of our past which was bright And recognise sometimes the face of a friend A friend who has dropped out of sight I have gathered these songs together For the sake of our friendship and you And I send them along instead of the letters I promised to write to you As recorded by John Schumann on 'Lawson' and 'Behind the Lines' albums. He made some omissions and alterations. The original poem Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 May 21 - 11:31 PM I've just finished watching the videos - wow! It was fantastic. I've never had a TV & haven't seen a movie since the early 80s, & they were rare events. I occasionally watch songs on youtube, sometimes I might even binge & watch half a dozen or more ... I'm just not a watcher! We got a TV when I was 14 & I watched bits & pieces until I moved out about 10 years later, did I say I'm just not a watcher?, but I really enjoyed the action, & also found myself wondering how today's movie makers would have done that scene as I watched the same background flashing past. sandra (who has even been known to book acts without looking at their videos! Bookings are based on reputations, of course, we only get the best acts!!) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 May 21 - 11:04 PM THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER by Banjo Paterson music by Wallis & Matilda There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around That the colt from Old Regret had got away, And had joined the wild bush horses — he was worth a thousand pound, So all the cracks had gathered to the fray. All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far Had mustered at the homestead overnight, For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are, And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight. There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup, The old man with his hair as white as snow; But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up — He would go wherever horse and man could go. And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand, No better horseman ever held the reins; For never horse could throw him while the saddle-girths would stand, He learnt to ride while droving on the plains. And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast, He was something like a racehorse undersized, With a touch of Timor pony — three parts thoroughbred at least — And such as are by mountain horsemen prized. He was hard and tough and wiry — just the sort that won’t say die — There was courage in his quick impatient tread; And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye, And the proud and lofty carriage of his head. But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay, And the old man said, “That horse will never do For a long and tiring gallop — lad, you’d better stop away, Those hills are far too rough for such as you.” So he waited sad and wistful — only Clancy stood his friend — “I think we ought to let him come,” he said; “I warrant he’ll be with us when he’s wanted at the end, For both his horse and he are mountain bred.” “He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko’s side, Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough, Where a horse’s hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride, The man that holds his own is good enough. And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home, Where the river runs those giant hills between; I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam, But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen.” So he went — they found the horses by the big mimosa clump — They raced away towards the mountain’s brow, And the old man gave his orders, “Boys, go at them from the jump, No use to try for fancy riding now. And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right. Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills, For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight, If once they gain the shelter of those hills.” So Clancy rode to wheel them — he was racing on the wing Where the best and boldest riders take their place, And he raced his stock-horse past them, and he made the ranges ring With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face. Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash, But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view, And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash, And off into the mountain scrub they flew. Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black Resounded to the thunder of their tread, And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead. And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way, Where mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide; And the old man muttered fiercely, “We may bid the mob good day, No man can hold them down the other side.” When they reached the mountain’s summit, even Clancy took a pull, It well might make the boldest hold their breath, The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full Of wombat holes, and any slip was death. But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head, And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer, And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed, While the others stood and watched in very fear. He sent the flint stones flying, but the pony kept his feet, He cleared the fallen timber in his stride, And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat — It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride. Through the stringy barks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground, Down the hillside at a racing pace he went; And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound, At the bottom of that terrible descent. He was right among the horses as they climbed the further hill, And the watchers on the mountain standing mute, Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely, he was right among them still, As he raced across the clearing in pursuit. Then they lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met In the ranges, but a final glimpse reveals On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet, With the man from Snowy River at their heels. And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam. He followed like a bloodhound on their track, Till they halted cowed and beaten, then he turned their heads for home, And alone and unassisted brought them back. But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot, He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur; But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot, For never yet was mountain horse a cur. And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise Their torn and rugged battlements on high, Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze At midnight in the cold and frosty sky, And where around the Overflow the reedbeds sweep and sway To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide, The man from Snowy River is a household word to-day, And the stockmen tell the story of his ride. Source: Andrew Barton Paterson. The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1896 [January 1896 reprinting of the October 1895 edition], pages 3-9 Previously published in: The Bulletin, 21 December 1889 Editor’s notes: beetled = jutting or overhanging (from beetle-browed, i.e. having heavy overhanging eyebrows); not to be confused with “beetled” as in someone who has scurried off or “beetled off” (moved like a beetle) Clancy of the Overflow = a character, who was an expert stockman, created by Banjo Paterson for his poem “Clancy of the Overflow” 2 clips from the movie Man from Snowy River (1982) directed by George Miller, posted on Youtube by Frederick Roberts. Artist - Wallis and Matilda, Album - Banjo The Bard Of The Bush - 30th Anniversary Musical Tribute to A.B. (Banjo) Paterson |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 May 21 - 10:54 PM A BUSH CHRISTENING by Banjo Paterson - music by Wallis & Matilda video - Walls & Matilda On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few, And men of religion are scanty, On a road never cross’d ’cept by folk that are lost, One Michael Magee had a shanty. Now this Mike was the dad of a ten year old lad, Plump, healthy, and stoutly conditioned; He was strong as the best, but poor Mike had no rest For the youngster had never been christened. And his wife used to cry, ‘If the darlin’ should die ‘Saint Peter would not recognize him.’ But by luck he survived till a preacher arrived, Who agreed straightaway to baptize him. Now the artful young rogue, while they held their collogue, With his ear to the keyhole was listenin’, And he muttered in fright, while his features turned white, ‘What the divil and all is this christenin’?’ He was none of your dolts, he had seen them brand colts, And it seemed to his small understanding, If the man in the frock made him one of the flock, It must mean something very like branding. So away with a rush he set off for the bush, While the tears in his eyelids they glistened — ‘’Tis outrageous,’ says he, ‘to brand youngsters like me, ‘I’ll be dashed if I’ll stop to be christened!’ Like a young native dog he ran into a log, And his father with language uncivil, Never heeding the ‘praste’ cried aloud in his haste ’Come out and be christened, you divil!’ But he lay there as snug as a bug in a rug, And his parents in vain might reprove him, Till his reverence spoke (he was fond of a joke) ‘I’ve a notion,’ says he, ‘that’ll move him.’ ‘Poke a stick up the log, give the spalpeen a prog; ‘Poke him aisy — don’t hurt him or maim him; ‘’Tis not long that he’ll stand, I’ve the water at hand, ‘As he rushes out this end I’ll name him. ‘Here he comes, and for shame, ye’ve forgotten the name — ‘Is it Patsy or Michael or Dinnis?’ Here the youngster ran out, and the priest gave a shout — ‘Take your chance, anyhow, wid ‘Maginnis’!’ As the howling young cub ran away to the scrub Where he knew that pursuit would be risky, The priest, as he fled, flung a flask at his head That was labelled ‘Maginnis’s Whisky!’ And Maginnis Magee has been made a J.P., And the one thing he hates more than sin is To be asked by the folk who have heard of the joke, How he came to be christened ‘Maginnis’! note - Previously published in: The Bulletin, 16 December 1893 Editor’s notes: collogue = to talk privately; confer secretly praste = a rendering of the word “priest” in an Irish accent spalpeen = scamp or rascal; from the Irish Gaelic “spailpin”, a seasonal laborer, itinerant worker, or rascal Wallis & Matilda on youtube |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 May 21 - 10:47 PM more on Wallis & Matilda, interpreters of the works of Banjo Paterson. Wallis & Matilda Wallis & Matilda on youtube Wallis & Matilda - links to sound clips of the 65 Paterson songs they recorded OMG, a gold min, wot a resource for singers & those of us who list songs!! videos of 2 of these songs are on The Institute of Australian Culture Heritage, history, and heroes;, so I'll post them & maybe then resume my search for a LAWSON song I was after! tho of course, this gold mine might have other good stuff that needs harvesting ... |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 May 21 - 10:34 PM just found an interesting website The Institute of Australian Culture Heritage, history, and heroes; literature, legends, and larrikins; stories, songs, and sages CLANCY OF THE OVERFLOW by Banjo Paterson I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago, He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him, Just "on spec", addressed as follows, "Clancy, of The Overflow". And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected, (And I think the same was written with a thumb-nail dipped in tar) Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it: "Clancy's gone to Queensland droving, and we don't know where he are." In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy Gone a-droving "down the Cooper" where the Western drovers go; As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing, For the drover's life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know. And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars, And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended, And at night the wond'rous glory of the everlasting stars. I am sitting in my dingy little office, where a stingy Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall, And the foetid air and gritty of the dusty, dirty city Through the open window floating, spreads its foulness over all And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle Of the tramways and the buses making hurry down the street, And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting, Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet. And the hurrying people daunt me, and their pallid faces haunt me As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste, With their eager eyes and greedy, and their stunted forms and weedy, For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste. And I somehow rather fancy that I'd like to change with Clancy, Like to take a turn at droving where the seasons come and go, While he faced the round eternal of the cash-book and the journal — But I doubt he'd suit the office, Clancy, of "The Overflow". Wallis & Matilda released their first album in 1980 and had a top 40 hit that same year with “Clancy of the Overflow”. No wonder I remembered the tune! video - Clancy of the Overflow (Wallis & Matilda) Wikipedia - Wallis and Matilda are an Australian group that interpret the works of Australian bush poet, Banjo Paterson. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 14 May 21 - 06:09 AM Yes, I believe that biography (Giants Leap) was only Part 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPvDoMbnRH4 - d'y know if the next volume has been done?? I posted one of the 2 x YT versions of his 'Darcy Dugan' back on Jan 4th 2021 (one with his band, Home Rule and one solo). I also obtained Darcy's posthumous autobiography from the Library - VERY interesting - crikey, between the NSW cops and Joh's QLD cops, I reckon there's not much any crims could teach 'em!!! Following on from one of Stewie's postings earlier this year, my next project for this Songbook will be the songs about Aboriginal warriors (who should be as well-known as the colonial bushrangers!), so Bob Campbell's Windradyne and Jimmy Governor will be included then in that batch. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 May 21 - 05:10 AM Bobby Campbell's memoir well worth reading Bobby & John Dengate old mates from way back Bob writes great songs & I can only find one of his songs on youtube Bob Campbell singing Darcy Duggan - video |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 14 May 21 - 12:37 AM Gerry, I presume it was you who added the note to my previous post. Thanks. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 13 May 21 - 08:37 PM Stew, I discovered Bob Campbell via Jeff Corfield! I posted Bob's song about Darcy Dugan last year sometime and I'll add his aboriginal stuff soon (ish!) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 13 May 21 - 08:07 PM Great stuff, R-J. Bob Campbell is new to me. I couldn't agree more with you comments about Australia's inaction in respect of West Papua. ARNOLD AP (Alan Scott) Where the people sing in the jungle trees The songs they’ve sung for centuries Melanesian melodies Arnold Ap was one of these A small brown man in the land next door His voice is silent, he’ll sing no more I wonder what they killed him for He loved his people as I love mine The stories told in dance and rhyme Songs that came from an older time Who’d have thought it would be a crime? In the year of 1968, in the United Nations a big debate Irian Jaya is a separate state But there might be copper and there could be gold There’s all that timber could be cut and sold Democracy is put on hold Now Indonesia’s in control And since the Indonesians came, things can never be the same Transmigration is the game But Arnold went around the land with a tape recorder in his hand Taped his people and the songs they sang Arnold Ap was a dangerous man He sent his tapes across the sea To Honiara and Port Morseby Melanesian harmony But sedition takes the strangest shape Some find it in the music tape Thrown in jail was Arnold’s fate Then killed when trying to escape But his voice is there in the evening breeze In songs sung down the centuries Melanesian melodies Arnold Ap is dead and gone His spirit lives in his people’s song People and land and soul are one And his name will live while the fight goes on While the fight goes on I have no YT clip or audio for this one. The above is my transcription from a CD by Alan Scott and Keith McKenry 'Travelling through the storm'. Unfortunately, my copy from Trad & Now came minus the booklet. I think the lyrics are accurate, but I have no idea of the stanza or even line structure. It would be great if someone could correct it. Arnold Ap Singing for life --Stewie. The booklet doesn't have the lyrics, but it has these notes, written by Keith McKenry: In 1963 Indonesia gained control of the former Dutch colony of West New Guinea, an act given legitimacy in 1968 by a farcical plebiscite (an "Act of Free Choice") overseen by the United Nations. Since that time there has been an on-going campaign of resistance by some ethnic Papuans to Indonesian rule. Alan was profoundly moved by the story of Arnold Ap, curator of the Papuan Collection at the Anthropological Museum of Centerwashi University in Irian Jaya. Arnold was killed by Indonesian authorities in April 1983, supposedly while trying to escape lawful custody. He had been held without charges for alleged pro-resistance activities. Seemingly however, his real crime was collecting for posterity the songs and music of his people. "That could have been me," Alan observed, and wrote this, one of his few original songs. Published in the Cornstalk Gazette, July 1990. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 13 May 21 - 07:03 PM MR PEABODY IS STILL DESTROYING COMMUNITIES & THE ENVIRONMENT - IN AUSTRALIA TOO Though the late-and-great John Prine sang in 1971 about the Kentucky town of Paradise, lost by strip mining to Mr Peabody’s infamous coal train, history just keeps repeating itself - and at present, Down Under in NSW : https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/02/im-not-selling-what-happens-when-an-australian-town-is-consumed-by-a-us-coalminer (may need to cut-and-paste - news links are being tampered with these days ...) “what happens when an Australian town is consumed by a US coalminer” (the current story of the town of Wollar) 02 May 2021 KILLER BLACK COAL MINES Bob Campbell Once I lived in Paradise, now I live in hell Peabody Coal Mines are chewing my hill Poor old Ulan’s rolling down a hole Going down for profit and Killer Black Coal. Killer Black Coal Mines growing everywhere Killer Black Coal Mines does anybody care Killer Black Coal Trains coming round the bend Killer Black Coal Trains ripping out again. Goodbye wombat, grey kangaroo, red-necked wallaby, emu too Wedge-tailed eagles flapping in despair, gotta eat somewhere, doesn’t know where. Singleton and Muswellbrook, the kids are dying young You can taste the lead and sulphur everytime you move your tongue. Headlights, crash sites, the miners own the road Big trucks rolling, lungs on overload. Shit creek, Cripple Creek, spoil? everywhere The mountains are a moonscape, valleys dead and bare. Shit creek, Cripple Creek - does anybody care That the mountains are a moonscape, valleys dead and bare. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNFWT-BGJLw sung here by Bob Campbell, with additional commentary by members of the affected coal communities in the historic Gulgong vicinity. See more about Bob’s history and longtime musical endeavours AND the stories behind this song, at http://www.fiddlerbob.com/killer-black-coal.html : "Killer Black Coal Mines was written by Bob Campbell [c.2011] a local musician of Ulan near Mudgee NSW Australia. Bob's song portrays what is happening in small communities in many parts of the world as the coal mining companies rip apart beautiful valleys and caring communities. Families dreams shattered as land is grabbed from under them. Not everyone though, only some properties are picked out and made large offers. With no options, those left behind with worthless land must also suffer the indignities of noise, air and aesthetic pollution. In the Ulan, Moolarben, Wilpinjong and Bylong Valleys they all adjoin national parks, so there is obviously many plants and animals threatened and killed. Road kill is astounding when you have this much industry adjoining national parks.” https://changingtimes.media/2017/09/19/coal-mining-devastates-villages-and-cultural-heritage-in-australias-hunter-valley/ “Coal mining devastates villages and cultural heritage in Australia’s Hunter Valley” 19 Sept 2017 And as in America, so follows Australia : https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/hunter-coal-miners-don-t-have-enough-funds-for-land-rehabilitation-20210505-p57p4b.html 06 May 2021 (may have to cut-and-paste that one; MSM link keeps reverting to a 2007 off-topic article. Hmmmm .....) : “HUNTER COAL MINERS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS FOR LAND REHABILITATION” well well, what a surprise “Draglines at my heart” indeed ..... :( R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 13 May 21 - 02:36 AM Good one, Stew - so much about the West Papuan struggles against the might of the Indonesian Military was/is never reported in MSM - just like the East Timor Troubles all over again, where Australia (and in particular the damnable Bollockticians and faceless bureaucrat Suits) let our nearest and impoverished neighbours down in a big way. I have not posted for a while (Apr20?) - busy in my other Life - but I will try and get in a few more songs before we head to Darwin for the 50th Top Half FF. Only a month away now and my 1st time back in 17 years!!! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 12 May 21 - 08:45 PM FREEDOM WEST PAPUA (Joe Geia) When you get to the Papua coast Tell all the people who are crying. Drink the waters from the rivers and the stream Wipe your tears from your crying Help West Papua from dying The land and sea it's a part of you Don't let anyone just take it Drink the waters from the rivers and the stream Stop the Papua from bleeding I hear west papua a bleeding Freedom flotilla - they bring our love A message from me to you With love from above Sweet, sweet love from above No more pain, no more misery Oppressor man, can't you hear me? Don't kill me while on bended knee While I am calling to my father. Forgive them, lord, they know no other Children, wives, West Papuan lives Many of them have been taken Give us strength, peace and love Sweet, sweet love for one another And forgiveness for my brother Freedom West Papua, we send our love A message from me to you With love from above Sweet, sweet love from above Oh Yawoh West Papua! Oh Yawoh West Papua! Oh Yawoh West Papua! Freedom West Papua, we send our love A message from me to you With love from above Sweet, sweet love from above So when you get to the Papua coast Tell all the people who are crying Drink the waters from the rivers and the stream Wipe your tears from your crying Help West Papua from dying Freedom West Papua, we send our love A message from me to you With love from above Sweet, sweet love from above With love from above Sweet, sweet love from above Youtube clip Joe Geia freedom flotilla West Papua --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 11 May 21 - 10:14 PM THE NYNGAN SONG (Mike Hayes) My father was the battler of the old school He never knew a time that wasn’t hard But he kept his farm and family together Though hard times always slipped beneath his guard But it took a lot to cause his faith to waiver Through a lifetime with its share of toil and pain This time I think it might have done it I never thought I’d hear him curse the rain I never thought I’d hear him curse the rain The drought had burned for years across the country When we left that sad old churchyard on the plain We knew our mother’s death had really shook him He just wiped his eyes and went back to work again And, by God, us children never wanted nothin’ Though the lean years came back time and again Though I never thought he’d ever lose the battle I never thought I’d hear him curse the rain I never thought I’d hear him curse the rain As the Bogan’s gone and broken through at Nyngan The town’s cut off, the whole damn world’s a sea It was soddenly corpses on the fence line That finally brought the old bloke to his knees I think it’s finally done it, finally Not the dust storms, not the bushfires, not the bankers Not the falling prices or the rising costs Never made him just sit out on the verandah Growing bitter ‘bout the battling years he’d lost Till now he’s never ever had the time to ponder If the years of sacrifice had been in vain And the only thing I ever heard him pray for Has come and washed his life’s work down the drain I never thought I’d hear him curse the rain And the only thing I ever heard him pray for Has come and washed his life’s work down the drain I never thought I’d hear him curse the rain No, I never thought I’d hear him curse the rain Youtube --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GerryM Date: 11 May 21 - 03:48 AM FIRES OF '98 John Warner 19/11/92 I stand here and gaze over Strzelecki's Range, And turn in my heart half a century of change. Of country made fertile by sweat and the plough, Endless good grazing for the horse and the cow. Still I remember the small split slab hut, The clearing we made in the towering Blackbutt. The Bluegum and Dogwood, the stands of Tree Fern, That fell to the axe, that we'd gather and burn. Chorus (after each verse): So pardon my tears when I try to relate The ashes and dust of the year '98. At forty years distance, I dread to recall How massive and close was that Eucalypt wall. Of how days burned sultry, and rivers ran dry, And how fear would come with the haze in the sky. Sunset came early, the colour of rust, Our throats raw with worry, the smoke and the dust, And yet, with that nightfall, the dark never came, Just the dull, lurid menace, the colour of flame. The tongue has no words for the sound and the sight Of the savage crownfire that tore up the night. It melted our glassware, bent iron, split rock, And it shattered our souls and we wandered in shock. I remember a church hall, cool water and bread, The bitter, hard sobs as folk wept for their dead, The pitiful cries of burned cattle and sheep, Those memories that still haunt the hills of my sleep. The forests have gone with their fires and fears, My Ranges enriched by the changes of years, Grandchildren ask me of days long ago, But I hide the bushfires, they don't need to know. High on the ridges, like monument stones, Stand single, grey treestumps, a dead forest's bones. A shudder goes through as I lean on the gate, And I turn from the pain of the year '98. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& From the album, Pithead in the Fern, Feathers and Wedge FWCD042. From the liner notes: "An elderly woman remembers the terrible Poowong bushfires of 1898 which resulted in areas of awesome native forest being totally burned out. Europeans often found such forest threatening, and its destruction and subsequent change into fertile farming land (due to the phosphate-rich ashes) was seen as a blessing. However, the fires destroyed the magnificent native woodlands and the range of the Kurnai and other aboriginal peoples. The clash between survival necessity and environmental splendor is again apparent." Poowong is in the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. I don't know of any recording online. Lyrics copied from Marg Walters' website. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 10 May 21 - 08:03 PM COME ALL YOU TONGUERS (Anon) Come all you tongues and land-loving lubbers Here’s a job cutting in and boiling down blubbers A job for the youngster or old and ailing The agent will grab any man for shore whaling Chorus I am paid in soap and sugar and rum For cutting in whale and boiling down tongue The agent’s fee makes my blood so to boil I’ll push him in a hot pot of oil Go hang the agent, the company too They are makin’ a fortune off me and you No chance of a passage from out of this place And the price of livin’s a bloomin’ disgrace Note in ‘Song of a Young Country’, p 9: Shore-whalers live a gloriously comfortable life compared with the sealers. They were befriended by the Maori people who built homes for them, grew food for them and worked both at whaling, and at cutting in and boiling down the blubber. Most of them married Maori women, swore loyalty to their wives’ people and were honest and hard-working. A strong comradeship sprang up amongst them. A few shore-whalers, however, became ‘candlelight fishermen’. ‘That means he got to turn out of bed in the mornin’ - he light the candle - if the flame blow out there’s too much wind for him to go - and if it don’t blow out then there ain’t enough - so he go back to bed again’ . Quote from Phil Hamond, Morston, Norfolk. Personal communication to N. Colquhoun. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 09 May 21 - 09:41 PM RAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS (H.Lawson/C.Kempster} The valley's full of misty cloud Its tinted beauty drowning The Eucalypti roar aloud The mountain fronts are frowning The mist is hanging like a pall From many granite ledges And many a little waterfall Starts o'er the valley's edges The sky is of a leaden grey Save where the north is surly The driven daylight speeds away And night comes o'er us early But, love, the rain will pass full soon Far sooner than my sorrow And in a golden afternoon The sun may set tomorrow Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 09 May 21 - 08:20 PM Here's a Dylanesque excursion by the lad from Gympie that's not without its charm. FOLK INSOMNIA (Darren Hanlon) There's rumbling in the head again Inside the head there lived a brain Inside the brain there lived a dream That shot 'round like a laser beam Along nerve endings and synapses Past the room for memory lapses Brought about by alcohol That causes all the cell collapses Now, that dream's not the only one I had plenty more when I was young But I grew up in a big hurry And then one day I start to worry that I'm gonna be a goner before I read all the books I wanna If I plant a tree now it'll be fully grown Long after I'm just dust and bone and Now I can't sleep, it's already 3 am And i'm lying here dividing sheep by the square root of ten So I gave away my clothes to charity I turned off my TV for clarity But some days I still envy those Walking around wearing my clothes So i'll just plant a tree i'll never see grow Put a seed in the ground where no one'll know Gonna make my plan when the morning breaks But i'm just don't know how long it'll take I keep hearing voices and ringing phones But i'm staring down a highway all alone With just the company of my stomach rumble But I feel okay, it makes me humble Without a load that I must carry Or a bump in the road to make me tarry Just a pile of ashes from the miles i've burned and everything i've learned What have I learned? Don't walk in front of cars or behind horses Cats don't drink milk out of flying saucers Green means go, yellow: go faster Red means stop - a financial disaster And don't ever underestimate the fitness of a determined Jehova’s Witness And don't ever take for granted what grew from every kiss you planted If a heart can break, then a heart can feel It's to know that you're alive and real Not a rattle and bounce in a little white ball Not a number on a roulette wheel And hair it turns grey and skin it turns to leather But the best thing about growing old is we all do it together So i'll just plant a tree i'll never see grow Put a seed in the ground where no one'll know Gonna make my plan when the morning breaks But i'm just don't know how long it'll take They say that a love that's shared is a love that's carried All the way to the church where you'll be married And it's a long long way down the aisle to altar and you don't have the time to falter Love will always come and go I hope But sometimes love goes up in smoke And you're left there with the greedy ghost And just when you need them most Some of your friends have disappeared And others started acting weird And you’re left on your bed with an awful feeling Till you've learned by heart all the cracks in the ceiling And you think 'Oh god I just related to that awful love song I always hated' And the past it all becomes distorted like it was broke before you bought it Remember, you're the one who paid Pull the pin out of the hand grenade It's up to you to leave your room But don't forget to bring your spade So you can plant a tree you'll never see grow Put a seed in the ground where no one'll know Gonna make my plan forever to roam Gonna feed my nan in the nursing home Gonna make that plan when the morning breaks But I just don't know how long it’ll take Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 08 May 21 - 09:55 PM BRINDABELLA MORNING (Mike Hayes) As the snow falls on the Brindabella Ranges Watch it sparkle as it catches all the early morning light Like a string of diamonds up above the tree tops On your Brindabella morning, lord, it makes a wondrous sight But it’s not a northern billabong at sundown Where the brumbies make their way across anthill plains And you can’t look down and see a thousand buffalo Wading across the black soil after monsoon rains And the campfires of the Brinkin tribe don’t glimmer here at night To let the traveller know he’s not alone Though your Brindabella morning shines like crystal in the light It’s not my time, it’s not my place, it’s not home See the black swans nesting far out on your big lake See the water as it’s rippled by a tiny breath of breeze And a sudden flash of colour in the gum break As your parrots flit like jewels ’neath your soaring mountain trees But its not a million magpie geese a-rising Blotting out the sun as they suddenly take wing From some pool beside the Alligator River That’s dry until the first rains fall in spring And I miss those fish crocs barking around sundown When the air gets thick and those fruit bats start to roam You might find your piece of heaven on this Brindabella day But it’s not my time, it’s not my place, it’s not home Mike Hayes' reflections on leaving the Top End to live in Canberra post-Cyclone Tracy. Mike worked in Darwin for the ABC and he was the first journalist to report on the cyclone. Click Mike later became well-known for his radio program 'The Prickle Farm': Prickle Farm Mike died in 2003, a few days short of his 59th birthday. Here is a bio published in the 'The Sydney Morning Herald': Mike Hayes Unfortunately, there is no clip on YT of Mike performing 'Brindabella Morning'. However, it was recorded by Ralph Harris: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 May 21 - 09:01 AM GRAVES OUT WEST, by Will Ogilvie, tune Graham Jenkin audio- Oz Folk Song a day If the lonely graves are scattered in that fenceless vast God's Acre, If no church bells chime across them, and no mourners tread between — Yet the souls of those sound sleepers go as swiftly to their Maker, And the ground is just as sacred, and the graves are just as green. If we chant no solemn dirges to the virtue of their living. If we sing no hymn words o'er them in the glory of the stars They can hear a grander music than was ever ours for giving, God's choristers invisible - the winds in the belars. If we set them up no marble, it is none the less we love them: If we carved a million columns would it bring them better rest If no gentle hands have fashioned snow-white wreaths to lay above them, God has laid His own wild flowers on the lonely graves out West. From the Overlander's 1979 album, Tribute to Western Australia. Written by Graham Jenkin. Words from Will H. Ogilvie's Fair Girls and Gray Horses With Other Verses (1907). |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 May 21 - 08:57 AM another song from Joy Durst dots here 077 BIG POLL THE GROG SELLER, Words: Charles Thatcher, Tune: John Medex Maddox (Philip the Falconer) audio- Oz Folk Song a day 1. Big Poll the Grog-seller gets up every day, And her small rowdy tent sweeps out. She's turning in plenty of tin, people say, For she knows what she's about, for she knows what she's about. Polly's good-looking, and Polly is young, And Polly's possessed of a smooth oily tongue, She's an innocent face and a good head of hair, And a lot of young fellows will often go there, And they keep dropping in handsome Polly to court, And she smiles and supplies them with brandy and port, And the neighbours all say that the whole blessed day She is grog-selling late and early, she is grog-selling late and early. 2. Two sly-grog detectives have come up from town, And they both roam about in disguise, And several retailers of grog are done brown, And have reason to open their eyes, and have reason to open their eyes. Of her small rowdy crib they are soon on the scent, But Polly's prepared when they enter her tent; They call for some brandy ... "We don't sell it here, But," says Poll, "I can give you some nice ginger beer," And she adds, "Do you see any green in my eye? To your fine artful dodge and disguise I am fly, For if Polly you'd nail, you'd have, without fail, To get up in the morning early, to get up in the morning early." From Thatcher's Colonial Minstrel (1864), published with the note: A new parody of Philip the Falconer as written and sung by Thatcher at the Shamrock. The original song was published as part of a Christmas pantomine in 1847. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 May 21 - 09:09 PM We have 625 entries in the first spreadsheet (Aug-Dec20), & the second spreadsheet (01/01/2021-date) has 324 entries! This means we have entered 969 songs, including a few duplicates. I can only think of 2, but there are probably more, but not many more! Most of these songs have video/audio links, other have dots or traditional tunes, and a small number just have a reference to an album that does not have an on-line presence. Onwards & upwards! sandra |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 07 May 21 - 08:40 PM FOR THE CHILDREN (John Schumann) The lady from the paper asked me would I write a song for you I didn't know you then but now I do And I'm stuck in this motel room with an empty aching heart And the miles roll out between us and they're tearing me apart All I've got are tunes and rhymes - this one's for you May you always feel the sunshine and take time to taste the rain May your friends be true and caring and I hope you are the same And in your fleeting passage, leave a little bit behind For the children who will follow in your footsteps Along the sands of time. I dreamed there was a world for you without the rush of rockets And the thump of khaki gunships in the sky But there were rows of eucalyptus and trains for little boys And tadpoles in a still black creek and playgrounds full of noise In my vision, fear and greed and anger were the only things to die May the wind blow gently through your life, may your principles be strong May you stand up and be counted when they work out right from wrong May your nights be short and peaceful, may your days be warm and long May your music be of service, may they pause sometimes and listen to your song And here's this little voice, reaching down the phone 'Dad you've been away so long, when are you coming home?' The lady from the paper asked me would I write a song for you I didn't know you then but now I do And I'm still in this motel room with an empty aching heart And the miles roll out between us and they're tearing me apart All I've got are tunes and rhymes - this one's for you May your eyes be filled with kindness, may the seeds of wisdom grow May you seek for truth and beauty and when you find it may you know May you help feed those who are hungry and comfort those who hurt May you always fight for justice for all of us who walk upon the earth Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 07 May 21 - 08:04 PM Here's a bit of fun: 'The Song of the Volga Shearers' aka 'Click go the shears'. 1983 precursor of Dustyesky? Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 May 21 - 06:03 AM thanks, Stewie, NLA cataloguers recording this tape put the alternate titles on 2 lines, making them look like 2 songs. YE SONS OF AUSTRALIA (NED KELLY) trad, video - Daniel Kelly Ye sons of Australia forget not your braves, Bring the wild forest flowers to strew o’er your graves, Of the four daring heroes whose race it is run, And place on their tombs the wild laurels they’ve won. On the banks of Euroa they made their first rush, They cleared out at Coppies, then steered through the bush, Black trackers and troopers soon did them pursue But cast out their anchor when near them they drew. The daring Kate Kelly how noble her mien As she sat on her horse like an Amazon queen, She rode through the forest revolver at hand, Regardless of danger, who dare bid her stand. May the angels protect this young heroine bold And her name be recorded in letters of gold Though her brothers were outlaws, she loved them most dear, And hastened to tell them when danger was near. But the great God of Mercy who scans all her ways Commanded grim death to shorten their days, Straightway to Glenrowan their course did he steer To slay those bold outlaws and stop their career. The daring Ned Kelly came forth from the inn, To wreak his last vengeance he then did begin, To slaughter the troopers straightway he did go, And tore up the railway their train to o’erthrow. But the great God of Mercy, to baulk his intent, And stop the destruction, a messenger sent, A person named Curnow, who seemed in great dread, Cried out to the troopers, ‘There’s danger ahead!’ But Time hath its changes; how dreadful their fate, They found out their error when it was too late. The house was surrounded by troopers two-score, And also expected a great many more. The daring Ned Kelly, revolver in hand, Came to the verandah, the troopers he scanned, Said he ‘You cursed wretches, we do you defy, We will not surrender, we conquer or die.’ Like the free sons of Ishmael, brought up in the wilds, Amongst forests and mountains, and rocky defiles These brave lawless fellows could not be controlled, And fought ten to one, until dearth we are told. Next day at Glenrowan, how dreadful the doom, Of Hart and Dan Kelly shut up in a room, A trooper named Johnson, set the house all aflame To burn those bold outlaws, it was a great shame The daring Kate Kelly came forth from the crowd And on her poor brother she called out aloud, ‘Come forth my dear brother, and fight while you can’ But a ball had just taken the life of poor Dan. Next morning our hero came forth from the bush Encased in strong armour his way did he push. To gain his bold comrades it was his desire – The troopers espied him, and soon opened fire. The bullets bound off him just like a stone wall, His fiendish appearance soon did them appall. His legs unprotected a trooper soon found, And a shot well directed brought him to the ground. Now he arose captured, and stripped off his mail, Well guarded by troopers and taken to gaol. Convicted for murder, it grieved him full sore, His friends and relations his fate may deplore. Now, all you young fellows take warning by me, Beware of bushranging, and bad company, For like many others you may feel the dart Which pierced the two Kellys, Joe Byrne, and Steve Hart. Thanks to Daniel Kelly for supplying the words, thus saving me from typing up the words from the original sources. Daniel included the chords but I couldn't line them up. Ye Sons of Australia was first published in The Bulletin as part of the series Old Bush Songs, starting 2nd March 1955. Bushwhacker Broadside no. 15 (originally issued as no. 14) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 06 May 21 - 09:44 PM Sandra, as I noted above, 'Workers of the world' is the title that Meredith gave to Gladys Scrivener's rendition of Joe Hill's 'Where the Fraser River Flows' in his 'Folk Songs of Australia' collection. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 May 21 - 09:28 AM don't expect to see a song by Joe Hill in an Oz/NZ songbook! 'Workers of the world' is also one of Joe Hill's songs. 2 tapes in Meredith collection at National Library for Mrs Scrivener's contribution. Gladys Scrivener sings: Wreck of the Bendigo Mail Les Darcy Sandy's fight (Larry Foley) Banks of the Condamine Workers of the world Where the River Frazer flows God save Ireland Frank Gardiner Gladys Scrivener recites: Hunting the Brelong Blacks ======= Gladys Scrivener sings: The old bark hut Bold Ben Hall Bound for Sydney Town Bold Jack Donahoe Look out below Gallant Peter Clarke When Carbine won the cup Ye sons of Australia (Ned Kelly) Where's your licences Rock-a-bye baby hmmm, there are some interesting songs there |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 05 May 21 - 11:04 PM WHERE THE FRASER RIVER FLOW (Joe Hill/Tune: Where the Shannon River Flows) Fellow workers pay attention to what I'm going to mention For it is the fixed intention of the workers of the world And I hope you will be ready, true-hearted, brave and steady To gather 'round the standard where the red flag is unfurled Now the gunny-sack contractors, they’ve all proved dirty actors And they're not our benefactors, as everybody knows And why their mothers reared them or why God ever spared them Is a question we can’t answer, we the workers of the world Where the Fraser river flows, each fellow worker knows, They have bullied and oppressed us, but still our union grows And we're going to find a way, boys, for shorter hours and better pay, boys And we're going to win the day, boys, where the river Fraser flows This Joe Hill song was popular with the Wobblies (Industrial Workers of the World). The above version was collected by John Meredith from the singing of Gladys Scrivener of Erskineville NSW. Meredith published it in ‘Folk Songs of Australia’ with the title ‘Workers of the World’. Alan Musgrove recorded it on his ‘The Bagman’s Gazette’ album and added a chorus using the chorus of ‘River Shannon’ as a model: Where the dear old Fraser’s flowin’, the workers of the world Are fighting for the moment when the red flag is unfurled Though the bosses try to cheat us and cruelly mistreat us They never will defeat us where the Fraser River flows Joe Hill’s original lyrics as published in the IWW’s 1912 edition of ‘Little Red Songbook’: Fellow workers pay attention to what I'm going to mention, For it is the fixed intention of the Workers of the World. And I hope you'll all be ready, true-hearted, brave and steady, To gather 'round our standard when the red flag is unfurled. Chorus: Where the Fraser river flows, each fellow worker knows, They have bullied and oppressed us, but still our union grows. And we're going to find a way, boys, for shorter hours and better pay, boys And we're going to win the day, boys, where the river Fraser flows. For these gunny-sack contractors have all been dirty actors, And they're not our benefactors, each fellow worker knows. So we've got to stick together in fine or dirty weather, And we will show no white feather, where the Fraser river flows. Now the boss the law is stretching, bulls and pimps he's fetching, And they are a fine collection, as Jesus only knows. But why their mothers reared them, and why the devil spared them, Are questions we can't answer, where the Fraser River flows. Joe Hill wrote the song to aid construction workers laying track for the Canadian Railroad Company in British Columbia who were striking because of low pay, unsanitary living conditions, bad food and hazardous working conditions. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 09:51 AM Joy Durst dots here 098 THREE BLACK CROWS audio- Oz Folk Song a day 1. Now three black crows sat on a tree, And they were black as they could be, Crrrk, crrrk, crrk. 2. Said one black crow unto the other, "Where shall we dine today, dear brother?" Crrrk, crrrk, crrrk. 3. "On yonder hill's an old gray mare, I think, my friends, we shall dine there." Arrk, arrk, crrrk. 4. They perched upon her high backbone, And picked her eyes out one by one, Crrrk, crrrk, crrrk. 5. Said the second black crow unto the other, "Isn't she a tough old bugger?" Crrrk, crrrk, crrk. 6. Up came a squatter with his gun, And shot them all excepting one, Arrk, ark, crrrk. 7. Now that one black crow got such a fright, He turned from black right into white, Crrrk, crrrk, crrrk. 8. Now that is why you'll often see A white crow sitting on a tree, Arrk, arrk, ark. collected by W.Lowenstein from Jack "Speargrass" Guard, of Georgetown, Qld. 1969 |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 09:47 AM Joy Durst dots here 097 STRINGYBARK AND GREENHIDE audio- Oz Folk Song a day 1. I sing of a commodity, it's one that will not fail yer, I mean the common oddity, the mainstay of Australia; Gold it is a precious thing, for commerce it increases, But stringybark and greenhide can beat it all to pieces. Chorus: Singybark and greenhide, that will never fail yer, Stringybark and greenhide, the mainstay of Australia. 2. If you travel on the road and chance to stick in Bargo, To avoid a bad capsize you must unload your cargo, For to pull your dray about I do not see the force on, Take a bit of greenhide and hook another horse on. 3. If you chance to take a dray, and break your leader's traces, Get a bit of greenhide to mend your broken places; Greenhide is a useful thing, all that you require, But stringybark's another thing, when you want a fire. 4. If you want to build a hut to keep out wind and weather, Stringybark will make it snug and keep it well together; Greenhide, if it's used by you, will make it all the stronger, For if you tie it with greenhide it's sure to last the longer. 5. New-chums to this golden land, never dream of failure While you've got such useful things as these in fair Australia, For stringybark and greenhide will never, never fail yer, Stringybark and greenhide is the mainstay of Australia. Another beauty from Ron Edward's collecting, this time from Jock Dingwall in Cairns, recorded in April, 1965. Ron took these words from an undated Sydney Songster of the mid-19th century. Recorded with 1890 tenor and 1853 bass Wheatstone concertinas. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 09:34 AM Joy Durst dots here 096 THE STRANGER words & tune by John Manifold, based on a Polish air 1. A stranger came into the district last week, He wasn't a Balt and he wasn't a Greek; We enquired "Was he Irish?" He answered us, "No", He came from up North where the pineapples grow. 2. He answered so mannerly, quite at his ease, Saying neither too much nor too little to please, He was hardly a stranger by tea-time, although He came from up North where the pineapples grow. 3. We swapped the old stories of famine and flood And the crook politicians that suck a man's blood; We had reckoned they might have been local, but no! It's the same in the North where the pineapples grow. 4. We tickled his fancy with peaches and cream, We showed him Polled Angus as sleek as a dream, He agreed they were 'mighty', but still he must go ... He was needed up North where the pineapples grow. 5. The moral of this is too plain to be spoke: The bloke on the land is a sensible bloke Be he brown as a berry, or black as a crow, Or just from up North where the pineapples grow. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 09:30 AM audio- Oz Folk Song a day 095 THE STOCKMAN'S LAST BED audio- Oz Folk Song a day see Ian Turner, Edgar Walters & Wendy Lowenstein in "Tradition" Sept. 1968 1. Be ye stockman or no, to my story give ear, Alas for poor Jack, no more shall we hear The crack of his stockwhip, his nag's lively trot, His clear "Go ahead, boys", his jingling quart pot. Chorus: For we laid him where wattles their sweet fragrance shed, And the tall gum trees shadow the stockman's last bed. 2. While drafting one day, he was horned by a cow, "Alas!" cried poor Jack, "It's all up with me now! For I fear I shall never my saddle regain, Or bound like a wallaby over the plain." 3. His whip, it is silent, his dogs they do mourn, His horse waits in vain for his master's return, No friends to bemoan him, unheeded he dies, Save Australia's dark sons, none knows where he lies. 4. Now, stockman, if ever on some future day, After wild cattle you happen to stray, Tread softly the creek-bed where trees make a shade, For it may be the spot where poor Jack's bones are laid. From the Queensland Native Companion Songster (1865). Recorded by Burl Ives on his 1958 album, Australian Folk Songs. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 09:27 AM Joy Durst dots here 094 THE STEEPLECHASE RIDERS, Words: Will H Ogilvie, Tune: Florian Pascal audio- Oz Folk Song a day 1. We will deck them in cream and in crimson, In chocolate and tartan and blue, And speed them away from the barrier, And trust them to struggle it through. Chorus (first and last verses): Oh, the riders, the steeplechase riders, They carry their lives in their hands. 2. We come with the best of our sportsmen And the fairest fair girls of the land, To speed them away from the barrier, And cheer them in front of the stand. 3. They don't have a fair lady wearing Their colours of crimson and blue, But they'll put up their silk for a living, And ride for a guinea or two. 4. There's a roar from the crowd on the corner, A shout from the crowd on the Hill, For the green-and-white hoops have turned over: A loose horse and a man lying still. 5. But the crimson and black's going strongly, With the blue leading as they land, And the horses must strain at the fences, And the riders hold death in their hands. 6. For the fences are big ones and solid, They make it top speed from the start, And the man who rides out over Flemington Needs more than the average heart. 7. Then here's to the luck of the winner, And here's better luck to the last, Here's to their pluck at the timber, And here's to the Post flying past. Collected by Arthur & Kath Lumsden from Mrs Belle Brown, who learned the words about 1910. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 09:20 AM Joy Durst dots here 090 THE LOVELY LASSES OF INNISFAIL, poem by David Martin, music by Jennifer Mann 1. While yet you are young and sound of health, For Northern Queensland set your sail, For the loveliest girls in this Commonwealth Are all to be found at Innisfail. Yes, like Queensland sugar, so sweet and brown, Are the lovely lasses of Innisfail; I am heart-sick in this southern town: Oh, when goes the Queensland Mail? 2. There are pretty girls in the West, I know, And darling ones in this southern state, But the Queensland girls, with their laugh so low, In their sunset eyes I have met my fate. Yes, like Queensland flowers, so lithe and gay, Are the lovely lasses of Innisfail; Farewell, my boys, for I'm on my way Now to catch the Queensland Mail. 3. They walk like queens and like stars they dance, And their lips are soft and their smiles are deep. I have loved the girls of Spain and France, But for all their charms I have lost no sleep. (Yes,) For lovelier lasses are to be met By the Johnstone River in Innisfail; If you find me not, you may take a bet That I've left on the Queensland Mail. Meet Jennifer Mann - Singabout 1(3), 1956, p.6 16 years Jenny Mann ... has written tunes for poems by David Martin, Merv Lilley, Mary Gilmore and her father, Jim Mann. Jim Mann is related to working-class leader Thomas Mann. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 08:56 AM Joy Durst dots here 088 IT'S ON - Don Henderson, 1963 video 1. A sad story you'll hear if you listen to me, About two men who could never agree; What one called white, the other called black, They'd argue a while, then step out the back ... Chorus: And it's on! All reason and logic are gone! Winning the fight won't prove that you're right, It's sad, it's true, but it's on! 2. When it was over they'd come back and then The argument would become heated again; Who'd won the last round they couldn't decide, So one asked the other would he step outside ... 3. They'd been fighting so long they could neither recall hat in the first place had started it all. But they keep at it, day in and day out, Now they're fighting to see what they're fighting about ... 4. Just you imagine if intellectuals Came to agreement through Queensberry rules! Could easily be argued that the square root of four Was fifteen less three plus a smack on the jaw ... 5. And if governments think that it makes better sense To save on education and spend on defence, Could easily be argued that on the same grounds Elections should be ... the best of ten rounds ... |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 08:48 AM Joy Durst dots here 084 THE DOGWOOD ITCH by words & music by Stan Wakefield 1. Once I went stripping wattle-bark, to strip a ton a day, I planned a trip to Sydney when I got my bumper pay; I never saw no city lights, nor beer, instead of which, I was seven weeks a-scratching with the dogwood itch. Chorus: Oh, the dogwood itch, isn't it a bitch! You only have to mention it to make me twitch, For when it's out in flower, you'll be scratching by the hour, You'll be scratching by the hour with the dogwood itch. 2. Now I can patch a pair of pants or fall the toughest tree, For I'm a jack of many trades, as bushmen have to be, I'll rope a steer, or roast a duck with gravy nice and rich, And the only thing that beats me is the dogwood itch. 3. Now I have shot the buffalo, and trapped the native dog, And fought me purple elephants when I've been on the grog, I've sat the station outlaw till he dumped me in the ditch, And the only thing I'm scared of is the dogwood itch. First published in Singabout 2(4), May 1958 |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ON THE DEATH OF NED KELLY (John Manifold) From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 08:41 AM Joy Durst dots here 083 ON THE DEATH OF NED KELLY Words & music John Manifold Video - Bill Berry 1. Ned Kelly fought the rich men in country and in town, Ned Kelly fought the troopers until they ran him down; He thought that he had fooled them, for he was hard to find, But he rode into Glenrowan with the troopers close behind. 2. "Come out of that, Ned Kelly," the head zarucker calls, "Come out and leave your shelter, or we'll shoot it full of holes," "If you'd take me," says Kelly, "that's not the speech to use; I've lived to spite your order, I'll die the way I choose!" 3. "Come out of that, Ned Kelly, you done a lawless thing; You robbed and fought the squatters, Ned Kelly, you must swing." "If those who rob," says Kelly, "are all condemned to die, You had better hang the squatters, for they've stolen more than I." 4. "You'd best come out, Ned Kelly, you done the Government wrong, For you held up the coaches that bring the gold along." "Go tell your boss," says Kelly, "who lets the rich go free, That your bloody rich man's government will never govern me." 5. They burned the roof above him, they fired the walls about, And head to foot in armour Ned Kelly stumbled out; Although his guns were empty he made them turn and flee, But one came in behind him and shot him in the knee. 6. And so they took Ned Kelly and hanged him in the jail, For he fought single-handed, although in iron mail, And no man single-handed can hope to break the bars: It's a thousand like Ned Kelly who'll hoist the flag of stars. lyrics In the folk revival this song was often published as a traditional song. Bill Berry tells me Manifold wrote this song when he was 14. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: CANE CUTTER'S LAMENT From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 08:33 AM Joy Durst dots here 081 CANE CUTTER'S LAMENT Audio How we suffered grief and pain On the banks of the Barron cutting cane We sweated blood we were as black as sin And the ganger he put the spur right in The greasy cook with sore-eyed look And the matter all stuck to his lashes He damned our souls with his half baked rolls And he'd poison the snakes with his hashes The first six weeks so help me Christ We lived on cheese and half boiled rice Mouldy bread and cats meat stew And corn beef that the flies had blew The cane was bad the cutters were mad The cook had shit on the liver And I'll never cut cane for that bastard again On the banks of the Barron River So now I'm leaving that lousy place I'll cut no more for that bugger He can stand in the mud that's red as blood And cut his own bloody sugar Collected by Ron Edwards from Stan Dean (and others) of Cairns, who said it was based on an old hymn. Ron Edwards writes "This ballad is known all along the coast and the second line was altered to fit different areas 'On the Isis', 'On the banks of the Herbert' etc." |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BRYANT'S RANGES (Charles Thatcher) From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 May 21 - 07:10 AM Joy Durst dots here 080 BRYANT'S RANGES Charles Thatcher 1. Oh, what a curious world is this, So various in its changes: I'm now alluding to the rush Down there on Bryant's Ranges; he diggers are all hastening there, As fast as they are able, With tent and pick and puddling tub, And dish and spade and cradle. Chorus: Bow, wow, wow, Tol-de-rol-de ri-de-i-de, Bow, wow, wow. 2. Golden Square is out of town, Their tents away, they've collared; Kang'roo Gully's gone sometime, And Eagle Hawk has followed. Dead Horse Flat looks dead indeed, Their tools away they've carted, And Ironbark some days ago With Sydenham Gully started. 3. The White Hills now appear quite blue, There's few left in that quarter, Sailor's Gully's short of hands, But Long Gully is much shorter; And on Commissioner's Flat as well, A very striking change is And all the world is hastening To the rush on Bryant's Ranges. 4. Sheepshead now has lost its jaw, So many have departed; Job's Gully out of patience got, And with old Tinpot started. Pegleg's given us leg bail, And what a deal more strange is, Old Blatherskyte has paid his debts, And gone to Bryant's Ranges. 5. Mother Hicks, that sells sly grog, Went away on Sunday, Sold right out, and sent back for A cart load more on Monday; And Timmy Timkins, who you know, Lives just about close handy, Has started with a dray load full Of whiskey, gin and brandy. 6. When I went to work this blessed day, On the spot where I'm located, My driving pick and puddling tub Had both absquatulated. I found my cradle gone as well, Says I, "Confound these changes; No doubt, my tools are in full work, Down there on Bryant's Ranges." 7. Well, let those rush away that like, I'm game to bet a fiver That I'll not rush and lose the tin I once did at McIvor; I'll get good information first, Before I make my changes, And if it turns out well, why then ... Here's off to Bryant's Ranges! verse 6 - Absquatulated verb (used without object), ab·squat·u·lat·ed, ab·squat·u·lat·ing. Slang. to flee; abscond: The old prospector absquatulated with our picks and shovel. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE BILLY-GOAT OVERLAND (A B Paterson) From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 May 21 - 11:17 PM Joy Durst dots here 078 THE BILLY-GOAT OVERLAND, by A. B. "Banjo" Paterson video Come all ye lads of the droving days, ye gentlemen unafraid, I'll tell you all of the greatest trip that ever a drover made, For we rolled our swags, and we packed our bags, and taking our lives in hand, We started away with a thousand goats, on the billy-goat overland. There wasn't a fence that'd hold the mob, or keep 'em from their desires; They skipped along the top of the posts and cake-walked on the wires. And where the lanes had been stripped of grass and the paddocks were nice and green, The goats they travelled outside the lanes and we rode in between. The squatters started to drive them back, but that was no good at all, Their horses ran for the lick of their lives from the scent that was like a wall: And never a dog had pluck or gall in front of the mob to stand And face the charge of a thousand goats on the billy-goat overland. We found we were hundreds over strength when we counted out the mob; And they put us in jail for a crowd of thieves that travelled to steal and rob: For every goat between here and Bourke, when he scented our spicy band, Had left his home and his work to join in the billy-goat overland. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: A THOUSAND MILES AWAY From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 May 21 - 10:58 PM Joy Durst dots here 075 A THOUSAND MILES AWAY 1. Hurrah for the Roma railway, hurrah for Cobb & Co! And oh! for a good fat horse or two to carry me westward-ho! To carry me westward-ho, my boys, that's where the cattle stray, On the far Barcoo, where they eat nardoo, a thousand miles away. Chorus: Then give your horses rein across the open plain, We'll ship our meat both sound and sweet, nor care what some folks say; And frozen we'll send home the cattle that now roam On the far Barcoo and the Flinders too, a thousand miles away. 2. Knee-deep in grass we've got to pass, and the truth I'm bound to tell, That in three weeks those cattle get as fat as they can swell; As fat as they can swell, my boys, and a thousand pounds they weigh, On the far Barcoo, where they eat nardoo, a thousand miles away. 3. No Yankee hide e'er grew outside such beef as we can freeze, No Yankee pastures grow such beef as we send overseas, As we send overseas, my boys, in shipments every day, On the far Barcoo, where they eat nardoo, a thousand miles away. 4. So put me up with a snaffle, and a four or five-inch spur, And fourteen foot of greenhide whip to chop the flamin' fur; We'll yard those snuffy cattle in a way that I will swear Will knock those New South Welshmen back and make them tear their hair! video Banjo Paterson included this in his Old Bush Songs. It is based on an earlier convict song called "Ten Thousand Miles Away", and uses the same tune, but with new lyrics about pastoral Australia. It has been attributed to C. A. Flower, who was the accountant for the company building the railway line between Mitchell and Roma in Queensland. 2 verses & chorus appeared in The Queenslander, Sat 13 Oct 1894. Page 692 - A THOUSAND MILES AWAY, Supplied by "SPECIALLY JIM," Tambo, AIR—" Ten Thousand Miles Away.". |
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Subject: Lyr Add: OUR FATHERS CLEARED THE BUSH (Mick Hughes From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 May 21 - 10:42 PM all checked & service resumes - Joy Durst dots here 068 OUR FATHERS CLEARED THE BUSH by Mick Hughes 1. Our fathers cleared the bush boys, They made them green and lush. They built the roads on sustenance, Then marched away to war, They left their wives and children, In a rich land that was poor. verse 1 used as chorus 2. Our children they will grow up And a different tale they'll tell, Our children they will grow up And ring old Freedom's bell. We'll build a mighty nation From the Gulf down to the Bight, We'll build a mighty nation On equality and right. 3. Our leaders go a-wandering A strange old tale they'll tell. Our leaders go a-wandering, Our lovely land to sell. Now listen here you Yankees, Now listen to my tale. Don't bother coming over, Our country's not for sale. 4. We're going to turn the northern rivers, We're going to make them run down south, We're going to pay the Old Age Pensioners, Feed every hungry mouth. We'll build a mighty nation From shore to shining shore, We'll grow the barrel clover On the plains of the Nullarbor. video - Gary Shearston OUR FATHERS CLEARED THE BUSH: A recent song from Victorian songwriter Mick Hughes. It appeared in "Singabout" - the journal of the Sydney Bush Music Club - in 1962 and has since become widely circulated. Singabout, 4(4), July 1962 |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 May 21 - 09:25 PM eeek, I checked all my Joy Durst songs - maybe I need to check the remainder again just in case (oops) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 04 May 21 - 06:59 PM Sandra, it seems I am not the only culprit doubling up. I posted 'Look out below' on 8 October last year. --Stewie. |
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Subject: Ly Add: MUDDY OLD YARRA (Clem Parkinson) From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 May 21 - 11:17 AM Joy Durst - dots here 067 MUDDY OLD YARRA by Clem Parkinson Chorus: The muddy old Yarra rolls on, rolls on, The muddy old Yarra rolls on; It's too thick to swim in, and too thin to plough, So the muddy old Yarra rolls on. 1. When John Batman landed near Hobson's Bay, He said, "What a wonderful site ... A village will rise on this spot one day"; So, help me, John Batman was right. 2. Some people insist that our weather is crook, "It changes too quickly," they say; But it's really consistent ... just take a look: We get four seasons here every day. 3. Our beautiful Yarra is so unique, It has an unusual taste, For mixed with the garbage from Merri Creek Are gallons of factory waste. 4. This wonderful river of which I speak, Is coloured a chocolate brown, The reason for this isn't hard to seek, Goodness knows, it just flows upside down. 5. The people in Sydney would love to scoff, But now they're too busy to sneer. They sneak down with buckets and cart it off Cos it sure puts a kick in their beer. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 May 21 - 08:54 AM Joy Durst 064 LOOK OUT BELOW Charles Thatcher - Aust. Dictionary of Biography Audio A young man left his native shores, for trade was bad at home. To seek his fortune in this land, he crossed the briny foam. And when he went to Ballarat, it put him in a glow, To hear the sound of the windlass and the cry, "Look out below!" Wherever he turned his wandering eyes great wealth he did behold, And peace and plenty hand in hand, by the magic power of gold. Quoth he, "As I am young and strong, to the diggings I will go, For I like the sound of the windlass and the cry, "Look out below!" Amongst the rest he took his chance, and his luck at first was vile, But he still resolved to persevere, and at length he made his pile. So says he, "I'll take my passage and home again I'll go, And say farewell to the windlass and the cry, 'Look out below!' " Arrived in London once again, his gold he freely spent. And into every gaiety and dissipation went. But pleasure, if prolonged too much, oft causes pain, you know, And he missed the sound of the windlass and the cry, "Look out below!" And thus he reasoned with himself: "Oh why did I return? For the digger's independent life I now begin to yearn. Here, purse-proud lords the poor do oppress, but there it is not so. Give me the sound of the windlass and the cry, 'Look out below!' " So he started for this land once again with a charming little wife. And he finds there's nothing comes up to a jolly digger's life. Ask him if he'll go back again, he'll quickly answer, "No", For he loves the sound of the windlass and the cry, "Look out below!" Lyr Add: Look Out Below (Charles Thatcher) One of Charles Thatcher's songs from the goldrush days of the 1850's. Charles Thatcher was an English music hall entertainer during the gold rush period in Victoria. This version was given to John Meredith by Ida Fielding (a friend of Sally Sloane) of Dripstone NSW who got it from her father. The tune is from Sally Sloane and is also used for the ballad 'Peter Clarke'. Sally Sloane was a great old singer who was recorded in the 1950's and 1960's by folklorists searching for Australian songs. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 May 21 - 08:48 AM Joy Durst dots here 061 - THE JOLLY PUDDLERS by Charles Thatcher - Aust. Dictionary of Biography Audio 1. They want to stop our puddling, as many of you know, Contractors say that of our slush there is an overflow, But if they stop us they'll be sure to injure Bendigo. Chorus: Drive on my lads, heigho, wash on my lads, heigho, For who can lead the life that we jolly puddlers do. 2. These blessed road contractors are trying us to crush, They say that they're impeded by our muddy dirty slush, They want to make us knock off but they'll find it is no go. 3. Why have our escorts fallen off, the question pray don't shirk, 'Tis because it's been so dry and our machines have had no work, 'Tis puddling not quartz reefing now that keeps up Bendigo. 4. If you crush the puddling interest and stay the puddler's hand, What becomes of your fine buildings here that on the township stand? The commerce of this district then would sink down precious low. 5. The winter soon is coming and our dams will then be full, We'll run the stuff through the machines and then we'll have a pull And in its pristine glory will shine forth Bendigo. 6. The days of tub and cradle, alas, alas, are past, An ounce to every tub of course, was far too good to last, But still we get a crust for now we wash the stuff below. 7. When puddling ceases for all here 'twill be a bitter cup, Heffernan and Thatcher too may both of them dry up, And to some other diggings they both will have to go. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 May 21 - 08:44 AM Joy Durst dots here 060 INGLEWOOD COCKY - trad 1. 'Twas an Inglewood cocky of whom I've been told, Who died, it is said, on account of the cold, As he lay on his death-bed and wrestled with Fate, He called on his children to share the estate. 2. "Let John have the pig and the pet native bear, The old kangaroo can be Margaret's share, Let Mike have the possum that comes when he's called, And Katy the emu although he's gone bald." 3. "To Mary I'm leaving the pink cockatoo, And that's about all your poor father can do. There's fish in the creek and there's fowl on the lake, Let each take as much as they're able to take." 4. "Farewell, my dear children, no more can I leave, Don't quarrel, or else my poor spirit will grieve. And if you should marry, and have children to rear, Remember I nursed you on pumpkin and bear." play midi ~~~~~~~~ NEW ENGLAND COCKY - trad (An Australian Folk Song A Day) 'Twas a New England Cocky, as late I've been told, Who died, so 'tis said, on account of the cold. When dying he called to his children "Come here! "As I'm dying, I want you my fortune to share. "Dear children, you know I've toiled early and late, "I've struggled with Nature, and wrestled with Fate. "Then all do your best to my fortune repair; "And to my son John I leave a dear native bear. "To Mary I give my pet kangaroo, "May it prove to turn out a great blessing, too; "To Michael I leave the old cockatoo, "And to Bridget I'll give her the piebald emu. "To the others whatever is left I will leave — "Don't quarrel, or else my poor spirit will grieve; "There's the fish in the stream, and the fowl on the lake, "Let each have as much as any may take "And now, my dear children, no more can I do, "My fortune I've fairly divided with you," And these were the last words his children did hear — "Don't forget that I reared you on pumpkin and beer." audio of New England Cocky From Paterson's Old Bush Songs. Several versions can be found, including the Inglewood Cocky, collected by John Manifold. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 04 May 21 - 01:27 AM No worries, Stewie......better to double up than to miss out on a gem such as this song! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 03 May 21 - 09:06 PM My apologies, Jennie, for doubling up. I did use the edit/find function to search the thread, but must have misspelled 'treasurer' without noticing. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 May 21 - 06:12 AM Joy Durst dots here 058 - THE GUM-LEAF MUSICIAN, part of a poem by Len Cox, turned into a song by Joy Durst, tune based on "Lord Franklin" 1. No more his music fills the city street, His gum-leaf music shrill and strange and sweet; The children loved his gentle face, An ancient member of an ancient race. 2. We took away his living and his land And left him with a gum-leaf in his hand, But with this leaf, in return for wrong, He made for us his kindly gift of song. 3. He knew our courtrooms and our prisons well, He died last week within a prison cell, But sometimes still, in the bustling throng We'll hear the haunting echo of his song. 4. We'll see again his gentle, wrinkled face And catch a vision of a brown-skinned race Who come with eyes that are warm with pride To stand at last as brothers by our side. article by Hugh Anderson about Bill Bull, journal article behind a paywall mudcat - Aussie Gum Leaf Music from Bob Bolton - (From Australian TRADITION, vol 1, no. 1, March 1964. Published by Victorian Folk Music Club and the Folk Lore Society of Victoria.) (NOTES) GUMLEAF MUSICIAN: To make this song, Joy Durst used part of a poem, of the same name, by Len Fox and set it to the traditional tune Lord Franklin. It refers to Billie Bull, one of the few remaining Aborigines in Victoria, who died in 1954. He used to play the gumleaf in the streets of Melbourne. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 May 21 - 05:34 AM Joy Durst - dots here 6 - BULLOCKY-O video 1. I draw for Speckle's Mill, bullocky-o, bullocky-o, And it's many a log I drew, bullocky-o. I draw cedar, beech and pine, and I never get on the wine; I'm the king of bullock drivers, don't you know, bullocky-o! 2. There's Guinea and Anderson too, bullocky-o, bullocky-o! And it's many a log they drew, bullocky-o. I can give them a thousand feet, axe 'em square and never cheat; I'm the king of bullock drivers, don't you know, bullocky-o! 3. There's Wapples, too: he brags, bullocky-o, bullocky-o, Of his forty raw-boned stags, bullocky-o. I can tell you it's no slander when I say I raise their dander, When they hear the crack of me whip, bullocky-o, bullocky-o! Repeat 1st verse. folkstream - dots & history - Collected from Cyril Duncan, Nerang by the Queensland Folklore Society. Published in the Queensland Centenary Pocket Songbook. Cyril Duncan reported that the song was written by his grandfather an early settler on the Nerang river. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 May 21 - 05:29 AM Joy Durst - dots here 055 BRISBANE LADIES/QUEENSLAND DROVERS/AUGATHELLA STATION (trad) video - Gary Shearston Farewell and adieu to you, sweet Brisbane ladies, Farewell and adieu to you girls of Toowong, For we've sold all our cattle, and have to be moving, But we hope we shall see you again before long. Chorus: We'll rant and we'll roar like true Queensland drovers, We'll rant and we'll roar as onward we push, Until we get back to the Augathella station, For it's flaming dry going through the old Queensland bush. 2. The first camp we make, we shall call it the Quart Pot, Caboolture, then Kilcoy and Collington's Hut; We'll pull up at the Stone House, Bob Williamson's paddock, And early next morning we cross the Blackbutt. 3. Then on to Taromeo and Yarraman Creek, lads, It's there we shall make our next camp for the day, Where the water and grass are both plenty and sweet, lads, And maybe we'll butcher a fat little stray. 4. Then on to Nanango, that hard-bitten township, Where the out-of-work station-hands sit in the dust, And the shearers get shorn by old Tim the contractor ... I wouldn't go there but I flaming well must! 5. The girls of Toomancey they look so entrancing, Those young bawling heifers are out for their fun! With the waltz and the polka and all kinds of dancing, To the racketty old banjo of Bob Anderson. 6. Then fill up your glasses and drink to the lasses; We'll drink this town dry, then farewell to them all; And when we've got back to the Augathella station, We hope you'll come by there and pay us a call. Written by Saul Mendelsohn, printed as a broadside, repr. Queensland Boomerang, 1891. In most Australian collections; cf. "Spanish Ladies" also in DT folkstream - dots & history Wikipedia - Brisbane Ladies |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 May 21 - 05:19 AM how could we miss this classic????? Joy Durst 054 BOTANY BAY - trad, also in DT 1. Farewell to old England for ever, Farewell to my rum culls as well, Farewell to the well-known old Bailey, Where I used for to cut such a swell. Chorus: Singing Too-ral li-ooral-li ad-dity, Singing Too-ral li-ooral-li -ay, Singing Too-ral li-ooral-li ad-dity, And we're bound for Botany Bay. 2. There's the Captain as is our Commander, There's the bo'sun and all the ship's crew, There's the first and second-class passengers, Knows what we poor convicts go through! 3. 'Taint leaving old England we cares about, 'Taint 'cos we mis-spells what we knows, But becos all we light-fingered gentry Hops around with a log on our toes. 4. These seven long years I've been serving now, And seven long more have to stay, All for bashing a bloke down our alley And taking his ticker away. 5. Oh, had I the wings of a turtle-dove! I'd soar on my pinions so high, Slap bang to the arms of my Polly love, And in her sweet presence I'd die. 6. Now, all my young Dookies and Duchesses, Take warning from what I've to say, Mind all is your own as you toucheses, Or you'll find us in Botany Bay. dots here video wikipedia - Botany Bay (song) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 May 21 - 05:04 AM Joy Durst 028 THE BALLAD OF BEN HALL 1. Come all Australia's sons to me, a hero has been slain, Butchered by cowards in his sleep, upon the Lachlan plain. Ah, do not stay your seemly grief, but let the teardrops fall, Australian hearts will always mourn the fate of bold Ben Hall. 2. He never robbed a needy man, the records sure will show How staunch and loyal to his mates, how manly to the foe. No brand of Cain e 'er stamped his brow, no widow's curse can fall; Only the robber rich men feared the coming of Ben Hall. 3. For ever since the good old days of Turpin and Duval, The people's friends were outlaws, and so was bold Ben Hall. Yet savagely they murdered him, those coward bluecoat imps, Who only found his hiding place from sneaking peelers' pimps. 4. Yes, savagely they murdered him, oh, let your teardrops fall, For all Australia mourns today her bravest son, Ben Hall. No more he'll mount his gallant steed to roam the ranges high; Poor widow's friend in poverty, our bold Ben Hall, goodbye. no source video by a member ofthe Victorian Folk Music Club, learnt & posted April 2021 |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 May 21 - 05:01 AM Joy Durst 016 THE OLD KEG OF RUM (trad) My name is old Jack Palmer, and I once dug for gold, And the song I'm going to sing you recalls the days of old, When I'd plenty mates around me, and the talk would fairly hum, As we all sat together round the old keg of rum. Chorus: The old keg of rum, the old keg of rum, As we all sat together round the old keg of rum. 2. There was Bluey Watt, the breaker, and old Tom Hynes, And little Doyle, the ringer, who now in glory shines, And many more hard doers, all gone to Kingdom Come, We were all associated round the old keg of rum. 3. When the shearing time was over in the sheds on the Bree, We'd raise a keg from somewhere, and we'd all have a spree, We'd sit and sing together till we got that blind and dumb That we couldn't find the bung-hole of the old keg of rum. 4. There was some would last the night out, and some would have a snooze, And some were full of fight, boys, but all were full of booze, Till often in a scrimmage I have corked it with my thumb, Just to stop the life from ebbing from the old keg of rum. 5. Well, now my song is ended, I've got to travel on, Just an old buffer skiting of days dead and gone, But I hope you youngsters round me will, perhaps in years to come, Remember Jack Palmer and the old keg of rum. no source - dots here folkstream - dots & source Related to 'The Old Bark Hut' this song was printed in Paterson's Old Bush Songs audio- Oz Folk Song a day A version of this song was published in Paterson's Old Bush Songs. This version is from An Anthology of Australian Poetry to 1920 , edited by John Kinsella in 2007 |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 May 21 - 04:54 AM returning to my posts from Joy Durst songbook 013 KOOKABURRA LAUGHED, words & music by Bush Music Club member Stan Wakefield. Published in Singabout, 3(1), Summer 1958 as a recent song. download dots here 1. Down to the lake came the old black horse, Down to the lake for a drink, But the crocodile snapped his jaws and of course That was the end of the old black horse; Said the croc, "I'm king in all this land, For none can my great jaws withstand", But the Kookaburra laughed at the boastful croc, And the kookaburra laughed, ha, ha! 2. Down to the lake came the buffalo bull, Down to the lake for a drink, And he flipped his horns and the old man croc, Fell with a thump on the big, hard rock; Said the bull, "I'm king in all this land, For none can my great horns withstand", But the kookaburra laughed at the boastful bull, And the kookaburra laughed, ha, ha! 3. The bull trod hard on the little brown snake, And the little brown snake was hurt, So he bit that bull on the leg so deep That the buffalo bull went off to sleep; Said the snake, "I'm king in all this land, For none my poison bite can stand", But the kookaburra laughed at the boastful snake, 4. The kookaburra said, as he winked his eye, "Little snake, how I love you! Although you call yourself a king, To me you're just a tasty thing." Then he glided down beside the lake And swallowed him whole, that little brown snake, Then the kookaburra laughed, ha, ha, ha, ha, And the kookaburra laughed, ha, ha! Included in "Songs of Australia", words and music by Stan Wakefield, edited by John Meredith for the Bush Music Club. Southern Music Publishing, Sydney, 1966. Bush Music Club Series no. 2. Extracts from Singabout - the early songwriters - Stan Wakefield (1906-1962) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 May 21 - 04:40 AM it was added 6th Oct by JennieG |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 03 May 21 - 03:36 AM I had always meant to do an Index to Composers as well, to assist in avoiding this!! Soon!! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 02 May 21 - 11:26 PM I seem to recall adding 'The Dying Treasurer' some time ago.....perhaps on the occasion of a previous budget? |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 02 May 21 - 10:17 PM With the federal budget imminent, it is perhaps appropriate to revisit this oldie. DYING TREASURER (John Dengate/Tune: Dying stockman) A federal treasurer lay dying His budget supporting his head The cabinet stood plausibly lying As he raised on his elbow and said Chorus Wrap me up in my jiggery-pokery Wrap me round in my legerdemain Bury me deep in the rhetoric Right next to the monetary drain There's booze in the cut-glass decanter Place the numbers all in a row And toast more and more unemployment May the total continue to grow Chorus Cut down the consumer price index Put wages and salaries on ice Lock up one or two union leaders To help me attain paradise Chorus Oh, had I the flight of a bronze-wing Instead of a blind silver-tail I'd fly in the face of all reason And I'd write my last budget in braille Chorus or alternative last stanza Oh, had I the flight of an emu I'd desperately run round and round And try to soar into the sunset And never get up off the ground From John Dengate's 1982 publication 'My Shout'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 01 May 21 - 10:09 PM PATSY FAGAN (Traditional) I left my home in Ireland ’twas many years ago I left my home in Ireland where the pigs and praties grow And since I left old Ireland, it’s always been my plan To show these Aussie people I’m a decent Irish man Chorus ‘Hello Patsy Fagan’, you’ll hear the girls all cry ‘Hello Patsy Fagan, you’re the apple of me eye You’re a decent man from Ireland, there’s no one can deny You’re a harum scrarum devil-may-care-um decent Irish boy’ I’m working here in Aussie and I’ve got a decent job Shovelling bricks and mortar and the pay is fifty bob Oh, I wake up in the morning and I wake up with the lark And as I’m walking down the street you can hear the girls remark Chorus Now if there’s one among you who’d care to marry me I’ll take you to my little home across the Irish sea I’ll dress you up in satin and I’ll please you all I can Just to let these Aussie people know I’m a decent Irish man Chorus This is a version of an Irish song that was adopted in Australia. The lyrics above are as printed in Bill Scott's 'The Second Penguin Australian Songbook'. It is a composite version of one published by the Sydney Bush Music Club in 'A Collector's Song Book' and one collected by Alan Scott. The stanzas are in a different order, but it is basically similar to the version in this YT clip linked below. Bill Scott also collected a 'Glasgow' version from a Cloncurry drover, Bert Stacey. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 29 Apr 21 - 09:19 PM TO THE GULF To the Gulf! To the Gulf! To Australia's fag-end Where all kinds of misery walks hand in hand Where a man is soon done if he's willing to broil And the strongest soon finds himself under the soil Where the squatters are rapidly going to pot And the men are all dying like sheep, of the rot When I'm tired of existence my steps I will bend To that fair land of promise, Australia's fag-end To the Gulf! To the Gulf! To that blissful retreat Where roguery stalks coolly abroad in the heat Where a cheque is a cheque if you live till it's got But the chance is a hundred to one that you'll not For unless you can live in a swamp like a frog You may reckon on dying the death of a dog Then if you're foolish your steps you will bend To that fair land of promise, Australia's fag-end To the Gulf! To the Gulf! To the land of the flies Where each insect tormentor for mastery vies Which shall plague you the most in the terrible heat The Gulf is most truly a blissful retreat Carpentaria! High wages have no charms for me In an atmosphere pregnant with death on the spree When I've no other refuge my steps I will bend To that Gulf full of horrors, Australia's fag-end Another parody set to the Down in the old front line tune. Russel Ward discovered it in a book called 'Colonial Adventures and Experiences' by George Carrington. It is not included in his 'Penguin Book of Australian Ballads', but it is in Bill Scott's Penguin compilation. Ron Edwards collected it from Frank Pitt and published it in his big book. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 29 Apr 21 - 07:52 PM We're home after a trip Down South, where the autumn colours were lovely and where The One And Only Grandkid is shooting up like a weed. "Goodbye, Melbourne Town" is not on the O'Leary and Hildebrand CD. Deep in the dark recesses of my brain I can hear it being sung......but by whom, I wonder? |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 28 Apr 21 - 10:06 PM Back in Nov last year, 3 Les Darcy songs were posted to this songbook. Here is an earlier one: LES DARCY Way down in Tennessee There lies poor Les Darcy His mother's pride and joy Their Maitland's bonny boy All I can think of tonight Is to see Les Darcy fight How he beats them Simply eats them Every Saturday night And people in galore Said they never saw The likes of Les before Upon the stadium floor They called him a skater But he proved to them a fighter And he gave up hope When he got that dope Way down in Tennessee This is included in Bill Scott's Penguin compilation. It was also collected by Ron Edwards from Pat Murphy in north Queensland and is printed in his big book. Russel Ward published the original words in his 'Penguin Book of Australian Ballads'. Ward believes it was written by 'Percy the Poet' ( real name P.F. Collins) who sold his street ballads in Sydney in the 1920s and 1930s. Here is Percy's ballad: THE DEATH OF LES DARCY In Maitland's cemetery Lies poor Les Darcy His mother's pride and joy Australia's bonny boy How we long for the night Just to see Les Darcy fight How he beat 'em Simply eat 'em Every Saturday night Chorus There lies young Les Darcy Who we know was so ill-advised When the sad news reached us How the tears stood in our eyes His one great ambition Was to fight at the Golden Gate But the Yanks called him from us Proved to be the sad hand of fate The critics by the score Said they never saw A lad like him before Upon the stadium floor Oh the Yanks thought him a skater But he proved himself a fighter So they killed him Yes, they killed him In Memphis Tennessee The belief that Darcy was poisoned by rival fighter was widespread in Australia. There was also a general belief that the Yanks poisoned Phar Lap. Darcy died of pneumonia. Darcy bio The tune for the version in Scott's compilation was a popular song of the time. The soldiers of the First AIF also had a parody of the tune which Scott presented alongside the Darcy song. Down in the old front line Oh, that won't do for mine Among the mud and slime Amidst the slush and grime All I can think of tonight Is the parapet so white Bombs are popping, shells are dropping No relief in sight The rum we ought to get We see no signs of yet You bet we'll get trench feet With nothing hot to eat There's tons of shells to chase us And no dug-outs to save us Till we get back, till we get back Where there's wine and cheer for us Down in the old front line --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GerryM Date: 27 Apr 21 - 10:05 PM "Me and Cheryl McGraw", Australian parody of "Me and Bobby McGee", already appears in a couple of threads on Mudcat (https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=167067 and https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=20525). It has gone through a lot of folk-processing in its short career, no two sources seem to have the same lyrics. The lyrics below are from The Shonky Songbook, edited by Paul Mortimer and Greg Snook, published 1992. Me and Cheryl McGraw (to the tune of Me and Bobby McGee) Lyrics by Lee Williams I was down and out in Wollongong, waiting for a bus, Feeling near as daggy as me jeans. Cheryl thumbed a Holden down, riddled full of rust. Took us all the way to Narrabeen. I pulled me didgeridoo out of me Penrith Panthers t-shirt, Blowin' sad while Cheryl combed her hair. With them windscreen wipers flappin' time, I got stuck on the fourteenth line Of the nineteenth verse to Advance Australia Fair. Chorus: 'Cos freedom's just another word for being unemployed. A dollar ain't worth nothing any more. Feeling good is easy, mate, with a stubby in your hand. Feeling good is good enough, for sure – As long as it means feeling Cheryl McGraw. From the steel mills of Port Kembla to the brilliant Bondi sun, Cheryl shared me Chiko rolls and pies. Yes, she stood right beside me, she was sweating like Phar Lap. Thank Gawd for Aerogard to keep away the flies. But somewhere near Maroubra, I let her slouch away With a long-haired hippie poofter from Balmain. And I'd even trade me Dennis Lillee autographed cricket box For another night with Cheryl's sister Jane. Chorus So Cheryl and her hippie mate got married in North Sydney. He's a bank clerk, she's a bank clerk, too. And while he plays pool at the RSL, she watches "Sale of the Century", 'Cos in Pennant Hills there's bugger-all else to do. And I wonder if she thinks of me as she microwaves her hubby's tea, And the youngest kid has pooped his pants again. As she downs another Valium, if she ever wonders what's become Of me, she'll have to ask her sister Jane. Chorus |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 27 Apr 21 - 09:14 PM TO THE NORTH (Unknown/Tune: 'I'm Afloat') To the the North! To the North! To the land of the blacks For hundreds of miles you can keep pushing back For tucker and water you'll often go short While humping your drum far away in the North To the North! To the North! Where the squatters go bung Greenhide is their mainstay, their crops kurrajong With scabbies and shin-plasters, they pay all their men They feed them on pig-weed, sour-thistle, fat-hen To the North! To the North! The last place God made The contract unfinished, lost, stolen or strayed With coolies, black labour and lots of the sort Ante-up is the gospel they preach in the North Collected in Mareeba Qld in 1966 by Ron Edwards from the singing of Frank Evans and his brother and sister who had learned it from their uncle, an early overlander. Edwards noted that a diet of pig-weed and sour-thistle would not be relieved by the odd meal of poultry for fat-hen is another plant. It is also known as 'Good King Henry' and used as a substitute for spinach. 'Scabbies' were diseased sheep and 'shin-plasters' promissory notes which would often fall to pieces in the stockman's pocket before he could get to the nearest town and cash them. The tune is the 1843 song 'Im Afloat', published in England with words by Eliza Cook and music by Henry Russell. It was enormously popular and many parodies were written to the catchy tune. I'm Afloat --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 27 Apr 21 - 08:43 PM Sandra, thanks for posting the link to Bob Bolton's thread re 'Bold Tommy Payne'. I was too slack to reproduce the notes in Edwards' big book. It is curious that Scott didn't include or even mention the Garradunga text in his Peguin book. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Apr 21 - 12:21 AM intro to Bold Tommy Payne- https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=34376 The following is basically from Singabout, Journal of Australian Folksong, Volume. 4, Number 1, 1960, pp 6 & 7, Bush Music Club, Sydney, (with additions and minor corrections from Singabout, Volume. 4, Number 3, 1961, p15). The author is the indefatigable collector Ron Edwards of Kuranda, North Queensland. The dangers of mistaking a recent song for a traditional one are very real and Bold Tommy Payne with its references to pig dogs and wild boars is good case in point. Written as recently as 1953, it has already appeared on LP records and in the Queensland Centenary Songbook, under the heading of "traditional" on William Clausen's record and "heard in Garradunga Pub1947" in the songbook. : In 1953 Jack Crossland, the author of the song and John Crane (Tom Payne) both canefarmers of Smithfield, N. Q. were out hunting wild pigs which come down from the Kuranda ranges and cause extensive damage in the canefields. Their pig dogs set up a big black and white boar which came charging down the track towards them. Jack set off smartly for the nearest sapling but John was slower and the boar caught him, tusking him in the groin and tearing his clothes about. : Later on both men saw the humour of the incident and Jack Crossland wrote a song about the incident, "Bold Johnny Crane" which soon became very popular in the district. When the American singer William Clausen visited Cairns he heard the song and later put it on his record of Australian songs. He changed the name Johnny Crane to Tommy Payne at the request of the Crane family. Originally sung to the tune On Top of Old Smokey it was later. changed to Villikins and his Dinah. Here then is the original: - |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 26 Apr 21 - 08:32 PM BOLD TOMMY PAYNE (Jack Crossland) I'll tell you a story, it's sad but it's true, Of the wild pigs where I come from and the damage they do. There once was a farmer called Bold Tommy Payne Who grew some sweet Pindar and Q.50 cane. It was late in the evening an old boar he came, And he started a-dining on Bold Tommy's cane, So up stepped Bold Tommy, the fire in his eye, He cursed and he swore that the old boar must die. He reached for his rifle that stood by the door, And he called for his pig-dogs, and they came by the score. Then down to the caneflelds, all dressed for the fray In waistcoat and trousers, Bold Tom made his way. As he stood on the headland and gazed all around He heard the cane cracking, and he heard a strange sound. As the big boar came charging straight for Bold Tom, The dogs were all barking and the battle was on! Up stepped Bold Tommy, six feet in the air, As he straddled the porker he heard his pants tear, Well, you should have heard the language and the words of Bold Tom When he found to his sorrow his trousers were gone. Now out in old Smithfield where the Pindar it grows, The folks tell the story and they ought to know; How up on Black Mountain that old boar resides, And they say that he's still wearing Bold Tommy's strides! Lyrics as printed in Edwards' big book and second penguin book of Australian folksongs. Youtube clip Bill Berry sang a different set of lyrics: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 26 Apr 21 - 08:09 PM Sandra reminded me that this piece of doggerel was posted a few years ago by well-known Aussie folkie, Tony Suttor, who lives in Darwin. Based on 'Bloody Orkney', it supposedly came from a soldier based in Darwin in 1941. BLOODY DARWIN The bloody town's a bloody cuss No bloody trams, no bloody bus And no one cares for bloody us Oh bloody, bloody Darwin The bloody roads are bloody bad The bloody folks are bloody mad They even say 'you bloody cad' Oh bloody, bloody Darwin All bloody clouds and bloody rain All bloody stones, no bloody drains The council's got no bloody brains Oh bloody, bloody Darwin And everything's so bloody dear A bloody bob for bloody beer And is it good? No bloody fear Oh bloody, bloody Darwin The bloody 'flicks' are bloody old The bloody seats are bloody cold And can't get in for bloody gold Oh bloody, bloody Darwin The bloody dances make me smile The bloody band is bloody vile They only cramp your bloody style Oh bloody, bloody Darwin No bloody sports, no bloody games No bloody fun with bloody dames Won't even give their bloody names Oh bloody, bloody Darwin Best bloody place is bloody bed With bloody ice on bloody head And then they say you're bloody dead Oh bloody, bloody Darwin Bloody Orkney --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Apr 21 - 08:41 AM from The Guardian - ONLY ONE OF THE TOYS, described on its sheet music as a ‘pathetic soldier song’, was written by Mark Erickson and P. Clay-Bealer only a few months after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. Despite its gloomy subject, this 1914 song was surprisingly popular in its day. lyrics & audio A soldier was saying “Goodbye” to his wife He was marching that day to the war His little son played with a gallant toy brigade Of brightly painted soldiers on the floor The boy looked up from his scene of mimic strife And he said, “Daddy when to war you go, Will you have a reg’ment too, will you drill it like I do?” But his father answered “No” I’m only one of the toys, my boy, I do what I’m told to do Perhaps I’ll fall, be forgotten by all All but your mammy and you I do my best along with the rest When I march with the Brave Old Boys No command is mine, just a number in the line For I’m only one of the toys The battle was over and there on the ground Lay a soldier in pain waiting death His comrade bent his head just to hear the words he said That came so slowly with his dying breath “My dear old pal, you will soon be homeward bound Tell my wife all that you have heard me say And remind my little Jim of the words I said to him On the day I marched away” I’m only one of the toys, my boy, I do what I’m told to do Perhaps I’ll fall, be forgotten by all All but your mammy and you I do my best along with the rest When I march with the Brave Old Boys No command is mine, just a number in the line For I’m only one of the toys |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Apr 21 - 08:34 AM from The Guardian article - SONS OF AUSTRALIA written by prolific English music hall composer Felix McGlennon in 1900, during the Second Boer War. lyrics & audio VERSE 1 Sons of Australia Hear the Mother calling Calling to her boys who’re Scattered far and wide Sons of Australia Hear those insults galling She who bore you wants her offspring Standing by her side Bred for fighting, built to stay Never yielding, never knew the way When they defied our Mother Threatened with their guns Did they think that such a grand Old Mother had no sons? CHORUS Did they think that England stood alone? Have they heard how to her side we’ve flown? Sons of Australia Strike for your Empire Grand, Fight as your Mother taught you to, For the dear old land VERSE 2 Sons of Australia Are your pulses thrilling? Thrilling at the chance to thrash Your Empire’s foes Sons of Australia How your ranks are filling As you think of Motherland Your hearts’ blood quicker flows Pluck and muscle, blood and brain Born of heroes linked in Empire’s chain Proud of your grand old birthright Glorious and free Mighty Monarch of the Nation’s ruler of the sea CHORUS Did they think that England stood alone? Have they heard how to her side we’ve flown? Sons of Australia Strike for your Empire Grand, Fight as your Mother taught you to, For the dear old land VERSE 3 (not included in this recording) Sons of Australia Read your Empire’s story How your Father’s built it Shall that Empire wane? Sons of Australia Ne’ver must fade their glory Vow what gallant sires have fought for Their sons will maintain Heav’n hath willed it Tis decreed world wide Rulers we the grand old breed We who have fought for freedom Scorning all things base Must fulfil our destiny To be the ruling race |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Apr 21 - 08:27 AM from The Guardian article - THEY WERE THERE!! THERE!! THERE!! music by Bert Rache, lyrics by Private Harley Cohen of the 4th Battalion AIF, written in the trenches 1916 audio probably preformed by Peter Dawson They Were There sheet music with words (too small to read) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Apr 21 - 08:16 AM from the Guardian article - BOYS OF THE DARDANELLES - the best-known composition by Marsh Little (1880-1958), particularly effective for encouraging recruitment. lyrics & audio VERSE 1 Old England needs the men she breeds There's fighting to be done. Australians heard, and were prepared, To help her every son. From out the bay they sailed away, Our pride, Australia's own, And so to-day they're far away And some in great unknown. CHORUS Boys of the Dardanelles, They faced the shot and the shells, Down in hist'ry their fame will go, Our children's children their daring deeds will know Australian lads in khaki and in blue < Have shown the World what they can do. How they fought and fell The cables daily tell, Boys of the Dardanelles. VERSE 2 Neath foreign skies with eager eyes, Those boys of the Dardanelles, By the dear old flag with never a lag, Have fought and served it well. From scraping keel, with plunging steel, They quickly got to work. In khaki kit they did their bit, And soon were upon the Turk. CHORUS x 2 VERSE 3 (not on this recording) When war is o'ver, and home once more, Come Boys from the Dardanelles, To them we'll raise our hats in praise, And we'll hear the stories they'll tell. It was their lot to get it hot, Some quite new at the game. Their gallant dash the foe to smash Will live on the roll of fame. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Apr 21 - 08:12 AM I thought I might as well post the songs from The Guardian article AUSTRALIA WILL BE THERE - by Walter Skipper Francis, 1915. The song quotes from Auld Lang Syne in its chorus and is often given its longer title, For Auld Land Syne - Australia Will Be There. audio There are lots and lots of arguments Going on today As to whether dear old England Should be brought into the fray But all right thinking people Know well we had to fight For the Kaiser’s funny business It wants some putting right. Rally 'round the banner of your country Take the field with brothers o'er the foam On land or sea Wherever you be Keep your eye on Germany But England, home and beauty Have no cause to fear Should auld acquaintance be forgot No, no, no, no, no! Australia will be there Australia will be there You have heard about the Emden ship Cruising all around She was sinking British merchant men Where'er they could be found But one fine morning early The Sydney hove in sight She trained her guns upon them And the German said ‘goodnight’ Rally 'round the banner of your country Take the field with brothers o'er the foam On land or sea Wherever you be Keep your eye on Germany But England, home and beauty Have no cause to fear Should auld acquaintance be forgot No, no, no, no, no! Australia will be there Australia will be there |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Apr 21 - 07:53 AM just ran across this THE GHOST by Terry Fielding & Fred Dyer (Fred used to post on Mudcat) INTRO: There's a tale they tell of a man on a horse. His cape is blowin' on the breeze. With fire in his eyes and a burnin' in his heart, Has to find his killer to be free. Ay-die-die, die-de-die-die-die, De-die-die-die-de-die-de-die. 1. Things were lean in ninety-four. A poor man had to steal to get along, But he was caught with a loaf of bread. The law says in the jail you do belong. CHORUS: The clamp upon the boards from the hooves of his horse Made a weird and eerie sound. The villagers knew as one that the ghost was on the run, Searchin' for the man who cut him down. Ay-die-die, die-de-die-die-die, De-die-die-die-de-die-de-die. 2. He broke from jail one stormy night, And one man saw him get away. A hundred pound was the price they set, And one man needed money on that day. 3. The police behind and the bridge ahead, He only had to cross it to be free. The wooden bridge was the borderline And he almost reached the safety of the trees. 4. His killer lay by the riverside, A loaded pistol in each hand, And as he rode by on his horse that day, He heard a bang [pause for gunshot] and then he died. video |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Apr 21 - 06:01 AM interesting article with links to 9 songs, with audio/video + some with lyrics From Eric Bogle to Ziggy Ramo: the Australian music challenging the Anzac legacy 50 years since And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda, Australian songwriters have continued to poke at otherwise unassailable wartime legends ... Songs like Australia Will Be There (1915) (audio & lyrics), Boys of the Dardanelles (1915) (audio & lyrics), and They Were There! There! There! (1916) (audio only) served an explicit role as propaganda and recruitment tools, often glorifying the sacrifice, mateship and heroism of the young men who enlisted. Some, like the Boer war-era Sons of Australia (lyrics & audio), predate the commonwealth, with a call to patriotism that came firmly couched in the language of empire: (“Sons of Australia / Are your pulses thrilling? / Thrilling at the chance to thrash / Your empire’s foes”). But not all wartime songwriters viewed Australia’s role in a contest of European imperial powers so sunnily. Mark Erickson and P. Clay-Bealer’s Only One of the Toys (1914) (lyrics & audio) speaks to the futility of the conflict, framing Australian soldiers as the disposable playthings of imperial command: “No command is mine / Just a number in the line / For I’m only one of the toys.” video - Red Angel Panic : Viet Rock (1971) Redgum - I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green) (Official Video) strangely enough you have to 'Sign in to confirm your age. This video may be inappropriate for some users'. Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh [Official Lyric Video] (2011) Lee Kernaghan - Spirit of the Anzacs (Official Music Video) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Apr 21 - 10:40 PM Joy Durst no. 012 THE KELLYS, BYRNE AND HART Bushwhacker broadside no. 13 also in the Digital Tradition with tune The Wearing of the Green John McCormack singing Wearing of the Green. It was in November, seventy-eight, when the Kelly Gang came down, Just after shooting Kennedy in famed Euroa town; Blood horses they were all upon, revolvers in their hand, They took the township by surprise, and gold was their demand. Ned Kelly walked into the bank, a cheque all in his hand, For to have it changed for money, now of Scott he did demand; And when that he refused him, he looking at him straight Said, "See here, my name's Ned Kelly, and this here man's my mate." 2. They rode into Jerilderie town at twelve o'clock at night, Aroused the troopers from their beds and gave them an awful fright; They took them in their nightshirts, ashamed I am to tell, They covered them with revolvers and locked them in a cell. They next acquainted the women-folk that they were going to stay, And take possession of the camp until the following day. They fed their horses in the stalls, without the slightest fear, Then went to rest their weary limbs till daylight did appear. 3. Next morning being Sunday morn, of course they must be good, They dressed themselves in troopers' clothes, and Ned he chopped some wood, Now no-one there suspected them, as troopers they did pass, And Dan, the most religious, took the trooper's wife to Mass. They spent the day most pleasantly, had plenty of good cheer, With fried beef steak and onions, tomato sauce and beer; The ladies in attendance indulged in pleasant talk, And just to ease the troopers' minds, they took them for a walk. 4. It was when they robbed Euroa bank you said they'd be run down, But now they've robbed another one that's in Jerilderie town, That's in Jerilderie town, my boys, and we're here to take their part, And shout again "Long may they reign ... the Kellys, Byrne and Hart." As high above the mountains so beautiful and grand, Our young Australian heroes in bold defiance stand, In bold defiance stand, my boys, the heroes of today, So let us stand together boys, and shout again, "Hurray!" |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Apr 21 - 10:22 PM 009 FLOW ON SWEET MITTA, words & music composed by Mrs D. Pendergast, coll. by Folk Lore Society of Victoria. dots here Flow on, sweet Mitta, so close to my door, Caressing the willows that grow by your shore, Reflecting the shadows and dancing with rain, Those golden leaves passing will ne'er pass again. 2. You come from the mountains of ice, wind and snow, And cascade down valleys, to green fields below. It's there that you linger, it's there that you stay, Sporting with fishes, by night and by day. 3. Oft' when I'm weary, as evening draws nigh, I sit by my window to watch you flow by, You haunt and you charm me like the sweet scented air, hat drifts o'er the mountains, and dwells with me here. 4. You're a soul-soothing river, so deep and so calm, When storm waters gather, you do me no harm, Do you flow on for ever, or like man must die, When my soul is resting, I know you'll pass by. NLA has sheet music for this song, publ. by Allens Music, 1966 |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Apr 21 - 10:13 PM Joy Durst 005 THE COD FISH SHANTY video Melbourne girls, they have no combs, Heave away, heave away, They comb their hair with cod-fish bones, And we're bound for Australia Chorus - Heave away, my bully bully boys, heave away, heave away Heave away, why don't you make a noise, And we're bound for Australia. 2. Melbourne boys, they have no sleds, Heave away, heave away, They slide downhill on cod-fish heads, And we're bound for Australia. 3. Liza Lee, she promised me, Heave away, heave away, When I return she'll marry me, And we're bound for Australia. note from Mark Gregory's Union songs In his notes for this song in Tradition (Oct 1966) Edgar Waters writes "Versions of this shanty are not uncommon in print, but they are mostly to be found in rather recent, popular books for singers. The shanty is found only rarely in the works which are reliable records of collecting from sailors at first hand". Australian Tradition (aka Tradition) is published by Victorian Folk Music Club. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Apr 21 - 10:01 PM I've also been looking at the Joy Durst Songbook (Victorian Folk Music Club, 1st ed 1970, 2nd 1980, 3rd edition (download ) 2000 - 100 songs with dots, & lots more features! 004 - THE COCKIES OF BUNGAREE coll from Simon McDonald video Now all you blokes take my advice and do your daily toil But don't go out to Bungaree to work in the chocolate soil For the days they are so long me boys, they'd break your heart in two And if ever you work for Cocky Bourke, you very soon will know Chorus Oh we used to go to bed you know a little bit after dark The room we used to sleep in it was just like Noah's Ark There were dogs and cats and mice and cats and pigs and poulteree But I'll never forget the time we had while down in Bungaree Oh the first thing Monday morning sure to work we had to go My noble cocky says to me "Get up you're rather slow" The moon was shining gloriously and the stars were out you see And I thought before the sun would rise I'd die in Bungaree Oh he called me to my supper at half-past eight or nine He called me to my breakfast before the sun did shine And after tea was over all with a merry laugh The old cocky says to me "We'll cut a bit of chaff" Now when you are chaff cutting boys isn't it a spell Yes by jove it is says I and it's me that knows it well For many of those spells with me they disagree For I hate the jolly night work that they do in Bungaree |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Apr 21 - 09:44 PM Dinky Di is so famous, how could we have missed it? I've been going through John Thompson's Oz Folk Song of the Day & found a lot of good stuff! FREMANTLE GAOL by Sandgroper - aka L.G. Montgomery Moondyne Joe and other Sandgroper Ballads (1969) by L.G. Montgomery Audio Now beware all you wayward young fellows, Take heed of my sorrowful tale; Transported to Western Australia For a convict in Fremantle Gaol Chorus: Oh my darling she cries every morning Oh, my darling she cries every day They told us to build our own prison, A broad arrow dungeon of stone With a high prison wall on the hilltop And a cold narrow cell all alone It's seven long years I've been taken, I've been flogged with the chains that I've worn What hope has a man without freedom He'll wish that he never was born There's a convict who struck down his gaoler, From the quarries of labour he fled; With the trackers and dogs in his footsteps And a felon's reward on his head. Now beware all you wayward young fellows Take heed of my sorrowful tale For tomorrow they take me and hang me From the gallows of Fremantle Gaol. To the tune of "Tarpaulin Jacket", from "The Wildflower Songsheet of Australian Ballads", printed in WA by Imperial Printing Co Pty Ltd (undated). |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 25 Apr 21 - 09:35 PM THE SONG OF SONGS (Will Ogilvie) Let others chant of battle and such wreaths as glory gave I would rather sing the praises of the dew that dips the daisies Of the wind that stirs the wattle and the foam that flecks the wave When others sing the nation and the flag that sweeps the seas Let them leave me to deliver the old message of the river And the true interpretation of the wind's voice in the trees For when the drums are calling men to honour and renown Turning in their dreamy slumbers they are swayed by softer numbers Music of a dewdrop falling or a dead leaf drifting down And when the battle rages and the grey smoke dims the skies There's a voice that makes them listen till the gathering teardrops glisten And the love that lit the ages brings the roselight in their eyes Let others chant of battle and such wreaths as glory gave I would rather sing the praises of the dew that dips the daisies Of the wind that stirs the wattle and the foam that flecks the wave Graham Jenkin put a tune to this Ogilvie poem: page 61 of his 'Songs of the Great Australian Balladists'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 25 Apr 21 - 08:52 PM DINKY DI (Anon) He came down to London and straightaway strode To army headquarters on Horseferry Road To see all the bludgers who dodge all the strafe By getting soft jobs on the headquarters staff Dinky di, dinky di By getting soft jobs on the headquarters staff The lousy lance-corporal says, "Pardon me, please You've mud on your tunic and blood on your sleeve You look so disgraceful that people will laugh" Said the lousy lance-corporal on headquarters staff Dinky di, dinky di Said the lousy lance-corporal on headquarters staff The digger just shot him a murderous glance Says he, "I'm just back from the balls-up in France, Where bullets are flying, and comforts are few And brave men are dying for bastards like you!" Dinky di, dinky di And brave men are dying for bastards like you!" "We're shelled on the left and we're shelled on the right We're bombed all the day and we're bombed all the night And if something don't happen, and that very soon Dinky di, dinky di There'll be nobody left in the bloody platoon!" The question soon came to the ears of Lord Gort Who gave the whole matter a great deal of thought He awarded the digger a VC and two bars For giving that corporal a kick up the arse Dinky di, dinky di For giving that corporal a kick up the arse This version as printed in John Fahey's 'Great Australian Folk Songs'. Fahey notes that 'verses and variations are endless'. One version has this final stanza: Now when this war's over and we're out of here We'll see him in Sydney town begging for beer He'll ask for a deena to buy a small glass But all he'll get is a kick in the arse Dinky di, dinky di But all he'll get is a kick in the arse The song is included in Bill Scott's 'Second Peguin Australian Songbook' under the title 'The Digger's Song' with this chorus: Dinky di, dinky di For I'm an old digger and can't tell a lie Danny Spooner recorded it on his 'ard Tack' album without any chorus. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GerryM Date: 25 Apr 21 - 05:45 AM Alan Foster used to post here, as Alan of Australia and as Alan of Oz. Several of his songs can be found scattered around Mudcat: The Wolfhound; It's Not Easy; The Travelling Salesman; Early One Morning; The World's Slowest Swimmer; Seamus and the Lady; How Granny Died. Here's one more. Marg Walters tells me it's based on an actual occurrence, with "Tom" in the song being Tom Hanson, well-known in these parts as a member of The Roaring Forties. The only recording I know of is on a cassette of Alan's, called Cockroaches and Computers. Cockroach in a Folk Club Alan Foster When Tom, the stockman, came to town, 'Twas the hottest night of the year. And as he sat down in the little folk club, Pat went out to the bar for some beer. There were sounds in the air of an Irish ballad, The Flower of Donegal. The singer was halfway through her song When a cockroach appeared on the wall. Now Tom eyed the roach with a baleful glare, And wished for his trusty stockwhip. And not to be daunted, he rose to his feet, And removed his belt from his hip. Well, Tom kept his eye on the crawly intruder, Had that roach in his sights. He flicked his wrist, and a sound like a shot Made the singer stop short in her fright. The cockroach's tail remained on the wall, Leaving a dark little stain. The singer remembered the words of the song, And we all joined in the refrain. The rest of the cockroach sailed through the air In a graceful, descending arc, Just as Patrick emerged through the door with the beer, And the dog began to bark. Now, the roach's trajectory took it unerringly Towards the beer that Pat held, And he gave a shrill cry and jumped aside From the place where the roach was propelled. As Pat jumped aside, a few drops of beer Fell to the floor in a puddle, And right in the middle of that pool of beer The dying cockroach did tumble. He swam round and round in the amber fluid As he died from the lethal blow, And I think of his death in a pool of grog, And I think, what a great way to go. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 24 Apr 21 - 10:41 PM Featherston was NZ's largest training camp in WWI. 30 000 men were trained there. PROMISES TO KEEP (Brendan Connor) Rain on the wind Norwester on the break Snow-clad distant mountains Shadows on the lake Safe haven Safe haven for young men You are all gone And the flags no longer crack amid the cheers It's been so long And the memories are dulled by passing years But here amongst these stony fields Winter's weary shadow steals And your voices linger on the breeze March on march on March on march on Promises to keep But miles to go before you sleep March on march on Gallant heroes all good men Drilled and honed in Featherston March stoic, ripe and eager for their fate Brothers, cousins, husbands, sons Wagons, horses, bugles, drums Trooping to the summit like a snake Rain on the wind Norwester on the break Snow clad distant mountains Shadows on the lake Safe haven Safe haven for young men You are all gone And your tents and wooden barracks stand no more It's been so long Each passing day a closing door But here beneath this sallow sky Now and ever sanctified Your voices will linger on the breeze March on march on March on march on Promises to keep But miles to go before you sleep March on march March on march on March on march on Audio The Robert Frost poem that inspired the title: STOPPING BY THE WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING Whose woods these are I think I know His house is in the village though He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake The woods are lovely, dark and deep But I have promises to keep And miles to go before I sleep And miles to go before I sleep On his death bed, Nehru had his copy of Frost's collected verse opened at this poem with the final stanza underlined. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 24 Apr 21 - 10:15 PM SAPPER'S LULLABY (Fred Smith) Up past from the Role 2, and down past the gate, out to the flight line We stood in the sun, slouch hat and gun as two caskets passed us by And followed the padre, on to the Herc. And out in to the pale summer sky We walked back to Poppy’s, and went back to work, with the dust still in our eyes So soldiers, sing me, your sapper’s lullaby You give it your all, knowing if you should fall That all good things must die These young engineers whose job is to clear the roads that we may pass Always out front and, when they bear the brunt, man it happens fast Sapper D Smith had a wife and a son, the apple of his eye Snowy Morland was just 21, way to young to die Soldiers, sing me, a sapper’s lullaby You give it your all, Knowing if you should fall That all good things must die So go call your mother, call your old man, on that welfare line Tell 'em you love 'em, while you still can, cause all good things must die Soldiers, sing me, a sapper’s lullaby You give it your all, knowing if you should fall That all good things must die Fred explains and sings his song: Youtube clip One of Australia's finest war poems by folklorist and poet, John Manifold. THE TOMB OF JOHN LEARMONTH AIF (John Manifold) This is not sorrow, this is work: I build acairn of words over a silent man, My friend John Learmonth whom the Germans killed. There was no word of hero in his plan; Verse should have been his love and peace his trade But history turned him to a partisan. Far from the battle as his bones are laid Crete will remember him. Remember well, Mountains of Crete, the Second Field Brigade! Say Crete, and there is little more to tell Of muddle tall as treachery, despair And black defeat resounding like a bell But bring the magnifying focus near And in contempt of muddle and defeat The old heroic virtues still appear. Australian blood where hot and icy meet (James Hogg and Lermontov were of his kin) Lie still and fertilise the fields of Crete. Schoolboy, I watched his ballading begin: Billy and bullocky and billabong, Our properties of childhood, all were in. I heard the air though not the undersong, The fierceness and resolve; but all the same They’re the tradition, and tradition's strong. Swagman and bushranger die hard, die game, Die fighting, like that wild colonial boy – Jack Dowling, says the ballad, was his name. He also spun his pistol like a toy, Turned to the hills like wolf or kangaroo, And faced destruction with a bitter joy. His freedom gave him nothing else to do But set his back against his family tree And fight the better for the fact he knew He was as good as dead because the sea Was closed and the air dark and the land lost, 'They'll never capture me alive,' said he. That's courage chemically pure, uncrossed With sacrifice or duty or career, Which counts and pays in ready coin the cost Of holding course. Armies are not its sphere Where all's contrived to achieve its counterfeit It swears with discipline, it's volunteer. I could as hardly make a moral fit Around it as around a lightning flash. There is no moral, that's the point of it, No moral. But I’m glad of this panache That sparkles, as from flint, from us and steel, True to no crown nor presidential sash Nor flag nor fame. Let others mourn and feel He died for nothing: nothings have their place. While thus the kind and civilised conceal This spring of unsuspected inward grace And look on death as equals, I am filled With queer affection for the human race. -- Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Apr 21 - 09:59 PM both perfect & it is time to remind our readers of Phyl Lobl's Battle of the Somme posted 19 Sep 20 - 01:32 AM. Presented by Dingo's Breakfast, one of the archival photos is of a very young soldier looking at the camera ... Her father was 16 when he enlisted & 18 when he was wounded at the Somme. He enlisted again in 1939 & she was 7 when he came home, then he died the following year. Dingo's Breakfast Oz music and poetry band have recorded some of Jack Sorensen's songs. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 24 Apr 21 - 09:41 PM Today is Anzac Day in Oz and NZ. ON EVERY ANZAC DAY (John Schumann) Ghosts and memories are loitering still in the corridors of time There's sorrow, smoke, and stories in the barracks of my mind I'm with him still in the trenches, I can see his dark, brown eyes And his courage gave me courage when I was sure we were going to die I asked him once why he volunteered for that hell-hole far away To fight for someone else's king and the land they took away He said, "One invading mob's too many" and then he walked away And I lost him in the crowds waving flags on the side of the road — like every Anzac Day From Murray Bridge and Mundrabilla, from Naracoote and Perth First Australian station hands, shearers, gangers, clerks And there was no black, there was no white, just a dirty khaki brown And on our upturned slouch hat brims, we all wore the "Rising Sun" Soldiers, brothers, all Australians, we had no time for race When the bullets are whining past your head, you're all just shades of grey He kept his medals in their box in a drawer — he tucked them well away But he'd pull them out and put them on and put them back again — on every Anzac Day Every Anzac, every Anzac, every Anzac Day — on every Anzac Day Armentieres and Flanders, Tarin Kowt and Salamau-Lae Amiens and Morotai, Long Tan, Dispersal Bay Somalia, Crete and Kapyong, Iraq and the Solomons Paschendaele, Maprik and Tarakan — they were there — the first Australians And when the show was over and we made it back to Australia's shores From Pozieres and Herleville Wood, Benghazi and Fremicourt We drifted back into our lives, and we all tried to hide the scars Of the tears and fears and terrors that still tracked us down the years He tried to join the RSL but the bastards wouldn't let him in They didn't see a soldier, just a first Australian And I wonder what it was that we fought for and what it was we gave away There's reconciliation still to come — on every Anzac Day Every Anzac, every Anzac, every Anzac Day — on every Anzac Day Coda: So when the sun sets in the evening, when the dawn lights up the sky We remember those first Australians, who joined and fought and died From the missions, bush and station country, towns and Torres Straits We remember the fighting First Australians — now — and on every Anzac Day Every Anzac, every Anzac, every Anzac Day — on every Anzac Day, on Every Anzac Every Anzac, every Anzac, every Anzac Day — on every Anzac Day, on Every Anzac On every Anzac Day Youtube clip We have posted a few poems by Jack Sorensen that have been set to music. This one hasn't been set to music, but it is pertinent to some of the crap occurring today. TO A FALLEN COMRADE I hope that I will never see your name Graven in stone and set in a pubic place Where one drab day in all the long gay year Men congregate and speak their platitudes Saying of you and all the helpless host Of names which once meant laughter, love and hope That you were brave and that you freely gave Your all, that such and such might ever be I know nor care not whether you were brave In that dread curtain call of your life's play You had in you all that I value most In human kind before they marched you forth To save, if you did save, the fleeting thing Flooded with glory light that shone so wan On you whose glory was your manly heart You could not be exalted or debased I will not think of you as when I saw Your shattered body lying in the sun Wide vacant eyes fixed on an empty sky A burlesque in the comely human shape There is no dignity in violent death Rather will I remember you as when On an October day, we climbed the range And saw our fathers' homesteads in the glen This 'Late Night Live' program is worth a listen in this context: Strength of Australia's anti-war sentiment --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Apr 21 - 10:18 PM Scomo Scares Me by Dale Dengate. tunes - Happy Clappy & Deep in the heart of Texas Whitney Houston's powerful & soulful version of Jesus loves me Gene Autry sings deep in the heart of Texas Scomo scares me this I know For his actions show me so. Lumps of coal for brains he bears Welfare cuts for all health cares. How good is Scomo, How good is Scomo With tax cuts for the wealth, he Cuts back upon your health. Scomo scares me this I know For his actions show me so. Religious freedom for the few Who see Hell’s judgment made for you. How good is Scomo How good is Scomo Religious freedom for the few Who see Hell’s judgment made for you. Scomo scares me this I know For his actions show me so. Climate change he can’t abide Prays the sun will go and hide How good is Scomo, How good is Scomo Climate change he can’t abide Prays the sun will go and hide Scomo scares me this I know For his actions show me so. Lack of policy is clear Drives us folk to drink more beer! How good is Scomo, How good is Scomo Lack of policy is clear. Drives us folk to drink more beer! ~~~~~~~~~~~ I have been updating my Scomo scares me/… searching for better rhymes. Need that ‘ master of rhymes’ for inspiration? I wrote them as an addition as Scomo kept doing incompetent things, but being there for the big flashy photo op announcement, but missing in action! I suppose that make them an addendum. I wrote the Dutton verses several years ago now to sing at Festival by the Sea at Kiama. It was an action song that got everyone involved. (20/04/21) Scomo scares me this I know Photo ops he loves to front, Empty claims he loudly crows, But actual rollout hard to find. How good is Scomo, [repeat] Photo ops he loves to front, But actual rollout hard to find. [ rhyme?? confront?] Scomo scares me this I know, Makes excuses every day, He wasn’t there, he wasn’t told, Anyway just blame delay. How good is Scomo [rep x2] He wasn’t told, Makes more excuses to behold ~~~~~~~~~~~ Change of claps and tune … to Deep in the heart of Texas. Audience invited to clap … He hopes you might Move to the right Clap x3 Deep in the heart of taxes Dutton’s so mean His acts and schemes Clap x3 Goes lower than oil in Texas The poor and Black Should just go back Clap x3 Dutton’s like Trump in Texas Dutton‘s a dope He cuts off hope Clap x3 Let’s send him off to Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 22 Apr 21 - 06:55 AM Okay - as I said, I'm away until next week. I'll check when we're home again. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 21 Apr 21 - 10:40 PM Sandra and Jennie, 'Goodbye Melbourne Town' is not on 'Young man and able', 'The Bagman's Gazette' nor 'Songs they used to sing'. THE MAN I MIGHT HAVE BEEN (Gary Shearston) I’ve been a long time in the wilderness Picking up the pieces I’ve been a long time on a mountain top Staring at the sea There’s been a chain around this heart of mine Linked to life’s caprices There’s been a song deep down inside of me Longing to be free Well everybody has to bear the cross When they burn their fingers And everybody has their nemesis Waiting in the wings I know I’ve been my own worst enemy Putting trust in swindlers But then I guess for simple-hearted souls That’s the way of things Lord, my hand is on the plough Shine new light upon the scene As I ask forgiveness now Of the man I might have been Heart and soul desire Pentecostal fire To turn lead to gold And the mystic rose of old unfolds Now as I count the cost of my mistakes Add them all together I see I’ve been a fool so many times But a fool made wise For where’s the wisdom in adversity Unless it teaches whether You come to understand with certainty Only love survives Lord, my hand is on the plough Shine new light upon the scene As I ask forgiveness now Of the man I might have been From his 'Only love survives' album. Youtube clip Album note by Shearston: "There is nothing permanent," said Heraclitus, "except change." The Man I Might Have Been is a song of transition, of taking stock, of coming to terms, of reflection on the purpose of life's journey. The title comes from a Henry Lawson poem and is also found in one of Morris West's novels. At an earlier date, the English poet, Adelaide Ann Procter (1825-1864), wrote, "No star is ever lost we once have seen. We always may be what we might have been." Heraclitus, by the way, was a Greek philosopher who lived from 540-475 BC. "Upon those that step into the same rivers," he said, "different and different waters flow down." --Stewie |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 20 Apr 21 - 09:36 AM I was sure we had this posted already, but I think it MAY have just been an honourable mention?!! THE WRECK OF THE DANDENONG trad Oh, wild and furious blew the blast And the clouds were hanging round When the Dandenong from Melbourne sailed For Newcastle port was bound With eighty-three poor souls on board Through the storm she cleaved her way And it's sad to relate of the terrible fate 'Twas just off Jervis Bay. And I dream of you, I dream of sleep, I dream of being warm But through the night I have to sail, to brave this raging storm. While steaming through the briny waves Her propelling shaft gave way And the waters they came pressing in Which filled them with dismay All hands on board did all they could Till at length all hope was gone And they hoisted a signal of distress On board of the Dandenong. It was not long until a barque A brisk and lively crew Came bearing down and the Captain said "We'll see what we can do!" Came bearing down with might and main In spite of wind or wave They did all they could as Christians would Those precious lives to save. And I dream of you, I dream of sleep, I dream of being warm And pray the sea will leave me be, to see another dawn. While some in boats they tried to reach That kind and friendly barque And numbers of their lives were saved And then the night came on pitch dark What mortal man then could do more When the storm increased on strong And the rest now sleep in the briny deep Along with the Dandenong. And I dream of you, I dream of sleep, I dream of coming home But a mile of water buries me, beaneath this raging foam. NB : using Kate Burke & Ruth Hazleton’s additional choruses……. The Raglins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKVzCdaZ6Fk And here’s an a cappella harmony version from trio, The Ballina Whalers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J87keZ4YLY Notes: John Meredith collected this song from 73 year old Mary Byrnes in 1954. In his "Folk Songs of Australia" he writes : "This was one of the songs learned by Mary Byrnes when she was a little girl. ….. The wreck described in the ballad ocurred in September 1876." There’s another variant on Mark Gregory’s excellent website, along with many more Notes : http://folkstream.com/107.html R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 20 Apr 21 - 08:34 AM Tony Suttor, up in Darwin, just reminded me about this one!! (thanks for the lyrics and the data, Tone) - I've not yet found Mike & Lesley singing it online (as well as being singer-songwriters, they're genealogists - and more!) DON’T SIGN ON THE EMMA Mike Murray & Lesley Silvester Stranded in Fremantle I was looking for a berth I’d just been paid off from a Yankee whaler I’d heard the schooner Emma was signing on a crew When I got talking with another sail-or, and he said: Chorus: “Don’t sign on the Emma, she’s not the ship for you; Don’t sign on the Emma, that’s a warning. She’s had her share of troubles and she’s looking for a crew; She’s sailing from Fremantle in the morning." He said “I shipped on board the Emma on her first run up the coast The ship took all the sail that we could give her But before a day and night had passed, a sailor we had lost Then we fouled the anchor in the De Grey River.” “Next we hit the jetty when we docked at Champion Bay The passengers and crew were all a-swearing The Master says ‘The compass wasn’t working right today And we’ll have to try and find a different bearing.’ ” So… “The next trip was no better when we headed for the North We had a mob of sheep to take to Roebourne Then up at the Abrolhos we stranded on a reef and We had to build a raft to bring the sheep home.” So… Well, I thought about the sailor as I walked down to the quay And I saw the Emma stranded on the sand spit I watched as she refloated – and then she lost her mast So I decided that the Emma wasn’t my ship. So… Weeks went by and then the news the Emma had gone down And all the town was talking the next morning And I thought about the words that the sailor said to me: “Don’t sign on the Emma, that’s a warning.” No… 1867 Emma, Australian schooner, Ningaloo Reef - https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Shipwrecks_of_Western_Australia http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/wrecks/emma Built Lowestoft Suffolk 1859, Fremantle 1866 Walter Padbury, lost 1867 Ningaloo Reef. Notes with CD: “The Emma was plagued with misfortune from the start. Brought to Western Australia by the pastoralist and merchant Walter Padbury in 1865, she only managed to complete two voyages up and down the coast of Western Australia, before she was lost on her third voyage, returning from Roebourne to Fremantle. Over a hundred years later her wreck was located on a reef off Coral Bay. During her short but eventful life on the coast, she suffered a host of misfortunes, and quickly gained a reputation as an unlucky ship, to be shunned by sailors.” R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Apr 21 - 07:12 AM THE ROBOT SHEARER, by Roland Griffin - tune Ryebuck Shearer. video - Ryebuck Shearer sung by Ted Egan Well I've heard about a bloke who's makin' a machine To take the wool off the sheep and take it off clean It doesn't need a man so no shears will be seen And they call it the robot shearer. CHORUS - If it don't shear a tally and it's fuses blow It's silicon chips in the river I'll throw And it's back to the drawing board the scientist will go It's the end of the robot shearer. There's a new one on the board it's the RS21 It doesn't take a tea break at the end of every run The rousies all call it the galvanized gun Yes of course it's the robot shearer. CHORUS Well it doesn't mind the dags and it doesn't mind the smell It doesn't even sweat and it's cheap to feed as well It'll never join the union so I hope it goes to hell Yes a curse on the robot shearer. CHORUS Well it had a little trouble, or so I'm told It found the ewes were difficult to hold It seems they don't like him his hands are always cold Bad luck to the robot shearer. CHORUS The boss he didn't mind when it docked all his lambs Dipped all his wethers and crutched all his dams But he really did his block when it castrated his rams It's the sack for the robot shearer. Published in Stringybark & Greenhide, 4(2), p.28 from Tony Suttor - It was awarded joint first prize in the 1986 Top Half Folk Festival Songwriting Competition, together with Paul Lawler's My Dear Darwin (according to Peter Bate's book Top Half Folk Festivals 1971-2012). MY DEAR DARWIN was posted by Rich-Joy on page 1 of this thread 20 Aug 20 - 07:36 AM |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Apr 21 - 06:56 AM THE ROBOT SHEARER, by Alan Foster - tune Ryebuck Shearer video - Ryebuck Shearer sung by Ted Egan Based on the Australian traditional song "Ryebuck Shearer" and inspired by the fact that a robot has been invented which is supposed to shear sheep. I come from a factory and my name is F.R.E.D. With bolts in my guts and chips in my head My atomic reactor is safely lined with lead And of course I'm a Robot Shearer. CHORUS: If I don't shear a tally before I go My microchips I will surely blow And straight back to the factory I'll go To reprogram the Robot Shearer. Well the acronym F.R.E.D. is not very nice Ridiculous Electronic Device What the F stands for you'll not have to guess twice And they call me the Robot Shearer. Well the ringer he's a great big red headed lug He said, "I'll beat this bionic mug" But he only won 'cause he pulled my plug And disabled the Robot Shearer. There's a long haired bloke by the name of Clyde What he said about me well it wounded my pride When last seen he was wearing short back and sides That's one for the Robot Shearer. It happened one day while shearing a ram With the delicate touch of my metallic hand That it didn't quite work out the way I planned He'll not forget the Robot Shearer. Whether wool or flesh I can hardly guess So the sheep often leave in a state of distress I once heard someone say that I was RS Which of course stands for Robot Shearer. LAST CHORUS: If I don't shear a tally before I go My microchips I will surely blow And straight back to the factory I'll go To recycle the Robot Shearer. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 20 Apr 21 - 06:39 AM We are, thank you,r-j! We spent a couple of weeks in Canberra - we have family there - and are now in Cootamundra, just because we haven't been there before. Met with a distant cousin this morning and will stay a few more days before heading off home. There is wattle blooming just near our caravan, but it isn't Cootamundra wattle. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Apr 21 - 05:31 AM THE OVERLANDERS - trad, audio There's a trade you all know well, It's bringing cattle over. On ev'ry track, To the Gulf and back, Men know the Queensland drover. CHORUS: Pass the billy 'round boys! Don't let the pint-pot stand there! For tonight we drink the health Of every overlander. I come from the northern plains Where the girls and grass are scanty; Where the creeks run dry Or ten foot high And it's either drought or plenty. There are men from every land, From Spain and France and Flanders; They're a well-mixed pack, Both white and black, The Queensland overlanders.: When we've earned a spree in town We live like pigs in clover; And the whole year's cheque Pours down the neck Of many a Queensland drover. As I pass along the roads, The children raise my dander Crying "Mother dear, Take in the clothes, Here comes the overlander!": Now I'm bound for home once more, On a prad that's quite a goer; I can find a job With a crawling mob On the banks of the Maranoa. From Australian Tradition, No. 19, March, 1960, published by The Folklore Society of Victoria and the Victorian Folk Music Club. Notes published with the song: The Overlanders has been in circulation in a number of versions for over 100 years. The earliest surviving one was current in the 1840s and published in the Queensland Camp Fire Song Book in 1865. Russel Ward quotes from this earlier verion. "All sorts of men I had, from France, Germany and Flanders, Lawyers, doctors, good and bad, in my mob of overlanders" as an indication of the mixture of educated and professional men among outback workers and the high standard of outback literacy. He also quotes this and other versions as showing the nomadic habits of these people and their disrespect for policemen and the law. The version included here passes "the billy round", in others, the bottle or the "wine cup" is circulated. The tune is that sung by the Victorian Folk Music Club. It is the same as the well-known tune printed in the Overlander Songbook, Bandicoot Ballads and the Penguin Song book with the omission of a couple of the accidental notes. The original tune was probably well-known. John Manifold records having learnt it from his father in his youth and then heard it again many years later from Vance Palmer who had collected it in Sth Queensland. Other versions are quoted in Hugh Anderson's Colonial Ballads and in Stewart and Keesing as being sung to different tunes, one called "Dearest Mae", and another, "The King of the Cannibal Isles". |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 20 Apr 21 - 05:29 AM Good CD that (O'Leary & Hildebrand) - Stewie has posted some tracks from it ..... Hope you're having a good awaytime, JennieG! Cheers! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Apr 21 - 04:59 AM I also gave Greg & Hildebrand's CD to Ross! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 20 Apr 21 - 01:46 AM Apologies to Alan for mis-spelling his name! I have 'A young man and able', it's probably on that. I also have 'Together again for the very first time' by Greg O'Leary and Greg Hildebrand, which contains some real gems. I'll check when we get home next week. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Apr 21 - 08:45 PM PARODY FOR GLADYS by Dale Dengate, 2021. tune - Oh Mary Don't you weep Pharaoh’s Army got drownded = Liberal party got downded ... So many possible lines. John would have had a ball. Oh Gladys! What a stuff up you made With dodgy Daryl as your pillow mate. It was greed for cash that drove his trade Poor Gladys took his bait. Oh Gladys! What a fool you have been With dodgy Daryl for your dalliance man With cash for visas he was very keen Oh Gladys; not that man! Oh Gladys! at corruption you baulk But dodgy Daryl's changing zones on the land Trusted him with his pillow talk And stuck your head in the sand. Oh Gladys! what a fool you have been Let dodgy use you as a tool for his gain Greed as his passion was all to be seen Oh Gladys, you’re insane. Watching the painful decline of a once-respected premier Gladys Berejiklian's open embrace of pork-barrelling completes the transformation of a once-respected leader into a premier who presides over a state of sleaze. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Apr 21 - 07:53 PM oops, a little typo in Alan's surname - Musgrove discogs.com lists 2 albums, Horseblind and Ratwagging (1977 LP), Australian Old Time Fiddle (2006 CD) tradandnow.com is still selling Bagman's Gazette (2008) A Young Man and Able (undated CD) It's not on 'Behind the times' I also had 'The Bagman’s Gazette', & 'Songs They Used to Sing' but I gave them to Ross Fear for his Australian Spectrum radio show when I was downsizing CDs. Suddenly he had a library of 250 Oz folk CDs!! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 19 Apr 21 - 07:01 PM I'm pretty sure Alan Musgrave has recorded 'Goodbye Melbourne Town' but can't check until we get home, we're away at present. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Apr 21 - 09:08 AM I found a verse in Frank Clune's 1957 "Scandals of Sydney Town", Goodbye, Sydney Town, Sydney Town, goodbye! I am leaving you today For a country far away; For today I'm stony broke, Without a single brown. If I make a fortune I'll come back and spend it In dear old Sydney Town OLD SONG so I went looking for it, & couldn't find it as it actually 2 songs - one about Sydney, the other about Melbourne which was a bit easier to find (thanks to Rob Willis who has seen both songs over the years) Fortunately TROVE has the sheetmusic for both songs! Goodbye Sydney Town - words Leonard Nelson, music Fred Hall Goodbye Melbourne Town - words Leonard Nelson, music Fred Hall 1. GOODBYE SYDNEY TOWN - words Leonard Nelson, music Fred Hall. Allen's popular Sixpenny Songs, no. 78 Lonely and sad stood a brave honest lad On the deck of a steamer one day, He was working his passage far over the sea To England many miles away. He was leaving Australia the land of his birth, Where he failed to succeed though he tried, As the ship moved away he took one longing look At the city he loved, then he cried. chorus Goodbye, Sydney Town, Sydney Town, goodbye; I am leaving you today for a country far away, Though today I'm stony broke without a single brown, If I make a fortune I'll come back and spend it in dear old Melbourne Town From the ship that was now swiftly sailing away He watched the crowd saying goodbye; Some with bright faces were cheering their friends, Others heaved many a sigh, Still his thoughts were not with that fast fading crowd, But the old town he loved, oh, so dear, As he said with a sigh, I'll come back bye-and-bye, Once again came the words loud and clear. chorus On the pier stood the Dad of that stout-hearted lad, He'd been saying one last fond good-bye; As he thought of his boy he could not restrain The tears that would rise in his eye, For the ship that was now but a speck on the foam Held all that made life to him dear, As he turned from the shore with a heart beating sore, In fancy these words he could hear : chorus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. GOODBYE MELBOURNE TOWN - words Leonard Nelson, music Fred Hall. Allen's popular Sixpenny Songs, no. 77 Lonely and sad stood a brave honest lad On the deck of a steamer one day, He was working his passage far over the sea To England many miles away. He was leaving Australia the land of his birth, Where he failed to succeed though he tried, As the ship moved away he took one longing look At the city he loved, then he cried. chorus Goodbye, Melbourne Town, Melbourne Town, goodbye; I am leaving you today for a country far away, Though today I'm stony broke without a single brown, If I make a fortune I'll come back and spend it in dear old Melbourne Town From the ship that was now swiftly sailing away He watched the crowd saying goodbye; Some with bright faces were cheering their friends, Others heaved many a sigh, Still his thoughts were not with that fast fading crowd, But the old town he loved, oh, so dear, As he said with a sigh, I'll come back bye-and-bye, Once again came the words loud and clear. chorus On the pier stood the Dad of that stout-hearted lad, He'd been saying one last fond good-bye; As he thought of his boy he could not restrain The tears that would rise in his eye, For the ship that was now but a speck on the foam Held all that made life to him dear, As he turned from the shore with a heart beating sore, In fancy these words he could hear : chorus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I also found this video Goodbye Melbourne Town/Botany Bay/Wild Rover No More (Medley) by Slim Dusty but he only uses the chorus |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 18 Apr 21 - 08:41 PM FISHERMAN’S DAUGHTER (The Waifs) I don't like gold and I don't like pearls I'm just your regular West Australian fisherman's daughter I'm a middle-class, folk-singing, guitar-playing girl I ain't seen the world, no I've not travelled far I'm saving dollars for a nineteen sixty two Ruby red interior R series Valiant, mother of a car I'm a country girl and I’m in a city world pulling up Pulling over, man, I'm gonna let you through I'm living in the left-hand lane of my city Slow down so I can walk this highway with you Slow down, let me walk it with you Slow down We all gotta slow down Man, I wanna walk that highway with you With you, you, you No not yet married, I got no ring on my hand I got my heart beating for this sweet-loving Second-hand dealing boy I'm gonna love him the best way I can - I know I can I'm a country girl in a city world pulling down Pulling over, man, I'm gonna let you through I'm living in the left-hand lane of my city Slow down so I can walk this highway with you Slow down, let me walk it with you I don't like gold and I don't like pearls I'm just your regular West Australian fisherman's daughter I'm a middle-class, folk-singing, guitar-playing girl Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 15 Apr 21 - 09:54 PM THE SUNSHINE DISASTER (Unknown) He was driving a Bendigo engine The train was running all right It was going along as usual Till Sunshine came in sight He put on his brakes and he whistled For the signal was against the train He applied his brakes for emergency But alas ‘twas all in vain Chorus If those trains had only run As they should, their proper time There wouldn’t have been a disaster At a place they call Sunshine If those brakes had only held As they did a few hours before There wouldn’t have been a disaster And a death-roll of forty-four The doctors and nurses arrived there And the sight it caused them pain To see all the wounded and dying In the wreck of that fateful train The people of Sunshine ne’er faltered But assisted with all their power To help the doctors and nurses In that awful and painful hour Chorus This is from Ron Edwards' big book. He collected it at Lappa Junction in August 1966 from the singing of Bill Leonard who had learnt it some 30 years earlier. Youtube clip In the video, Musgrove uses a chorus that Edwards collected from Frank Evans at Mareeba Qld in September 1966. If those brakes had only gripped As they did a while before There would be no Sunshine disaster Or deaths numbering forty-four If that guard had only seen That danger lay ahead There would be no widows or orphans But happier homes instead Sunshine train crash 1908 --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Apr 21 - 03:00 AM AWAY, YOU SHAKY TURNBULL © John Dengate 2009 Tune: Shenandoah video - Bruce Springsteen singing Shendandoah Oh, what a chore to have to hear them, Away, you shaky Turnbull. Oh, please, oh, please don’t let me near them. Away, with Mal and Joe And good bye, Costello. Julia Gillard's feeling cocky. Away, you shaky Turnbull She's scoring goals in games of Hockey. Away, with Mal and Joe And good bye, Costello. The Liberal Party is unlucky, Away, you shaky Turnbull The prize they won was Wilson Tuckey Away, with Mal and Joe And good bye, Costello. They are the devil's worst invention, Away, you shaky Turnbull Lock them all up in detention Away, with Mal and Joe And good bye, Costello. The leadership is quite dyspeptic Away, you shaky Turnbull For Minchin is a climate sceptic Away, with Mal and Joe And good bye, Costello. They’re paranoid, their front bench speakers, Away, you shaky Turnbull The way they fear asylum seekers Away, with Mal and Joe And good bye, Costello. Notes Many thanks to John Dengate for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. It really needs updating - I wonder if Dale would like to do it, I'll ask her! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Apr 21 - 02:52 AM STIMULUS PACKAGE by John Dengate 2010 Tune: Fiddlers’Green Chorus: Oh, I'm tired of the stimulus package, It's not stimulating at all; Wayne Swan's so depressing. I feel like undressing And dancing in George Street outside the town hall. There should be a system imposing large fines For they keep on repeating the same bloody lines – Five minutes of Gillard requires six beers And damned Lindsay Tanner just bores me to tears. Oh, where have the colourful characters gone? Kevin Rudd stands up and drones on and on – An hour-long lecture to him’s a brief chat… But he isn’t John Howard…I’m grateful for that… Bring back Paul Keating and then let him loose; What parliament needs is some decent abuse – Some nasty invective with insults that bite, Some poisonous speeches with plenty of spite… Notes Many thanks to John Dengate for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. video-Fiddler's Green sung by author John Connolly As John said in 1989 in the Author's Ramblings in My Shout Again - I still refuse ti apologise fro pinching tunes. I wish it to be known I only pinch quality tunes. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Apr 21 - 02:42 AM THE MAD MONK by John Dengate 2010 tune: Vilikins and His Dinah/Dinky Di/ Sweet Betsy from Pike etc Oh dear, just how low have the Liberals sunk. They’ve chosen as leader the raving mad monk. A royalist ratbag, a popish ex-pug; Reactionary Tory, the monarchist thug. They've sacked Malcolm Turnbull and put in his stead A bloke who's been punched far too hard, round the head; Too many left hooks which rather explains The crackpot ideas that roll round his brains. It's enough to send Methodists out on a binge – He's a punchy ex-priest from the lunatic fringe A failed Father Tony who's frightened of hell And raises his fists at the sound of a bell. They've chosen as leader a real troglodyte, A cruiserweight lout from the party's far right A punch-throwing papist. Oh, times must be grim For the Tories to choose a mad bastard like him. Repeat first verse. Notes Many thanks to John Dengate for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. The Mad Monk is Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott elected by a majority of one of his colleagues at the end of 2009 video- tune Vilikins and his Dinah |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Apr 21 - 02:37 AM SONG FOR JULIA © John Dengate 2010 Tune: Fiddlers’ Green Australlia's PMs, they have always been males But Julia Gillard, the woman from Wales. Took over from Rudd and you cannot deny. There's a spring in her step and a glint in her eye. Chorus: Oh, the blood of the fearsome Welsh bowmen Is running in Julia's veins; As forward she marches Forget not those archers – The memory of Agincourt always remains. The Welsh bowmen fired and their arrows, in flights. Cut down in hundreds the French armoured knights. Six hundred years ago history records, The longbow prevailed over chivalry's swords. The feudal French knights 'neath the sharp arrows fell…. Those tough, peasant archers, they did their work well; Pride, wealth and privilege lay in the mud… And the blood of those bowmen is Julia's blood! Notes Many thanks to John Dengate for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. John writes: 'As was the case at Crecy and Poitiers, the heavily-armoured French knights, the pride of the feudal system, were savagely defeated by the English of the Battle of Agincourt, in 1415. The English army relied heavily on peasant long bowmen … mainly Welsh … for their victories.' video-Fiddler's Green sung by author John Connolly |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Apr 21 - 02:29 AM I just found an 11 years old emailed list of Dengate songs posted by mark Gregory on Union songs. RECESSION SONG by John Dengate, 2009 Tune: Bread of Heaven Goodness me, we now are in recession, All our hopes of wealth are gone. Though we pray for saintly intercession, Heaven just feels put upon. Pass the Coopers … all our super's Gone into a deep black hole – Line up quietly to collect the dole. No complaints! You've had it good for ages; No-one loves a whinger, mate! If you'd saved three quarters of your wages, You'd have banquets upon your plate. Don't say 'suicide'; seek a truer guide, Soon the good times will return – We'll have credit card and cash to burn! Eat cheap meat … there's protein in that gristle … Dog food's good … you buy it canned. Cop it sweet … hum happy tunes and whistle … Buy your trousers second hand. Soup's sustaining…no complaining! Be obsequious and smile; Wait obediently in single file. Stop that grumbling! Hunger's humbling We've survived bad times before – What we really need's a good, long war. tune on 1877 Conacher all-tracker actuion pipe organ |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Apr 21 - 12:22 AM oops, i thought I checked every video (blush) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 13 Apr 21 - 10:39 PM Sandra, this YT clip of 'Henry Lawson's Pen' works fine: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 13 Apr 21 - 08:52 PM This ripper poem deserves greater exposure. Bob Rummery obtained the words from Tom Brittain, author of 'When You're Flush' posted above on 28 August last year. Tom found them in one of the rural newspapers, the 'Farmer's Weekly' or similar publication. Despite an extensive search, Bob was unable to discover the author of the poem. However, he put a tune to it and forwarded it to Chloe and Jason Roweth who recorded it on their 'A Voice That Was Still' album. Midkin Station is near Moree in northern NSW. ALL GONE (Unknown/Bob Rummery) The ghosts of shearers long-since dead Are back at Midkin now They come with softest silent tread To ring once more that mighty shed And show the learners how The wind sighs soft o’er silent lands Where sheep no longer graze And phantoms come and take their stand And grasp the shears in ghostly hands Before a dreamer’s gaze The empty shed so silent now Was rowdy long ago With men who came from plain and hill To laugh and swear and work until The sun was hanging low Silken webs festoon the place Where shearers’ down tubes hung But in those nets of silken lace I see full many an old friend’s face And think of the years they’ve rung The cocky’s hut’s deserted now The quarter doors hang wide Beneath tall gums where skies are blue Look down on earth of raven hue And hosts of memories hide Of men like Trev, Chris, Bert and Blue The shearers who’ve moved on And cooks and shed hands tried and true And roustabouts and rollers too A soft wind sighs, ‘All gone’ Their names are written on the wall In figures black and red And up among the rafters tall Where phantom breezes rise and fall A soft wind sighs, ‘All dead’ All gone - no more at close of day The babbler calls them in Or curses two-up schools that stay Where lamprey soft on tables lay And the clearing can’t begin The mighty sheds are of the past Where once they ruled the day And men who worked them at the last Are of a breed that’s going fast From lands where we’d hold sway But ghosts of shearers who once shore At Midkin still come back I saw them there where cobwebs hung And heard once more the songs they sung On the way to cooky’s shack Their tallies will forever stand No one will carry on And only ghosts will take the stand And grasp the shears with ghostly hands While soft winds sigh, ‘All gone’ You can hear Chloe and Jason singing it at circa the 1 hour 23 min mark of this YT clip: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Apr 21 - 09:31 AM HENRY LAWSON'S PEN by Slim Dusty, From his album: "A Land He Calls His Own" Sometimes kind people comment on the ballads I have wrote Even though sometimes I sing them on a dry and battered note And they always place importance on what's said not sung by men For quality's not in the voice but in paper and the pen But this song is no great ballad with writing skill attached Oh it's just a simple story that I hope your ears will catch Of the backgrounds of my ballads and the hours that I spend In the bush or at the table with Henry Lawson's pen One time when I was travelin' just kind of driftin' round I went through Lawson country, then on to Grenfell town The old mining town was quiet and their parklands thrived with grass And the place where this great man was born was marked by stone and brass So slowly we walked over, then through the iron gate Oh we read the masters name plate, the old monument looked great Then my old mate showed me something, in the grass a fountain pen Then jokingly he said to me "Hey Henry's lost his pen?" So I took some strangers' rusty pen Lord knows who dropped it there? But I smile and like to think that it was placed with so much care And that maybe Lawson left it 'cause he knew I'd be there then So I truly try to follow suit with Henry Lawson's pen So I like to thank those people that enjoy my old bush songs And I'll try to keep them comin' if the good Lord keeps me strong So I'll go back to my table and give it a go again 'Cause I love to sing those ballads born from Henry Lawson's pen. Hey! But this song is no great ballad with writing skill attached Oh it's just a simple story that I hope your ears will catch Of the backgrounds of my ballads and the hours that I spend ... (fade out) lyrics the only video I could find was here https://greatsong.net/PAROLES-SLIM-DUSTY,HENRY-LAWSONS-PEN,102879435.html but "Playback had been disabled by the video owner" |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Apr 21 - 09:05 AM THE BALLAD OF HENRY LAWSON - Slim Dusty There's an Aussie we all know where the western breezes blow. From north to south he's known far and wide. Henry Lawson was his name but he never rose to fame Until he crossed beyond the great divide. In a little place called Grenfell when the gold was flowing free And the miners and their money came and went, In 1867 when the town was on the spree, Henry Lawson he was born there in a tent. He grew into a lanky lad when Gulgong was his home. His mind was bright' he had those itchy feet. He wrote a string of verses of the days he used to roam, From dusty track outback to city streets. He drifted with the drovers across the western plains And he waltzed Matilda down the Lachlan side, From the Barcoo to the Murray in droughts and flooding rains. Oh, the bush was both his mother and his pride. He passed by plain and mountain and by burning desert sand, By shearing shed and lonely cattle camp, And when the beer was flowing he was there to lend a hand With the mates that share his life upon the tramp. He sang of wild bush brumbies and the teamsters and their teams, Of outer tracks that only Bushmen know. He saw the mail coach coming by plains and mountain streams, And he wrote about the lights of Cobb & Co. He told of lonely men outback and women of the west, Of folk that fought to live in factory towns, But the swaggies of the old bush school were the ones he knew the best, Where the waters of the Darling wander down. He boiled his billy back of Bourke and starved in City Park. He penned his poems in a shaky scrawl; But of all the old bush poets who have passed and left their mark, Henry Lawson was the greatest of them all. There's an Aussie we all know where the western breezes blow. From north to south he's known far and wide. Henry Lawson was his name but he never rose to fame Until he crossed beyond the great divide, Until he crossed beyond the great divide. video from this thread https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=17472 |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Apr 21 - 05:55 AM GOOGLING IN WINDOWS by Chris Clarke,(former mudcatter Canberra Chris), Shiny Bum Singers (Tune: Doggie in the Window) Chorus: How much am I Googling in Windows Or checking ebay for a sale? How much am I Googling in Windows? It's fun when my work has gone stale I once found a site for playing marbles The top ten from 1903 A fan club for Elvis Presley's tailor And bought fairy lights for my tree I sold my grandfather's model tractors To someone in Dallas-Fort Worth And sent, for a horoscope for workmates, The time and the date of their birth I found lots of heritage tomatos Swap seeds from Saigon to Peru, I typed in my lover's name and found there An intriguing reference or two I found that my boss's name is also A stud horse in Berkshire, UK, A down-market suburb in Chicago And a convict in Botany Bay video of Patti Page singing Doggie |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 12 Apr 21 - 09:17 PM A MAIDEN’S PRAYER (Traditional) A farmer coming home one night In his house he saw no light He lit his lamp and went upstairs And to his daughter’s room repaired And as he entered in her room He found her hanging in the gloom He took his knife and cut her down And on her breast these words he found Oh when my apron strings hung low He chased me through the ice and snow But now my apron strings don’t meet He passes me by in the street Oh God I wish my child was born And I not left and all forlorn Oh father I can’t take the shame To bear this child without a name So dig my grave and dig it deep And plant white lilies at my feet Oh plant white lilies up above To signify I died of love They dug her grave, they dug it deep And planted lilies at her feet And planted lilies up above To signify she died for love Now all you maidens bear in mind A sailor’s love is hard to find And if you find one good and true Don’t forsake the old love for the new The above is a composite of several versions collected in Australia as recorded by Alan Musgrove on his 'Bagman's Gazette' CD. It is one of the 'Died for love' family of songs. Musgrove noted that Joy Hildebrand (who used to post on Mudcat as Joybell) in her 'Died for Love' monograph traced the song to a broadside titled 'Love In Despair', published in Edinburgh in the late 17th century. In the US, it is known as 'The Railroad Boy'. In Australia, it is known as 'A Sailor's Prayer' or 'A Maiden's Prayer' even though there is no prayer in any version. There is a version of each of those titles in Ron Edwards' big book and a version of 'A Maiden's Prayer' in Meredith & Anderson's 'Folk Songs of Australia'. Musgrove's version seems to be mainly a composite of these. The 1928 recording by Buell Kazee was included in the famous Harry Smith anthology of American folk music and it influenced folk revival versions. He recorded it as 'The Butcher's Boy' even though he knew it as 'The Railroad Boy'. The Butcher's Boy Here is an interesting composite version from the singing of Mike Waterson. It is performed by Martin and Eliza Carthy. Died for Love --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 11 Apr 21 - 10:27 PM This is a revisit to a song that I posted on 08 September last year from a CD by O'Leary and Hildebrand. I have since come across a YT clip of a version sung by Alan Musgrove that has 2 extra verses. His introductory remarks set the scene. Here is my transcription - corrections welcomed. THE PUSH ON THE CORNER (Unknown) Last night I was driven near crazy By one I both love and adore Now she's packed up all her boxes And I ain't gonna see her no more I wrote her a hundred letters Begging her to forget But now she's found one she loves better And this is the answer I get Chorus: Just wait till the push on the corner Refuses to drink a long beer Wait till the thieves and pickpockets From the streets of Fitzroy disappear Wait till the Collingwood lassies From powder and paint they are free When the Chinese are coppers on Bourke Street My darling I'll come back to thee Chorus So I went to her mother’s in Gore Street To find out if she would come back But she said she was down at the Napier With a swell from Kew name of Jack I went down and there I did find her In the ladies’ lounge sipping her drink I said, ‘Will you come back, my darling?’ She answered, ‘Well, what do you think?’ Chorus So I chased up a couple of bottles To fill my poor heart with some cheer I went back to my room in the Narrows And drunk that foaming brown beer Then later I went out a-walking Up Gertrude Street I did stray But as a tram rattled on by me I thought I could hear people say Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 09 Apr 21 - 11:17 PM HIGH EXPLOSIVE (A.B 'Banjo' Paterson/Wallis & Matilda) Twas the dingo pup to his dam that said "It's time I worked for my daily bread Out in the world I intend to go And you'd be surprised at the things I know" "There's a wild duck's nest in a sheltered spot And I'll go right down and I'll eat the lot" But when he got to his destined prey He found that the ducks had flown away But an egg was left that would quench his thirst So he bit the egg and it straightway burst It burst with a bang, and he turned and fled For he thought that the egg had shot him dead "Oh, mother," he said, "let us clear right out Or we'll lose our lives with the bombs about And it's lucky I am that I'm not blown up - It's a very hard life," said the dingo pup Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 07 Apr 21 - 09:16 PM PLAINS OF PEPPIMENARTI (D.Kirkpatrick aka Slim Dusty) Now I've been around Australia and I've travelled everywhere But there's one place I really like to go Where the land is big and wide and tall dark ringers ride On the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows Tough riders there of course in a truck or on a horse And they'll really teach you things you didn't know It's excitement to the full if you're out there chasing bulls By the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows And the Kangaroo still bounds on that rough and rugged ground The ant hills and the old pandanas grow Yes and everyday's a Sunday if you're catching barramundi By the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows Now the men out on the stock camps are the finest riders known And they'll work four weeks without a break or spell They're the backbone of our beef steaks And I've mentioned this before And it's a story that I'm always proud to tell May the march of time never ever bring too many changes To a way of life you people love and prize May the years ahead be good ones And you never lose your customs With old Peppimenarti Hill looking down so old and wise And the Kangaroo still bounds on that rough and rugged ground The ant hills and the old pandanas grow Yes and everyday's a Sunday if you're catching barramundi By the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows The Youtube video is beaut: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 07 Apr 21 - 08:57 PM SLEEPING COLD (S.Nicholson & K.Chambers) Will you rise or will you fall? Will you walk or will you crawl? Will you dream in black and white When you're sleeping cold tonight? Will you bend or will you break? Will you give or will you take? Will no angel shine no light? And leave you sleeping cold tonight Way o Way, way o way, o way o why Way o Way, way o way, o way o why Will you stand or will you turn? Will you teach or will you learn? When your demons rise above You'll be sleeping cold, my love Would you stay or would you leave? Would you fail or would you believe? Would you stand your ground and fight When I'm sleeping cold tonight? Would we know what's wrong or right If we're sleeping cold tonight? Way o Way, way o way, o way o why Way o Way, way o way, o way o why Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 07 Apr 21 - 08:10 PM THE CUTTER'S DREAM (Bob Rado) He sits by the flickering firelight His memory turns back the times To the years that he spent and the timbers that went For the bridges, railways and mines In his mind he can see it all clearly The bullocks, the whim and the dray The bullocky swears as he hitches the pairs At the start of another long day As the sun filters down through the treetops And the mist rises up from the stream The crosscut and axe and the winding whim tracks To him it was more than a dream He remembers the camp by the river He remembers how things used to be Down many a track with his swag on his back Life was so simple and free But his mates are no longer around him As he follows the path of his mind The sound of machines has shattered his dreams Now he's ready to leave it behind And he sits by the flickering firelight His memory turns back the times To the years that he spent and the timbers that went For the bridges, railways and mines Bob Rummery's note: Bob Rado's story of a sleeper cutter in Western Australia's southwest looking back over a working life where the only 'machine' was the bloke on the end of the axe, crosscut and broadaxe. From Loaded Dog's 'Hair of the Dog' album. Audio --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Apr 21 - 10:32 AM 83 ORDINARY PEOPLE, © Nigel Foote 1985 (The Granville Song) The young girl just made the train Didn’t want to be late again Ah but she should’ve been, she should’ve been But the old man on the stairs Slowed down by the years Was left standing on the platform with his cane Passengers from mountain towns Country folk but city bound Gathered at their stations down the line They found their places on the train A lottery of death and pain For many it was the last journey of their lives Chorus: And the families of those people Eighty-three ordinary people Can do nothing much, except wonder why Some sat sleeping against the windows Others read the morning papers Never dreaming that they would be the next headlines But the news swept through the mountains And silently we counted For the train from Mount Victoria had left the line Chorus The rescuers came and tried To save some of those inside Hands held hands that each year now hold flowers And scattered roses on the tracks At Granville now bring back The memory of that ill-fated hour Chorus twice Note Many thanks to Nigel Foote for permission to add this song to the Australian Railway Songs collection Nigel writes: 'I was originally asked to sing the song at the 10th Anniversary of the disaster, held at the Bold Street Bridge Memorial Service in 1987, and then every five years after that, including the 20th anniversary in 1997. I was awarded the Granville Medal for the song.' Audio lyrics |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Apr 21 - 10:27 AM BILLY SHEEHAN On the forty-pound rails steamed a C-16, Commanded by its driver, Mister Billy Sheehan. The G.M. gave him orders on the strict Q.T. To run a faster schedule than the Spirit of P. Keep the regulator open, watch the black smoke roll, Pile on all the floorboards if we run out of coal. If we don’t beat the record, ’Billy said to his mate, ‘Send my memos care of Peter at the golden gate!’ Chorus: Billy Sheehan, ran a faster schedule Billy Sheehan, a mighty man was he. Billy Sheehan, ran a faster schedule, Out to break the record of the Spirit of P. His fireman was a punting boy for Narrabeen, He said, ‘I’ll lay the odds against the C-16.’ Billy flashed a roll of notes that was a bear; The boiler then exploded, blew them both in the air, Said Billy to his fireman as they left the wreck, ‘I dunno where we’re going but we’re neck and neck!’ The fireman then said, ‘Billy I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll bet another fifty I go higher than you!’ The wife of Driver Sheehan was at home in bed When the Railway wired that old Bill was dead. She called her children to her, said, ‘Listen, honey lambs, The next old man you get’ll be a guard in the van!’ The railway’s all in mourning now for Billy Sheehan, No more we’ll hear the puffing of his C-16. There’s crepe on all the locos, both the goods and mails, From Ingham and Mount Isa down to New South Wales. Billy Sheehan 1. Collected by Bill Scott in the mid 1950s from his brother David who was a railwayman at the time in Hughenden, Qld. It is a parody based on the American songs STEAMBOAT BILL and CASEY JONES. C16s were a class of light locomotives, “Spirit of P” refers to the Spirit of Progress which at the time was the fastest train in Australia and ran from Melbourne to Albury. The Second Penguin Australian Songbook p178 1980. 2. Arranged by Stan Arthur. Complete Book of Australian Folklore, p106 1976; reprinted Songs of Australian Working Life p72 1989. Also on Wattle recording C9, Folk Songs from Queensland 1959. Johnny Cash singing Casey Jones |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 06 Apr 21 - 10:25 PM Good wun, Sandra! Sydney Town was on my long list of "to post" and (for my sins?), I always enjoyed Rolf's version :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Apr 21 - 09:32 PM SYDNEY TOWN © Frank Hardy 1964 Chorus The more they try to keep me down The better I live in Sydney town, The more they try to keep me down The better I live in Sydney town. Great grand-daddy walked along the street with a ball and chain around his feet and that's the way they'd like to see me walk just to give the toffs a chance to talk. They rob me in the Parliament They charge me half my pay for rent They heard I was living on the Rocks So they pulled it down for building blocks. The beer's gone up in the public bar And I can't afford a motor car But I keep six bottles In the fridge, And pay no toll on the harbour bridge The jockies and the bookies cheat, The odds-on favorites all get beat So just to show them I'm no fool I go to Tommo's a Two-up school They all throw heads when I back tails: I got no dough to 'bank on the Wales' But I'll get a job, it'll suit fine On the Eastern Suburbs railway line. If I go on strike, I'll have good cause, Then I'll get hit with a Penal Clause, But I don't care, let the bosses rage, I'll fight for a rise in the basic wage. The monopolies can all arrange To rig their shares on the Stock Exchange Through lottery tickets with my spouse I've got shares in the Opera House. They won't lot you win on poker machines They show rubbish on the T.V. screens So for entertainment I go for Australian songs at the Troubador Notes Sydney Town was published in Australian Tradition, May 1964 with the note: This is the original version of Sydney Town as written by me. Folk singers and others who add new verses and variations do so at their own risk. Frank Hardy. lyrics video |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Apr 21 - 08:59 PM ON THE QUEENSLAND RAILWAY LINES, written by The Brisbane Realist Writers' Group, 1959 On the Queensland railway lines There are stations where one dines Private individuals Also run refreshment rooms CHORUS Bogan-Tungan, Rollingstone,. Mungar, Murgon, Marathone, Guthalungra, Pinkenba, Wanko, Yaamba, - ha, ha, ha! Males and females, high and dry, Hang around at Durikai, Boora-Mugga, Djarawong, Giligulul, Wonglepong. Pies and coffee, baths and showers Are supplied at Charters Towers; At Mackay the rule prevails Of restricting showers to males. Iron rations come in handy, On the way to Dirranbandi, Passengers have died of hunger During halts at Garradunga, Let us toast, before we part, Those who travel, stout of heart, Drunk or sober, rain or shine, On a Queensland railway line This parody of a German folk song was written by The Brisbane Realist Writers' Group in 1959. Printed in The Queensland Centenary Pocket Songbook. lyrics & audio |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Apr 21 - 08:54 PM BESIDE A RAILWAY LINE by Roger Ilott (1991) Roger Ilott - vocals, guitar, mandolin, bass. Penny Davies - vocals, drums, mandolin. A long time ago by a railway line there lived a boy with a face a bit like mine. He'd watch the steam trains rolling by - the days were long, and the little boy's eyes were wide. He'd rush outside when he'd hear the sound of a goods train heading slowly out of town, he'd swing on the gate, and, with a great big grin, he'd wave at the Drivers - and the Drivers waved back at him! Chorus Woo-woo, woo-woo if you close your eyes you can hear the whistle still, woo-woo, woo-woo, and the clatter of the trains running back to Erskineville. He'd help his Mum hang the washing on the line- the sheets were as white as the clouds up in the sky- but next thing you know there'd be a sooty old train and you can understand why Mum'd complain! He'd stand on the bridge at Hurlstone Park Station- the keenest Loco Driver in the nation- and it didn't seem to matter if it was rainy or fine, life was pretty good beside that railway line. Well, I never did get to drive a train, now there's famine and floods and war and acid rain, But when my little boy grins and waves to his Dad, I think to myself "well, things aren't all that bad.' And though my hair's getting more than a little bit grey, and the world seems to turn a bit quicker every day, I can still see through that young boy's eyes those endless days, and steam trains rolling by. A long time age by a railway line there lived a little boy with a face a bit like mine, I can see him still with his eyes so wide - and those endless days beside a railway line. lyrics sung by Roger |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Apr 21 - 08:26 PM lyrics & video for BATTLER'S BALLAD, Jack Wright, tune M.O'Rourke - posted as a link by Stewie 19 Aug 20 - 08:11 PM on page 1 BATTLER'S BALLAD You are just a lonely battler and you're waiting for a rattler You wish to heaven you were never born For you ran to dodge a copper and you came an awful cropper The skin on both your hands is cut and torn. You are tired and you're weary, lack of sleep makes your eyes bleary The soles of both your shoes are worn right through Your heart is sore and aching and your back is nearly breaking Your coat and shirt and pants have had it too. Chorus: And it's hey, hey hobo, you're just a rolling stone Though you're stony broke, if you still can crack a joke You're as good as any king upon his throne. Your blood is nearly boiling and your muscles need no oiling As you duck and dodge the headlight's brilliant glare For you've seen the copper's wood heap and you know that it's a good heap You know the tucker's not the best in there. Then the engine gives a whistle, you trip up on a thistle Get tangled up in signal wires and points Then you blunder in the gutter and angrily you mutter 'Well, strike me pink, of all the flamin' joints!' First Repeat chorus And it's hey, hey hobo, you're just a rolling stone Though your pants are wearing thin, if you can still raise a grin You're as good as any king upon his throne. Then you see the green light flashing and hear the bumpers crashing You see the great big engine rushing by With your swag all at the ready, your nerves are not so steady For you know you'll have to take her on the fly. Then your swag you try to throw in, but the flamin' thing won't go in Bounces off the truck and hits you, and you fall Pick the remnants of your swag up, pick your billy-can and bag up You say, 'I missed the bastard after all!' Second Repeat chorus And it's hey, hey hobo, you're just a rolling stone Though the sky is looking grey, there will surely come a day When you'll own a bloody railway of your own. performed by Jason & Chloe Jack Wright was an early member of the Bush Music Club, & this song, written during the depression, was one of many collected from him by Alan Scott. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Apr 21 - 07:26 PM BREAKING NEWS - Restored locomotive 3801 begins regional NSW tour, thousands hop on for ride 3801, A song by Ray King and Ron Russell (1987). Ray King and Ron Russell - guitar, vocals and computer sequencing. Joy Howard - backing vocals. In the golden age of steam There lived a beauty queen Roamin' around the countryside She was a driver's dream. Workin' days and workin' nights Up before the sun They all tried hard to get aboard Thirty-eight o one. The queen of all the fleet The railway's pride and joy To ride upon the footplate Was the dream of every boy. As she went roarin' by on another express run Everyone would turn their heads for Thirty-eight o one. Ah thirty-eight o one You stood the test you're still the best You just keep rollin' on. Bound from Sydney town The black smoke rollin' higher Across the Hawkesbury river To Newcastle on the flier. Over the great divide On the Central Western run On the Southern Line right on time went Thirty-eight o one. But your greatest feat Was steamin' across the nation All the crowds would gather round At every country station. On the standard gauge Westward to the sun Across to Perth and back again went Thirty-eight o one. Ah thirty-eight o one You stood the test you're still the best You just keep rollin' on. The days of steam have been and gone But some remember well That big green flash as she went by Had such a tale to tell. And now she's back upon the tracks She just keeps rollin' on She beat the rest she's still the best Thirty-eight o one. Ah thirty-eight o one You stood the test you're still the best You just keep rollin' on. Notes Ray King and Ron Russell were both working at Elcar when they wrote this song 3801 lyrics video |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 05 Apr 21 - 12:48 AM NATIVITY (originally titled Epiphany) (Peter Cape) They were set for home, but the horse went lame And the rain came belting out of the sky Joe saw the hut and he went to look And he said, "She's old, but she'll keep you dry" So her kid was born in that roadman's shack By the light of a lamp that'd hardly burn She wrapped him up in her hubby's coat And put him down on a bed of fern Then they came riding out of the night And this is the thing that she'll always swear As they took off their coats and came into the light They knew they were going to find her there Three old jokers in oilskin coats Stood by the bunk in that leaking shack One had a beard like a billygoat's One was frail, and one was black She sat on the foot of the fernstalk bed And she watched, but she didn't understand When they put those bundles at the baby's head And this river nugget into his hand Gold is the power of a man with a man And incense the power of man with God But myrrh is the bitter taste of death And the sour-sweet smell of the upturned sod Then they went, while she watched through the open door Weary as men who had ridden too far And the rain eased off and the low cloud broke And through a gap shone a single star Peter Cape set it to a Anglican hymn tune. You can find it here (together with another version of the lyrics}: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 04 Apr 21 - 09:44 PM TE KOOTI, E HA (A.Desmond/Anon) Chorus Kei taka, Te Kooti, Te Kooti, kia kaha Ka miharo ahau ki a ia, Te Kooti Naku tenei pamu, ko toku whare tenei Lahore oku whenua hei hoko Kei taka, Te Kooti, e ha! Chorus (translation) Gather round, Te Kooti, Te Kooti is strong I admire him, Te Kooti This is my farm, this is my house I won't ever sell this land Gather round, Te Kooti, e ha! The Pakehas came with their rum and their gold And soon the broad lands of our fathers were sold But the voice of Te Kooti said, 'Hold the land, hold!' Exult for Te Kooti, e ha! They falsely accused him, no trial had he They carried him off to an island at sea But his prison he broke and once more he was free Exult for Te Kooti, e ha! They tried to enslave us, to trample us down Like the millions that serve them in field and in town But the sapling that's bended when free will rebound Exult for Te Kooti, e ha! In the wild midnight foray whose footsteps trod lighter? In the flash of the rifle whose eyeballs gleamed brighter? What man with our hero could clinch as a fighter? Exult for Te Kooti, e ha! We won't sell our land, 'tis the gift of the Lord Except it be bought with the blood-drinking sword But all men are welcome to share in its hoard Exult for Te Kooti, e ha! Note in 'Song of a Young Country' page 39: Land purchased carelessly by the government through unscrupulous land agents led to the so-called 'Maori Wars'. In 1864, the confiscation of land belonging to Maoris who had resisted such purchase proved to the Maori that the wars were engineered to deprive people of their land. It took only twenty years for the Pakeha to break his Treaty of Waitingi. Chiefs such as Titokowaru and Te Kooti rebelled. To weld their people together they founded new codes of honour - Pai Mariri and Ringatu. They spoke of 'truth' and 'honesty'. An historical examination from today's standpoint shows all too clearly who was dishonest. Te Kooti's biography A young girl's interesting summary: Te Koot's War Youtube clip Another song telling the Te Kooti story: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 03 Apr 21 - 10:56 AM DUH!! Just realised that I forgot to post the Audio Link to the Slim Dusty song about The End of the Canning Stock Route!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jki1YYrufk4 R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 03 Apr 21 - 10:15 AM Three songs about THE CANNING STOCK ROUTE [Western Australia : Wiluna to Halls Creek ] This route was pioneered by Surveyor-Explorer, Alfred Canning and his team, between 1906-1910, to enable a droving track for cattle from the Kimberley down to Southern markets, and the dry, dusty desert conditions of which would remove the Cattle Ticks evident on sea-shipped bovines. Alfred took all the requirements to push this almost 1900km track on the backs of camels and 48 of the final 51 wells were dug and boarded with native Desert Oak timber, at intervals along the way. Many of these esssential water sources have fallen into disrepair, but gradually, some are being restored for modern day travellers. The CSR crossed 3 deserts and more than 15 Aboriginal language groups and their important cultural landscape. There were claims that Canning & Co had mistreated the local Aborigines who were forced to assist the construction team, but these were dismissed bcoz “All explorers behave in this manner” …… However, the CSR was only used sporadically for its intended purpose (just 35 drives between 1911 - 1959), until the modern penchant for adventuring, from around the mid 60s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canning_Stock_Route There are plenty of vidclips on YT from over the last 15+ years, of tough Aussie blokes in couples or convoys, pitting themselves and their well-kitted 4WD Rigs, against what is said to be one of the longest, most remote and difficult tracks in the world. And only two small settlements along the way that may – or may not – provide whatever you forgot or ran short of!! I chose, however, to link to one from 1986 by well-known (well-known to we BabyBoomers!!) outback adventurer, Malcolm Roberts : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-mXGF-Hcyg And also one from 2012 (which comes highly recommended by YT Commenters) of Gavin Foreman & Summer Wilms (Foreman & Wilms Adventures) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmTgP7Lchc0 Both clips not only show the tackling of the numerous infamous sand dunes along the way, and using the wells, plus the abandoned vehicle wrecks and pioneer graves, but also fabulous wildlife segments (esp birdlife) and beautiful Aboriginal waterholes at the rock outcrops, and more. But if you want another slant, which also has some great photography, esp. of the rugged track, salt lakes, and their experiences (including corrugations damage and welding failures), try Peter & Sven Zalums’ (Griniflix - Adventure8) trip up the CSR in 2017 after a recent cyclone – the first sibling holiday for the Latvian brothers in 70 years and Sven had never before been camping nor 4W driving!!! (and interesting that most of the fellow travellers they met appeared to be European!) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZt8lPXaKik Or fancy Walking the CSR??!! The online story of Murray Rankin’s 3 attempts in the early 70s to walk the Route, seems to have gone, apart from this : https://westtravelclub.com.au/stories/walking-the-canning-stock-route However, here is a blog of Terry Bolland’s CSR walk-trek taken from his walk-run-cycle-kayak journey around Australia. : https://terrybolland.wordpress.com/canning-stock-route-walk/ It blew me away bcoz of the frequency of noisy vehicles passing him (so much for enjoying the solitude), but also due to the 750 beer cans he picked up along the track on his journey – and this was back in 1990!!! :( ENJOY! R-J #1 END OF THE CANNING STOCK ROUTE Peter Muir & David Kirkpatrick (aka Slim Dusty) The camp gear's in the storeroom, all the packs are in the shed With the dust of seven summers on their hide Saddle straps are hard and brittle, stirrup irons are rusty red For the Canning Stock Route finished when Wally Dowling* died No more cattle travel southward through the spinifex and sand All the wells are falling in along the track Now the Canning’s but a legend, just a lonely desert land And it's doubtful if the Munjongs* want it back. Eight hundred miles of sandhills, now and then a sandstone ridge With a salt lake here and there with samphire flat An oasis in the desert you can find at Durba Springs Bubbling, running water, it's a fact But unless you own a camel, you could never travel there And a horse would fail now the wells have fallen in For the sandhills of the Canning reach a hundred feet or more And it's certain that no car could take you in. The famous 'Never Never' and the place they call 'Outback' Two elusive lands that few men ever found Are located on the Canning, down that lonely desert track Where to be this very moment would be worth a thousand pound To be with Wally Dowling, whipping water from the well While the stockmen hold the mob back from the trough Stop the thirsty bullocks trampling in their great desire to drink Just to do one trip would suit me well enough. But my wish is just a daydream which can never be fulfilled For when Wally died, the stock route had its day Now the Billiluna cattle, are travelling down to Broome In a roaring, diesel roadtrain to the meatworks by the bay And the tick line stops the others, every station in the north No one may use the Canning if he would So they truck their beef to Wyndham and sell for what it's worth And I doubt they'd use the Canning if they could. It's really had its day now and won't be used again No more drovers’ horse bells ringin' will be heard For the cattle-loaded roadtrain, smothered in its diesel fumes Now struggles up the rise in lower third When I travel up the Canning, I am sure to be alone With my camels and some thoughts of yesterday They will take me slowly northward, 'til at last the trip is done And find contentment when I've stowed the packs away. The camp gear's in the storeroom, all the packs are in the shed With the dust of seven summers on their hide Saddle straps are hard and brittle, stirrup irons are rusty red For the Canning Stock Route finished when Wally Dowling died ….. * Munjon : believed to be a Kimberley word for a wild (bush) aborigine …… * Wally Dowling was possibly the best-known drover along the route; by all accounts a strong man, a hard man, but who died in 1959 from influenza and the droving along with him….. Most of the Drovers were Aboriginal, rarely named or recorded and when paid, it was “in kind”. Most were women, and many were used….. https://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/19412/Yiwarra-Kuju-droving.pdf https://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s2018935.htm So there’s an Aboriginal side to the CSR story too, that has only just begun to be told. #2 THE CANNING STOCK ROUTE Bob Emery From Wiluna to Halls Creek is 900 miles A wilderness of spinifex and sand The men who sunk the wells, had their troubles and their trials They opened up this outback desert land. In nineteen hundred and six, Alf Canning took his team At 26, the best man in the land With a hundred tons of cargo, a camel team as well For two long years they worked this desert land. Tommy Windich was a native guide who knew the territory And Windich Springs, his monument through time Great pools of flowing water, he found to their delight Sundowner parrots led him to this prize. Dust and sand and stoney desert, Canning and his team push on Bringing up artesian water, from. way. down. below. 52 wells later, Alf Canning he returned, And said to guv’nor “well, the job is done” Now to get those cattle moving, they’re waiting in the north A water track now spans the desert lands. Hare wallabies jumped in sheer surprise, the mala it was stunned To see the cattle moving through the scrub The parrots and the kangaroo rats who had to share the land With a thousand head of cattle as they passed. Dust and sand and stoney desert, Canning and his team push on Bringing up artesian water, from. way. down. below. Well the roadway to the north and the trucks that shake the night Do the job those drovers did so well And the mighty Canning Stock Route is forgotten all too soon And the men who built and rode it are all gone. From Wiluna to Halls Creek is 900 miles A wilderness of spinifex and sand The men who sunk the wells had their troubles and their trials They opened up this outback desert land. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfqQ-rCE9uk FIDDLER’S GREEN BUSH BAND #3 There was a Mudcat thread /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=109469 from 2008 where the OP wanted a WA song by “The Westerner” about the Canning Stock Route and which he used to have on an old tape. He gave the chorus as below, BUT, I have not found it online …. “Coming down the Canning we sing the cattle song Farewell to Kimberly move the mob along Its early in the morning we give the whip salute Coming down the Canning on the old stock route” HOWEVER! Turns out this is another of the songs by Lloyd G. Montgomery (aka Sandgroper), which came to light amongst a folder of compositions sent in May 1970 to Dale Dengate of the Bush Music Club in Sydney!! https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2018/07/moondyne-joe-and-other-sandgroper.html#gsc.tab=0 Here are Lloyd’s lyrics : CANNING STOCK ROUTE Lloyd G. Montgomery We’ll meet the cattle at “The Creek”, the drover said, y’know Then off to leave the Kimberley, Wiluna-way to go Like Canning-of-the-Outback, a desert man to be – We’ll take the Track together, my brumby mate an’ me. We stumble in the spinifex, ‘til over in the haze Big Sandy looms across the world, beyond the breakaways – We ride the Devil’s Switchback, to Waddawalla ‘Hole Then help to raise the water, with the whipstick pole. We find the grave at Haunting Well, beside a desert oak And fight the blacks along the way, to reach Karrara Soak – From Durba by the Salt Lake, we give the hides a boot And rush ‘em through the poison, on the old Stock Route. At Well Eleven, by the Fort, we light the drover’s lamp To talk of ‘Tracks and Cattle Kings, around the cattle camp Then onward in the day-dawn, the stoney plain to see – We ride across the desert, my brumby mate an’ me. Chorus : Coming down the Canning, we sing the cattle song Farewell to Kimberley, boot the beef along From early in the morning, we make the whip salute Coming down the Canning, on the old Stock Route. Lloyd notes on the score that the melody is a variant of a Traditional air (possibly Scottish?) So, has anyone found a recording of this song?? R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GerryM Date: 03 Apr 21 - 05:26 AM THE LATKE Tune: Traditional ("The Coo Coo") Lyrics: Gerry Myerson It has become traditional in some congregations to hold a debate, as part of the annual Purim celebration, on the relative merits of latkes and hamentashen. Hamentashen are associated with Purim; latkes with the holiday of Chanukah (and, to a lesser extent, Passover). This was my contribution to the debate at North Shore Temple Emanuel, Chatswood, New South Wales, in 2021. Oh, the latke Is so tasty, And it sizzles as it fries. And you never Eat a latke Until Kislev 25. Gonna build me A yeshiva On a mountain, so high, So that I can See those latkes, As they go in to fry. Hamentashen, Hamentashen, I know you of old. You have robbed My poor pockets Of their silver and their gold. I've had latkes From Long Island, I've had latkes from Tel Aviv. But the latkes Made in Sydney Are the best ones, I believe. Take potato, Egg and onion, Matzo meal, and salt to taste. In the skillet, Flip 'em over, And they'll never go to waste. (Repeat first stanza) Notes: Chanukah begins each year on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. The geographical references in the 4th stanza can be adjusted to the situation. A version, with alterations to the 3rd stanza, will be posted to the Passover songs thread. Here's a recording, by David Holt, of The Coo Coo. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GerryM Date: 03 Apr 21 - 05:04 AM THE OLD REBEL FLAG IN THE REAR (A MAY-DAY SONG) The Old Rebel Flag In The Rear is a poem by Henry Lawson, who gave it the subtitle, "A May-Day Song". First, the full version; then, a shortened version due to Chris Kempster, who set it to music. I couldn't find a recording of that version online, but here is a version by Bruce Hearn. The Old Rebel Flag in the Rear A May-Day Song Full version Henry Lawson, 1892 Whenever the march of oppression Reduces a land to despair, No matter how mighty the victors, The flag of Rebellion is there. The might of coercion may triumph, And Freedom be laid on her bier — Yet over the graves of the conquered there waves That Old Rebel Flag in the Rear A king may be great in a country That cheers when a monarch is crown'd But still, in his capital city, The flag of the rebel is found. A people may boast a Republic, Where Liberty dies in a year; But close on their flag comes that old stubborn rag, The Old Rebel Flag in the Rear We sing of the Queen of England, Her banner that flaunts in the van, Yet out from the slums of her capital comes That vengeful red banner of man! Lift up the proud Union of England, And bear it along with a cheer, But England! take care in your triumph, for there Is the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. There's the great cruel Eagle of Russia, Where thousands are sunk in despair, And the hand of the tyrant is mighty, But the flag of rebellion is there! There's the bloodthirsty flag of the Kaiser, A monarch whom nations can fear, But William will pause ere he marches, because Of the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. There's the Red, White and Blue of the Frenchmen, Where soldiers of Freedom are true, But lo! from the rear comes a banner, Whose skirts lack the white and the blue! There's the flag of a boastful republic, A country where freedom is dear — But still, in the States there's an army that waits 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. There's a new mongrel flag in Australia, And the "Banner of Britain" is here, But, to break from the past, we are gathering fast 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. There are men in the ranks who are traitors, And men who will falter and fear, Yet on thro' the arch of the morning we march 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. Some men, for the sake of their conscience, Will join and be true in the strife, And some for the sake of a moment to break The terrible dullness of life! They march 'neath the flag of the rebels, With lives overburden'd and drear, And fling them away on a terrible day 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. A spirit calls out of the future, And bids us to strike in our youth — And the voice of to-day is appealing For Liberty, Justice, and Truth; And the blood that was shed by old rebels, For rights that shall ever be dear, Drips down from the red of the flag overhead, Of the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. Oh! brothers of mine and of mankind! The banner I sing of is red With life-blood of men who were foemen To wrong, and oppression, and dread. Then march 'neath the flag of the rebels, The red days of battle are near, Let your feet never lag as you march 'neath the flag, 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. Perhaps there'll be no reformation, But Oh! for a moment to rise And ride on the storm of rebellion, And strike at the things that I hate and despise! When Progress is stayed by a red barricade, And down in the city we hear The roll of a hymn of defiance That ends in a desperate cheer, And on, for a day they'll remember, Comes the Old Rebel Flag from the Rear. It rose from the birth of the lords of the earth, That Old Rebel Flag in the Rear; The rebels are bred by the tyrants who dread That Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. 'Twill never be furl'd while there's wrong in the world, It never will fall till there's Justice for all, THAT OLD REBEL FLAG IN THE REAR! &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& This is the shorter version, as Chris Kempster arranged and recorded it: Whenever the march of oppression Reduces a land to despair, No matter how mighty the victors, The flag of Rebellion is there. A spirit calls out of the future, And bids us to strike in our youth — And the voice of to-day is appealing For Liberty, Justice, and Truth; There are men in the ranks who are traitors, And men who will falter and fear, Yet on thro' the arch of the morning we march 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. Chorus (after each verse): 'Twill never be furl'd while there's wrong in the world, It never will fall till there's Justice for all, That old rebel flag, that old rebel flag, that old rebel flag in the rear! There's the Red, White and Blue of the Frenchmen, Where soldiers of Freedom are true, But lo! from the rear comes a banner, Whose skirts lack the white and the blue! There's the flag of a boastful republic, A country where freedom is dear — But still, in the States there's an army that waits 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. There's a new mongrel flag in Australia, And the "Banner of Britain" is here, But, to break from the past, we are gathering fast 'Neath the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. There's the great cruel Eagle of Russia, Where thousands are sunk in despair, And the hand of the tyrant is mighty, But the flag of rebellion is there! There's the bloodthirsty flag of the Kaiser, A monarch whom nations can fear, But William will pause ere he marches, because Of the Old Rebel Flag in the Rear. We sing of the Queen of England, Her banner that flaunts in the van, Yet out from the slums of her capital comes That vengeful red banner of man! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Apr 21 - 08:02 AM Bush Music club's were small select clubs, they weren't secret societies, they wanted to tell people about their heritage, they wanted members, but US & UK folk was more famous, & played on the radio & TV... The hunt for the Bush Music Clubs of Australia Perth Bush Music Club was est 1964, 10 years after the first BMC was established in Sydney. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 02 Apr 21 - 05:37 AM Good Work, Sandra! Well, I lived in Perth from 50s-80s, just a few miles from his abode in Rivervale (BUT despite the river, in those days those areas were decidedly NOT swanky!!!) I was into the Folk Scene from my mid teens - but I can't recall hearing of a Perth Bush Music Club!!! I'll be very interested in what you further uncover! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Apr 21 - 04:26 AM There was a fair bit of detective work on Sandgroper's ballads. He was a BMC member, so I knew he wrote the ballads, he included his address so I looked it up on google maps & I wouldn't mind living there! Victorian Folk Music Club (est 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria) published one of his songs as being from Perth Bush Music Club. I don't have much info on Perth BMC but the State Library of WA has nothing about them, tho they do have 5 publication of the (Sydney) Bush Music Club. State Library of WA has a copy of both of his ballad folders with very incomplete citation - just Perth, WA & question mark John posted his song in 2011 & asked around about the author & got no information. I located the folders in BMC Archives in 2018 & emailed a few friends & contacts in Perth. The friends who had been around in the 70s didn't know him, & alas, the addresses I found online which might have known him didn't answer. But I did find a 1983 book in SLWA by a bloke of the same name, probably him. I've been saying I need to contact State library WA for a couple of years now ... sandra (starting an email) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 01 Apr 21 - 11:43 PM How Good is The Power of The ‘Cat??!! DOWN IN THE GOLDMINE [2] I posted this song pertaining to the amazing West Australian mine rescue near Coolgardie in 1907, in this thread back on 4th Oct 2020. The song was sourced and recorded by the late John Thompson in his “Oz Folk Song a Day” blog : http://ozfolksongaday.blogspot.com/search?q=Down+in+the+Goldmine This song was also recorded by CLOUDSTREET (John Thompson & Nicole Murray), on their “CIRCUS OF DESIRES” album : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXDAPqqWuzg&list=OLAK5uy_mieorNy1H81gSIqJ6CP6REfRouU1qtyDE John had it listed as “anon” with the tune “Down in the Coalmine” and Cloudy John said : “A song I found in a folio entitled, Moondyne Joe and Other Sandgroper Ballads. It is a parody of a music hall song, Down in the Coal Mine. This link is to the story which I first read about the rescue of this Italian miner from a flooded goldmine in the desert in 1907 : https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-great-survival-20060506-gdnhry.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 Enquiries around the folk scene in Australia have not revealed the songwriter's name. Any advice would be appreciated.” Fast forward to fellow ‘Catter, Sandra-in-Sydney’s post in this thread on 26thJan2021 of a Manuscript of various compositions from WA, including correspondence, (that phrase is important!!), received in 1970, at Sydney’s Bush Music Club and detailed in their blog, which she linked to : https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2018/07/moondyne-joe-and-other-sandgroper.html#gsc.tab=0 It transpires from the said “Correspondence” that this song was in fact written by one Lloyd G. Montgomery (aka Sandgroper) and he lists his melody as being taken from an Irish air : “The Roving Journeyman, or, The Red-Haired Boy. But not being a reader of music, I am unable to say if John Thompson’s music hall tune by Joseph Bryan Geoghegan is the same or similar or completely different!!! No doubt someone will tell me!! So there you go!! (thanks Sandra! .....and John is probably aware now too, on some other level :) Now I just came across this presentation on YT by WA’s State Library, re Bonnievale’s 1907 “Westralia” mine (East extn), massively flooded due to torrential rain, and the subsequent rescue of the last Miner, some 300metres below. They even use Cloudstreet’s singing behind the slideshow! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6iSo209fPU The trapped Miner was Modesto Varischetti and the last of 161 miners underground that day. He was a family man from Italy and his rescuer was local Diver Frank Hughes, from Wales. Another local Diver, Fox, initially assisted until injured, along with with Perth Divers, Hearne and Curtis. Herbert Hoover (later to become a US President) was the mining engineer, but the one who made the suggestion to use the Divers, was John, the young son of Josiah Crabb, the Cornish Mine Inspector. The record 10? hour speed, set by the train carrying the two Perth Divers and the extra long air hoses and diving rescue gear for 565kms, stood for 50 years!!! Hughes made various attempts to reach Varischetti and though exhausted, after five days was finally able to bring food, light, letters, and hope to the Miner in his air pocket rise. Around 20 men were working underground in the water and mud to facilitate this rescue, including local Doctors, Mitchell and Ellis. As the water level gradually lowered with the constant surface pumping and baling, Hughes made a sixth trip down to the Miner, who after nine days of entrapment, was finally able to be brought to the surface. Varischetti lived and worked at underground mining until 1920 when he died of Pulmonary Fibrosis. Hughes was awarded the Albert Medal. The location of Bonnievale, originally 12kms from Coolgardie, like so many Australian mining towns is now remembered only by a signpost. PS I have decided to post below, Mr Montgomery’s lyrics from his 14th May 1970 correspondence to Dale Dengate of the Bush Music Club – there are a few differences to that which John sings, but IMHO, nothing really drastic : DOWN IN THE GOLDMINE [2] Coolgardie folk remember well, a torrent from the sky Westralia’s tunnel took the flood, and men were forced to fly It chilled the blood to have to hear, that wailing whistle blow For miner Varischetti lay, a thousand feet below. Chorus : Down in the Goldmine, underneath the ground Floods are apt to fill the mine, men are apt to drown Dare the dark an’ dreary water, send a diver down Deep down in the Goldmine, underneath the ground. They heard a hammer down below and ran to break the news – To tread the gloomy catacomb, they sent for Diver Hughes It’s half-a-hope, or sudden death – now are y’game to go? Where miner Varischetti is, a thousand feet below. Fremantle found the diving gear – a train began to roar The engine got the right-o’-way, a hundred mile or more She hit the track at sixty-five and set the night aglow As miner Varischetti lay, a thousand feet below. A million gallons rose above the captive in the cave Then Diver Hughes, he brought him up and left an empty grave – An’ life’ll keep a lamp alight, if men are game to go Where miner Verischetti lay, a thousand feet below. I do so love a happy ending!! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Apr 21 - 11:38 PM BLUBBER LADDIE Lyrics and Music: Harry Robertson, from the official Harry Robertson website. Audio Oh it’s sailing oot o’ Scotland and it’s heading south we go To the cold Antarctic oceans where the Blue and Fin Whale blow And the first time is adventure and you’re feeling kind of glad That you’re sailing on a Factory Ship to be a Blubber Lad. Chorus Over rattling winches, and the icy winds that sigh, Blubber Laddie! Keep it moving! You can hear the Flensers cry! Aye there’s men who flense the blubber and there’s men who work the saws, For many skills are needed doon among the ice and snows, And the Cooker Men are clever getting oil wi’ steaming heat, But the Lads who swing a blubber hook are canny lads to meet. Chorus Watch them balance on a rolling deck where heaps o’ blubber lie, As they drag the strips o’ blubber to the manhole’s waiting eye, And their hooks are flashing quickly, they dance like the imps o’ hell, On the bloody freezing deck that reeks o’ whaling factory smell. Chorus When the season’s work is over and we’re back on shore again, And ye wonder why the city folk can tell ye’re Whaling Men, It’s no secret to them shipmates when you see them stand and look As the Laddies walk along the street and swing their blubber hook. Chorus |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 01 Apr 21 - 10:15 PM PHONES OUT OF RANGE (Dave Myers/Tune: 'Home, home on the range') Oh give me a phone that will work when I roam In the country when I need to ring Where seldom is found any kind of a sound You'd be better with tins on a string Chorus Phones, phones out of range In the bush where the punters all pay Where seldom is heard any kind of a word And reception is cloudy all day Chorus How often at night where the heavens are bright When I'm stranded by some lonely tree Have I sat there amazed and asked as I gazed Where the hell is that Telstra's 'Next G' Chorus Oh give me a land where the towers all stand By the roadside wherever I go Where seldom are seen any out-of-range screens And my mobile is always aglow Chorus --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 01 Apr 21 - 10:04 PM R-J, many thanks for your excellent spreadsheets. The late David Myers was a regular attendee at Top End Folk Festivals in both Darwin and Alice Springs. He was a member of the Shiny Bum Singers and contributed many songs to their repertoire. Shiny Bums LAPTOPS IN THE SKY (Dave Myers/Tune: 'Ghost riders in the sky') A local bloke he caught a plane one cold and frosty morn To beat the fog in Canberra he had to leave at dawn When all at once a red-eyed bunch of businessmen he spied Working on their laptops, lattes by their sides Chorus Yippie aye eh Yippie aye oh Laptops in the sky Their gazes fixed, their eyes were blurred, their fingers running hot Their work it seemed important but really it was not They could be writing novels or doing difficult sums But they were only writing emails to their mums Chorus Their keys were jumping off the board, their brows were soaked with sweat They missed both lunch and dinner but haven't noticed yet Then they hit some turbulence and things began to fly There was debris in the cabin and laptops in the sky Chorus The captain said 'We're landing now in Darwin's summer heat So stow your trusty laptops underneath your seats' And as they hit the tarmac there came a strangled roar A hundred sliding laptops went racing down the floor Chorus --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 01 Apr 21 - 05:52 AM It being the eve of the Easter break here Down Under, I have finalised (correctly I hope :) the last 3 months of Song Posts in this thread. So if you desire an Excel spreadsheet for Jan-Mar2021 (or the Aug-Dec2020 one), then send a Mudcat PM to Sandra-in-Sydney for a copy!! Hopefully the Easter holiday will also encourage more folks to add songs, eh!! :) Avagoodwun. Cheers! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Mar 21 - 03:17 AM FRIENDS WON'T LET YOU DOWN, © Denis Kevans 1999, tune © Denis Rice 2007 Audio "Your friends will never forget you", the fluttering leaflet said, "Your friends will never forget you", and then o’er the valley spread, The wide sky cowed in sorrow, and the eyes of the angels wept, For a promise made by the soldiers that their leaders never kept. For soldiers are there when you need them, they're there to suffer and die, And to make the eyes of the angels weep in the depths of the tropical sky, And the soldiers are there to laugh it off, and shoulder their blistering gun, And fight anew in the mud like glue, and the sweat of the tropical sun. And soldiers were there, and their mates were there, their mates the East Timorese, Who fought and died beside them in the night of the jungle trees, Who bled and fought and suffered, so Australia might still be free, And the Aussies cried, when their leaders lied, and poisoned the Timor Sea. "Your friends will never forget you", the fluttering leaflet said, Dropped from the biscuit bomber, and then o’er the valley spread, The wide sky cowed in sorrow, and the eyes of the angels wept, For a promise made by the soldiers that their leaders never kept. Notes Many thanks to Denis Kevans and Denis Rice for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. Why Australia owes a lot to East Timor During World War Two in 1942, Timorese villagers assisted the Australian soldiers who were fighting the Japanese Imperial Army. More than 40,000 Timorese were killed by the Japanese in reprisal for their support of the Australians. Upon withdrawal of the Australian troops from Timor, hundreds of leaflets were dropped by air over the villages in Timor that read "YOUR FRIENDS WILL NEVER FORGET YOU". This initial declaration of friendship has led to friendship agreements between Australian and Timorese communities. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Mar 21 - 03:05 AM TRAINS OF TREASURE © 1984 Denis Kevans Audio They are leaving, trains of treasure, without measure, everyday, Trains of corn and coal and ore for the countries far away, Treasure trains and treasure troves, leaving for the ports and coves, Taking loads of gleaming treasure to the countries far away. When I'm walking home, at midnight, roaming through the city's heart, I can hear the trains uncouple, and the motor's purring start, They pass me. like a film, forty carriages, all told, Whipping round the curve at midnight with their cargo-loads of gold. Like a film of the wartime, when the victors iced the cake, With the corn and coal and ore of the countries they would take, Like a film, they are leaving, treasure trains, and treasure troves, Richer than the reefs of Midas, and lost Lasseter's last gold. Tracks of steel I thought weren't used now, tunnels...mushrooms there I thought, From the lights of Darling harbour, and Glebe Island, to the port, Just a smiling driver, standing with his cap at jockey tilt, I knew they carried treasure by the little bit they spilt. And they pass you through the tunnels where the funnels used to smoke, Round the curving lines of cities where the signals watch them go, Just a wave, a nod, a yahoo, from the guard who throws the brake, And the trains of treasure rumble, like a memory, through the State. And the shunter's yard exploding in the deepest, darkest night, And the trucks, they are unloading, in a light that's brightest white, And the coupled trains uncouple, and the shunter's glove is shown, And another train of treasure trundles down the iron road. They are leaving, trains of treasure, without measure, everyday, Trains of corn and coal and ore for the countries far away, Treasure trains and treasure troves, leaving for the ports and coves, Taking loads of gleaming treasure to the countries far away. Recorded on Trains of Treasure 1985 cassette, 1999 CD |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Mar 21 - 02:57 AM MONUMENTS © Denis Kevans 1970, music Kate Fagan Audio Some leave a marble monument, or a statue made of brass That stands in cold retirement, getting tickled by the grass Some leave a passive portrait they've commissioned for a fee, But no one comes to sculpt or carve, or paint a pic of me. Don't worry, I've been carved up by experts, not a few Subbies, foremen use their knives to carve a pound or two. I've been sculpted by the cleaver winds that scream up in the struts. I've been painted by the mud and slush in bogging rickshaw ruts I am a kind of portrait if you could read between The lines that mark my face with time and see just what they mean The leagues and laughs and lands I've known, the years of wear and tear No gypsy woman on the earth could glean the stories there. From the mullock heavy rickshaw to the hook that rides with ease, From the sucking clay caught shovel, to the steel walk in the breeze, From the jack pick gun's staccato to the steady chisel chip I've worked upon my monument in a life's apprenticeship. From the convict's pickmarked alphabet in Hawkesbury River stone To where the dogman carves his name in the concrete rise alone From mud in acres poured and squared, to the bright mosaic eye, I've worked upon my monument, and build before I die. I see your monuments displayed in cavalcades of war, In lands where you make ashes from the courage of the poor. In little children hobbling down to drink from sorrow's well Looking sadly at their faces, cut to bits by petrol gel. I see your monuments displayed in smog polluted air. To the wraiths of black shawled mountains, in the wake of 'I don't care' In oil choked harbours, upturned fish, and nuclear sullied seas In forests felled, and deserts made from songbird's aviaries You've had your chance, you've run the world your way, we know it's true. Your monuments stick in my craw, the monuments to you. We leave the cities of the world cemented with our sweat The cemeteries of our youthful years, but we're not beaten yet. For there's a living monument to all we've lived and learned The green bans we've created, and the victories we have earned And one day when our cities are but dust upon the air The pollen from our fighting hearts will bloom again somewhere. Recorded on City of Green - Green Ban Songs & Beyond, 1996? |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Mar 21 - 02:48 AM CITY OF GREEN, © Denis Kevans, music Kate Fagan audio I built a city of green, the city of my dreams, Oh my city of green, the best you've ever seen. For, still and all, we all must dream, far better it is to try, To build a city all of green, than to let your dreaming die. And so, my friends, if you have a dream, do not let it die, Then, when you are dead and gone, you'll be alive as I. I was riding high on a plank of steel, with old Sydney stretched below, I saw them grey, in the living day. scurrying to and fro, As I watched those moving shadows in tho streets way down there, I wished that just one fall of light would strike on their lovely hair would ignite their dancing hair. As the day was born, in the hungover dawn, we fronted the old change shed, And we slammed the door, and we cursed and swore, at the lies the press chiefs spread. Our blood had dried in the concrete dust, the steel fix cut our hands, Our ears were sore with the jackpick's roar, but we could understand, yes, we could understand. Like a giant stonehenge, this city we built, for the worshippers of gold, And we ripped and tore, to the jackpick's roar, In the burning heat and cold, And the worshippers came with their pallid flame, to bow their heads and tell All the sins they had never committed, and the ones they had dreamed as well. The big clowns said this shall be so, now knock that theatre down, These rows of terraces can go in the best part of the town, They used their words so hunt me, I can tell you that they stung, I copped plenty and I gave plenty, with my fists and fighting tongue, my fists and fighting tongue. In a mighty tide of human pride, we surged through Sydney's streets, And the mark of green, on the concrete keen, was a kingtide, full and sweet, Our names unknown, nor gold on stone, but still our hearts were high To overturn the lies that burn the life from you and I. I marched out front, I took the dump, on me they tipped the can, I saw the heroes point and say:"Do you call it a man?" But when the coppers buckled me, and slammed the paddy van, I saw the heroes stop and think - perhaps I was a man, perhaps I was a man. And now my friends, my hair is grey, and I am growing young, For in the sky, the stars will play, where once smog curtains hung, I see the oceans shine with fish. the rivers glint with bream, And there wont be any beaches where the kiddies cannot swim. I built a city of green, the city of my dreams. Oh my city of green, the best you've ever seen, For, still and all, we all must dream, far better it is to try, To build a city all of green, than to let your dreaming die, And so, my friends, it you have a dream, do not let it die, Then, when you are dead and gone, you'll be alive as I. Recorded on City of Green - Green Ban Songs & Beyond, 1996? |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Mar 21 - 11:43 PM we have 3 of Denis's songs, Across the Western Suburbs, The Roar of the Crowd, & Green Ban Fusileers, all very famous, & now this also new to me. CD c.1995/6, City of Green - Green Ban Songs & Beyond with Kate Fagan, Bob Fagan, Denis Kevans, Wyn Jonea, Sonia Bennett, Ralph Kelly, Jack Mundey, Milton Taylor, Bill Berry, & more. All songs by Denis, but no words, I'll see what I can find. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 30 Mar 21 - 10:07 PM R-J, it is unlikely that I posted a link. The only collection of Kevans' poems that I have is 'The Great Prawn War and Other Poems' which doesn't include 'Ah, white Man'. I can't remember obtaining the book, but I must have got it from him personally because inside the front cover there is handwritten 'I called him a worship, your bastard' and 'warmest greetings, Denis Kevans'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 30 Mar 21 - 09:01 PM A friend just sent me this link to Denis Kevans, 1939-2005 (“Australia’s Poet Lorikeet”!) reciting his work : “Ah White Man, Have You Any Sacred Sites?” (I thought maybe Stewie had posted that last year????), but this link also included his poem “Mend the Torn Air“ set to music by Denis Rice, and which was new to me : MEND THE TORN AIR Denis Kevans Your beak is the needle, The thread is your song, And you mend the torn air, When the madness is gone, And the harmonies old, of the bushland unfold, When you mend the torn air with your song. And when harmony reigned In the forest of green, And no screaming steel Desecrated the scene, All the birds of the air made the harmony there, And they threaded the air with their song. Now they tear down the trees, And a nightmare it seems, The timeless old forest And the screaming machines, But you with your song, you follow along, And you mend the torn air with your song. When the screaming of shells And the big guns did roar, The larks, with their song, Tried to even the score, They near burst their hearts, in singing their parts, And they mended the air with their song. So your beak is the needle, The thread is your song, To mend the torn air, When the madness is gone, Like the larks in the war Who have done it before, You mend the torn air with your song. (lyrics cut-and-pasted from KV’s Comment on webpage) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFKp_OqVd6I Denis (poet) / Loosely Woven (singers), Sydney About Denis : http://humph.org/lw/concerts/05fogs/c_03_dennis.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Kevans R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 29 Mar 21 - 09:09 PM THE OLD KEG OF RUM (Anon) My name is old Jack Palmer, and I once dug for gold And the song I'm going to sing you recalls the days of old When I'd plenty mates around me, and the talk would fairly hum As we all sat together round the old keg of rum Chorus The old keg of rum, the old keg of rum As we all sat together round the old keg of rum There was Bluey Watt, the breaker, and old Tom Hynes And little Doyle, the ringer, who now in glory shines And many more hard-doers, all gone to Kingdom Come We were all associated round the old keg of rum When the shearing time was over at the sheds on the Bree We'd raise a keg from somewhere, and we'd all have a spree We'd sit and sing together till we got so blind and dumb That we couldn't find the bung-hole of the old keg of rum There was some would last the night out, and some would have a snooze And some were full of fight, boys, but all were full of booze Till often in a scrimmage I have corked it with my thumb To keep the life from leakin' from the old keg of rum And now my song is ended, I've got to travel on Just an old buffer skiting of days dead and gone You young folk who hear me will perhaps in years to come Remember old Jack Palmer and his old keg of rum The above is close to the version that circulated during the folk boom. It was popular here in Darwin, particularly with a group that called themselves Bludger O'Toole. I took this from the Folk Lore Council compilation. It is also on the Mark Gregory and John Thompson sites. There is a much longer version in Paterson's 'Old Bush Songs' from which this perhaps derives. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 29 Mar 21 - 03:18 AM Damn! I doubled up again with 'Pig-catcher'. My apologies R-J. I will aim to do better. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 29 Mar 21 - 12:26 AM Here's another one in the Folk Lore Council compilation in a similar vein to 'Dying Bagman'. The compilation doesn't give authors for any of the songs. However, this one is also included in Ron Edwards' big book. He notes that it was written by Jack Crossland, a cane-cutter and avid pig hunter from Cairns. THE PIG-CATCHER'S LOVE SONG (Jack Crossland/Tune: 'On top of Old Smokey') Oh, marry me darling, I love you sincere I love you the way I love Cairns Bitter Beer Chorus (changes each verse) Oh Cairns Bitter Beer, love, Cairns Bitter Beer I love you the way I love Cairns Bitter Beer I've got an old humpy, a camp-oven or two A rifle and pig-dogs, now I only want you Chorus I only want you, love, I only want you A rifle and pig-dogs - now I only want you You'll never go hungry as long as you live With sweet-bucks and mango and slab of wild pig I'll always be faithful and reasonably true I may love other women, but I'll mostly love you I'll often get drunken and sometime tell lies But I often will tell you how blue are your eyes Oh, marry me darling, I never will fail There are worse blokes than me, love, but they're mostly in jail --Stewie |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 27 Mar 21 - 10:15 PM THE DYING BAGMAN (Unknown/Tune: 'The dying stockman') A strapping young bagman lay dying His swag was supporting his head Around him his mates sat a-crying For a handout of corned beef and bread Chorus Wrap him up in his nosebag and blanket And bury him deep down below Where the demons and wallopers won't worry him For he's gone where all good bagmen go He'd jumped every freight in Australia He'd batted handouts by the score He'd learned all the rorts as a whaler But, alas, he will battle no more There was Diver, the wild kid from Brunswick And Timetable Tommy as well Philadelphia and old Boxcar Harry To bid him a bagman's farewell Those coppers that wait at Rockhampton Those demons that wait at Yarell The blighters can wait there forever For he's catching a fast train to hell! I got this one from a little compilation by the Folk Lore Council of Australia: 'Australian Folksongs of the Land and its People' published 1974. Meredith & Anderson gave a shorter and less interesting version at page 118 of their 'Folk Song of Australia'. Meredith collected it in Sydney from Bill Foster who learned it while on the track during the depression. Here it is: THE DYING BAGMAN A strapping young bagman lay dying His nosebag supporting his head All around him his cobbers were crying As he rose on his elbow and said Chorus Wrap me up in my old police blanket And bury me deep down below Where the coppers and squatters can't touch me In the shade where the old rattler blows There's tea in the battered old billy The pannikins lie in a row So we'll drink to the last merry meetin' Of bagmen before I go --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 25 Mar 21 - 10:25 PM EUREKA LEAD Kenneth Cook (tune is “The Parting Glass”) To make my fortune finding gold I left my love behind in tears I said that I would come home soon But I've been gone for all these years I have a pick I have a pan I wander here in the dusty heat With a memory of a lovely lass Whose hands were soft and whose kiss was sweet There is no gold like the gold of her hair No jewel as fair as I left behind To wander this weary land alone Seeking gold of a duller kind And so on down the lonely days I fear I'll keep a-wandering So very far from the lass I love And still the years are squandering Mudcat Guest, Michael Thompson, who provided these lyrics in Sept 2010 in a now newly-revived thread, thought there was another verse. (my Patricia Cook L.P. has long since “gone to God”!) “ EUREKA LEAD (The tune is The Parting Glass; see elsewhere on this list) By Kenneth Cook, ca 1960 The song (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CemoDoPDWyM) is an early work by novelist-songwriter Kenneth Cook. He doubtless wrote the words, and his wife, Patricia Cook probably set it to the Irish tune. It appears in Cook’s play ‘Stockade’, which had its first production in 1971. The words and music appear in the book of the play, published by Penguin Books in 1975. The song was included on William Clauson’s second LP of Australian folk songs, c.1962. which was titled ‘All Among the Wool, Boys’; see http://www.williamclauson.com/albums/. On the record the song is given the attribution ‘Trad. Arr. Cook-Clauson’, but the ‘trad’ part would apply only to the tune. Cook was in the habit of not claiming authorship of his lyrics, a practice which has resulted in a number of his songs – such as the well-known ‘Cross of the South’ –erroneously being recorded by other artists as ‘traditional’.- Keith McKenry “ http://www.vfmc.org.au/FiresideFiddlers/EurekaLead.pdf Here is William Clauson’s recording of the song (early 60s?) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CemoDoPDWyM R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Mar 21 - 10:03 AM RIDING THE WIND by Kevin Baker video CHORUS - We are riding the wind; we are sailing the storm Through a new age of darkness we are helmsmen of the dawn Though our Captains have deserted and all hope's contraband We will bring this ship to harbour where the sun breaks on the land O you seers of new world order see the seeds you have sewn With your mantras of money you take more than you should own. See how privilege and power crush the hopes of the poor; Can you really claim that all this pain can open heaven's door. CHORUS See the news of the nations war and hunger abound; Hear the cries of the children from each continent resound. While you chant your false promise you can't hear what they say Nor reflect on those dead eyes from which hope's been blown away. CHORUS See the young on our streets walking poverty's beat Staring in at barred windows with their futures in retreat. Hopelessness sleeps in doorways cast from your covenants You turn rich cities' ghettos into concentration camps. CHORUS See our farmers and workers those whom debt has dragged down, You foreclose on their futures in our cities and our towns. You are scorching our earth while you retreat with the wealth That you steal from the people 'neath a screen of lies and stealth CHORUS You have trained hoards of minions filled their minds with your greed, Made them prey of their people feeding with a frenzied need But the History of people shows they're better than you And the love of the many will bring all the people through. CHORUS Recorded on Riding the wind. The Songs of Kevin Baker Volume IV. 2004 |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 25 Mar 21 - 09:32 AM ROSS RIVER COWBOY Dave Oakes Out in the Eastern McDonalds he roams With his swag and his camels, so far from home Dining on parrots and wallaby stew Drinking his coffee; there’s so much to do, When the Condamine’s quiet and the sun has gone west The Ross River Cowboy by his campfire he rests He looks so much younger than the years of his age The Ross River Cowboy, the Spinifex Sage. Chorus Whoop-a-tie, Whoop-a-tie, Whoop-a-tie aye The Ross River Cowboy don’t have much to say Whoop-a-tie, Whoop-a-tie, Whoop-a-tie eye The Ross River Cowboy, he’s just getting by. When horizons are miraged and the summer’s ablaze And the snake’s breath’s entwining the ranges with haze By his campfire he sits and he passes the hours Drinking and smoking and taking cold showers, He’s preparing his saddles for that time in the fall When he takes to the creeks and the low lands that call And he drinks in the air like he’s dry as a bone The Ross River Cowboy, he’s heading home. I once saw a sunset, he said with a sigh When the world was young and so was I When the sky was much brighter than the garnets of Hale* And when campfires at night told so many tales, But now the Toyotas, they are scouring the land You can drive to Arltunga* just using one hand No one sees the forest for the trees, I am sure And I’ve never heard him say so much before. *Hale is a river to the East of Alice, mostly dry. Ross River is an early small settlement East of Alice. Arltunga is an historical gold mining area East of Alice Springs, being the first European settlement from the 1880s. This song is by DAVE OAKES, resident of Central Aust, written mid 1980s – now from his inaugural 2014 CD recording, “Made in Alice Springs” – but I have not yet found his work online. Interviews : https://timberandsteel.wordpress.com/2015/03/27/national-folk-festival-interview-dave-oakes/ and https://alicespringsnews.com.au/2015/02/15/a-tuneful-tick-off-daves-bucket-list/ In one of the above interviews, Dave said this song was inspired by his travels with local Centralian identity and cameleer, Hal Duell. I had it in my memory from years ago, that this song was actually about Noel Fullerton, the Alice Springs “Camel King” (1934-2015) …… and maybe it still was! Anyhoo, here are some Camel links for The Alice. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-07/camel-king-noel-fullerton-dies-aged-81/6754934 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015 : The Alice Springs Camel Cup (2012) + a Noel Fullerton interview. A Chicago journalist on Noel’s Centralian Camel Safari in 1985 : https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-09-29-8503060244-story.html R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 25 Mar 21 - 04:16 AM UNDER THE MILKY WAY TONIGHT Steve Kilbey & Karin Jansson “an accidental Australian anthem” Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty Sound of their breath fades with the lights I think about the loveless fascination Under the Milky Way tonight. Lower the curtain down on Memphis Lower the curtain down all right I got no time for private consultation Under the Milky Way tonight. Wish I knew what you were looking for Might have known what you would find And it's something quite peculiar Something shimmering and white It leads you here despite your destination Under the Milky Way tonight. Wish I knew what you were looking for Might have known what you would find Wish I knew what you were looking for Might have known what you would find. And it's something quite peculiar Something that’s shimmering and white Leads you here despite your destination Under the Milky Way tonight. Wish I knew what you were looking for Might have known what you would find Wish I knew what you were looking for Might have known what you would find. Under the Milky Way tonight Under the Milky Way tonight Under the Milky Way tonight THE DRY : I’m still waiting to see this 2020 mystery/drama/thriller movie, with Eric Bana, filmed across numerous Victorian towns. The theme music is UNDER THE MILKY WAY TONIGHT by The Church,1988, but sung in the movie by Bebe Bettencourt. As for what the song’s about, Kilbey tells Guardian Australia: “It’s not about anything. Like all my songs, it’s a portal into your own mind where I give you a guided meditation. It’s a blank, abstract canvas for people to lose themselves in.” ….. “While it was never his intention, he’s chuffed at how “Australians have adopted it as their own song”. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/2014/jul/15/the-church-under-the-milky-way-an-accidental-australian-a This vidclip of THE CHURCH recording has a Cosmic backdrop to assist in your personal meditation! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA54NBtPKdI But here is an even mellower version by Aussie Aboriginal country legend, JIMMY LITTLE (1937-2012) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHVdpdK1-qc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Little R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 25 Mar 21 - 12:23 AM RAINBIRD IN THE TEA-TREE Peter Cape When the Rainbird sings in the Tea-Tree There’s cloud on the hills out the back Look out of your window and you’ll see me I’ll be coming in off the track. I’ll be droving a mob of the black bulls The dogs’ll be footsore and done Call out as I go past your window Just to show you, you are The One. It’s a long drove up from the Puhoi By Woodcocks and Kaipara Flats I’ll be sick of my oilskins and my jumper And the rain pelting down on my back. I’ve a stockwhip over my shoulder And a plain gold ring in my pack Perhaps as I go past your window I’ll be coming in off the track. So when the Rainbird sings in the Tea-Tree There’s cloud on the hills out the back Look out of your window and you’ll see me I’ll be coming in off the track. Look out of your window and you’ll see me I’ll be coming in off the track. Another of those lovely EnZed songs, sung here by Chris Priestley & Friends : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8NG05fNHCk My question to me is : Will I ever make it to The Land of the Long White Cloud, in this Lifetime??!! ….. sigh ….. (s’pose maybe I already have - in a Parallel World, eh!! :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 25 Mar 21 - 12:19 AM Re “Old TI / Oh TI” - No wurries, Stewie, about the doubling up. I reckon it doesn’t matter too much coz there’s usually always song variants and different audio links and extra info. So, all good! Although I wouldn’t say No to some more input in this thread from other folkies (hint hint!), I do like how, with some very small overlap, the main 4 of us, have posted a great variety of songs and research, but each in our own individual way and preferences. Stew, you once said my record collection was very “eclectic” and I s’pose my posts here reflect that too – rather all over the place like the proverbial *madwoman’s footprints! – but I reckon all our efforts are making for a very interesting collection (some 800+ by now, Sandra reports). Anyone else out there in cyberspace got any comments (or songs)??!! Cheers, R-J *just as well this is not a strictly "PC" thread! :) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 24 Mar 21 - 08:57 PM My apologies R-J for doubling up again. I thought I had checked, but my search was for 'Oh TI' rather than 'Old TI'. Anyhow, I added a little extra info and the original. In light of the recent mass protests by Australia women, it is pertinent to note that women have had some victories against male-dominated organisations. THE GIANT FEELS THEIR STING (Sue Edmonds 1985) There's stories 'bout the heroes Who faced the giant's wrath Tales about the heroines Forced to spin gold cloth Jack and the beanstalk Rumplestiltskin the Dwarf Now the women from Wollongong Have met the giant's force Chorus: The giant's made of iron and steel Didn't feel a thing But the women worked together Now the giant feels their sting This giant big Australian Had the pickings of the crop Only used the work of men To keep it at the top Women were rejected Without a second thought So 34 good women Took the giant to the court Chorus Out heroines of history Fought for equal rights Now we're fighting for a job We face the giant's might We've learnt to work together Like the Amazons of old Make that mighty patriarch To loose its might hold This is the first song in the 1988 publication by the Victorian Trade Union Labour Day Celebration Committee: 'Strike a Light: Contemporary songs of Australian working Life' Selected and Edited by Gillian Harrison. The song with its tune is printed at page 11. Note with the song: In 1985, 34 women for Wollongong won their case against Australian Iron and Steel in the Equal Opportunity Tribunal in New South Wales. The tribunal found that the 55 complaints of sex discrimination on the basis of delaying hiring of women, retrenchment procedures, threat of retrenchment and sexist attitudes among senior company officers were all substantiated. It had taken years of persistence to get jobs in the traditionally male steelworks, only to lose them during the steel crisis in the early 1980s. The decision was a major triumph for the Jobs-for-Women Campaign and has had far-reaching consequences on business practice throughout the country. For the women, it brought to an end nearly six years years of what they said was 'fighting for the right to work'. The song by Sue Edmonds is a tribute to those who fought and won this landmark case'. Australian Iron and Steel was owned by BHP. Steely women Film project --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Mar 21 - 09:06 AM Having fun expressing political fury…..Dale THE YEAR OF Ts : TOXIC TERMITE TONY TROUBLES TRAGIC TURNCOAT TURNBULL AND OVERSEAS WE SEE TWITTERING TRUMP TORMENTS ALL THINKERS! by Dale Dengate, 2015 TUNE: Villikins and his Dinah.video Much sung street ballad in the sixties, which started with: There was a rich merchant who in London did dwell….. and ended with the death of Dinah from a cup of cold pizen ... SO ... There was a rich merchant who in Canberra did dwell, But he faced a big problem till his right wing he’d quell. ‘Twas led by a fellow, termite tony by name, Who was very adept at just playing his game. Chorus: Singing Turali urali urali eh. Entitlements for me but not for you, eh! No sniping or wrecking, no leaking or a-betting. No self-serving claims; those are just not my aims, Says tough termite tony to his troubled leader. Those rumours are phony like an archbishop’s plead-ing, Chorus: Singing Turali urali urali eh. Entitlements for me but not for you, eh! Now all you old pollies take warning by me Though a unit on the Gold Coast looks enticing to thee Take a look at your own mob, for your seat they might rob Spoken - Instead of Villikins and his Dinah,- Think of old toxic tony with his ‘cup of cold of Pizen’. Chorus: Singing Turali urali urali eh. Entitlements for me but not for you, eh! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 24 Mar 21 - 05:09 AM Thanks Stew, "Old TI" is such a lovely old singalong song, redolent of past times and the fragrance of the tropics on the air! See also Dec 8th posting for a link to a version by Jessie Lloyd (Joe Gaia's daughter!), and one by Ted Egan. MEANWHILE : Apparently this song continues to be Hugely popular amongst many Aussies, so, here it is : GREAT SOUTHERN LAND Iva Davies Standing at the limit of an endless ocean Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea City on a rainy day down in the harbor Watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you This is not the way that I remember it here Anyone will tell you it’s a prisoner island Hidden in the summer for a million years. Great Southern Land, burned you black So you look into the land and it will tell you a story Story 'bout a journey ended long ago Listen to the motion of the wind in the mountains Maybe you can hear them talking like I do They're gonna betray you, they're gonna forget you Are you gonna let them take you over that way. Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land You walk alone, like a primitive man And they make it work, with sticks and bones See their hungry eyes, its a hungry land. I hear the sound of the stranger's voices I see their hungry eyes, their hungry eyes Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land They burned you black, black against the ground. Standing at the limit of an endless ocean Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea City on a rainy day down in the harbor Watching as the grey clouds shadow the bay Looking everywhere 'cause I had to find you This is not the way that I remember it here Anyone will tell you it’s a prisoner island Hidden in the summer for a million years. Great Southern Land, in the sleeping sun You walk alone with the ghost of time Where they burned you black, black against the ground And they make it work with rocks and sand. I hear the sound of the strangers’ voices I see their hungry eyes, their hungry eyes Great Southern Land, Great Southern Land You walk alone, like a primitive man You walk alone with the ghost of time And they burned you black Yeah, they burned you black Great Southern Land Great Southern Land Great Southern Land Great Southern Land This is the 1982 original by ICEHOUSE : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWHcQPR2S-U This is the 1989 clip for the “Young Einstein” movie : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtP4yQNpNF4 This is the 2012 remake vidclip with various artists and locations, by Tourism Australia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kHUYXAM3yc “In November 2014 the song was selected for inclusion on the Australian National Film & Sound Archive's "Sounds of Australia" list.” WIKI : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Southern_Land R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 23 Mar 21 - 09:59 PM There are numerous variations in tune and content of 'Oh, TI'. The lyrics below are those printed in Ron Edwards' big book and reproduced in Bill Scott's 'Second Penguin Australian Songbook'. The song was well-known in north Queensland and the Northern Territory, particularly among Aboriginal people. It was sometimes called 'Old TI' and 'Old PI', the latter referencing Palm Island rather than Thursday Island. Ron Edwards also collected what he called an 'old version' which was composed in 1936 by Jarfar Ahmat. Edwards collected it from Charley Ahmat, the brother of Jarfar, in 1965. OH, TI Why are you looking so sad, my dear Why are you feeling so blue? I'm thinking of someone so far away In that beautiful place called TI Chorus: Oh TI my beautiful home That's the place where I was born Where the moon and stars that shine, make me longing for home Oh TI my beautiful home Take me across the sea Over the deep blue sea Darling won't you take me Back to my home TI TI my beautiful home TI my home sweet home I'll be there forever The sun is setting farewell Youtube clip OH, TI (Old version) Oh TI my beautiful home That's the place where I was born Where the moon and stars that shine, make me long for home Oh TI my beautiful home Take me across the sea Over the deep blue sea Darling won't you take me Back to my home TI When at the break of dawn Your dear face I cannot see You will always think Always think of me Up above the clouds Your dear face I cannot see But in your memories dear Never, never say goodbye Oh my Rose, my beautiful Rose You're the one that nobody knows Your eyes are blue, like the sky above, your lips were made for love Oh my Rose, my beautiful Rose --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Mar 21 - 10:01 AM And now for a song from Dale Dengate. Dale carries on the Dengate parody tradition, unfortunately for this thread, most of her parodies are poems. A PARODY MUG MYSTERY by Dale Dengate, 2020 Tune: Adaption of Streets of Forbes. video of Marion Henderson singing "Streets of Forbes" 1966 Come all of ye Figgy folk, And a sorrowful tale I’ll tell. Concerning of Mike Martin, From Candelo he came. Mike strode into the tent and said: Concerning Dengate’s mug, I have a parody, I wrote Then he began to quote: Mike dreamt he was in parliament. It was a dream of joy. For everyone was honourable. The type you would employ. And so it went until he woke, To cheers from bleating YOUS. All in that year of 2-0-1-5, There was many a clever verse But the judge declared that Mike had won, So called upon Sircomraderuss. But as he rose, a tear he shed He’d lost the Dengate’s mug. I stood it on the bar, he said, But it’s no longer there. So Mike ne’re got ol’ Dengate’s mug Although he won that day. The years rolled on and Covid came And kept us all at home. So Comraderuss took to his shed And into boxes dove. ’Twas there he found the battered mug. Where it had hid for years, So now at last this song can end And Mike might get his mug. Figgy Folk is a session run by Illawarra Folk Club, on zoom last year, but now live. John & Dale Dengate Parody Competition, Illawarra Folk Festival, 2014 to 2017 |
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Subject: ADD: Sounds of Then (This Is Australia)[Callaghan] From: rich-joy Date: 23 Mar 21 - 10:01 AM SOUNDS OF THEN (This Is Australia) Mark Callaghan I think I hear the sounds of then, and people talking The scenes recalled, by minute movement And songs they fall, from the backing tape That certain texture, that certain smell. To lie in sweat, on familiar sheets In brick veneer on financed beds In a room, of silent hardiflex That certain texture, that certain smell Brings home the heavy days Brings home the the night time swell. Out on the patio, we'd sit And the humidity, we'd breathe We'd watch the lightning crack over canefields And laugh and think, this is Australia. The block is awkward - it faces west Long diagonals, and sloping too And in the distance, through the heat haze In convoys of silence, the cattle graze That certain texture, that certain beat Brings forth the night-time heat. Out on the patio, we'd sit And the humidity, we'd breathe We'd watch the lightning crack over canefields Laugh and think that this is Australia. To lie in sweat, on familiar sheets In brick veneer on financed beds In a room of silent hardiflex That certain texture, that certain smell Brings forth the heavy days Brings forth the night-time sweat. Out on the patio, we'd sit And the humidity, we'd breathe We'd watch the lightning crack over canefields And laugh and think, this is Australia. Out on the patio, we'd sit And the humidity, we'd breathe We'd watch the lightning crack over canefields And laugh and think, this is Australia. This is Australia etc…... Mark Callaghan of GANGgajang : wrote this 1985 song about his childhood memories as a recent English immigrant to Bundy (Bundaberg, sub-tropical coastal city in central Queensland) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML9h3I5Uktw WIKI : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sounds_of_Then R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GUEST Date: 23 Mar 21 - 09:58 AM SOUNDS OF THEN (This Is Australia) Mark Callaghan I think I hear the sounds of then, and people talking The scenes recalled, by minute movement And songs they fall, from the backing tape That certain texture, that certain smell. To lie in sweat, on familiar sheets In brick veneer on financed beds In a room, of silent hardiflex That certain texture, that certain smell Brings home the heavy days Brings home the the night time swell. Out on the patio, we'd sit And the humidity, we'd breathe We'd watch the lightning crack over canefields And laugh and think, this is Australia. The block is awkward - it faces west Long diagonals, and sloping too And in the distance, through the heat haze In convoys of silence, the cattle graze That certain texture, that certain beat Brings forth the night-time heat. Out on the patio, we'd sit And the humidity, we'd breathe We'd watch the lightning crack over canefields Laugh and think that this is Australia. To lie in sweat, on familiar sheets In brick veneer on financed beds In a room of silent hardiflex That certain texture, that certain smell Brings forth the heavy days Brings forth the night-time sweat. Out on the patio, we'd sit And the humidity, we'd breathe We'd watch the lightning crack over canefields And laugh and think, this is Australia. Out on the patio, we'd sit And the humidity, we'd breathe We'd watch the lightning crack over canefields And laugh and think, this is Australia. This is Australia etc…... Mark Callaghan of GANGgajang : wrote this 1985 song about his childhood memories as a recent English immigrant to Bundy (Bundaberg, sub-tropical coastal city in central Queensland) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML9h3I5Uktw WIKI : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sounds_of_Then R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Mar 21 - 09:45 AM A parody of The Shearers Dream, posted on page 13 at 25 Nov 20 - 12:25 AM by Rich-Joy THE PEOPLE'S DREAM by Mike Martin © 2015, tune The Shearer's Dream, winner of 2015 Dengate Parody Mug competition, Illawarra Folk Festival I am very honoured to have won such a trophy, John was not only a mate but an inspiration to a generation of Folkies. A great writer and a peer of excellence. I dreamt I was in Parliament. It as a dream of joy For every member was honourable, the type you would employ There were no collars, suits or ties, just overalls, boots and pies There were no broken promises, and nobody ever told lies. I dreamt no votes on Party lines, no money ever changed hands They'd legislate the people's will, for the battler, for the working man There were equal rights for both black and white. Men, women and both Where money couldn't buy or influence, the way you decide to vote. I dreamt I gave my maiden speech, a tear came to my eye I spoke of justice and freedom, the reason the diggers died I spoke of poverty and of greed, the demise of democracy I spoke of sustainability and biodiversity. I dreamt every member understood my words, I was as proud as proud could be The call from the floor was for more, and the gallery they all agreed, But then I awoke in a shearing shed, on a bed of greasy wool The clapping the clatter of cutters and combs ... And the cheering was the bleating of YOUS ... video of Lionel Long singing The Shearer's Dream |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 22 Mar 21 - 05:46 AM brilliant! audio of LIBRARY-O sandra (retired librarian) "https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/the_grubby_urchins_-_library-o_-_master_210209.mp3" |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GerryM Date: 22 Mar 21 - 02:42 AM The Grubby Urchins - Library-O Daniel Bornstein and Joe Hillel https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about-library/publications/openbook/shanty-town-mark-dapin-extract When I was young, but ten and three Hi-o, hi-o, librari-o My parents asked, what trade for thee? Send them out on loan And so next morning I began Hi-o, hi-o, librari-o To train as a librar-i-an Send them out on loan Chorus (after each verse): So turn 'em, scan 'em, bin 'em, bag 'em Heave 'em out to roam-i-o Two weeks in the open world Before they come back home-i-o When they're back and through the slot It's to the shelves they'll go-i-o Send them out on loan-i-o Send them out on loan I dreamed that evening as I slept Hi-o ... On where the books are neatly kept Send ... I dreamed of shelves ten fathoms high Hi-o ... Where books from every land do lie Send ... Chorus I dreamed of bins and stacks and shelves Where readers go and help theirselves I dreamed of books in tidy rows From ancient verse to modern prose The libr'y life is free from woes The chief concern is where books goes So growl ye may, but read ye must You talk too loud, your head they'll bust If friendly staff is what ye seeks Bring back your books within two weeks Be warned when on a reading spree Late books incur a nominal fee The lib'ry trade takes stalwart guts For every year bring government cuts They say that borrowing books is hard For those without a lib'ry card And when their lending time is through It's back you'll mosey to renew And when the readin's good and done It's back to pick another one |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 21 Mar 21 - 10:56 PM In the links in my previous post, I missed Truganini: Truganini If you click on 'Show More' under the video, you will find many other links. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 21 Mar 21 - 09:50 PM At the 2021 Golden Guitar Awards, Luke O'Shea won the 'Traditional Country Album of the Year' award for his 'There in the Ochre'. He also was awarded a golden guitar award for 'Heritage Song of the Year' for his collaboration with Kevin Bennett on 'Happy Australia Day' - and deservedly so, a brilliant song for our times. The youtube video is also exceptional. HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY (Luke O’Shea & Kevin Bennett) Cowboys vs Indians, white man vs savages Is what I was shown on TV I knew more about the world wars, the Zulu and the Navaho Than I did of my own history But as you begin to uncover the sin You can feel your heart drowning in shame It all starts with a lie we no longer deny And it’s time we all knew your name So Pemulwuy are you still fighting? Windradyne your song we shall sing And for all your senseless suffering Truganini, did it mean anything? For every chain that has bound you For every child stolen away Well the river still runs from the same poisoned well Happy Australia Day - Australia Day Well, the wheel still turns, the memory still burns And there’s still so much more left to write But if I am a man who is born on this land Then my history is both black and white So Yagan, are you still fighting? Jandamarra your song we shall sing And for all you absorbed as you travelled the world Bennelong did it mean anything? For every shot that was fired intending to drive you away The river still runs from the same poisoned well Happy Australia Day - Australia Day Let the truth fill the space in between us Replacing the blame and the fear And we must learn first we are better than our worst And respect for each other starts here So why celebrate this great nation On a day that insults and divides For regardless of clan, we all love this land Find a way where we stand unified Charlie Perkins I’ll stand beside you Uncle Jimmy your song I shall sing And for all you selfless suffering Mumma Shirl well I feel everything For every right that’s denied us For our children stolen away Well everyone drinks from the same poisoned well And it’s time that we all shared the pain Yes, everyone drinks from the same poisoned well Happy Australia Day - Australia Day Youtube clip Luke O'Shea and Kevin Bennett Pemulwuy Windradyne Yagan Jandamarra Bennelong Charlie Perkins Jimmy Little Mum Shirl --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Mar 21 - 07:58 AM MR MURDOCH’S SONG. John Dengate 2011, tune: The Wearing of the Green ‘I’m not responsible’… just totally irresponsible. Mr Murdoch ‘s very wealthy, there are lots of things he owns But his speciality is tapping into other peoples’ phones. All the citizens of England, when they ring their kith and kin; Say ‘Hello’ to Mr Murdoch, for he always listens in. CHORUS He’s a snooping, prying bastard, he invades your privacy; Cover up the bathroom keyhole if you go in for a pee. If you ring up your girlfriend, don’t be ardent or risqué Or the whole of bloody Britain will be reading it next day. Mr Murdoch may be wrinkled, Mr Murdoch may be aged But he takes an avid interest when your telephone’s engaged. Keep the conversation flowing, don’t be taciturn or strained – That’s not fair to Mr Murdoch, you must keep him entertained. CHORUS Rely on Mr Murdoch, all you Pommies, don’t despair If your telephone starts ringing, Mr Murdoch will be there. With his earphones and recorders and his electronic gear – Make sure that you enunciate… he’s deaf in his left ear. CHORUS tune - The Wearing of the Green |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Mar 21 - 07:52 AM THE MAD MONK c. John Dengate 2009, TUNE: Vilikins and His Dinah/Dinky Di/Sweet Betsy from Pike etc Oh dear, just how low have the Liberals sunk. They’ve chosen as leader the raving mad monk. A royalist ratbag, a popish ex-pug: Reactionary Tory, the monarchist thug. They’ve sacked Malcolm Turnbull and put in his stead A bloke who’s been punched far too hard, round the head; Too many left hooks which rather explains The crackpot ideas that roll round his brains. It’s enough to send Methodists out on a binge – He’s a punchy ex-priest from the lunatic fringe A failed Father Tony who’s frightened of hell And raises his fists at the sound of a bell. They’ve chosen as leader a real troglodyte, A cruiserweight lout from the party’s far right A punch-throwing papist. Oh, times must be grim For the Tories to choose a mad bastard like him, Repeat first verse. tune - Villikins and his Dinah |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 21 Mar 21 - 04:56 AM BtW, re my posting of renowned Upper Yarra Aussie singer Diana Trask on March 16th, I have now finished reading her very entertaining 2010 Autobiography - and can thoroughly recommend it!! ( available from her website (if your library doesn't have it!) : https://dianatrask.com/product/whatever-happened-to-diana-trask-official-autobiography/ ) R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 21 Mar 21 - 04:42 AM MOTHERLODE Ken Ferguson “Uranium Exploration Geologist, thinks twice” KF: Alice Springs, 1983 I am walking on this land with a hammer in my hand And the spinifex is cutting to the bone Though I was sent to look for wealth that is hidden in the earth I have found a Motherlode that they can’t own. Send your ranges to the horizon Give your water to the sand Hide your distance in mirages Where the sky lies on the land. The explorers gave you names for your ridges and your plains Though they feared your ancient landscape like a foe But your weathered rocks and stones, that to me feel more like home Have deeper names than I will ever know. Send your ranges to the horizon Give your water to the sand Hide your distance in mirages Where the sky lies on the land. Well, the gaps that cut your ranges have paintings in their caves And Galahs in screeching clouds around the mills But the sand between your toes where the river rarely flows Shows your creeks are even older than your hills. Send your ranges to the horizon Give your water to the sand Hide your distance in mirages Where the sky lies on the land. Another track from “singing geologist”, the late Ken Ferguson, from his 1997 CD “Basic Blue”. For more info, see my posting on March 5th of his “Alice on the Line” – March 20th posting for “Franklin’s River” - and also his Mudcat Obit. [Sadly, I am yet to find any of his work online …….] R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 21 Mar 21 - 04:40 AM FRANKLIN’S RIVER Ken Ferguson “For John Franklin, Lieutenant-Governor of Van Dieman’s Land in the 1840s, a trip to the West Coast was a welcome respite from the political jungle of Hobart Town. A contrast that has more recent reverberations.” KF, 1990 A winding path has led us here From Derwent to Arrowsmith’s quartz grey peak Lowering forest and sodden heath Aching bones and rattling teeth The clouds above, the earth beneath Leaving the world behind. And all this way the forest’s hush No barking dog nor settler’s axe Just the cry of a cockatoo Or rarer still, a kangaroo In the groves that the sorrowing native knew All trace of him is gone. And the rain falls down on Franklin’s river So much that the water and air are one Watercolour hues and a fragile beauty Free from the restless hand of man. Now on the shining river’s side We lie in Eden’s innocent vale The serpent glides but the fruit is free Of poisoned word or traitor’s creed Of envy’s leer or careless greed Like Man before The Fall. And the rain falls down on Franklin’s river So much that the water and air are one Watercolour hues and a fragile beauty Free from the restless hand of man. Ken Ferguson, 1990. From his 1997 CD “Basic Blue”. (the late) Ken, along with Tony Phipps, wrote a “Folk Opera” concerning Tasmanian Governor John Franklin, which was performed in Perth, WA, but unfortunately I have not yet located any more info about this project - (nor his others) - online. I posted here on March 5th, “Alice on the Line” from his and Bloodwood’s project “The Singing Wire”. https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/11/05/2734403.htm Sir John Franklin was the most distinguished man to be appointed Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land….. A 1980 journey down the Franklin River in Tasmania’s SW with the late Romanian botanist, Antonius Moscal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSCCGkRoChQ And more recently, the exciting possibilities of the world-renowned : “Top river journeys: Rafting the Franklin River : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__6KXCAKHGM&t=319s R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 21 Mar 21 - 04:32 AM CHARITY BEGINS AT ROME Paul Lawler My belly it is swollen; I’m sorry I can’t stand The food I want I cannot get from this barren land For your well-intentioned powdered milk Thanks, but don’t you see That sipping life just once a week prolongs my agony. And the Pope said : Happy Christmas Happy Easter, everyone In Nomine Patris Et fillet mignon If you’d sent an IUD to stop brother, or a tractor for my dad I may not have made it to my teens, but, I might have been a lad A drilling rig for water could save parts of this land I cannot eat the secondhand clothes sold by thieving bands. If Rome had sent some help to us, here in the Sudan Their supposed Christian ethic, might have helped me be a man But Catholics is politics, a sham, a bloody lie The Vatican grows rich and fat, but as for me I die. © Paul O. Lawler, Darwin, 1985 1985 famine news : https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/feb/08/famine-refugees-united-nations-sudan-ethiopia-africa This song hasn’t made it to Paul’s posthumous YT channel yet – but one day soon! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 21 Mar 21 - 04:29 AM LOVE’S LABOURS LOST (aka Back Seat of the Holden) Paul Lawler Well I went to the dance on the Friday night Met a little girl, such a pretty, pretty sight She said that she wouldn’t, but I thought that she might Lie with me, in the back seat of the Holden. Well her eyes were blue and her hair was gold She said my advances were very, very bold Although she said no, I thought she’d get rolled With me in the back seat of the Holden. Well in comes Don Juan and he asks her for a dance There was a wilt in me trousers; something happened to me lance And I knew that this bloke, would take away me chance For to lie in the back seat of the Holden. Well I watched him drink his Martini dry And knew that a visit to the lavatory was nigh The door hit him faster than he undid his fly I was off to the back seat of the Holden. With Don Juan’s nose flat, I carried on the quest To try and get this little lady safely on the nest I said, you look tired, why don’t you have a rest Lie with me in the back seat of the Holden. Well we walked to the car, I was full of hope - I was also full of beer - but still I thought I’d cope But after the kissing - and just before the grope - I fell asleep … in the back seat of the Holden. (the late) Paul Lawler, Darwin 1984 © In these current climes, possibly a rather non-PC song!! But this self-deprecating little ditty (which, however, Paul swore was not autobiographical!!), was very popular in its time in Darwin’s folk scene. He wrote it to be accompanied by his appalachian dulcimer, as in this Top End Folk Club recording from the song’s early days : go to 30:34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7PsCsWL6Pk&t=15s R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Mar 21 - 12:12 AM On a recent Music Show I was listening to an interview with a country singer who spoke Australian & sang American - admittedly she, like other country stars, has spent time in Nashville, some even live there! I just emailed Dale asking if she would like to update it now that Ameralians spend time in Nashvile. (Nashvile was a typo & I was going to correct it, but left it!) so here is the song about Ameralia, published in Singabout 1(3), Winter 1956. - no audio, only dots! AMERALIA, words W.J. Mann, music Jennifer Mann Down Darling's green banks I once happened to stray, And met a young stranger was walking my way, Black bearded like Kelly, and sunburnt and strong, And all the time singing this quaint little song. Refrain: They've sent us their Marilyn and six crates of gum, And they've copped all our oil and uranium; Sing yankee sing doodle sing dinky-di dink, We're the United States of Australia (Inc.) I gave him a good day, and I said how'd you be? And how'd you expect me to bloody well be? Fair dinkum, before you all lonely I stand, The last bloody Aussie that's left in this land. The blade in my razor I wished to renew, So I went to the shop and they showed me a few, But the sign USA on each one appeared, And that's why I'm wearing this dirty great beard. From Chicago, Sears Roebuck came here to try To put us in debt till we flaming well die, These time payment experts are exceedingly tough, Quite prepared to take over where Kelly left off. For Ben Hall and Kelly are long dead and gone, But Hoppalong Cassidy and Crockett live on; Our stockmen are cowboys, our stockyards corrals, Our duffers are rustlers, our sheilas are dolls. When you remember how history was made, By the diggers who died at Eureka Stockade, You'll agree we have heroes to equal the best That ever came out of the Yankee wild west. Then I gave him my hand and I let out a cheer, And I said "Fair Go, Aussie! There's two of us here." Now I've told you this story so you'll understand There are still a few Aussies alive in this land. Ameralia byW.J. Mann with a tune by his 16 year old daughter Jennifer Ameralia byW.J. Mann with a tune by his 16 year old daughter Jennifer, page2 from page 6 - Meet Jennifer Mann - 16 years Jenny Mann ... has written tunes for poems by David Martin, Merv Lilley, Mary Gilmore and her father, Jim Mann. Jim Mann is related to working-class leader Thomas Mann. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 20 Mar 21 - 10:41 PM MY TONGUE GOES BUNGLING THROUGH GEORGIA (John Dengate/Tune: Marching through Georgia) Yes, I’m a local lad, I live in Cammeray I’ve never travelled further than the beach at Byron Bay But when I pick my guitar up, I’m off and far away To Tennessee and California Chorus: Guitar! Guitar! I touch the finger board Then my accent changes from Australian strong and broad And my tongue goes bungling through Georgia I go roaming through Wyonming on my tonsils every day I play a chord and I’m abroad in sunny Santa Fe And I’ve never left the kitchen of my house in Cammeray As my tongue goes bungling through Georgia Chorus I think Australia’s very dull, our history is a bore We should be like America and have a civil war We could all kill one another and make movies by the score In accents that make sense in Georgia Chorus I do not like Australian vowels, they sound all bloody wrong They don’t go with my new blue jeans and don’t fit in my song Ah wish ah was in Dixie, that’s the place where ah belong That’s me, ma, going ‘wee-hah!’ in Georgia Chorus I know that it’s all bullshit and I know that I’m a sham I don’t know why I do it, I just don’t give a damn I’m a bloody little traitor, mate, that’s really what I am As my tongue goes bungling through Georgia Chorus From John Dengate ‘My Shout Again’. John noted: Dedicated to all the deluded Aussies who sing in pseudo-American accents. There is a direct correlation between guitar strumming and this weird metamorphosis. The song was written decades ago but, sadly, it still happens. Marching through Georgia --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Mar 21 - 10:01 AM HOLD THAT LINE, ©1989 Geoff Francis and Peter Hicks, Revised March 2002 lyrics & audio Oh, we're standing here together, One for all and all for one; And we'll keep right on here standing Till our victory we have won, We're united in our struggle, No, there's none us can divide We'll yield nothing to the enemy 'Cos we've justice on our side. Chorus: Hold that line! Hold that line! Sisters, brothers, never weaken, Stand and hold that picket line! Hold that line against the bosses When they try to drive us back, Hold that line against the coppers And their armed baton attacks, Hold that line against the government, 'Gainst all enemies of our class, And hold that line against the scabs too, No, we'll never let them pass. Hold that line against the World Bank And against the IMF, Hold that line and keep on holding it As long as we have breath. Hold that line against their dogma Hold that line against their creed Hold that line to save the future From their plunder and their greed. Oh, we're standing with the millions Reaching out across this world, And with those who fought before us, Our banners here unfurled.. But there's more room yet beside us, If you'll come and join our cause, For the chains that now enslave you, They are all you have to lose. Hold That Line already has quite a history. It was published in the most recent edition of the famous IWW song book. It was featured on the CD In Union is Strength. More recently this revised version was on the shortlist of six of the Wobbly Radio Workers Song Competition in 2002. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Mar 21 - 09:58 AM AUSTRALIANS LET US ALL REJOICE, by Geoff Francis & Peter Hicks 2004 Australians let us all rejoice Fr we have tasted greed; Our mortgage rates mean more to us, Than mere humanity; Our land abounds with credit cards And John Howard took us there; Don’t stop to count as your debts mount, Advance Australia fair! Don’t stop to count as your debts mount, "Advance Australia fair!" While refugees from terror sail'd, To trace wide oceans o'er, To Iraq with Little John we went, To start a bloody war. The sick, the old have all been sold, Our children's future care; They’re all worth nowt, so rise and shout, Advance Australia fair! They’re all worth nowt, so rise and shout, Advance Australia fair! do we really need this tune? source of words, email 2012. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Mar 21 - 09:42 AM HOOKER REX by Don Henderson Singabout 5(2), Jan 1963, lyrics & dots, p.20, info about record p.14 There's been a lot of talk and controversy, 'Bout the White Australia policy, But there's lots of land and plenty more still, If someone doesn't have it, L.J. Hooker will. Chorus - Everywhere we look we see Hooker-Rex, Wonder where it's gonna pop up next, Maybe one day we'll live to see It inscribed on the back of our currency. Yanks and the Russians racing to the moon, In a space-ship and a rocket and a barrage balloon, When they get there a sign said "Too late!", The whole damn thing is now a Hooker Estate. I've often though a better name would be , Green-belt Hooker Proprietary, But Hooker-Australia is alright I guess, Till they start to use that apostrophe 's. published in - Oh, Pay Me. Blue & White Collar records ... For the first time in the history of Australia, a record has been issued with songs specifically aimed at promoting trade union demands. The A.C.T.U. , the Australian Council of Salaried and Professional Associations and the High Council of Commonwealth Public Service Organisations ... Alas, this record does not seem to have survived in any library or collection, |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 17 Mar 21 - 08:41 PM Six decks to Darwin' won the 'Bush Ballad of the Year' category in the 2021 golden guitar awards. It is of particular interest to me as it references my hometown. SIX DECKS TO DARWIN (D.Perrett, K.Dixon, R.Garland) Six decks to Darwin hauling up the Duncan Road I just drove out of Newry with a load of Top End gold Heading for the export ships, those drovers of the sea Six decks bound for Darwin, big heart of the Territory On the stations in the Top End they are mustering the steers For live export out of Wyndham and the Darwin Harbour piers So we got the roadtrains rolling and we’re heading out to load In this fabled series Kenworth I power up the road When the soft grey light of morning comes a-creeping through the sky The trailers are a-rattlin’ as we load the cattle high One eighty head of brahman beauties are ready for the ride And to tell you that I love the job should come as no surprise Yeah, I got six decks to Darwin hauling up the Buntine Road Just drove out of Camfield with a load of Top End gold Heading for the export ships, those drovers of the sea Six decks bound for Darwin, big heart of the Territory I glance back in my mirrors where the trailers track behind I see a dust cloud risin’ and fillin’ up the sky I’ll stop to check the cattle now and then along the way Then when we hit the bitumen, the wind will fill our sails From the red dust and the ranges to the ocean deep and blue You’ll hear the old girl growlin’ as the gear shift changes through There’s the song of travellin’ cattle to the rhythm of the road While the horses ‘neath the bonnet knuckle down and bear the load Yeah, I got six decks to Darwin hauling up the Barkly Road Just rolled out of Lake Nash with a load of Top End gold Heading for the export ships, those drovers of the sea Six decks bound for Darwin, big heart of the Territory Yeah, I got six decks to Darwin hauling up the Duncan Road Just rolled out of Rosewood with a load of Top End gold Heading for the export ships, those drovers of the sea Six decks bound for Darwin, big heart of the Territory Youtube clip Dean Perrett recorded and wrote most of the song. He explains the background in this clip: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Mar 21 - 07:11 AM July 17, 2010 Federal Election announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. A Parody for the times. HAS-BEEN HAZARDS by Phyl Lobl, 2010, Tune Trad: Cushy Butterfield/One of the Has-beens I'm one of the has-beens, a Prime Minister ex, I once used to advertise Ko-koda treks, But I stayed far too long on the political trail, I was put out to pasture by an up-start female. Now I've been overlooked by the cricketing mob.(Aughh ughugh) No that's not a cough, it's a strangulated sob. The game that they served me it just wasn't fair, You could not call it cricket but they didn't care. NOW THERE* is a new chum in line for the Lodge, (* pause to emphasize each word in capitals) But that straw-berry blonde has ex-PM's to dodge. (Repeat last line with Audience participation as chorus) I'm a has-been as well, or so the press say, But my name is still fore-front by the hand of D'Alpuget My silvery mane it still covers my head, I do not wear budgies, I'm called one instead. PAST PM's* are not helping the sheila it seems, They are too busy trying to mend broken dreams. (Audience repeats last line) I'm another of the has-beens, I freed up the banks I was all for getting rid of the Brits not the Yanks, But at least I have a musical, and though it's not the top job I still like to spar with a Budgie called Bob. NOW THIS* stella, sheila new chum, some thought she was Red But that Copper-top, that Ranga, looks blue now instead. (Audience repeats last line) I was not a PM, just up for the job, I was feisty I was frantic to strike with a left lob. But one blow too many and Howard won through, I wish I had dyed my hair now, and called myself Blue. YES THAT* Redhead is striking her light very well, She a match for Tony Abbott the chief lib-er-al (Audience repeats last line) I'm Kevin from Queensland an ex-PM too, My end it came suddenly, a bolt from The Blue My life was up-turned I did not see the trend, Unlike Mist-er Beckham I never learnt to bend. God, if it was you who decided the coup I don't understand 'cos she doesn't talk to you, All those Sundays in church had me feeling secure, Now I'm here in the wilderness, lost and unsure. BUT SHE'S* a Redhead, a Coppertop, a Ranga, a Blue, With a rival like that let's hope Abbott's gone too. (Audience repeats last line Cushy Butterfield by The Ian Campbell Folk Group |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 16 Mar 21 - 05:33 AM I’d read of this happening to other Posters, but this is a first for me : my whole post just disappeared into cyberspace! :( As I just started reading the *autobiography* of the lauded Aussie singer from Victoria, DIANA TRASK, I thought I’d add this “Country-Pop” hit of hers, regularly heard on Nostalgia Radio these days. She was a familiar figure on early TV variety shows Down Under (also hosting her own), and could sing anything (she loved jazz), and became a well-known performer in America, friends with and singing with, many of the greats in Show-Biz. OH BOY (The Mood I’m In) Tony Romeo It's so warm in here Outside the night is clear Think I need a walk Have myself a little talk Sleep, baby sleep While your mama walks the street tonight To think about your daddy Boy, (oh boy) the mood I'm in The pain I feel in missin’ him Oh boy, (oh boy) I can't explain He haunts my mind and racks my brain I could comb every home, every neighbourhood bar I could ride every greyhound or railroad car Just to find him and say Hey, wherever you are Come on home, we love you, boy So I walk and weep Through the downtown streets I wander sadly Boy, (oh boy) the mood I'm in The pain I feel in missin’ him Oh boy, (oh boy) I can't explain He haunts my mind and racks my brain I could comb every home, every neighbourhood bar I could ride every greyhound and railroad car Just to find him and say Hey, wherever you are Come on home, we love you Boy, (oh boy) the mood I'm in The pain I feel in missin’ him Oh boy, (oh boy) I can't explain He haunts my mind racks my brain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4oHALmefko Diana Trask performing “Oh Boy” in 1975 on “Pop! Goes the Country”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z8LJwzU4Oc This is Diana on “Sing Along with Mitch Miller” in the very early 60s, beautifully singing the ultimate Stalking song!! “ ….. In recent years, Diana has studied natural medicine and graduated with honours as a Master Herbalist ….. “ https://dianatrask.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeKgtj_MclQ an interview c. 2015 – after some 20 years, she’d gone back to singing and songwriting! [BtW, she turns 81 this June……] *Whatever Happened to Diana Trask* – a memoir by Diana Trask, with Alison Campbell Rate, published in 2010 : https://melbournebooks.com.au/uploads/product/156/diana_info_sheet.pdf R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Mar 21 - 05:18 AM a very new song by Phyl Lobl, written at 5am this morning which makes it a bit over 15 hours old. Phyl has been singing Pete Seeger's 1966 version about LBJ for decades, video here, along with Len Chandler's original words (1964) BEANS IN MY EARS, SLOMO’S VERSION by Phyl Lobl Jenny says not to put beans in my ears, beans in my ears, beans in my ears, Jenny says not to put beans in my ears, beans in my ears. Why would I want to put beans in my ears, beans in my ears, beans in my ears? Why would I want to put beans in my ears, beans in my ears? Y’can’t hear the women with beans in your ears, beans in your ears, beans in your ears, Y’can’t hear the women with beans in your ears, beans in your ears. So y’can’t hear the words like NO & ENOUGH, NO & ENOUGH, NO & ENOUGH, Y’can’t hear the words like NO & ENOUGH with beans in your ears. Hey, Marise look at me, I've got beans in my ears beans in my ears, beans in my ears, Hey, Marise look at me, I've got beans in my ears, beans in my ears. What's that you say? I've got beans in my ears beans in my ears, beans in my ears, What's that you say? I've got beans in my ears, beans in my ears Yes too many Pollies have beans in their ears, beans in their ears, beans in their ears, Yes too many Pollies have beans in their ears, beans in their ears. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 15 Mar 21 - 09:59 PM This fine song gained the APRA award for song of the year at the 2021 Country Music Association of Australia golden guitar awards. THE HIGH PRICE OF SURVIVING (Shane Nicholson & Leyon Milner) There’s been mistakes and there’ll be again We’ll fall from grace every now and then Loving and losing from pillar to post The things we hold dear can hurt us the most It’s just the price of surviving we pay For sticking it out through another day But it’s better than taking the other way out Ghosts at the table, junkmail and trash I bury myself in cigarette ash I draw the curtain, there ain’t much to see The world moves along and forgets about me It’s just the price of surviving we pay For sticking it out through another day But it’s better than taking the other way out Hope, carry me now Hope, carry me now It’s gonna take us the long way around It’s just the price of surviving this life Learning to breathe through the trouble and strife When living is only being alive Then it’s just the price of surviving we pay For sticking it out through another day But it’s better than taking the other way out Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 15 Mar 21 - 12:12 AM SAM HOLT (w.G.H. Gibson/Air: 'Ben Bolt') Oh! don’t you remember Black Alice, Sam Holt — Black Alice, so dusky and dark, The Warrego gin, with the straw through her nose, And teeth like a Moreton Bay shark. The terrible sheepwash tobacco she smoked In the gunyah down there by the lake, And the grubs that she roasted, the lizards she stewed, And the damper you taught her to bake. Oh! don’t you remember the moon’s silver sheen, And the Warrego sand ridges white? And don’t you remember those big bulldog ants We caught in our blankets at night? Oh! don’t you remember the creepers, Sam Holt, That scattered their fragrance around? And don’t you remember that broken-down colt You sold me, and swore he was sound? And don’t you remember that fiver, Sam Holt, You borrowed so frank and so free, When the publican landed your fifty-pound cheque At Tambo, your very last spree? Luck changes some natures; but yours, Sammy Holt, Was a grand one as ever I see, And I fancy I’ll whistle a good many tunes Ere you think of that fiver or me. Oh! don’t you remember the cattle you duffed, And your luck at the Sandy Creek rush, And the poker you played, and the bluffs that you bluffed, And your habits of holding a flush? And don’t you remember the pasting you got By the boys down in Callaghan’s store, When Tim Hooligan found a fifth ace in his hand, And you holding his pile upon four? You were not the cleanest potato, Sam Holt, You had not the cleanest of fins. But you made your pile on the Towers, Sam Holt, And that covers the most of your sins. They say you’ve ten thousand per annum, Sam Holt, In England, a park and a drag; Perhaps you forget you were six months ago In Queensland a-humping your swag. But who’d think to see you now dining in state With a lord and the devil knows who, You were flashing your dover, six short months ago, In a lambing camp on the Barcoo. When’s my time coming? Perhaps never, I think, And it’s likely enough your old mate Will be humping his drum on the Hughenden road To the end of the chapter of fate. This song was a parody of 'Ben Bolt', written in 1848 by Dr T.D. English. The tune was a German air arranged by N. Kneass. It was printed in the 'Melbourne Vocalist' 5th edition 1857. Charles Thatcher, the goldfields balladeer, wrote what he called a 'new version' which began: Oh! don't you remember, sweet Alice, Ben Bolt - Sweet Alice with hair hazel brown She wept with delight when you gave her a smile And trembled with fear at your frown Thatcher also wrote a mining version titled 'Jack Jolt' that was similar in structure to 'Sam Holt'. In his 'Colonial Ballads', Hugh Anderson noted that 'Sam Holt' derived in part from 'Jack Jolt'. G.Herbert Gibson, whose pen name was Ironbark, wrote 'Sam Holt' which was published in 'The Western Champion' (Blackall/Barcaldine, QLD) in May 1881. It was prefaced by this sentence: 'Overlanding Jim apostrophiseth his quondam mate who hath made his pile and gone home'. It was printed in 'The Bulletin' in 1881. This printing gave 3 notes: 'flashing your dover' = 'taking pot luck with a sheath knife'; 'Towers' = Charters Towers; the original line was 'From the Barks down at Callaghan's store' and 'Barks' was vernacular for 'Irish'. A.B. Paterson included 'Sam Holt' in his 'The Old Bush Songs' 1905. Strangely, Stewart & Keesing did not include it in their 'Enlarged and Revised' edition of 'Old Bush Songs'. It is included at page 34 of Hugh Anderson 'Colonial Ballads' 1962 edition. Anderson noted that 'Paterson, as in several other instances, took the words, not from newspapers, but from a collection of Gibson's poems'. You can also find it at page 120 of Ron Edwards' big book. This rendition by Warren Fahey omits a few stanzas: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 13 Mar 21 - 11:19 PM NEW ZEALAND WHALES (Anon) Come all you whale men who are cruising for sperm Come all you seamen who have rounded Cape Horn For our captain has told us and he says out of hand ‘There’s a thousand whale off the coast of New Zealand’ T’was early one morning just as the sun rose That a voice from the masthead cried out, ’There she blows’ Our captain cried, ‘Where away and how does he lay?’ ‘Three points on our lee, sir, scarce two miles away’ ‘Then call up all hands and be of good cheer Get your lines in your rowboats and tackle-falls clear’ We sailed off the westwind and came up apace The whaleboats were lowered and set on the chase We fought him alongside, harpoon we thrust in In just over an hour, he rolled out his fin The whale is cut-in, boys, tried-out and slowed down He’s worth more to us, boys, than five hundred pound Our ship it is laden for home we will steer There’s plenty of rum, boys, and plenty of beer We’ll spend money freely for the pretty girls ashore And when it’s all gone we’ll go whaling for more Note: These were the last days of the hand-harpoon, over a hundred years ago. Sperm and right whales were common in New Zealand waters, as they had been off the coast of Peru. The Spanish-American War meant the world’s whalers came south and Kororareka in the Bay of Islands became a busy whaling port. [’Song of a Young Country’ p 8]. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 12 Mar 21 - 08:13 PM STEEL & SILVER (Bob McNeill) Alison, she said, walk with me tonight by the harbour We will watch the stars We'll dance among the stones And you need fear no stumble For I shall hold your hand I shall hold your hand And so with stealthy grace from town they slipped away like shadows Silent in the dark No priest or layman saw Alison led boldly By hand and step, the sand beneath her wet Between the waves and seawall Between the waves and seawall Alison, she said, let go your heavy vest That we might skip more lightly Let down your raven hair That it might fall around you Likewise your steel & silver Likewise your steel & silver And so she let them fall, and with them her resolve Always to heed the ocean And so upon the sand they laid their bodies down And as they slept the silent ocean crept The waves grew ever higher The waves grew ever higher Alison, she said, wake up the tide is high And we are hard by the seawall The waves are coming fast And I fear we are lost For we must brave the ocean For we must brave the ocean And so they turned away from the harbour wall to face the tide The swirling grey black ocean The water cold and dark pressed into their hearts By hand and brine Maidens intertwined They found them so next morning They found them so next morning Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 10 Mar 21 - 10:07 PM WARNING: the songs in this post contain racist components. In his 'Big Book of Australian Folk Song', Ron Edwards published a trio of songs that were popular in the Northern Territory: 'The Buffalo Shooter's Song', 'Fanny Bay' and 'The Combo's Anthem'. All three songs reference Fannie Bay in Darwin and reflect widespread contemporary attitudes towards Aboriginal women. In his splendid presentation at the 2000 National Folk Festival in Canberra - 'White on Black: in the spirit of reconciliation' - Keith McKenry gave context to these songs. Keith has kindly given me permission to reproduce his introductory remarks: No matter where you prick a map of Australia, when the Europeans first arrived there the predominant, and often the only, source of females for male sexual gratification was Aboriginal. It didn’t take long therefore for the term ‘Black Velvet’ to enter the colonial vernacular. The craving in colonial society for women as sexual playthings became –as it has across the world – a factor in the economic interaction between communities, and a catalyst for violent confrontation, with rape commonplace, and murder and retribution not far behind. Syphilis and gonorrhoea, smallpox and measles, and other diseases previously unknown to Indigenous Australia followed as well, with catastrophic results. Despite the fear in the popular imagination of sexual violation of white women by blacks – the unspoken sub-text of The Romance of Runnibede, for example— there is scant evidence of it happening. Even in the Governor murders there was never any suggestion the women were sexually assaulted. But violation of black women by white men was so commonplace as to be hardly worth remarking upon. The supposed loose morals of black women, and their supposed desire, too, for white males, provided a fertile basis for rationalisation. As the next group of songs, from the Northern Territory states, it was just ‘a little bit of nonsense’. Keith explained earlier in his presentation that 'The Romance of Runnibede' was a 1928 silent film: Time now to return to the silver screen, and to the making in 1928 of a silent feature film based on a story by Steele Rudd, creator of the beloved characters Dad and Dave. It stars an American, Eva Novak in the role of the virginal white maid Dorothy Winchester, and Dunstan Webb, daubed with black paint, as the evil Witch-doctor Goondai ... In the same year this film is made, 1928, Fred Brooks, a dingo shooter is killed in the Northern Territory. The murderers are thought to be Aborigines. In retaliation whites, led by Constable William George Murray go on a rampage shooting dead an admitted 31 Aborigines and possibly as many as a hundred or more. Most, if not all, the Aborigines shot have no connection whatever with the killing of Brooks. A court of inquiry finds the shootings ‘justified’. In the towns and cities few people would have the faintest knowledge of the killings in the Territory. But many would go to the cinema to see the lovely Dorothy rescued from the murderous black savages in Runnibede. The 'Governor murders' relates to the July 1900 brutal killings of Mrs Mawbey, her 2 daughters, her 2 sons and a governess by 3 Aboriginals: Jimmy Governor THE BUFFALO SHOOTER'S SONG (w.Anon/m.A.Colahan) If you ever go up north among the buffalo, Then maybe at the closing of the day, You will sit and listen to those flamin’ mossies And watch the sun go down on Fanny Bay. For again to hear the crying of the curlew, And the lubras in their nagas salting hides, And to sit around the campfire by an evening And listen to those shooters telling lies. For the gins come down from Oenpelli Mission All wrapped up in Jesus when they come, But they soon forget about those Ten Commandments When you hit ’em with a snort of O.P. rum. And the strangers came and tried to take our lubras— So we waited while they had their fun, For they might have tried to catch the old red dingo Or rape a flamin’ emu on the run. And if ever there should be a piccaninny, You can bet your boots it won’t be all real black, For those shooters like their little bit of nonsense Along the Alligator River Track. Note by Ron Edwards: 'The Buffalo Shooter's Song' was composed by a group of shooters at Nourlangie in the Northern Territory in 1948. It is in the tradition of 'Fanny Bay' and 'The Combo's Anthem' and other Territorian ditties. It goes to the tune of 'Galway Bay' and comes from 'The Green Eyes are Buffaloes' by Allan Stewart. 'Galway Bay' was composed by Dr Arthur Colahan. Allan Stewart was a well-known Territory character. He was a bit of a tosser. I recall that he once stood for the Territory parliament and had his surname changed by deed poll to Allan-Stewart so that he would have first place on the ballot paper. He still lost comprehensively. FANNY BAY (w.Anon/m.A.Colahan) With a couple of little drinks to make us happy, And a couple of little beers to make us gay, And a couple of little gins to keep our strength in, You’ll find yourself at last in Fanny Bay.* Some are white and some are black and some are yellow, And some are old and some are young and gay, But what costs you thirty bob in Castlereagh Street, You can get for two and six in Fanny Bay. Note by Ron Edwards: 'Fanny Bay' was one of the slightly bawdy songs that the late Bill Harney used to enjoy singing, partly perhaps to shock the city types that he met when he came south for a holiday from the Northern Territory ... Bill did not know who had composed the song, but he said that it was very popular around the Territory. Keith McKenry also drew a distinction between these bawdy pieces and the 'thoroughly repugnant ballads of race hatred'. Fannie Bay is the registered spelling for the suburb and bay. This excerpt from NT Place Names Register is interesting: Click THE COMBO'S ANTHEM (Anon) When the stock panel slants to the last narli beast, And the smoke signals rise we will ride to the feast, Where the pandanus fairies are singing their song, And the black ducks are mating, by quiet billabong. ’Neath black velvet banners we’ll carve our way through, As we march to the strains of a didgeridoo, We love and we laugh as pale introverts sigh, We sneer at Protectors, whose laws we defy. We know each girl’s name by her track on the sand, The girls of the desert, the girls of inland, The maids of the mountains, and Lord I forgot- The sirens of seashores, the best of the lot. They are comely and dark, and the glint of their eyes, Are as dew drops that gleam on a wintry sun’s rise, And the firm rounded breasts that seductively tease, Are like seed pods that sway on squat baobab trees. So hail Borroloola! The old V.R.D. The ‘Nash’ and the hill for a cracker old spree, We are riding with cheques and we sing as we come, For a gut full of wooing, a gut full of rum. Let gin-shepherds watch when the rain clouds appear, And the ring of horse-bells tells his girls we are near, He may lock up his studs, but we’ll steal them away, To our smouldering fires till the breaking of day. So green is the grass when the early rains fall, And pull off pack bags as we answer the call, We will ride down bush tracks, and old friendships renew, To the beat of a tab-stick and didgeridoo. Ron Edwards supplied a tune at page 92 of his big book. He noted: 'The Combo's Anthem' was collected from the late Bill Harney in 1957. A combo is Territorian slang for one who lives with an Aboriginal woman. Although he described it as a 'real old nostalgic one', it is probably no older than the middle of the late thirties. It was not only white men who referred disparagingly of Aboriginal women, I once worked with a part-Aboriginal bloke, an ex-stockman, who called Aboriginal women in the bush 'spinifex fairies'. William Edward Harney --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 09 Mar 21 - 11:02 PM Forgot to say what “Daggin Round” refers to! A Dag is pretty much the same thing in New Zealand and Australia, but perhaps the Kiwi descriptor may be a tad more complimentary?! I believe Stewie posted a Fred Dagg (John Clarke) song from EnZed, here last year? But in both countries, “Jeez, yer such a DAG!” implies that you are still accepted and loved - despite your different / quirky, appearance, habits, or behaviour! From the ANU : https://slll.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/andc/meanings-origins/d dag An unfashionable person; a person lacking style or character; a socially awkward adolescent, a 'nerd'. These senses of dag derive from an earlier Australian sense of dag meaning 'a "character", someone eccentric but entertainingly so'. Ultimately all these senses of dag are probably derived from the British dialect (especially in children's speech) sense of dag meaning a 'feat of skill', 'a daring feat among boys', and the phrase to have a dag at meaning 'to have a shot at'. The Australian senses of dag may have also been influenecd by the word wag (a habitual joker), and other Australian senses of dag referring to sheep (see rattle your dags below). Dag referring to an unfashionable person etc. is recorded from the 1960s. 1983 Sydney Morning Herald 24 September: Has it helped them feel more relaxed with the boys in their PD group. 'Well, most of them are dags', Julie laughs, 'but at least they're easier to talk to'. 2011 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 11 July: Christian, while your budget may appear to be reasonable .. your dress sense is nothing less than appalling. Never ever wear a striped suit, a striped shirt and a striped tie together - just dreadful ... You look like a real dag. dag: rattle your dags Hurry up, get a move on. Dags are clumps of matted wool and dung which hang around a sheep’s rear end. When a daggy sheep runs, the dried dags knock together to make a rattling sound. The word dag (originally daglock) was a British dialect word that was borrowed into mainstream Australian English in the 1870s. The phrase is first recorded in the 1980s. 1984 S. Thorne Battler: C'mon Mum, rattle yer dags - the old girls are hungry! 2010 Countryman (Perth) 11 February: Rattle yer dags, woolclassers, time's running out to re-register yourselves with the Australian Wool Exchange. WIKI also has some interesting history and variations : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dag_(slang) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 09 Mar 21 - 10:36 PM Mark Gillett [ NZ 1953 – 2007 QLD ] – see Mudcat obit. A sort of bluesy, down-home, banjo groove, that was a Mark favourite – but not yet found online! It was a bit of a travelling number, with verses as remembered – or made up - at the time of singing!! DAGGIN’ ROUND SUGARTOWN Mark Gillett Dag-Dag Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga, Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga, Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga..... Cut cane while days are bright, crush it and cook it right Mills roarin’ through the night Old Sugartown Namba, There’s Ted from up the hill, workin’ at Moreton Mill All dressed in ~King-Gee drill Daggin’ round in Namba, Chorus : Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Tourists with a vide-cam, takin’ snapshots of the sugar tram ~Lorry Loco’s goin’ bam-bam Old Sugartown Namba, They’re tryin’ not to stare, at that safari-suited lair With a beer gut and surfie hair Daggin’ round in Namba, Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Steppin’ out for pizza snacks, across the railway tracks In Ugg boots and trackie daks~ Daggin’ round in Namba, That Westie’s off his face, he’s decked out in perfect taste Checked shirt around his waist, he’s Daggin’ round in Namba, Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown A victim of the piercin’ craze, rings and studs in his face His Dad thinks he’s a disgrace, he’s Daggin’ round in Namba, A young girl with style to spare, pants got one little tear Sure enough, that tattoo there, she’s Daggin’ round in Namba, Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Street childrens doin’ wrong, window glass in their thongs Spray cans and OJ bottles, they’re Daggin’ round in Namba, Down by Petrie-side, banks all wet and wide Long grass where the travellers hide Daggin’ round in Namba, Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Black smokestack paints the sky, cinder flakes floatin’ by They bring tears to my eye, I’m Daggin’ round in Namba, Where did the good times go, don’t ask me coz I don’t know My memory’s as black as snow, I’m Daggin’ round in Namba, Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown I’m goin’ back some day, hope and sometimes I pray Like I never went away, to go Daggin’ round in Namba, I will forget my cares, don my kaftan and flares Boogie on down to Cemetery Square, I’ll be Daggin’ round in Namba, Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown I’ll do just what I please, hang it all out in the breeze Just like the 70s, I’ll be Daggin’ round in Namba, Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round – Daggin’ Round in Sugartown Dag-Dag Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga Dagga ……………………… YEAH! ‘Namba’ (officially, Nambour*), on Petrie Creek in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, was known for its landmark Moreton Central Mill – crushing the sugar cane in the centre of town. Until 2003, the cane ‘trains’ ran regularly in season through the town’s streets, carrying the cane from the outlying farms to the crusher. The strong smell on the air, belching steam, noise and night lights when the Mill ran 24/7 in the Crushing Season (July-December) ….. and the smoke and cinders when the farms were burning the cane thrash* ….. all the traffic giving way to the whistle of the little haulage trams, trundling along the tramway in the centre of the road - it’s all consigned to history now. And the farms? Well, some are now wasteland (but still with venomous snakes) – while many are turf farms, light industry, or particularly, housing estates optimistically built on the flood plains :) And the Mill (crushing for 106 years), is now a supermarket site, while many vacant shops line the town’s streets and the regional hospital is rebuilt elsewhere. However, a few rail engines and parts of the Mill history were saved for the Museum, built on the nearby old school site https://nambourmuseum.org.au/look-inside/ and the steel Crushers and enormous cogged wheels, have been welded into street sculptures! Nambour's a little sultry (surrounded by hills); but a town where daggy dressing and cumfy flannos (checked flannel shirts) were unashamedly okay - it's just the way it was ……. Namba wouldn’t die though and there are signs of it at last regenerating ……. perhaps even as a Regional Centre for The Arts, with performance venues and galleries, plus quirky shops and more cafes now opening up – so could be interesting!! * the name “Naamba” is from an Aboriginal word describing the bark of a prolific red-flowering bottlebrush. * just like in that great Mary Gauthier song “(Burning the) Sugar Cane” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIQgzCai3EQ ~King Gee – is an iconic, longtime Aussie workwear brand. ~trackie daks – comfortable track suit pants (often worn low-slung, resulting in an “attractive” baggy bum! :) ~Lorry Loco - from kids storybook, plus : https://www.bundysugar.com.au/education/kot.html A song by Penny Davies for Nambour, which she sings here with partner, Roger Ilott : “Don’t Let ‘Em Close Our Mill (the Sugar Mill’s the Heart of Town)” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHKl1n-mIc0 Just found this documentary called “The Last Crush : Closure of the Moreton Sugar Mill” and the flow-on effects of, first up, global issues (falling price of sugar) - plus all the rest - on the millworkers, the cane farmers, and the town itself : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHKl1n-mIc0 On a historical note, from 1863-1904, some 62,000 South Sea Islanders (men, women, children - known as Kanakas, from Melanesia) were mostly kidnapped/tricked/blackbirded to forcibly work the canefields, cottonfields, coffee plantations of Qld and Nthn NSW. Due to the new Aust'n Federation laws in 1901, the majority were forcibly deported after 1906. By all accounts, life did not improve for those who were shunted back to an island (not necessarily their original one), nor for those who got to stay : https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/discover/exhibitions/australian-south-sea-islanders R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 09 Mar 21 - 10:10 PM DREAMS MORE REAL Mark Gillett I was travelling endlessly on the road, as in dreams I’ve often known myself to do When the feet found a friend, the path of well-worn stone, when I found myself hand-in-hand with you, The cool green air washed us free of care and its sweet smell floated on the breeze (on the breeze) And the light seemed to shine out from everywhere as it poured down golden through the trees. And if I dream of me, if I can dream of you If you should have to go, would you dream me too And if I passed you by, you I didn’t recognise Sometimes dreams can seem more real than Life. We sped on up the track, I couldn’t hold you back, you pulled me on, said we really had to go And ahead I spied past the round hillside, lofty mountains shimmering with snow, And it seemed to me like reaching out for a strawberry, almost taste it on your tongue (on your tongue) Such a promise of plenty and endless happiness, good times really just begun. And if you dream of me and if I can dream of you If you should have to go, would you dream me too And if I passed you by, you I didn’t recognise Sometimes dreams can seem more real than Life. In the wink of an eye, the time to say goodbye, you were gone, lovely dream was swept away And I tried in vain to find you again, down city streets weary and grey By the factory gates stood a fairground with travellers, pitched their tents to make a stand (make a stand) And a glad voice cried to me as if they knew me and a bonny young stranger took my hand, “You’re still searching, I see” is what he said to me “Won’t you rest with us for just a day” (just a day) “There’ll be music so sweet; share with us to eat, find beauty and comfort where you may.” And if you dream of me, if I can dream of you If you should have to go, would you dream me too And if I passed you by, you I didn’t recognise Sometimes dreams can seem more real than Life. Well I looked at the sideshow, the coloured lamp glow, the trash and the drab and the poor, And the smile on your face in that high, bright place, t’was a memory I could not ignore When I shook my head, the stranger said “We’ll meet again, as you roam” (as we roam) “May your courage endure and your love stay pure and your one true dream bring you home”, And as ever I seek a glimpse of the peak, or the high, bright country it surrounds (it surrounds) There’s a thing yet I know, where e’er I go, you will be there, you’ll be waiting to be found. And if you dream of me, if I can dream of you If you should have to go, would you dream me too And if I passed you by, you I didn’t recognise Sometimes dreams can seem more real than Life. Mark sings, accompanied by guitar and playing his banjo – but not yet found online :( R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 09 Mar 21 - 08:21 PM I HUGGED MY MATE (Andrew London) Well I’m a kiwi through and through I’m an All Black follower just like you and I grew up watching Pine Tree on TV He’d score a try between the posts and trot on back with the other blokes with no display of joyfulness or glee and I was brought up similarly we don’t emote spontaneously and we try to avoid displaying affection publicly but something happened the other night that I’d like to share with the group tonight that signifies a strange anomaly I was having a beer with a mate, you see or a shandy it might have been actually and he told me things were grim as they could be He’d lost his job at the florist’s shop and got pulled over by a traffic cop who booked him on the spot for DIC and his wife had run off with his kids and shacked up with a friend of his who was consequently behaving quite aloof and rather smug well I don’t know what came over me but just as we got up to leave well, bugger me, I gave my mate a hug You hugged a mate? I hugged a mate You hugged a mate! I hugged a mate By the time I realised what I’d done, it was just a bit too late He was big and he was hairy, and he was understandably wary and it was scary, but I hugged my mate ‘What’s that for?’ he said to me and I mumbled about solidarity and being there for your mates when times get tough so he wandered off and I fretted a bit but he seemed to soon get over it and things got back to normal soon enough but I was down the pub just after that having a Pimms with another chap on a Thursday when they do that excellent dill and salmon quiche well he seemed distracted as we dined so I said, ’What’s on your mind?’ he said he’d heard I’d hugged my mate, and what was it like? well I said at first it was rather strange and we both felt awkward at this rearrangement of the traditional way that kiwi blokes behave but I said that a moment of intimacy had been enjoyed by my mate and me and it might have been even nicer actually, had he shaved and I said I thought we should be allowed to show affection, even in a crowd and not be afraid to let it out so everyone can tell well he looked confused and a little sad and told me how he missed his dad well stone the crows, I hugged this bloke as well You hugged a mate? I hugged me mate You hugged a mate! I hugged another mate By the time I realised what I’d done, it was just a bit too late He was big and he was hairy, and he was understandably wary and it was scary, but I hugged my mate so we’ve all gotten used to it now we seldom fret anymore about how we show affection indiscriminately and we get together, put the world to rights on our weekly Downton Abbey nights in the spa pool with a tall banana daiquiri and as Dave and I drove home last week from the ballet, I began to speak about how sensitive and caring we renaissance chaps can be and he agreed we certainly had progressed said he rather liked the way I dressed changed gear, and put his hand back on my knee You hugged your mate? I hugged my mate You hugged your mate! I hugged my mate By the time I realised what I’d done, it was just a bit too late He was big and he was hairy, and he was understandably wary and it was scary, but I hugged my mate Yeah, I was sensitive and caring and I hugged my mate So get out there, you blokes, and hug your mate Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Mar 21 - 08:30 PM raredance - if you'd like a copy of the spreadsheets listing the songs, PM me with your email address & I'll send them to you. #Alphabetical Listing of Oz-NZ songs-15Aug-31Dec2020 (625 entries) #Date Posted Listing of Mudcat Oz-NZ songs-from 01Jan2021 (172 entries) Penguin Book of Australian Ballads by Philip Butterss and Elizabeth Webby, 1993 Penguin Book of Australian Ballads by Russel Ward. 1964 Great Australian Folk Songs by Ron Edwards 1991 (originally published as Big book of Australian folk song,1976) These are all classic books, Russel Ward was an academic involved in the folk revival of the 50s & Ron was a very early publisher (Rams Skull Press 1952-date) & collector. A biography of Ron is due out next year. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Mar 21 - 09:44 AM THE COUNTRY SONG c. Martin Pearson & John Thompson video Written and sung by John Thompson (left) & Martin Pearson (right). National Folk Festival 2008 & I was there! Note -the video does not include the 3rd verse, but all the other stuff included makes up for the lack of verse 3. Mama, get the hammer, there's a fly on Papa's head. I've been roped and thrown by Jesus in the Holy Ghost corral. I fell in a pile of you and got love all over me, But who bit the wart off Grandma's nose? Chorus: I wanna whip your cow; I wanna whip your cow, 'Cause you just can't play a sad song on a banjo, anyhow. You done tore out my heart and you stomped that sucker flat. You made toothpicks from the timbers of my heart. If the jukebox took teardrops, I'd cry all night long. You stuck my heart in an old tin can and shot it off a log. Well, I guess if you can't feel it, then it ain't really there, And the last word in lonesome is "me." Repeat chorus If I can't be number one in your life, number two on you. I can't get over you, 'til you get out from under him. I'm so miserable without you, it's almost like you're here, So I flushed you down the toilet of my heart. Repeat chorus until tired, light blue touch paper and retire |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: raredance Date: 08 Mar 21 - 03:05 AM Hi, I did not see an obvious songbook thread for the New Zealand book where it would not effectively disappear because no one would look for it there. In the for what it is worth department, I have two other volumes that are related to this thread. One is the Penguin Book of Australian BAllads by Phillip Butterss and Elizabeth Webby. It has about 150 entries that includes both folk song lyrics and other verse that may never have been sung. There is another Penguin Book of Australian Ballads by Russell Ward. I do not know the relation between the two. The other volume is Great Australian Folk Songs by Ron Edwards. It has over 300 entries. The latter book has tunes, the former does not. I have no knowledge of how many items in those two books are already in MUdcat or in this thread. Perhaps someone here has one or both of those books. I do not plan to put those contents here. This thread is already unwieldy with no alphabetical list of what is in it. Adding 450 lines of list would be insane. Rich R |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Mar 21 - 02:14 AM oops, I copied Bob's typo - tune Wild Drover is really Wild Rover, & left off the video - Wild Rover by The Seekers |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Mar 21 - 02:06 AM I'm cleaning up my drafts (some are unsent emails dating back cough, cough, years), others are interesting stuff I found in various places, including mudcat It was published in Singabout, Journal of Australian Folksong, volume 6, number 1, 1966 This song comes from one of the most valuable sources of Australian traditional song and story during the heady days of the 1950s and '60s - Harold P. C. ('Duke') Tritton. 'Duke' was a thoroughly traditional singer ... meaning that he quite cheerfully wrote new words whenever necessary in a living tradition. I seem not to have selected it for inclusion my collection Singabout - Selected Reprints, Ed Bob Bolton, Bush Music Club, Sydney, 1985. I reproduce the words recorded by Janet Wakefield (and Janet's notes) below. WILD DRIVER By 'Duke' Tritton, tune: Wild Drover (Duke wrote this in 1963 or '64 after a friend and I had driven him home several times after Club meetings. It is true that she once went through a red light and I through an orange one, but I'm sure that had nothing to do with Duke writing this song ... Janet Wakefield.) I've been a wild driver this many a year And always made sure I had plenty of beer But now I must give the whole lot away For an "on the spot copper" got me yesterday. CHORUS: So it's NO NO Never, Never no more Never Never again shall I play the wild driver no more. I had only ten schooners, which isn't a lot And sixty was the top speed I had got But I didn't give way to the man on the right There was a crash and I got such a fright. CHORUS: I had swiped three cars and a two decker bus And every one there made a terrible fuss. They all seemed to think that I was to blame And the way they abused me was a real shame. CHORUS: They threatened to lynch me, went looking for rope Things looked pretty grim, I had given up hope When the copper he came and he said, "Cut it out" "Just leave it to me and I'll deal with this lout." CHORUS: Then the copper, he pulled out his book and did say "It's fifty green smackers, the fine you will pay And I'll cancel you licence for the rest of your life And then I'll be sure that you'll keep out of strife. CHORUS: Perhaps some terms need explaining outside of the Australian context: "on the spot copper" dates the song to around the introduction of "on-the-spot fines", standardised penalties which could be paid rather than appear in court ... and trust to the mercy of the local magistrate. "ten schooners" A schooner was (at least in NSW) a beer glass holding an alleged 15 ozs ... certainly a good half bottle. Ten schooners would have meant 5 bottles of good strong beer . "sixty": Back then we still used miles per hour ... and the suburban limit was 30 mph. "smackers": Pretty common worldwide English for a note of currency. The only note in Australia's old currency that was green was the pound note. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Mar 21 - 03:07 AM I only recognised some, & I also try not to type up words but sometimes there is no option. I asked a friend to make an OCR scan of a long song & then I copied & pasted the words, that was so much easier. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 06 Mar 21 - 09:57 PM Thanks, Sandra. I got your email with gold star. I merely wished to point out that 'half' is more than 'a few'. I had to copy- type a goodly number of them. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Mar 21 - 09:32 PM well done! gold star on it's way! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 06 Mar 21 - 08:56 PM Fair go, Sandra. In response to raredance's posting of a list of songs in 'Song of a young country', you commented that we have 'a few'. Of the 51 songs in the book, I have posted 26. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Mar 21 - 03:43 AM THE BALLAD OF TONY AND BRONNIE by John Warner, tune Frankie & Johnny Tony and Bronnie were pollies in for a glittering time, Tony made Bronnie the speaker of the house she was his partner in crime, Hear that Tony say,”Bronnie’s done no wrong”. When Tony made Bronnie the speaker, Out went impartiality, ’Cause Bronnie left the coalition in their seats And flang out all the ALP She weren’t no man But, hey, she done them wrong! Now Bronnie, she knew all the rule book, She knew how to draw and to shoot, But every time she drew number forty four, She’d shoot Tony A in the foot, And Tony says, “What did I do wrong?” Bronnie’s front page on the Tele, That’s quite amazing to see, ’Cause the big front page of the Daily Telegraph Is reserved for the ALP, Still that Tony says “Bronnie’s done no wrong”. Bronnie spends thousands on travel, Taxpayers’ loot down the drain, Nick Xenophon will use his new skateboard, Malcolm Turnbull will take the train Still Tony says, “Bronnie’s done no wrong”. Bronnie likes lipstick and diamonds, And costumes in stripes white and black, But whoever her embalmer was, She should have given him the sack, He was just a man And he done her wrong. Has Tony been onto the Tele, Had a word in the editor’s ear? “Put Bronnie up on your big front page, So I can make her disappear”. Still Tony says “Bronnie’s done no wrong”. Well, Bronnie resigned like she oughter, It was high time that she had to go, Next episode in the Daily Telegraph, The ballad of Tony and Joe, Two sleazy men, Who haven’t done no wrong. Finale tune – Bonnie & Clyde Tony and Joe were liberal politicians, And devious magicians with the people’s money Wouldn’t it be fun, to blow away their cover And suddenly discover that they lied ? Yeah! And John Warner had nuffin’ to do wiv der writin’ of dis, OK? |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Mar 21 - 03:25 AM TONY THE TURBINE by John Warner, tune Little Polly Perkins (Good ‘ealth to John Dengate. There’s a new Joe to kick now) The future’s in renewables, not oil, gas or coal, So Tony, shut your gob, lad, let the wind turbines roll Now we all know what Tony Abbot don’t like, It’s passing wind turbines as he rides on his bike. Aesthetics are important, I have to agree, And Tony in his budgie smugglers is offensive to me. Have you seen Smokey Joe with his toxic cigar, He can still afford petrol to drive a flash car, And he says that the windfarms are spoiling the view, It’s amazing what dollar signs on your eyeballs will do The future’s in renewables, not oil, gas or coal, So Tony, shut your gob, lad, let the wind turbines roll There’s various whingers with beef stock for brains, Who blame the wind turbines for their aches and pains, They’ve got self diagnoses from all the worst books, And they swear that wind energy’s mutating their chooks. But Tony will protect them with fury and fist, He’ll create a commissioner that none can resist, While coal, gas and petrol all roar and pollute, He’ll turn back wind energy like old King Canute. The future’s in renewables, not oil, gas or coal, So Tony, shut your gob, lad, let the wind turbines roll Hey Tony, come out on a picnic with us, To see the wind turbines, there’s room on the bus, We’ve stood underneath them as the great blades spin round, Heard crows, cockatoos and magpies, but of turbines no sound. We’ve heard the sheep feeding and the wind in the grass, Watched horses use the towers for scratching their ears, As for those mutations folk speak of with dread, Why all those sheep and cattle have four legs and one head. The future’s in renewables, not oil, gas or coal, So Tony, shut your gob, lad, let the wind turbines roll But Tony, you’re a turbine with your big windmill ears, And the flatulent drone that you’ve churned out for years, You spin like that blowfly I morteined last night, You generate lots of heat, mate, but give us no light. So Tony take your backers and your good old mate Joe, Get out there on the hilltops and blow, bullies, blow You’ll keep the vanes spinning through thin and through thick You’re far better than a windfarm at making us sick. The future’s in renewables, not oil, gas or coal, So Tony, shut your gob, lad, let the wind turbines roll (repeat chorus ad-nauseum) John & Jenni were standing under a turbine talking to the farmer when they heard a strange noise - the sound of sheep chomping on grass! & Joe? - Joe Hockey in case he has faded from current memory! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 06 Mar 21 - 03:12 AM Thanks RareDance, I'm wondering if it should be posted in one of Joe's Songbook Collection threads?? - like those linked in /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=118474&messages=21#4006163 I've not really looked at the list of links to see if there is a thread just for Australian or New Zealand song books .... Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Mar 21 - 02:44 AM HARLEY DINOSAUR by John Warner 1991, recorded by Walters & Warner on 'Who Was Here?' 1997 no audio or video This story is true except that the dinosaur was actually a sheep. Written during John's 'Browns' period at Murrumbateman, NSW. Names have been changed to protect the sheep. 'Twas at the Murrumbateman tip when no one was about, A giant egg lay in the sun and a dinosaur hatched out. The only creature round the place, an ancient mother sheep Adopted him at once instead of the lamb she failed to keep. She called him Harley Davidson, her baby dinosaur, From a picture in a magazine she'd seen some days before, She sang him Sheep May Safely Graze and Baa Baa Black Sheep Until her young triceratops was safely fast asleep. And it's oh my! you never saw before Such a thumping great triceratops like Harley Dinosaur! Now in the paddock by the tip, young Harley grew and fed And by three weeks had overtopped his mother by a head. And soon some forty head of sheep and half a dozen rams Saw one bright, young triceratops at play among the lambs. But springtime brings the shearing, the crutching and the like Of the sorts of things they do to sheep to keep down blowfly strike, And so one worthy grazier, by name of Thomas Scroggs Set out upon his motorbike and with him four sheep dogs. The Honda roared across the land with rattles, thumps and bangs, When Harley heard the racket, something ancient bared its fangs, And as the sheep in panic fear all fled in leaps and bounds, A fully grown triceratops stood up to face the hounds. Now Blue and Dolly, Bill and Meg were sheepdogs of the best, Prize winners all though they might be, they'd never faced this test. 'Get in behind!' cried Farmer Scroggs, his face a wrathful frown, So in behind the log they got and kept their heads well down. At this the farmer's face went red, he said a nasty word, And revved his motor-cycle round to catch that fleeing herd. But Harley charged that mean machine, his great feet squashed it flat, He chased the farmer up a tree and that, my friends, was that. And so we leave good Farmer Scroggs his features turning black His sheep behind their dinosaur can laugh at all attack I'll leave his dogs behind their log and terminate my rhyme By saying 'Harley Davidson beats Hondas, every time!' |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Mar 21 - 02:29 AM thanks, raredance, skimming thru I can see a few songs we have & many more we can mine! |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: raredance Date: 06 Mar 21 - 01:55 AM Not sure if this belongs here but didn't know where else to put it. An index to New Zealand Folksongs. New Zealand folksongs : song of a young country / edited by Neil Colquhoun. Published Wellington : Reed, 1972. John Smith A. B. Davy Lowston .New Zealand whales .Come all you tonguers .Soon may the Wellerman come .Across the line .Blood red roses .Altered days .I'm a young man .Little Tommy Pinkerton. Black velvet band. Rise out your bed. Darling Johnny O. How to dodge the hard times. Trade of Kauri gum. The black swans. Song of the digger. End of the Earth. As the black billy boils. Tuapeka gold. Bright fine gold. Packing my things. Wakamarina. New chums at the diggings. The old identity. Gold's a wonderful thing. Waitekauri ev'rytime. Diggers farewell. Gay deserter. Te kooti, e ha. Rerenga's wool. Murderer's rock. McKenzie and his dog. My man's gone. Drinking rum and raspberry. Talking swag.Friendly road. The foggy foggy banks. Shearing.Dug-out in the true. Leatherman. Banks of the Waikato. The day the pub burned down. The mill. Run for your life. Railway Bill. Down in the Brunner Mine. The sweater. 151 days. Gutboard blues. Cargo workers. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 06 Mar 21 - 12:00 AM GOODBYE TO THE WATCHMAKER Paul Lawler Chorus : This is goodbye to the Watchmaker, and a trade so fine and rare To the little old man with the glasses on, who soon will not be here. Many long years in apprenticeship, on a wage that was soon spent quick Learning the craft of turning a shaft, five thousandths of one inch thick. For the first year it’s making the tea, then through the first clocks you wade Hoping one day to sit at the bench, alongside the men in the trade. Manuals, autos, days and dates, chronographs and stopwatches timed And finally then, the big days arrives : your apprenticeship papers are signed. But things are changing, there’s no time now, to worry about tolerance and torque A book on electronics is just what you need, to tune up your tuning fork. Forget the alarm clock’s ring-a-ling, for the trade we must toll the bell When the ticks and the tocks of mechanical clocks, are replaced by a mercury cell. The factories dictated the future to us : make them faster, there’ll be more to sell In stepping up production to stamp out the piece, they’ve stamped out the craftsmen as well. © Paul O. Lawler : who trained as a watchmaker in Melbourne and Sydney. He worked as a Watch and Clock Maker in Sydney and Darwin, and also Clifden (Galway) ..... : actual date of composition is unknown, but likely sometime in the late 1970s! : and The Tune ? He did write one, but I’ve not yet come across a recording! 1946-2014 (see Mudcat Obit thread) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: rich-joy Date: 05 Mar 21 - 08:53 PM ALICE ON THE LINE Ken Ferguson Stone and iron, wood and thatch A stockyard and a cabbage patch Smiling faces from the dawn of time So this is our home. Cool verandah, hitching rail The Stuart Arms could tell a tale Willis’s, Raggat’s, a home or two Six house town. From The Gap to Middle Park, I would go riding with the moon The hills and stars would take my breath away And every night the parlour song, the piano just in tune We’d sing to bed another golden day. The black men from the camp are working for us on the line The women in our house become our friends But it grieves my heart to see, whatever they’ve done wrong Them dragged off south, neck-to-neck in chains. Chorus : The midday sun has drained the colour from your face But there are garlands of wild flowers in your hair Powder up your cheeks with the red, red sands of time That’s how I remember Alice on the Line. Hill and gully, rock and sand Silence shrouds the empty land Stillness hard to understand Here comes the rain. Flooding Todd, frothing brown Lifeline, blood of Stuart town Green shoots starting from the ground Born again. My mother bore four children here without a doctor’s hand My father had to wield a surgeon’s lance My brother Mort, like all of us, cherished by this land Now lies beneath the battlefields of France. Chorus I always will remember, Alice on the Line. Written in 1987 by KEN FERGUSON (died 2009 – see Mudcat Obit). He was one of the Folk Scene’s “singing geologists”, who came from Inverness in Scotland, but also shared his music in Australia from Tasmania to Perth and Alice Springs to Beyond. Well-remembered here for his co-writing of “Folk Operas” e.g. “The Singing Wire” with Alice Springs band Bloodwood, re the construction of the Overland Telegraph – and from which this song comes, and “Franklin” with Tony Phipps, on the life of the lost Arctic explorer and former Van Dieman’s Land governor, Sir John Franklin, and “Working Man’s Paradise” also with Tony Phipps, re William Lane and the Australian colony in Paraguay. Plus, his presence in bands like Blackthorn, McCool and Facial Expressions. This song can be heard on Ken’s 1997 CD “Basic Blue” (13 tracks), but sadly, I haven’t found it online yet. :( The story of the engineering feat that was the 2000 mile (3200kms) North-South Overland Telegraph in Australia is here : https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/overland-telegraph Soon after completion in 1872, it was also linked to the newly completed Java-Darwin submarine cable – and the world shrank yet again!! Some books of interest which detail the story of the region and the Overland Telegraph [OTL] include : ALICE SPRINGS -From Singing Wire to Iconic Outback Town : Stuart Traynor, 2016 and ALICE ON THE LINE : Doris Blackwell nee Bradshaw with Douglas Lockwood, 1965 (and which inspired this song). Known as Mparntwe to the indigenous Arrernte people, Alice Springs (called Stuart until 1933), is the town of the Red Centre of Australia, on the banks of the Todd River (which is most often dry!) and the many regional popular events include The Camel Cup / the Henley-on Todd Regatta / the Finke Desert Race / The Beanie Festival. https://alicespringstelegraphstation.com.au/ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Stewie Date: 04 Mar 21 - 07:55 PM Great to see the name change for the thread. John Harpley of Wongawilli put a tune to a poem by one of Australia's finest folklorists - John Manifold. BINDA BALL 1864 (w. John Manifold/m. John Harpley) Chorus: There was never a dance like our Boxing Day ball For we found at the height of the fun That the Monks girls were dancing with Gilbert and Hall And Christina Mackinnon with Dunn The bushrangers’ gold in the candlelight flowed And we joined in their generous caprice But storekeeper Morris ran off down the road To Bathurst to warn the police ‘Bad scran to the blackguard’, cried Margaret Monks ‘There’s time for just one event more It’s a matter of teaching good manners to skunks Come on, and we’ll burn down his store’ When the traps and the traitor rode up with the dawn The store had been burnt to the ground The dancing was over, the curtains were drawn And the bushrangers couldn’t be found They arrested Christina and Ellen and Peg But we heard the girls pluckily call ‘It was cheap at the price to have shaken a leg With John Gilbert, Jack Dunn and Ben Hall Youtube clip There's a contemporary account of the bushrangers' visit to Binda in a Melbourne newspaper: Ben Hall and His Gang at Binda --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Mar 21 - 04:21 AM TERRY LAZY, An Animated Vision of a disillusioned Bushwalker Words: John Turier, Newcastle NSW, 1982 tune McNamara’s Band G’day me name is Terry Lazy I sit in a 4 wheel drive I expose meself to the elements I can rough it and still survive. I’m as tough as they come As I sit on me bum I’m king of the tracks and trails Superior by far to all natural things Especially lizards and snails. CHORUS Get out of me way, I’ll run you over I’m in the bush to prove I’m in the bush. Any hill or gully or mountain or valley Where someone else has been You’ll here the hum of me engine revving And smell me dieseline. Any bird or wombat or bunyip or lizard Who tries to get in me way I’ll blast him deaf as a post with me truckies horn And then you’ll hear me say. CHORUS When you face the elements like a man There’s essentials you must provide That’s why I’ve got 4 dozen KB In an esky by me side. Now there’s rocks and boulders and stumps and bumps and hills as big as walls I once did meself an injury When a tinny fell on me balls. CHORUS (sung high!) Now the scenery’s boring ‘Cause all there is to see is bloody trees And all them mangy wildlife things They’ve all got lice and fleas. All the ‘roos are good for is Pal petfood And trees take up the land So I squash the odd fat wombat And knock down saplings when I can. CHORUS Get out of me way, I’ll run you over I’m in the bush to kill the bloody bush. When a convoy leaves at the break of day To tackle the mountains high We all blast our horns in unison And give the CB cry (10-4!) There’s Toyotas, Range Rovers, Landrovers and trailers In parties of 4s and 5s. We all stay in close proximity Keeping CB talk alive. CHORUS Get out of me way, we’ll run you over We’re in the bush to prove we’re in the bush. We all want to be just like our heroes Up the Leyland up the Leyland Up the Leyland brothers. INSPIRATION FOR THE SONG One weekend in 1982 John, his partner Chris, Shayne Kerr and Roz Uren (now Kerr) hiked up to Barrington Tops via The Corker, a very steep 900 metre climb up a 9 km track from Lagoon Pinch to Carey’s Peak. Back then, the track was open to 4WDs. As we tramped up the mountain with backpacks we were passed frequently by large vehicles who forced us to jump out of their way, annoying us profusely. On returning home, John wrote the song. At the time, Shayne, Roz, John Turier and Sandra Tate played as Bushfire Band, then from 1983 without Sandy as Bantam Bush Band till 1985. John often sang his song at our bush dance engagements in the Hunter Valley. Fortunately and wisely, NPWS has since closed the popular bushwalking track to vehicles. The NSW Folk Federation Newsletter number 15 of 1982 published the words of the song. John Turier has since become a well-known artist and sculptor. Shayne now sings ‘Terry Lazy’ at appropriate functions. Notes by Roz Kerr, 2013. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Mar 21 - 03:52 AM AUSTRALIA SQUARE - Bernard Bolan no audio or video, it's on 'The Quirky Works of Bernard Bolan' (2002, Australian Broadcasting Commission) if anyone has it! Every day I wend my way to the middle of Sydney town To earn my screw and do my due for a company of renown I do my chore on the 40th floor of a building round and tall Up in the sky where the rents are high and we all do sweet damn all Chorus: Flash goes the light and ring goes the bell and up in the air we go Sailing in The Summit lift to the land of ice and snow Up past the names that we've never heard of the people we don't know I earn my bread with Sydney spread 600 feet below On the ground floor near the big lift door the crowds all huddle round In our castle in the air there's all creeds there, there's yellow, white and brown The doors gape wide, we trudge inside and terror fills the air Three, two, one, all hope is gone, tell mother I still care Chrysler, Wimpy, Esso and Clyde and Ord BT and Co The names go past so devilish fast, we must be near the snow At thirty three, which is Hitachi, seventeen Japanese go And that silly little bugger from Colonial Sugar is standing on my toe It's strange the way that every day as we trace our heavenly track The ones that want to get out first are always at the back So push the button, mind the door, stiffen up your knee Sorry miss, I meant to press number forty three |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Mar 21 - 03:40 AM JOIN YOUR UNION © John Warner 26.11.06, Tune Hymn "Bread of Heaven" - "Guide me oh thou great Jehovah/Redeemer" Welsh tune: Cwm Rhondda. Composed by John Hughes (1873-1932). Audio Chorus Join your union, join your union, Friends, we need our unions now, Friends, we need our unions now Thieves grow rich and liars prosper, Milking profit's sacred cow. They make war to make their money, How we need our unions now. One man's pay for three men's labour, Bosses' powers enshrined in law. When our rights are torn and trampled, How we need our unions more. Women's rights and women's wages, Fiercely fought and barely won, Children's care and education, Go where all our hopes have gone. Shake the souls of union leaders, Shout the message clear and plain, Leave the desk, desert the boardroom, Fight the workers' cause again. Quiet words did not avail us, Patience only earned defeat, Unity's our only answer, Join your unions on the street. Stand with us and swell the numbers, We are the majority. Sing in chorus, raise the banners, Union is victory. John Warner is the author of the song, "Bring Out the Banners" (http://unionsong.com/u034.html) which has been empowering unionists all over the world. He dedicates this new one to singer, Danny Spooner, with thanks "for making songs a weapon of mass reconstruction". www.folkjohnwarner.com |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Mar 21 - 03:19 AM find no. 3 - DENGATE UPSHIFT © John Warner, July 2018 - Tune Spanish Ladies/ Brisbane Ladies/Augathella station tune Note - This song is a parody of a parody. The late, great John Dengate wrote a superbly wicked set of words about Joe Bjelke Petersen, once a very corrupt premier of Queensland. The first line is John’s and I have tried to use his style and structure as a memorial of a splendid political satirist. Farewell and adieu to the premier of Queensland, Give it up, Anastasia, and get on the bus, If you’re wining and dining with Carmichael mining, And selling the farm off you’re no use to us. CHORUS We’ve ranted and roared at that greedy Adani Ranted and roared till we’re blue in the face, But all you hear, Honey, is the sound of his money, For an ALP leader you‘re a shame and disgrace By cute misdirection you won the election, You said that Carmichael would not go ahead, Then you were in power just barely an hour, And promptly inverted the words that you said. CHORUS - We’ve ranted and roared at that greedy Adani You Galilee gargoyle, stop financing snake oil, You Belyando baggage, you Tangorin twit, Tell that hairy Gujarati you’re leaving his party You devious, dispicable, coal funding person…. CHORUS - We’ve ranted and roared at that greedy Adani What? Ten thousand jobs from that vote buying mob? Adani’s in debt with his back to the wall, With every new spokesman those jobs are a joke, man, With Autonomous mining there’s no jobs at all. CHORUS - We’ve ranted and roared at that greedy Adani Come next election will you see defection, From voters who think that Adani’s a rat? With the choice between you and the Nationals crew, When you both back Adani, then what choice is that? CHORUS - We’ve ranted and roared at that greedy Adani My dear Anastasia, you couldn’t get crazier, By selling off Queensland to a known corporate thief, What sort of solution is toxic pollution To a bleaching and dying Great Barrier Reef? CHORUS - We’ve ranted and roared at that greedy Adani ~~~~~~~~ email to Dale Dengate, 17 July 2018 G’day Dale, I bashed this one together for the Stop Adani street campaigns. Since I deliberately used John’s original splendid parody as a model, I thought I’d send it to you. Cripes, he was a witty bloke with a word. There was no way to match that “adjective noun” Good ‘ealth, John W Why we will #StopAdani |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Mar 21 - 01:15 AM now for a couple of other finds - never before published so I asked John's permission & he is sending me more!! JOHN HOWARD'S CHRISTMAS © John Warner, December 2005 no video or audio. Tune. Good King Wencessessesslauss [I don't know how to stop spelling it.] Christmas presents filled the mind Of wee johnny howard. He would rob the workers blind, To see the rich empowered. With his tiny brain in gear, Plans the lad was making, Gifts to give his mates this year, From all others taking. Workers who don't toe the line, Let the bosses sack them. Johnny Howard says it's fine, They'll have laws to back them. All unfair dismissal laws, Tinsel wrapped with holly, Scrapped in the employers cause, Won't that gang be jolly. "Here's your nasal grindstone mate, Gift wrapped from your master. Don't complain or curse your fate, Kindly pedal faster." Round and round and round she goes, Wearing faces down sir, Bloody, red and flat our nose, Howard's nose is brown, sir. "Bring me flesh and bring me wine, Bring a barbecue sir. Plenty for these mates of mine, No, there's none for you sir. Lots of debts and lots of lies, Financial excision, If you dare to criticise, We call that sedition." Once a year does Christmas come, A subject for reflection, Noses flat and spirits numb, When's the next election?' One more gift to open folks, And it’s a back hander, One of Howard's little jokes, A national Gerrymander. Red suit and a fluffy beard, Don't suit our prime minister. Howard's puny soul is geared, To a dress more sinister. Mask and jemmy, stripey vest, Pitchfork, horns and tail sir, But broad arrows would be best, And ten years in jail sir |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: JennieG Date: 03 Mar 21 - 08:33 PM Cheers, Rowan - indeed. A nice bloke much missed. The song is right too. |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Mar 21 - 06:14 PM a blast from the past. I was looking thru an email folder of songs friends sent me A song from the late Ozcatter Rowan 15/4/10. There you go, Sandra; a companion song to Cathy's "Precious Gift" (aka "The Tony Abbott Song") Precious Gift was posted by me 29 Sep 20 - 11:31 AM on page 7. TONY ABBOTT IS 'ALL SMUGGLER AND NO BUDGIE' Tune: Across the Western Plains I must wander, Across the Western Ocean I must wander, and All for me grog Oh my name is Tony Abbott, I was once a randy rabbit but now I'm Leader of The Opposition So now I pontificate on every woman's sexual fate and I'm often asked to make a proposition. I joined the seminary but obedience was too scary so I went and joined the local Liberal Party I became John Howard's man though his policies didn't scan and I thought myself a right political smarty. A young bloke that I knew, he was in the media crew I had thought to be the offspring of a screw, boys I had had a brief liaison, as a young man with emission but it turned out other cuckoos were in season. In an interview one day I gave restraint a little spray but applied it only to young women Their virginity's a gift that should not be lightly left' but young men I never even mentioned. I'm in a surfing club and I wear their uniform showing off my pecs and wearing budgie smugglers I ride my racing bike and do "Iron Mans' if I like and in politics I'm best of all the jugglers. But when it comes to "walk the walk" not just talking only talk the voters are so critical with their judging. I make statements every day but give policies? "No way!" "Tony Abbott is 'all smuggler and no budgie!'" After the Hymn Singing Session at the 2010 National Folk Festival I overheard someone comment about the lack of policy substance in Tony Abbott's then recent statement on Health Policy. The immediate riposte from the other party to the conversation was "Tony Abbott is 'all smuggler and no budgie!'" I thought it too good to let slide unrecorded. Cheers, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Mar 21 - 05:55 PM thanks, moderators! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Mar 21 - 09:00 AM Joe or other moderators can change titles sandra |
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook From: GerryM Date: 03 Mar 21 - 03:55 AM I'm happy to change the name of the thread to "Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook," I just don't know how.... I've changed the Subject on this post, but I don't know what effect that might have on the thread. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Mar 21 - 12:41 AM Thanks Joe - over to you, Gerry! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Mar 21 - 02:50 AM DRIP DROP by Margaret Bradford, 1998 lyrics Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop Wasting water's gotta stop Drop. Drip. Drop. Drip Turn that tap off quick! Water's precious can't you see Its a rare commodity Creeks and rivers dry up fast You gotta make that water last and last, and last, and last, and last and last, and last Drip. Drop... Mulch that garden, watch it grow When roots stay damp deep down below Sun can't dry out soil underneath You won't have to hose for weeks Plant those natives watch 'em thrive In hot dry Aussie they'll survive Why water lawns to make 'em grow? Then on the weekend you've gotta mow and mow and mow and mow and mow and mow and mow! Drip. Drop.... [scat: dribble drop dribble etc.] Keep that shower short and sweet Just wet yourself from head to feet Don't stand under there all day You might develop scales and swim away A cup of water's quite enough To clean your teeth with that the stuff Don't let that tap run, use a plug Don't wanna hear that water glug Drip. Drop.... Flushing loos use too much water Don't flush it more than you oughta If it's yellow let it mellow But if it's brown then flush it down Drip. Drop.... video Sydney songwriter Margaret Bradford wraps some very practical advice about household water conservation in a lively and humorous musical package. Miguel's jazzy choral arrangement makes the most of the onomatopoeic possibilities. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Mar 21 - 02:43 AM THE SHANNON RISE Phyl Lobl, 1987 River light, moths in flight Trout rise swiftly to the bite Sky of drifting diamonds fades away Stolen by the power- brokers play And the Shannon Rise will rise no more A beach lies drowned off Pedder’s shore The tumbling gorge with its constant roar Drives a warning sound to the ground Mountain light, sunshine bright Curve of sand held in my sight Blushing pearl now fifty fathoms deep The favoured jewel we weren’t allowed to keep Tumbling light, foaming bright Waterfall of endless flight Thundering its message loud and long Wilderness is wonderful, be strong! In Tasmania Lake Pedder was drowned. The Shannon River was altered which changed the life pattern of a moth that used to breed at a certain time and cause the trout to 'rise'. The Cataract Gorge was at one time also threatened to be made a into power source a Tasmanian woman asked me to write about these three places. The second music file is from the choir 'Ecopella', from their CD 'Songs In the Key of Green', with a beautiful multi-part harmony by Miguel Heatwole, a great contrast to my solo acappella version. And the version by 'Ecopella', an environmental choir that sings about the beauty of our world and the struggle to protect it from exploitation and destruction. Audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Mar 21 - 02:32 AM DENIAL TANGO by Men with Day Jobs: Stafford Sanders, Rod Crundwell and Kim Constable, 2011 Funny, timely satirical song on climate denial - written & performed 2011 by Sydney group Men With Day Jobs: Kim Constable (bass), Rod Crundwell (piano), Stafford Sanders (guitar). Tony Abbott is Australia's denialist Opposition Leader; CSIRO its major science body. video You say the planet’s warming, but I’m convinced it’s not. Last Tuesday it was rather cool, today it’s not so hot. And if it’s getting hotter, I’m sure it’s not by much. It’s prob’ly due to sunspots, volcanoes or some such. Or maybe it’s the Chinese, they make more smoke than us. I know there’s many more of them, so let them catch the bus. One thing I am sure of, no need to make a fuss. Fire up those smoky chimneys and sing: Denial. I’m in denial. Don’t talk to me of independent studies or scientific trial. I’m in denial, deep in denial. And as the waters rise around me I’ll just hold my breath and say it isn’t so. I call myself a skeptic, and I believe it’s so. I’m skeptical of anything: I just don’t wanna know. Don’t give me C S I R O or I P C C. I want some wacky viscount with a classical degree. He says it’ was much hotter X million years ago. I know that killed the dinosaurs but they were rather slow. It’s just a lot of scientists that think they’re in the know. But I know I know better, let’s sing: Denial. I’m in denial When I see those econazis, I raise my arm and shout Sieg Heil! I’m in denial … Those fires are not raging. No floods deluge the land. Those hurricanes and tornadoes are just flashes in the pan. The animals are doing fine: no species dying out. And half the bloody planet isn’t choking in drought. The ice is not receding, from either polar cap. I’d go with Tony Abbott, It’s just a load of crap. This round-the-world disaster is an evil greenie trap. ‘Cause everybody knows the world is flat. Denial … ..As the waters rise around me I’ll just hold my breath and say (glug glug glug) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Mar 21 - 02:28 AM COME AWAY WITH ME, Tony Eardley, 1999 Audio Come away with me my loved one To where cool waters join together Where tall trees bend and spread their shady leaves To shield us from the searching sun. For I know a place where the day is still A hidden land shaped by the dreamtime At night the starlights glance off darkened pools Where thirsty creatures come to drink their fill. "I'll go with you my friend and dear To where cool waters join together For its in the quiet of the forest deep Your spirit speaks to me most strong and clear." We rose and went and we journeyed far. The sun was hot and unforgiving Through the sprawling city where we love and fight And scrabble for our daily living. But when we reached that place our hearts did chill We found the forest razed and ravaged. Clear across the valley to the distant ridge Lay stumps like crosses on some Flanders hill. My love reached out to comfort me She saw the tears in my eyes were welling "Let all your tears flow" she said "my dear. To wet the roots of anger swelling." Now all across this tired and dusty land The hungry chainsaws they are roaring. The living waters die with poisons choked. The Earth it crumbles in the greedy hand. And you talk of work for them that the timber hew, Those who by felling scratch their living. Well there'd be honest work for all that need Were good Earth's wealth not cornered by the few. So let us go, hand clutching hand Of lover, daughter, friend and caring stranger. To keep our faith with those who're yet to come And stand full firm against this present danger Tony started to write a love song but somehow it became about his feelings for the environment as well. Ecopella members have been known to weep on stage during this song. lyrics |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 02 Mar 21 - 02:12 AM Sandra’s posting above of The Acknowledgement of Country, reminded me that back in September last year when I posted Joe Geia’s song YIL-LULL, I had meant to post his GURRI NGINDIN NARMI, which is very commonly heard at Qld events and festivals, as the Welcome to Country song. I don’t seem to have the lyrics, but in both these versions, Joe explains the message : GURRI NGINDIN NARMI : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idR3vYLotKQ GARINGINDINARMA : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rqmj0fiufc https://www.qls.com.au/For_the_profession/First_Nations_People/First_Nations_Protocols R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 02 Mar 21 - 01:46 AM IF I HAD WINGS Ryk Rostron On this Queensland whaling boat, we made good time at sea Hoped to be in Brisbane town before the sun had set on me We worked with hearts as light as air as we moved towards the coast And we thought about those waiting there; the ones we loved the most. Chorus : And if I had wings, I’d fly away home If I had wings, I could be there now Well if I had wings, I’d fly o’er the foam And I’d leave those cold Southern winds to blow. Six months at sea seems easy now, as it did the day we sailed From Brisbane town weighed anchor, we set off with no thought to fail An old hand now on whaling boats, the seventh time we’ve seen We sail with Captain Ellwell and that bright ship’s company. Well to catch the whales we searched the Southern oceans cold But fortune travelled with us as we quickly filled the hold Another man was lost this trip as through the ice we roam When in quick time, the captain cried : “Enough! We turn for home.” That season was the last for me, I paid my dues and settled down Though I sometimes think of whaling, the boat’s no longer to be found The stations are all empty now, no huts with coal or fire The memories fade, the whales are gone, the singing ocean quiet. Ryk sang this song with the sadly defunct Brisbane bluegrassy band, PIRATE BRIDES, who were very popular both Live and on CD – there were 3 recordings : Walking the Planxty / Cutlass Wedding / Broken Hearts Ride Free. Members were RYK ROSTRON (lead vocals/guitar/bazouki/mandolin), the late and much-missed JOHN HOLMBERG aka Sailor John (lead vocals/banjo/mandolin/guitar), ROSE BROE (vocals/accordion/ autoharp/keyboard), MICHAEL TULLY (vocals/upright bass) and later, MARK KARLSEN (vocals/upright bass). The song features on their 2005 EP “Cutlass Wedding”. BtW, the few clips of the PBs on YT that I’ve seen, really do not - IMHO, do justice to their many performances …… However, the song is found at 23:35 on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcviQqURygE R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Mar 21 - 01:31 AM ASBESTOS by Lyle Sayer, 1984 no audio/video Lyle Sayer, 1984 Tiny fibres you don't see Seemed a lot of bull to me But now the cancer it has grown And my lungs have turned to stone. Joined the navy, went to sea. Seemed that life was good to me. Insulation 'round the pipes, Didn't know you'd take my life. Braked the car, asbestos flew. Rode a train asbestos blew Through the cracks in roof and walls Like the rain it gently falls. In the town of Wittenoom By the road wildflowers bloom. On the ground and in the air There's asbestos everywhere. Profits from asbestos mines Kept Lang Hancock doing fine. No regrets, no tears apply To the miners that now die. Those who knew but did not tell May the bastards burn in hell! Don't be anybody's fool: Safety first, the golden rule. Tiny fibres you don't see Seemed a lot of bull to me But now the cancer it has grown And my lungs have turned to stone. lyrics, no audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Mar 21 - 01:18 AM It is normal in Australia to start many events (govt or other) with a spoken acknowledgement of Aboriginal ownership of the land. Deb is a Choir Director, singer & songwriter. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Words, music and arrangement: Deb Jones 2015 We acknowledge the traditional owners of this land The Gadigal and Wangal of the nation of Eora And other first Australians who’ve made this place their home And any actions done in our name that had them leave the land that’s in their bones With things done in our name they left the land that’s in their bones. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land The ones the country walks in; the holders of the stories We pay respect to elders past and present, and all indigenous here We pay our respects We acknowledge injustices done in our name We acknowledge Was, is, always will be We are more than sorry We will speak out. We will speak out. We will speak out We will speak. We will not turn, No! We acknowledge this land is Aboriginal Land! NOTE: The intention is that the words “The Gadigal and Wangal of the nation of Eora” be replaced when necessary with the names of the appropriate groups and countries, according to where the song is to be sung. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The acknowledgement of Aboriginal ownership of the land is set to music as an alternative to a spoken introduction. Deb’s comments on the song: “Solidarity Choir often find ourselves singing first at gigs, and I like to acknowledge the traditional owners. I’d often off-handedly thought ‘we should be singing this’. We already share one indigenous song about land rights with our audiences. The choir were on the lookout for a song that gave voice to how we as non-indigenous Australians feel about what’s been going on. So I decided it was time I gave the Acknowledgement a shot. It could have become a much longer song with so many issues, but I wanted something we could put upfront every gig. It’s an acknowledgement and a promise, really. We acknowledge that we’re standing on Aboriginal land. We acknowledge injustices done in our name to the Aboriginal people of this country, and we will step up and speak out.” lyrics & intro from Solidarity Choir website facebook video - Acknowledgement sung by Ecopella |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Mar 21 - 12:56 AM members can PM me with an email address if they would like a copy of our 2 spreadsheets. Aug-Dec 2020 (alphabetical by title), Jan - today (by date posted) Both lists contain - Date & time posted Title Author/composer/tune NZ? Posted by Video or audio available Lyrics available Page (very necessary to locate songs as we are up to page 20) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 01 Mar 21 - 11:18 PM Sounds good to me, r-j......I don't post often, but I read each and every update. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 01 Mar 21 - 09:35 PM Perhaps "Mudcat Songbook: Australia and New Zealand" would do it?? R-J
Yes, it's clear this has moved away from the "Rise Up Mudcat" project and taken on a life of its own. And I'm really enjoying it. The final choice of thread title is up to Gerry Myerson, since he's the manager of this thread and I told him he could do whatever he wants with it. I don't like the idea of using the title "Mudcat Songbook" or anything too closely related to that because that's another longstanding project - a collection of songs written by Mudcatters. "Mudcat Australia Songbook" wouldn't cause a problem, or "Mudcat Australia/NZ Songbook." Other than that, change it however you want, in consultation with Gerry. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 01 Mar 21 - 09:26 PM Really nice to see your Post, Joe! BtW, the main posters (so far) on this thread, wish to ask if you'd change the name to better reflect the thread's content??? It fairly quickly moved away from being another "Rise Up Singing" booklet and became (we feel), a valuable repository and resource for Australian AND New Zealand songs - a great many of which are not easily found elsewhere + their audio links and valuable related information. So would you mind terribly if it was changed (and especially to mention the NZ content)?! Cheers! R-J and I'm sure, Stewie and Sandra :) (How about you, Gerry?!) P.S. ANY MORE OZ-KIWI SONG POSTERS HIDING OUT THERE???!!! Come and Join us!! (we do have available, alphabetical songlists of those already posted, to assist choice) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Mar 21 - 05:38 PM & here are Ecopella singing it - Ecopella is an environmental choir that sings about the beauty of our world and the struggle to protect it from exploitation and destruction. We serve the environment movement by providing activists and audiences with the opportunity of enjoying a high standard of a cappella singing. Our music’s strong environmental message encourages positive change in people’s thinking and offers encouragement to a wide variety of green organisations. & here is mudcatter Daniel Kelly's version |
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Subject: ADD: Murrumbidgee Water (Warner) From: Joe Offer Date: 01 Mar 21 - 05:15 PM Gerry Myerson sang this at the singaround. The Mudcat Café TM Thread #67948 Message #1216948 Posted By: freda underhill 30-Jun-04 - 09:11 AM Thread Name: BS: In every thread someone has to be last! Subject: ADD: MURRUMBIDGEE WATER the murrumbidgee is the river for me. and here are the words to a beautiful song by John Warner about this great Australian river.. MURRUMBIDGEE WATER Born in the highland snows, Wild in her youth's descending, Swiftly she fills and grows Out on her floodplains, winding and bending, Feeding the towering gums, Bush in creek and gully, Sharing her bounties wide, Spreading soil in plain and valley. Murrumbidgee fair, Murrumbidgee fertile, Nurturing at your breasts we who walk here for a little while. High on a ridge we stand, gazing in love and awe Over the lands you made with your gentle hands: how rich the gifts you pour. Over her years of floods, Current twisting wild and strong, Children she made in the land, Creek and anabranch, pond and billabong. Bright on the wide floodplain Glints the rippling water, Proudly side by side, Flow the mother and the daughter. Murrumbidgee fair, Murrumbidgee fertile, Nurturing at your breasts we who walk here for a little while. High on a ridge we stand, gazing in love and awe Over the lands you made with your gentle hands: how rich the gifts you pour. We have known the drought, we have seen her anger, Hurling trees in her rage, we've borne thirst and we've borne hunger. Yet for us who seek, beauty waits in hiding, In some shaded pools wait the fruits of her providing. Silver mist like hair, As the day is dawning, Marks the river's way As we hunt on a winter's morning, Duck and cod from the stream, Fruit and fungus, plant and seed, Kangaroo on the plain, See, she gives us all we need. Murrumbidgee fair, Murrumbidgee fertile, Nurturing at your breasts we who walk here for a little while. High on a ridge we stand, gazing in love and awe Over the lands you made with your gentle hands: how rich the gifts you pour. © John Warner 25.05.98 ............................................... Written by John Warner for the song and verse cycle, Yarri of Wiradjuri, which tells of the heroism of Aboriginal Australians in saving the lives of white settlers when the original township of Gundagai was destroyed by flood in 1852. Murrumbidgee Water - the second song in the cycle - celebrates the river and its importance to the indigenous people and establishes the Murrumbidgee River and Morley's Creek as the Mother and the Daughter |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 01 Mar 21 - 04:08 AM THE TORDONERS Mark Gillett Well I come from South Burnett to an old farming family, not many jobs that I can’t turn my hand to I ploughed the black soil and I’ve mustered rough country, though fat and lean seasons I’ve clung to the land, I can put down a spear, I can strip down a diesel, I can drop ‘em, tag ‘em, in paddock or pen But t’was in cattle country to the west of Kilkivan, I found me a job that I won’t do again. Well the sorghum was sown but the price was uncertain, and the spike for the final demands from the bank I drove 90 miles to a bush block near Murgon, got me a job with a Tordoning gang. Chorus : A sharp little axe and a bottle of Tordon, goodbye to the ironbark, spotties and greys Cut to the sap and then pour in the poison, a worker can clear 20 acres a day. I got 400 bucks for the week in me hand and by then the first trees were all dropping their leaves The Tree-Killer’s stink clung to me like a brand and the hills had the look of a creeping disease, When I drive by today, I try not to remember the bodies of bush creatures dead on the road Driven to slaughter by fear and by hunger, as the Tordoners poisoned their food and their homes. A sharp little axe and a bottle of Tordon, goodbye to the ironbark, spotties and greys Cut to the sap and then pour in the poison, a worker can clear 20 acres a day. Well the suckers came up so we hit ‘em with the Graslan, before the floods came on the very next week ???……….. from the hills to the gullies and killed the Sheoaks along 2 mile of creek, The company went bust and now Mistflower and Groundsel are covering the skeleton graveyard of trees The weeds are what’s stopping the rest of the topsoil from washing into somebody’s paddock downstream. A sharp little axe and a bottle of Tordon, goodbye to the ironbark, spotties and greys Cut to the sap and then pour in the poison, a worker can clear 20 acres a day. Yeah, a sharp little axe and a bottle of Tordon, goodbye to the bellbirds, they’ve all gone away Cut to the sap and then pour in the poison, a worker can clear 20 acres a day. TORDON is a Picloram-containing herbicide manufactured by DOW (AgroSciences). Also used in “Agent White” by the US Military in Vietnam when “Agent Orange” was unavailable. GRASLAN is another herbicide for regrowth and weeds, also made by DOW. Kilkivan is a small, historical, inland town, N-W of Gympie, in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of SE Queensland. Murgon is another town in the region. Ironbark, Spotted Gum, Grey Gum are all varieties of native Eucalypt trees; Sheoaks being native Casuarina trees. Mistflower and Groundsel are invasive or noxious introduced weeds. Australia, despite our beautiful and unique environment - and being prone to drought - has permitted the clearing of nearly half our forest cover in the last 200 years. It’s now a deforestation and land-clearing CRISIS, with with an MCG-sized area of forests and bushlands destroyed every two minutes, while Australia is the worst offending country in the world for mammal extinctions. [www.wilderness.org.au] Yep. Sure is “The Lucky Country” ….. Mark sang this accompanied by guitar and played his banjo, but I’ve not yet found it online :( R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 27 Feb 21 - 06:57 AM Re "Lies Like 'Illegal'", just found Jenny Fitzgibbon singing this Nov2014 YT upload with animation by Maleny artist, Corrie Wright : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gawCW-DFsII R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 27 Feb 21 - 06:29 AM LIES LIKE ‘ILLEGAL’ Jenny Fitzgibbon “Here’s a new rendition of my song “Lies Like 'Illegal'” with Jeremy Dunlop on guitar. I wrote it out of my desire for more compassion in our treatment of refugees, young and old, and thru my need to take action.” Sept 2015 Adapted from the tune of “When the Boat Comes in”. Trad – Northumberland Asylum they come seeking, In a boat that’s leaking Gets the pollies freaking, When the boat comes in No peace for Baba, No peace for Maman No peace for koodak, surely it’s a sin Zero information, goes out to the nation An abomination, When the boat comes in To ‘secure’ our borders, We give Navy orders Racists would applaud us, When the boat comes in No peace for Baba, No peace for Maman No peace for koodak, surely it’s a sin Why say a prayer, Teach our kids to care Then refuse to share, When the boat comes in Private corporations, Profit from our nation’s Freedom deprivations, When the boat comes in No peace for Baba, No peace for Maman No peace for koodak, surely it’s a sin Forked tongues a-lashing, In a right-wing fashion Why not show compassion, When the boat comes in Even though there’s no ‘queue’ - take the pain you’ve been thru To Manus or Nauru, When the boat comes in No peace for Baba, No peace for Maman No peace for koodak, surely it’s a sin Children in detention, Human rights suspension We must pay attention, When the boat comes in If I’d a son or daughter, fleeing famine or slaughter I’d cross any water, When the boat comes in No peace for Baba, No peace for Maman No peace for koodak, surely it’s a sin A label like “illegals” - Lies like “illegal” Should be illegal - When the boat comes in [Kids Out - Close Manus and Nauru now] Audio Link : https://jennyfitzgibbon.com/2015/09/13/lies-like-illegals-close-manus-and-nauru-now/ Robyn Cook hosts "Stories from the Red Couch" and her guest this Ep is Jenny Fitzgibbon : https://www.storiesfromtheredcouch.com.au/episodes-blog/tag/Jenny+fitzgibbon R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 27 Feb 21 - 05:23 AM YOLGNU WAYS AND YOLGNU LAWS Jenny Fitzgibbon “I wrote this in Darwin twenty years ago and recently updated it for a Remembrance event for the Indigenous warriors and their families and tribes who were killed in the wars in this country. The event is held in the Maleny RSL each year. January 2019” (based upon "Irish Ways and Irish Laws" by Moving Hearts) Since the dawn of time there was Yolgnu Ways and Yolgnu laws families of Yolgnu blood Waking to the morning, waking to the morning Then the white man came around turned them up and turned them down Telling lies of empty land While waging wars unending, brave Warriors defending In violence the white man came Genocide in all but name stole the children from the bush torn from land and living, torn from land and living Across the land invaders came clearing forest, planting grain No dreaming place lies undisturbed Even changed the rivers flowing, changed the rivers flowing 200 years of stolen land May the power of the artist’s hand keep the Yolgnu spirit high above the pain descending, above the pain descending. This dispossession carries on We ask that it may not be long Before our constitution’s graced with the voice of our First Nations, the voice of our First Nations Melody : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=havjZ1i0UWw “Irish Ways and Irish Laws” was written by John Gibbs and sung here by “Moving Hearts”. “OUR SAY” - This Yolngu doco excerpt has some good advice for us all : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn9ASZrGumE “Cut-down of a Channel 7 documentary in which Yolngu people of northeast Arnhem Land talk about their culture, the history of black and white relations, importance of land and lots more.” Uploaded 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhyBaAjlFKg "A passion for Yolngu Matha language" R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 27 Feb 21 - 04:25 AM PLANTING TO REAPING Jenny Fitzgibbon Spring turns to Summer the harvest is coming new moon blooms full through mist and ice chill the light on the hill tells a fortune of winter I wait for my lover I wait for him still Planting to reaping, rhubarb to berries bare feet and cotton, to thick boots and twill Laughing to weeping, short hair no longer I wait for my lover I wait for him still Seeing turns to liking, liking to meeting meetings to touch, a blush to a thrill holding of hands then hearts gently given I wait for my lover I wait for him still "Watching the rain run down the window panes on grey day, I thought about an isolated country girl waiting through the seasons for the thrill of being near her sweetheart. Jeremy got right into the feel of it with his accompaniment." Listen to a short clip of Jenny singing (with Jem Dunlop on guitar), from her CD “For the Love of It” : https://jennyfitzgibbon.com/cd-for-the-love-of-it/ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 27 Feb 21 - 04:12 AM DANCING WITH THE STONES Mark Gillett The Sun sets on stone faces, looking out on the sea. Torches flare in the night air and we start our ceremony. We're gonna talk soul, pass the bowl and raise the energy. The Gods will talk and statues walk when we set the magic free How are you going? Dancing with the stones. Stand 'round the sacred ground beneath the midsummer moon. An old, grand master man throws the forbidden rune. Lost art, a crystal heart is beating to an ancient tune. You'd better jive when it comes alive, ain't nobody immune How are you going? Dancing with the stones. The whip lands on the slave bands straining at the yoke. Stone blocks as big as trucks move with every stroke. Worker's bones, the grave stones of a culture built on pain. A cruel land, desert sand, covers fields of grain. How are you going? Dancing with the stones. Thirty years beneath the lash. Raise the granite high. Come and make a place for us that's fit for us to lie. Wrapped in clinging linen, dressed in precious oil. Come and take your just reward for centuries of toil. How are you going? Dancing with the stones. The world turns, people turn and they face a brave new world. There's a wild unborn child beneath the belly curled. In her trance, giants dance. They dance the steps of dread. That's a dance that's gonna grind your bones to make their bread. How are you going? Dancing with the stones. Said you're dancing with the stones. “First performed by The Hinterland Band on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia. Written by Mark Gillett (now deceased) as a celebration of a modern Australian corroboree.” Sung here by Brisbane-SunnyCoast band, The Genre Benders (Hugh Brown), c.2004 : https://www.broadjam.com/songs/thegenrebenders/dancing-with-the-stones R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 27 Feb 21 - 03:53 AM Jenny's singing of this EXcellent song is one of my all-time faves!! ODE TO SOIL Paul Spencer This planet is a rock that boils and churns Continents float as the liquid turns Our island bobs like a raft at sea, or loose debris And somehow life remains. This island’s made of solid stone As dry as a crow-pecked bullock bone But a layer on top like a vellum skin, both soft and thin, Supports us all alone. The soil holds on with a mighty grip To giant roots so the trees won’t slip It clothes itself in vibrant green, a fragrant screen Through which the waters drip. The soil, the earth in slow routine Gives forth a beauty so serene A person who such splendour saw, subdued with awe, Might think some God had been. But looking close it can be found, The beauty springs from underground, A million living creatures dance, in every ounce, And miracles abound. These living things are made of soil The earth in which they live and toil And there the Earth receives and gives, the planet lives In fine and fragile soil. You can hear Paul do this song himself on: http://paul-spencer.net/2012/07/23/ode-to-soil/ And here’s a snippet of Jenny Fitzgibbon with Jeremy Dunlop from her CD “For the Love Of It” (buy it – you’ll not be disappointed!!) : https://jennyfitzgibbon.com/2013/07/03/words-to-songs-ode-to-soil-by-paul-spencer/ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 27 Feb 21 - 03:46 AM Here are a few more songs from the late Mark Gillett (see his Mudcat OBIT - well, he passed some 14 years ago now, so when does one stop being "late", I wonder??!!) GLASS HOUSES Mark Gillett Strong and sudden comes the flood takes the family by surprise Feel the steel it’s in your blood test the strength of family ties Poor ‘Crookneck’, eldest son Still crippled by this guilt you bear How could you do that to your Mum How could you leave her standing there? To break those bonds is shame You must admit that things can never be the same Tibrogargan’s task he knows To keep the lore from age to age since you struck that crippling blow You stand a prisoner of your rage Don’t turn your face away Your family’s future could depend on what you say Do you love the land You water it with tears Stand above the land For a million years Come brothers sisters, do not scatter now in fear of scorn Changes you were witness to were dreamed before your age was born We are one family to be steadfast through disaster is our destiny You are mother of us all Dreaming still of life to come Wait until your children call Gather us in, every one Listen here to a short clip of Jenny Fitzgibbon singing the late Mark Gillett’s composition, with Steve Cook on bouzouki, from her CD : https://jennyfitzgibbon.com/2013/07/03/words-of-songs-glass-houses-by-mark-gillett/ The Glasshouse Mountains are not far from me, just “down off the range”! Watch this clip to view each of the ancient mountains and hear the Aboriginal legend of their fractious family : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09pnCPG7SeM Watch this clip to see them closeup and learn why “they are not extinct Volcanoes, but something even more rare” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FDqWmSPFnw R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Feb 21 - 10:00 PM Colin Dryden's 'Factory Lad' was posted to this thread back in September last year. It was part of what has been referred to as 'The North Country Trilogy'. Although all 3 songs relate to UK, they were sung by Oz folkies, particularly in NSW. Gerry Hallom included all 3 in his compilation of Dryden recordings: Colin Dryden 'The Australian Years - Vol I'. Here are the other 2 songs: SITHER (Colin Dryden) Forty years in the mill, your day’s near done, but it’s going still. Time to be thinking o’ makin’ your will, for you’ve nowhere to go, no intentions. Weft and weave it was your game, ten thousand hours upon the frame, then walking home in the driving rain, with a brand new watch and a pension. Time now to bide, to sit and to dream, on bygone days and the changes you’ve seen, in coal and in diesel, the power of steam, black shawls, coal stockings and courting. Clogs on the frost on a cold winter’s morn, the smell of the grease and oil on the loom, and the wife wi’ the kids by the gateway at noon stand waiting for your wages on Friday. Six in the morn and it’s time to rise, sleep on, old man, you’re weary and wise, to the ways of the mill, aye, and all of the tries for a part time job in the doffing. Puffin’ and pantin’ past the mill, up to the local to get all your fill, though you’ve only got enough brass for a gill, there might be a job in the offing. But the shuttles have flown, it’s time to roam, back to the armchair and fire at home, and leave all the mill hands and weavers alone to their beer and their laughter and joking. But many’s the time why you’ve stood with the best, although the looms have near turned you deaf, they’ve all got a few miles of weaving as yet before they’ll have bested old Sither. Youtube clip PIT BOY (Colin Dryden) The times are hard, the days are long I wish I were a farmer’s son Out in the green fields all day long Away from the dark of the day Chorus When the sun is sagging in the sky The days are long, long are the sighs Down in the darkness where we bide Passing our lives away And if I were a robber bold I’d rob the rich of all their gold And if I were caught, well I’ve been told It’s better down Botany Bay Chorus And if I were a sailor, I’d sail the main And rob the ships of France and Spain Now if we lost, perhaps we’d gain For the French might raise our pay Chorus Like pit ponies down the mine Going blind without the shine Though if we do, we’ll never mind 'Cos we’ll never want the sun no more Chorus Audio Cover by Daniel Kelly For background info on the songs, here is a link (I have posted it elsewhere in this thread) to a beaut essay by the late Dermott Ryder: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Feb 21 - 09:38 PM SPIDER IN THE BATH (Marcus Turner) Chorus Here I am - is anyone about? I'm down beside the plug-hole and I can't get out, and I've been here an hour and a half Can't anybody help a little spider in the bath? I woke up feeling hungry in the middle of the night I saw a moth go by and thought ‘there goes a tasty bite’ I chased it up the mirror and along the windowsill Around behind the toothpaste tube - and then I tripped and fell, and ... Chorus The sides are steep and slippery 'cause the bath has just been cleaned And everything is cold and wet and avocado green. There's a long lumpy loofah, some pumice in a dish And all I have to talk to is this purple plastic fish and ... Chorus There's no need to be scared, 'cause I won't do you any harm Just take me to the garden where it's nice and safe and warm Then put me down real gently and I'll run back home to mother One leg after the other, after the other, after the other, after the other... ... after the other, after the other, after the other!! And ... Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Feb 21 - 02:01 AM well-I-never - no.32 is Past Carin' & I remember seeing that ... good thing I only put ? next to the entry - now it is no. 2 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 24 Feb 21 - 10:02 PM Hi Sandra, The audio for 'Fannie Bay' is song 34 on the Bushwackers' page that I posted. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Feb 21 - 09:39 PM I can't see a link to Fannie Bay on the Bushwackers page you posted, so I might leave it out - |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Feb 21 - 08:39 PM My apologies to R-J. She posted 'Fannie Bay' on 9 September last year. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Feb 21 - 07:46 PM Here's one that references a once notorious landmark in my home town. FANNIE BAY (D.Tainsh attrib) Tell her I'm droving down Camooweal way Or signed with pearlers for seas far away You can tell her I've gone, I'll be back some day Please don't tell her they hanged me in old Fannie Bay You can say I've gone on the old 'River Queen' It's whistle a-haunting the bullockies' dream, Down the Murray I've gone, I'll be back some day Please don't tell her they hanged me in old Fannie Bay. Chorus: And on Thursday Island the sun warms the air As the breeze from the sea blows her hair And she sits by her window and calls me Yes, she calls me. You can say the bush has called me away And I'm riding the fences for ten bob a day, Yes, I needed a job, I needed the pay Please don't tell her they hanged me in old Fannie Bay And they came to the door and they dragged me away From all that I love and I pray That it won't reach her ear 'cause I love her And she'd die for sure Just say the gold has taken me down To the places where fortunes are easily found Yes, I've gone but tell her I'll be back some day Just don't tell her they hanged me in old Fannie Bay Audio on this page: Click Some info on Fannie Bay Gaol: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 23 Feb 21 - 08:30 PM THE GUNDAROO BULLOCK (A.B. Paterson/Trad) Oh, there's some that breeds the Devon that's as solid as a stone And there's some that breeds the brindle which they call the Goulburn roan But amongst the breeds of cattle there are very, very few Like the hairy-whiskered bullock that they breed at Gundaroo Far away by Grabben Gullen where the Murrumbidgee flows There's a block of broken countryside where no one ever goes For the banks have gripped the squatters and the free selectors too And their stock are always stolen by the men of Gundaroo There came a low informer to the Grabben Gullen side And he said to Smith the squatter, ‘You must saddle up and ride For your bullock's in the harness-cask of Morgan Donahoo He's the greatest cattle-stealer in the whole of Gundaroo’ ‘Oh, ho!’ said Smith, the owner of the Grabben Gullen run ‘I’ll go and get the troopers by the sinking of the sun And down into his homestead tonight we'll take a ride, With warrants to identify the carcase and the hide’ That night rode down the troopers, the squatter at their head They rode into the homestead and pulled Morgan out of bed. ‘Now, show to us the carcase of the bullock that you slew The hairy-whiskered bullock that you killed in Gundaroo’ They peered into the harness-cask, and found it wasn't full But down among the brine, they saw some flesh and bits of wool ‘What's this?’, exclaimed the trooper, ‘an infant, I declare’ Said Morgan, ’Tis the carcase of an old man native bear I heard that ye were coming, so an old man bear I slew, Just to give you kindly welcome to my home in Gundaroo’ ‘The times are something awful, as you can plainly see, The banks have broke the squatters, and they've broke the likes of me We can't afford a bullock -- such expense would never do So an old man bear for breakfast is a treat in Gundaroo’ And along by Grabben Gullen where the rushing river flows, In the block of broken country where there's no one ever goes, On the upper Murrumbidgee, they're a hospitable crew But you mustn't ask for bullock when you go to Gundaroo Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 22 Feb 21 - 02:20 AM THE AXISES OF EVIL © Paul Spencer 2002 Tune: Brisbane Ladies Of all the world's ills, there is none that's more evil, More gruesome or dread than the terrorist threat, The President says that they're really awful people, And when hes not grinning, you can tell he's upset. Chorus We'll march off to war, like good little soldiers, We'll march off to war, for President Bush, Until we destroy all the Axises of Evil, For there's freedom to fight for and a lifestyle to push. George Bush is angered by the death of civilians, He finds it outrageous like anyone would, So when he kills thousands and speaks about collateral, He's not being callous, you've misunderstood. Now some bombs are dirty and cause mass destruction, But our bombs are smart and they'll solve all our woes, Starvation and grief might appear to be a crisis, But really we're helping, as everyone knows. To help foster peace we'll use words like Islamist, To make it appear that they're all so extreme, Whereas our church is pure and could never be corrupted, And of world domination, it would not even dream. So send us your children, we'll fight against terror, And suchlike emotions that lay people low, We'll fight them with guns and with lots of bloody slaughter, But don't ask who's winning or how long to go. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 22 Feb 21 - 02:00 AM SCISSORS AND SEAMS © Graham Seal 1976, 2008 music traditional, adapted and arranged Graham Seal no audio We are women and girls from all over the world - Italy, Lebanon and Greece. We are sewing the seams of other peoples' dreams, Just trying to make ends meet. Chorus: Scissors and seams and sewing machines, A box of bobbins and spools. With the needle and thread and the hot foot-tread All a machinist's tools. We work hard all day, we don't get much pay, Have to come to work again on Monday. And for the rest of the week we eat and we pee and we sleep To the sound of the bell and the Bundy. The boss is hardly there, and he don't seem to care About all the noise and dust. We have to work in it all day, but he will only say: 'Why do you have to make a fuss?' Notes Many thanks to Graham Seal for permission to add this song to the Union Songs website. Graham writes 'Scissors and Seams' comes from my time working as a cutter and layer in a furniture factory in the early 1970s. It was a hot and dusty place, basically a giant shed, but the predominantly migrant men and women who worked there used humour and forbearance to cope with conditions that would not, hopefully, be tolerated today. The place closed down in the 90s. Good riddance. The 'Bundy' referred to in the second verse was a form of time clock. All employees had a card that they used to 'bundy in' and 'bundy out' of the job. If you forgot, you didn't get paid. A bit different to flexi-time. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 22 Feb 21 - 01:59 AM THE JUDGE AND THE SHOP OWNER © 1967 Clem Parkinson Audio In a far away country called Woopland A very rich merchant did dwell He owned Fact'ries galore and ships by the score But something was wrong you could tell For it seems that those terrible wharfies When loading his vessels with flour Had complained of the task, even ventured to ask For an increase of sixpence an hour. Now the ship owner being fair minded (They always believe in fair play) To the wharf he did trudge with his colleague a judge To toil with the men for a day. But the very first bag that they handled Left the pair of them flat as a tack. In a state of collapse each agreed that, "Perhaps We should grant them that miserable zac." What a wonderful country is Woopland What a pity it's so far away, Though some people insist that it doesn't exist I'm going to find it someday. Notes Many thanks to Clem Parkinson for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. The Judge and the Shipowner was published in Australian Tradition, April 1967. The song took joint second prize in the competition for a song about the waterfront run by the Sydney Branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation. The song is based on a famous short story by John Morrison. Clem Parkinson told me that he sent a copy to John who remarked how well he had done to fit the story into the five verses allowed by the rules of the competion. Clem sings the song on the MUA Centenary CD "With These Arms" |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 22 Feb 21 - 01:55 AM GALLOWAY AND STEPHENS A song by Clem Parkinson © 1985 no audio, but I have an MP4 of the song performed by Clem, courtesy of Phyl Lobl if anyone wants a copy Who were the men who led the fight that won the eight hour day? The men to whom we owe a debt we never can repay Their names will live forever though they lie beneath the clay Twas no one else but Galloway and Stephens Chorus It was Galloway and Stephens who pioneered the trail Who led the band of working men determined to prevail And so we stand together as their names we proudly hail And shout "hurrah" for Galloway and Stephens Back in the dark satanic days - a time when life was bleak The workers toiled from dawn to dusk for 60 hours a week Until they said "We'll make a stand - no time for being meek We'll put our trust in Galloway and Stephens" They were the honest working men the history books ignore To tell instead of emperors and jingoistic war And crooked politicians, worthless monarchs by the score We'd trade them all for Galloway and Stephens Notes Many thanks to Clem Parkinson for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. All building workers in Melbourne won a reduction in working hours from 60 to 48 per week in 1856. Sydney stonemasons led the way in 1855, but the first whole industry in the world to gain this reform was in Melbourne the next year. James Stephens and James Galloway led the 8 hours struggle in Melbourne. Both were stonemasons. Galloway, a Scottish migrant, became corresponding secretary of the Stonemasons Society in Melbourne, and Stephens, a Welsh migrant, its president. After a deputation and a lively public meeting between contractors and workers, the bosses agreed to honour an 8 hour day from 21 April. But that morning Stephens learnt that two contractors were refusing, so he called a meeting of 700 workers building Melbourne University, and they marched to all other building sites, including the two whose bosses were refusing the 8 hour day. All the building workers on the sites joined them, and they resolved to strike until the two bosses gave in, which they did that night. From Recorder the journal of The Society for the Study of Labour History, |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Feb 21 - 10:52 PM THE STRIKE OF 1894 © Dennis O'Keeffe 1992 Audio To earn a few bob, crutching sheep was his job, Billy was thirteen years old, Good money you'll be paid, if you shear with the blade, as a lad that's what he was told, "Son don't go shearing", his mother would say, it's a bloody rough job, And all you will get is a broken marriage, and a flee bitten Kelpie dog. With his childhood spent, young Billy went, off on his push bike with his swag, Dreams filled his head, as he stuffed meat and bread, into a Calico bag, He struggled to shear his first hundred sheep, he wasn't like Bradman at cricket, But he earn't enough money to pay for his tucker, and pay for his Union ticket. Squatters were sowing, seeds for growing, the old English working class vine, While they pissed in the pocket of the Gentlemans Club, sipping on whisky and wine, But Republican blood, again and again, through shearers veins ran like a torrent, The Squatters wanted to cut this vein, and sign the Unions death warrant. Chorus They might fool you, but they'll never fool me, A hero he died, and a hero he will be, Few men will walk where he's gone, The Union wrote music, young Billy sang the song. When men were willing, and strike camps were filling, on the banks of the Darling River, The man on the land, who never dirtied his hand, with fear, He began to shiver, Billy led a band of good Union men, out to the Grassmere Station, Where Blackleg Shearers and Troopers with guns, awaited the confrontation. Billy was shot, and Murphy they got, ambushed at the shearing shed door, We can never forget, dags and sweat, mixed with blood on the shearing shed floor, Not one Union son, had fired a gun, yet nine were arrested and tried, The coward that shot them was given a medal, and sent to Tasmania to hide. So down on the slops of Tower Hill, where the tide rolls in with the ocean, The Union gathered to bury their dead, in memory of his devotion, Take care you tyrants, who cheat and sting, the tide may turn when you die, For it's yet to be seen, if men like McLean, run the picket-line up in the sky. Notes Many thanks to Dennis O'Keeffe for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. The song is on his CD "Matilda in a Tucker Bag" Dennis writes "The second big shearing strike took place and NSW and Queensland became a battlefield. With martial law declared in Queensland, the strike of 1894 was a civil insurrection with hundreds of shearers going to jail and receiving prison terms from two to fifteen years. An unknown number of shearers lost their lives and were buried in unmarked graves. The song follows the story of Billy McLean and the part he played in the strike" |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Feb 21 - 10:50 PM BILLY MACLEAN - © Dennis O'Keeffe 1992, tune James Connolly Audio Where, oh where is young Billy McLean, Where, oh where is that gallant man, He's gone to organise the union, That working men they might yet be free. Then who, then who will lead the van, Then who, then who will lead the van, Then who, but our young Billy, The hero of the working man. Where, oh where, have our shearers gone, Where, oh where, is that gallant band, They've gone to fight for the workers union, That working men they might yet be free. Who carried no gun when they shot him down, Who carried no gun when they shot him down, Who, but our young Billy, To Goulburn Jail they sentenced him. This wounded man could not survive, This innocent man could not survive, They sent him home to his lonely mother, And lay him in his bed to die. Who mourns the death of this great man, Who mourns the death of this great man, Oh bury him down, in yon green garden, With union men on every side. So they buried him down, in yon green garden, With union men on every side, And they swore they would form a mighty union, That young Bill's name might be filled with pride. The song is on his CD "Matilda in a Tucker Bag" Dennis writes "Billy McLean was shot by a scab one week before the legendary Swagman Samuel Hoffmeister died at the fourmile billabong during the 1894 shearers strike. Both men lost their lives fighting for the rights of Australian workers." |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Feb 21 - 10:46 PM DOWN WORKERS DOWN © Ian Macintosh 2006 no audio a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh6eaxv2uDg">tune - Go Down Ye Murderers (The Ballad of Tim Evans) Have you heard the bosses call? Down workers down, Have you heard the bosses call? Go down workers go down If you've heard the bosses call Part-time work or none at all, Families going to the walll Go down workers go down Do y' know what makes the bosses pleased? Down workers down, Do y' know what makes the bosses pleased? Go down workers go down You know what makes the bosses pleased, Workers begging on their knees, Business moving overseas Go down workers go down Chorus: Go down workers go down, Go down workers go down, (penultimate line of each verse) Go down workers go down Have you heard the bosses prayer? Down workers down, Have you heard the bosses prayer? Go down workers go down If you ‘ve heard the bosses prayer Low paid workers everywhere Hire and fire without a care Go down workers go down Have you seen he bosses pay? Down workers down, (Rpt) Have you seen the bosses pay Go down workers go down If you've seen the bosses pay It goets bigger every day They take the cash and run away Go down workers go down. Have you heard the bosses lies? Down workers down, (Rpt) Have you heard the bosses lies Go down workers go down You have heard the bosses lies Unions have been crim'nalized, Prosecutions on the rise Go down workers go down. Break (Twice through)Chorus Have you signed the contract yet? Down workers down, (Rpt) Have you signed the contract yet Go down workers go down If you've signed the contract yet You'll be sink further into debt You've slipped through the safety net Go down workers go down Have you seen the future friend? Down workers down, (Rpt Have you seen the future friend? Go down workers go down) If you've seen the future friend There's no conditions to defend Fight them to the bitter end Go down workers go down Go down workers go down, Go down workers go down, (last line of each verse) Go down workers go down Repeat Notes Many thanks to Ian Macintosh for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. Ian writes: "The song really wrote itself after reading about yet another massive CEO payout from one of the major corporations, the latest being the CEO of Macquarie Bank receiving a $33 million dollar bonus. At the same time the conservative Howard government enables more and more bosses to strip away working people's hard fought for rights and claims a $25 dollar a week payout for the lowest paid would be detrimental to the economy. I asked myself, just what would Ewan MacColl say about this if he still around? Written and recorded in a matter of hours - the take on the album is raw and the only take." |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Feb 21 - 10:39 PM SIEVX © Phyl Lobl 2002 Audio On 23 October 2001 Australians first became aware of the horrific sinking of the asylum seeker vessel we now know as SIEVX with the loss of over 350 lives. There are many questions not fully answered about the circumstances of the sinking. Thanks to Edward Lear & The Jumblies for the line 'they went to sea in a sieve' & to Tony Kevin and his website for confirmation of the story. SIEV =Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel UBA = Unauthorised Boat Arrival They went to sea in a sieve they did, in SIEVX they went to sea, And some call them queue jumpers, but I say refugee Who will tell their story now if its not you or me Wives and children took the chance to become a UBA They paid their fare to freedom from South Sumatra Bay The papers told of those who found it was their only way. Abu Quassey set the price that Sonas gladly paid, To join her husband Ahmed in the plans that they had made, She could not guess the twisted web of the trap that had been laid. The overloaded boat it seems had been designed to sink A neat disruption program with a cruel political link, A program kept well hidden except to those who think. I say that there are none so blind as those who let things be, The Navy’s eyes were blind that day to any refugee, And smoke and mirrors hid the scheme that stained the Java Sea. The boat capsized inside the Zone some struggled and survived But only 44 were left when the rescue boat arrived, And Sonas told the story of the desperate and deprived. Her weary arms gave up their load, her precious burden of three Eman, Zhra and Fatimah were lost to the hungry sea. Their photo now a symbol of our inhumanity. THESE VERSES CAN BE OMMITTED Those who poison basic trust who manufacture fear, Have left us with a legacy that I find hard to bear, I hope the world can see that there are some of us who care. They went to sea in a sieve they did, in SIEVX they went to sea, And some call them queue jumpers, but I say refugee And who will tell their story now if not its not you or me. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Feb 21 - 10:35 PM BLACK DIAMOND DISASTER © Phyl Lobl 2005 Audio of Shayna Stewart on Singing the South, Phyl Lobl's Songline/Timeline of the Illawarra Written after reading 'Mt Kembla Mine Disaster' by Stewart Piggan & Henry Lee & supplemented by visits to the Mine Heritage Centre at Mt Kembla. The disaster occurred in July 1902. Ninety-six men and boys died. A 'happening' to mark this anniversary is held each year at Mt Kembla. The trees mentioned in the chorus grow thickly in the area. *Black diamonds had been hunted at the Kembla mine for years, A quest laced with danger that drew bitter tears. From wives and friends and children of the ninety-six who died, When a rush of fire blasted through the Kembla mountainside, The mountainside. CHORUS *Bangalow & Sassafras, Cabbage Plam and Cedar, Witnessed the mine's hot breath burn the *Casuarina. Peppermint and Lilly Pilly caught the coal dust flight, When day turned to night. A miner's light ignited in the thirty-acre *goaf Did profit motif close all minds to danger from the roof? *Wheelers, shifters, clippers and miners breathed the air. Filled with deadly *afterdamp 'cause owners didn't care, They didn't care. The owner kept his distance and purse strings tight, He'd made his wealth from miners working with no safety light. Then chose to pay for churches to buy his soul a place, While compensation payments were a national disgrace, A disgrace. Unions fought for justice through strikes and *picket lines, For miners' rights & wages and safety in the mines. I hope new working laws don't change the state of play, It must not be for nothing the miners died that day, Died that day. * References Black Diamonds - Coal Bangalow, Sassafras, Cabbage Palm, Cedar, Peppermint Gum, Lilly Pilly, Casuarina - native trees. Goaf - Area underground from which coal has been taken. Afterdamp - Mixture of gases produced in a coal mine after an explosion. Wheelers, clippers, shifters - Mine workers with tasks that involved moving the skips when they were filled by the miners. Picket Lines - Striking workers with placards line the approaches to their workplaces to protest against unfairness. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 20 Feb 21 - 11:30 PM 1868 Matt Scullion It was before Smith and Warnie, before the great Don Before Victor Trumper scored the first double ton Nine years before the first test and the baggy green Australia got its first cricket team A clever bunch of stockmen and sturdy station hands They picked the game up quickly from settlers on the land They sailed over to England unsure of their fate The tour made the headlines in 1868 Chorus They came from Jardwadjali and Wotjobaluki Some from Gunditjmara, thirteen men in all As good as anybody with the bat and ball The first Australian cricket side was Aboriginal The tourists were admired for their athletic skills The games were well-attended, nearly all the seats were filled Forty-seven matches, they even played at Lords Winning fourteen while nineteen games were drawn The standout was Unaarrimin, better known as Johnny Mullagh A wizz with the cork and willow, a real all-rounder And there was Jungunjinanuke, nicknamed Dick-a-Dick Who earned the locals’ respect and wowed the crowd with his bush tricks Chorus The team returned to Sydney after six long months Exhausted from the gruelling trip but proud of what they’d done But there was no hero’s welcome, no ticker-tape parade Most went back to the station, others sadly passed away But in the town of Harrow, there’s a piece of sacred land Called ‘Johnny Mullagh Oval’ in honour of the man There’s a cricket museum with pictures of the past Their names won’t be forgotten, their legacy will last Chorus National Museum: https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/aboriginal-cricket-team Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Aboriginal_cricket_team_in_England_in_1868 FOOTNOTE: I found this recent news article* about the 19th Century Aboriginal Cricket Team and the new song, but I know nothing about Cricket (nor sport in general :) so I forwarded it to STEWIE. Wonderful bloke that he is, he very kindly transcribed it for us all to sing and enjoy!!! * https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-19/len-pascoe-turned-pioneering-indigenous-cricket-team-into-song/13166612 (story, pics, video link to song, all included) Cheers! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Feb 21 - 08:47 PM ROLL ALONG (Paul Wookey) There’s no lonesome whistle blowin’ outside my door No hobo has ever shared my floor No highballin' friend has ever taken me away No one rides the railroad anymore I’ve never seen my name scratched upon the water-tank Never swung my old guitar aboard a train Never had to run to save my life in the railyard at night Never had to sleep in the drivin' rain So roll along And as the diesels hums goodbye Sing me another song the brakeman left behind Those old gentlemen of steam are left to rust The water-tanks might just as well run dry The hobo's weary bones, why they've long since turned to dust Leavin' only the sound of an outward bound and the whistle’s lonesome cry So roll along And as the diesels hum goodbye Sing me another song the brakeman left behind This song is from his first LP - 'Mountain Breakfast'. Paul is a fine performer and songwriter. I recall that he came to Darwin with the late Chris Duffy decades ago. Youtube clip Paul Wookey's site --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 20 Feb 21 - 07:23 PM PEACE DESCENDS Paul Metsers Peace Descends Though its schedule is tight When the tatters of day weaken and fray And the wet street surrenders to night (Refrain) Peace descends Though it's just passing through When I am here and you are too Peace descends In the hurricane's eye In arms that surround with hardly a sound And never an alibi Peace descends And it's never too long Till the lovers relax and that seedy old saxophone Burns up the final song Peace descends Too late to repent When the last insult's hurled and the banners are furled And the winner can scowl at what's left of his world And the storm in our hearts is spent "From a word sheet supplied with Paul's record, In the Hurricane's Eye, SGM 279, recorded in 1983 : Little Robyn, Mudcatter" Sung here by NZ’s CHRIS PRIESTLEY (with high accolades from Paul Metsers in the Comments!) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz3kpD0NadM R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 20 Feb 21 - 06:30 AM There is a book "The forgotten rebels of Eureka" by Clare Wright, which won the Stella Prize for Australian women's writing in 2014. It's an excellent read, well researched and written - and yes, Anastasia Withers and her petticoat are in it. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Feb 21 - 04:21 AM COWPER WHARF - Words & Music: Phyl Lobl Our first troopship to Iraq sailed from Cowper Wharf in 2003. I watched her sail with a heavy heart. This Audio comes from a concert organised by Wayne Richmond with the 'Loosely Woven' concert group. I went down to the Cowper wharf one day, To watch the ship Kanimbla in her coat of battle grey, Raise the anchor to the flag and sail away. The wheels of war return and turn, Why don't we ever learn. The 'strong of arm' and 'bright of eye' stood tall, I don't know where their thoughts were but mine were with them all, Did they ever dare to think that they could fall. The wheels of war return and turn, Why don't we ever learn. The gulf lay in between us gaping wide, Like the flotsam on the sea they were swept up with the tide, And in the firm belief that God was on their side. The wheels of war return and turn, Why don't we ever learn. Off to defend the system at great speed, A system that depends upon half truths and guns and greed, While third world people starve or live in need. The wheels of war return and turn, Why don't we ever learn. Another time and place another day, Someone watched my father's troop ship as she sailed away, There were few would protest then about the fray. The wheels of war return and turn, But I'll keep marching in the hope that Peace by Peace we'll learn. Phyl's father was underage when he enlisted, but he was 18 when he was wounded at the Somme. video by Dingo's Breakfast of Phyl's Battle of the Somme. Phyl sang it at 1982 National Folk Festival with Declan Affley on uilleann pipes & they can be heard in the background. One image is of a very young soldier looking at the camera. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Feb 21 - 04:10 AM WESTGATE WIDOW - Words & Music: Phyl Lobl, arranged and accompanied by Michael Roberts Audio Westgate you took my pal, My laughing, drinking, joking pal. You stopped his laughter when you fell, When you came down. You welders and you tough dogmen, I beg you will you listen then. When with concrete and steel you spin, I beg you to take care. For we'll be a long time lonely now, A long time lonely. Westgate you took my man, How I curse your rotten span. I'll have to manage best I can, Since you came down. You designing and you planning men, I beg you will you listen then. When with concrete and steel you spin, I beg you to take care. For we'll be a long time lonely now, A long time lonely. In 1970 the Westgate Bridge collapse killed thirty five people I wrote this song in the following week. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Feb 21 - 04:07 AM Anastasia's Petticoat © 2003 Phyl Lobl audio The miners of Eureka have long been brought to fame, Its time the wives who stood by them were honoured with the same. Many were prepared to die but weren't allowed to fight, They sewed Eureka's flag instead, the flag of blue and white. CHORUS And the stars, the petticoat stars, fly beyond the battle. Of that December morning when hot blood stained the wattle. The miners push for justice came in 1854, They stumbled into trouble, then into civil war. Anastasia felt it right that she should also join the fight, Though a white lawn petticoat seemed too slight an offering for the cause. Henry Ross had planned the flag he hoped would prove to be, A flag to unify all those who scorned the licence fee. Armed with scissors thread and thimble miners wives worked on that symbol, Sewing with their hearts a-tremble, stitching for the cause. On Bakery Hill the flag first flew, brave against the cloud, It gave the speakers heart and hope when they addressed the crowd. Mid calls for solidarity for justice and for liberty, The petticoat stars shone constantly dancing for the cause. It led the marchers down the road that ran from Creswick town, To flower on the stockade pole till King had it torn down. With Ross soon dead from musket shot, the troopers used the flag for sport, They dragged it through the mud and thought they’d killed the miners cause. The stars, the petticoat stars, fly beyond the battle, Of that December morning, when hot blood stained the wattle. The stars, the petticoat stars, fly beyond the battle, Of that December morning, when hot blood stained the wattle. Written & Sung by Phyl Lobl 2003-4 Arranged and accompanied by Michael Roberts Written for the 150th anniversary of the Eureka Uprising, this song tells the story of the Eureka Flag. Henry Ross, a miner who migrated from Canada was credited with designing the flag but credit for the sewing of the flag has gone to a group of women. One of those women, Anastasia Withers, was said to have sacrificed a white lawn petticoat to fashion the stars. Perhaps when Australia does become a Republic a simple solution to the flag question would be to reclaim the Eureka flag from the various groups who have since utilised it and it can become a fitting symbol for a southern democracy. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Feb 21 - 04:00 AM THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS LAWS © John Dengate 2006 Tune variant of Flash Jack from Gundagai Audio The industrial relations laws are good for you and me They'll stimulate employment and foster industry They'll make Australia wealthier I'm sure you'll all agree The industrial relations laws are good for you and me Johnny Howard told me and he is very wise Johnny Howard told me and Johnny never lies And I don't begrudge the millions they spent to advertise We'll be more like America hooray you lucky guys The industrial relations laws will lght the road ahead Scrap the regulations and trust the boss instead Keep away from unions they're terrorists or reds Now I'm off to see the doctor he's examining my head |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Feb 21 - 03:58 AM THEY'RE KEEPING A FILE ON ME © Mithra Cox 2009 Audio Im pulling on my big floppy shoes I'm zipping up my latex fat suit I'm dressed as a clown but they're writing it all down They're keeping a file on me Chorus: They're keeping a file on me They're keeping it meticulously What I said and who I met they'll make sure they don't forget They're keeping a file on me We're reaching consensus tonight Democracy's not black and white We'll be here til three but we'll get there peacefully But it's being recorded for my asio file We're dancing in the alley til dawn Cause the party was long since shut down But they're starting to get hostile and your joyful brimming smile Is on a photo your asio file Instrumental My file’s a long litany Of peace, love and harmony I never realised that being fair and just and kind Was considered living dangerously |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Feb 21 - 03:56 AM ROTTEN TO THE CORE © Martin Cubby and Mithra Cox 2009 Audio The banks are made of marble With a guard at every door Ripping off the workers The farmers and the poor Giving credit come and get it Isn't that what banks are for But they know you can't repay it And they're beating down your door Refrain: And the banks are made of marble With a guard at every door And the monument of capital Is rotten to the core Down on dirty Wall Street The truth is hard to find Lay a dirty greenback down You've got a dirty lie Up on hollow Main Street The truth is what you're told A happy life it can be bought A happy life is sold The vultures at the top Are in their towers of glass and steel Hard hands at the bottom They're scrounging their next meal The ones who built the mansions Pressed the suits and parked the car They can't afford the rent And so it's on the credit card So lay your money down now Don't you worry be at ease Snort another line of credit From the nice Chinese Keep buying shoes and TVs Pay it back another day Everyone's got to keep shopping Or they'll take your house away Notes Many thanks to Martin Cubby, Mithra Cox and The Lurkers for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection Visit The Lurkers website at http://www.lurkers.com.au/ |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Feb 21 - 03:53 AM WARSONG © Bernard Carney 1991 no audio or video Time for our minds to be taken from war The news is so boring and dreary More broken bones for a hungry dow jones And the people have all become weary The job has been done by the media's gun The establishment grows ever stronger No need to worry what's right or whats wrong Don't think about this any longer While the wars of the world rage on Each newscaster's bulletin bombards our brains Each article softens our thinking Each new righteous reason will mask and conceal The hole into which we are sinking The voices of protest grow quieter each day The crackpots who screamed against violence Are labelled as peaceniks and sent on their way The majority slides into silence And the wars of the world rage on When the young men and women caught up in this mess Join the ranks of the wounded and dying The media mutters of duty and honour And love of our country And the national flag will be flying Flying for a new world order of countries Flying for the new troops we're sending Flying for the old rules that fuel all the fires And prevent all these wars from ending While the wars of the world rage on Time for our minds to be taken from war The news is so boring and dreary More broken bones for a hungry dow jones And the people have all become weary Notes Many thanks to Bernard Carney for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. Bernard writes: "This was written during the 1991 Gulf War as a response to the way mainstream media soothed us into thinking it was all for the greater good . We were shown aerial views of direct hits but the human cost was never counted. It seems to be happening again." Warsong is on Bernard's CD "No Time Like The Future" BJCD981 1998 Vists his website at: http://www.bernardcarney.com |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Feb 21 - 03:50 AM GARDENS OF DEATH © Bernard Carney 1995 Audio Every fifteen minutes somewhere In a burnt out village somewhere There'll be a flash against the sky Another homeless farmer somewhere Stumbles on a mine And for every one survivor two will die Pastures of plenty now are sown with destruction Growing only uncertainty and fear Lethal reminders of a never ending war Taking lifetimes of misery to clear For the mines have been planted like Bad seed in the ground Deadly silent sentinels that wait without a sound The legacy of conflict indiscriminate and wild And they know no distinction Be it soldier be it child So scream your disapproval with every angry breath And fight to put an end to all these Gardens of death Who will remove them when the fighting is over What could the price of peace be worth How can we talk of turning swords into ploughshares When countless million mines infest the earth Young fingers playing find them bright and attractive Made of plastic like a friendly coloured toy Another generation learns to live without a limb For these are the tactics they employ For the mines have been planted like Bad seed in the ground Deadly silent sentinels that wait without a sound The legacy of conflict indiscriminate and wild And they know no distinction Be it soldier mother child So scream your disapproval with every angry breath And fight to put an end to all these Gardens of death Who are the companies that profit from this slaughter Who are the people they employ What drives a person to invent a smarter way Of making more efficient methods to destroy Who are the countries now that still refuse to ban them But wear their good intentions like a mask Who are the parties in this shameless pollution These are the questions we must ask For the mines are still planted In their millions every year Barely detectable impossible to clear Sprayed across the countryside landing where they will Denying future access always waiting for the kill So scream your disapproval with every angry breath So the world can put an end to all these Gardens of death Every fifteen minutes somewhere Every fifteen minutes somewhere Every fifteen minutes Notes Many thanks to Bernard Carney for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. This song won the West Australian Music industry songwriting award in 1995 and has subsequently been coupled with landmine images from around the world taken by Melbourne photographer John Rodsted and made into a five minute video by the International Red Cross in Geneva entitled "Shattered Lives". The Australian Red Cross have also made the song into a CD single together with a Greg Arnold song "They colour in the Landmines". The song is also on the Bernard Carney & Peter Grayling CD " No Time Like The Future" Visit Bernard's web site at: http://www.bernardcarney.com/ |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Feb 21 - 06:54 PM IRISH LORDS (w.Charles H. Souter/m.Martyn Wyndham-Read) The barley grass was two feet high, the billabongs were full The brolgas danced a minuet, the world seemed made of wool The nights were never wearisome, the days were never slow When first I went to Irish Lords on the road to Ivanhoe The frost was on the barley grass as we passed the homestead rails A darling jackass piped us in with his turns and trills and scales Youth and health and happiness sat on the saddle bow And Mary lived at Irish Lords on the road to Ivanhoe And everywhere was happiness, the fates were fair and kind We drank the very wine of life, we never looked behind And Mary, Mary everywhere, was flitting to and fro When first we went to Irish Lords, on the road to Ivanhoe The window on a leafy byre where the golden banksia grew Stared like a dead man's glassy eye for the roof had fallen through No flowers in her garden-bed, and her voice stilled long ago When last I went to Irish Lords on the road to Ivanhoe Irish Lords is a sheep station near Ivanhoe in the far west of NSW. Martyn gives some background in his intro to the song here: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 19 Feb 21 - 09:14 AM SIX RIBBONS Jon James English & Mario Millo If I were a minstrel, I’d sing you six love songs To tell all the world of the love that we share If I were a merchant, I’d bring you six diamonds With six blood red roses for my love to wear, But I am a simple man, a poor common farmer So take my six ribbons to tie back your hair. Yellow and brown, blue as the sky Red as my blood, green as your eye If I were a nobleman, I'd bring you six carriages With six snow white horses to take you anywhere If I were the emperor (yellow and brown) I'd build you six palaces (blue as the sky) With six hundred servants (red as my blood) For comforting fare (green as your eyes), But I am a simple man, a poor common farmer So take my six ribbons to tie back your hair If I were a minstrel, I’d sing you six love songs To tell all the world of the love that we share So be not afraid my love, you’re never alone love While you wear my ribbons, tying back your hair, Once I was a simple man, a poor common farmer I gave you six ribbons, to tie back your hair. Tooralee, tooralie, all I can share Is only six ribbons to tie back your hair Tooralee, tooralie, all I can share I gave you six ribbons to tie back your hair. "Six Ribbons" is a popular 1978 folk-style song by the late Australian singer-songwriter-musician-actor, Jon English and is included on the soundtrack of the Australian miniseries, "Against the Wind". See 13 Eps here : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMcMa0lpJo2wOPJM_P0kPnaA-x-U-j6Nm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9W5lQNFb-M : Jon English sings "Six Ribbons", with scenes from the ABC-TV historical drama. Jon’s WIKI page : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_English R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Feb 21 - 09:00 PM THE SOUTHERN CROSS IS CALLING ME (Joe Paolacci) He hasn't had a break you know for 27 years Non-stop in a barber shop he owns near Station Pier He came from sunny Naples, just after World War II With aching heart, he played his part and bid his folks adieu Chorus: So goodbye sunny Naples, my loving family too The Southern Cross is calling me to build a life that's new I'm off to see Australia, the work is plenty there My bag is packed, I won't look back - I'll make a pile, I swear He took a boat to Melbourne where employment was in plenty He got a job with a yankee mob in a motor car assembly He rented up in Carlton, and money carefully spent With families four and sometimes more, he shared his every cent. 'G'day mate!' they say to him, he answers 'Same to you' He feels so queer, they all drink beer and yell, 'It's your shout Blue!' And this goes on till six o'clock when the barman yells 'It's time!' And it's down the hatch, there's a bus to catch on the Gardenvale line He met a girl from Williamstown and courted her at Mass She stole his heart right from the start, a freckled Aussie lass They looked up Father Murphy, got married with great haste And they honeymooned in a tiny room they found in Elgin Place. He hasn't had a break you know for 27 years Non-stop in a barber shop, he owns near Station Pier He came from sunny Naples, just after World War II And with aching heart, he played his part and bid his folks adieu This stands out in that it is not about Irish, Scots or English immigrants. It was posted to the forum a couple of decades ago by Bob Bolton. Evidently, Joe was 2-years-old when he came to Australia and the song was based on his father's experiences and that of other Italian immigrants. It seems that Joe's dad had a good experience. Apart from being racist, Australians could be offensive and derogatory towards European immigrants. I recall that, in some circles, a line was drawn down the middle of Europe - on one side 'bloody dagoes' and, on the other, 'bloody balts'. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Feb 21 - 07:26 AM BETTER TIMES © Miguel Heatwole 2000 video, 2017 winner of Alistair Hulett memorial Songs For Social Justice There are better times comin' if you don't pay any tax On the profits that your companies make off their workers' backs Your friends are influential and they can get things done So don't forget that big donation to the campaign fund Better times, better times, Better times are on their way that's what politicians say So if you've got one in your pocket better times are here to stay There are better times comin' 'cause your pay is gonna drop And this will bring employment ‘though you can't afford to shop When demand for goods and services has fallen through the floor Employers won't be laying off their workers anymore Better times, better times, Better times are on their way if you take a cut in pay And never join a union just do what your bosses say There are better times comin' 'cause the market isn’t slow So if 'share' to you means only what's in your portfolio Invest and speculate, strip assets, make the prices soar Make a killing, oil-drilling, or when there is a war Better times, better times Better times are on their way when the stockmarket you play The only way to win is when you make the people pay There are better times comin'. If it troubles you to think Just say poverty's the fault of people living on the brink Why not tune in to talkback? You'll get all the help you need To blame the poor on welfare not the ruling class’s greed Better times, better times Better times are on their way just ring up and have your say If the facts are not much use to you, you’re thinking the right way I want to live in hard times the way it was before In the bad old days when unions flexed their muscles for the poor When the public good was not for sale, and education free When we lived in our society not their economy Hard times, Hard times Come on, let the hard times roll, let's see justice take its toll There'll be hard times for the wealthy when we take back what they stole "Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears" The weeping of the wealthy is music to my soul! Notes Many thanks to Miguel Heatwole for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Feb 21 - 07:19 AM DESTITUTION ROAD by Alistair Hulett Audio In the Year Of The Sheep and the burnin’ time They cut our young men in their prime The old Scots way was a hangin’ crime For the Gaels of Caledonia There’s a den for the fox, a hedge for the hare A nest in the tree for the birds of the air But in a’ Scotland there’s no place there for the Gaels of Caledonia Chorus: But there’s no use getting’ frantic It’s time tae hump yer load Across the wild Atlantic On the Destitution Road The bailiff came wi’ the writ and a’ And the gallant lads of the Forty Twa They drove ye oot in the sleet and snaw The Gaels of Caledonia When yer house was burned and yer crops as well Ye stood and wept in the blackened shell And the winter moor was a living hell For the Gaels of Caledonia The plague and the famine they dragged ye doon As ye made yer way tae Glesga toon Where ye’d heard o’ a ship that was sailin’ soon For the shores of Nova Scotia And ye sold yer gear, ye paid yer fare Wi’ yer heid held high though yer heart was sair And ye bid farewell forever mair Tae the glens of Caledonia The land was cleared and the deal was made Noo an English lord in a tartan plaid He struts and stares as the memories fade Of the Gaels of Caledonia And he hunts the deer in the lonely glen That once was home to a thousand men And the wind on the moor sings a sad refrain For the Gaels of Caledonia Notes Many thanks to Alistair Hulett for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. Alistair writes: The time in Scotland known as the Highland Clearances was a government led assault on the non-English speaking tribal societies - the clansfolk, that had existed there for countless centuries. From it’s inception in 1792, when it was called in Gaelic by its victims Bliadhna nan Caorach, meaning The Year Of the Sheep, till it finally ended nearly eighty years later, this was a period of incredible violence and cruelty carried out in the name of modernisation. Wool was seen by the clan chiefs as a better source of profit than rent, and the government agreed. Many sold their lands to southern capitalist farmers while others carried out the clearings themselves. In all cases the military gave assistance in what amounted to a programme of ‘ethnic cleansing’. Hard on the heels of The Year of the Sheep came The Year of the Burnings, when any hope of return was put to the torch and destroyed. Capitalist farming methods and the introduction of sheep to the glens gave rise a process of physical and cultural genocide that has left the Scottish Highlands barren of its human population to this day. The passage out of the Highlands in those times was known as The Destitution Road. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Feb 21 - 07:16 AM HERE'S TO YOU FRANKLN. © Dave de Hugard 1983 Audio Well come all you people far and near And to this story lend an ear It's to ask you all to make a stand On a crucial issue now at hand At the Franklin River a fight's being fought And bulldozers roar and time it's short So this is a call for your support To keep the Franklin Flowing Chorus Here's to you Franklin as you roll along And your forests and your mountains is a wild river song And may you still be there when we're long gone So Franklin you keep on flowing Now this HEC well they're blind of course And they're wearing blinkers like an old draft horse Oh but puffed with power too blind to see The extent of their stupidity And if you've got your doubts the fact remains It's up to us to make the change So it's backs to the wheel for the long term gains And we'll keep the Franklin Flowing We must stay the hand of this scheming pack They'd carve up this country at the drop of a hat Oh Lake Pedder disappeared at the stroke of a pen And if they have their way they'll do it again They'll take the Franklin River too Except for people like me and you So I reckon we can see this through And keep the Franklin Flowing And I like the cackle of the kookaburra's song And the bubble of the of the water as she rolls along And the Huon pines have been standing there Two thousand years and never a care Then there's the caves where the earliest men Sheltered while this river ran Oh there'e no place here for a hydro dam So keep the Franklin Flowing Final Chorus Here's to you Franklin as you roll along And your forests and your mountains is a wild river song And may you still be there when we're long gone So Franklin you keep on flowing So Franklin just keep on flowing Notes Many thanks to Dave de Hugard for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. 'Here's to you Franklin' was written in 1983, part of the national protest against the Hydro Electricity Commission's (HEC) plan to build a dam on the Franklin River in Tasmania's wild south-west. Visit Dave's website at http://www.dehugard.com/ |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Feb 21 - 07:13 AM AUNTY © Bernard Carney Audio 21 years ago Bernard said - "This is an old song which may be updated and used again at present if anyone has the time" tune: Solidarity Forever They've cut my Aunty's pension She can hardly pay the rent They're planning little nips and tucks That total 10 (or 20 or possibly more) per cent They're beating down her budget 'til she's at the begging bowl And hundreds of her staff Are going to end up in a hole Her doctor says she's overweight She looks so thin to me He's issued a prescription for cosmetic surgery But everybody knows she's going to be an amputee But her voice goes marching on Help to save our favourite Aunty Help to save our favourite Aunty Help to save our favourite Aunty And let her voice go marching on Her mouth is just a little wide Her tongue is far too long They'll do a quick reshaping So they sing a different song Her ears will only hear too much They really must be tamed She'll still be known as Aunty But she just won't sound the same My aunty's looking different now They're cutting at her still They've told her about sponsorship To help to pay the bills And when her independence starts to Trickle down the drain She'll still be known as Aunty But she just won't think the same So rally for your aunty She will need your full support She's the only independent voice That won't be sold or bought She's known across Australia In the country and the town So let her voice go marching on Notes Many thanks to Bernard Carney for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. He Writes "This is an old song which may be updated and used again at present if anyone has the time" Aunty in Australia is a common often affectionate reference to the national broadcaster the ABC. This publicly owned broadcaster has set the standard for Australian television and radio for over 60 years. It now (December 2000) faces destruction as the reactionary and vengeful Federal Government takes the gloves off in an attempt to ensure that "cash for comment" becomes the norm in Australian journalism. Visit the ABC website at: http://www.abc.net.au/ Visit Bernard's website at: http://www.bernardcarney.com |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Feb 21 - 07:06 AM STAND TOGETHER © 1996 Bernard Carney Audio Chorus We will all stand together and sing a union song We will all stand together and know that we belong To the strength of the future In a common working bond Stand together and sing a union song There's trouble fast approaching And the skies are overcast But let us not lose sight of All the lessons of the past The victories that were fought for In battles loud and long By the millions who sang a union song United we will bargain But divided we will fall Injustice to the one will mean Injustice to us all But when we stand together The future will belong To the millions who sing a union song (optional May Day verse) It was on the first of May That I heard the union say Eight hours of decent working For eight hours of decent pay And we won't forget the reasons Why were marching here today With the millions who sing a union song Notes Many thanks to Bernard Carney for permission to use this song about which he writes: "The song was written in August 96 during the second wave of changes to the West Australian Industrial relations laws and has been sung at all the union rallies since. It's one of a series of songs written for the union campaign against the law changes and ended in the establishment of the Workers Embassy behind Parliament House in June 97 which exists today as Solidarity Park." Visit his Bernard's website at: http://bernardcarney.com/ |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Feb 21 - 07:02 AM LOVE IS THE ANSWER, © James Paterson & Denise Alexander 2006 Verse 1 When they say they're giving you democracy We know it's lies, it's the height of hypocracy Corporations don't care about the have nots Ruthless, immoral, it's all about the profits Verse 2 It's no wonder people are starting to hate us We plunder countries, invade them like a rapist Now everyone is suspicious of their neighbours It must be true cos I read it in the papers Sub Chorus But forgiveness is beauty You know that empires don't last All this war and destruction Why can't we learn, can't we learn from the past Chorus That Love can bring changes ( woh, oh, oh, oh, oh ) Yes "Love is the answer", it's what we're looking for When there's violence and hatred ( woh, oh, oh, oh, oh ) Then "Love is the answer", it's what we're looking for Verse 3 We were told there was weapons of mass destruction They bombed the place and said they had no option They use the war to help them win elections It's time to GetUp and give them our objections Verse 4 Don't you know there's going to be a backlash What's wrong with talking, does it leave you feeling breathless Life is sacred can you hear the voice of reason No more killing in the name of freedom Sub Chorus Forgiveness is beauty ( It's the highest form of love ) You know that empires don't last ( They all come crumbling down ) All this war & destruction ( Senseless deaths ) Why can't we learn, can't we learn from the past Chorus Love can bring changes ( woh, oh, oh, oh, oh ) Yes "Love is the Answer" it's what we're looking for When there's violence and hatred ( woh, oh, oh, oh, oh ) Yes "Love is the Answer", it's what we're looking for Life is so sacred " Love is the Answer", and what we're looking for In a world full of hatred Then "Love is the Answer", and what we're looking for Notes Many thanks to James Paterson & Denise Alexander for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. They are members of The Borderers (Celtic / Irish band based in Adelaide, South Australia) and wrote the song in response to the continuing war in Iraq. Love is the Answer is sung here by the Borderers and is on their CD "A Time For Change" Visit the Borderers website at http://theborderers.com.au/ |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 16 Feb 21 - 04:44 AM Back to Broome, by Ted Egan, was mentioned (way) upthread, with a link to lyrics in another thread, and to a recording on Youtube. I'd like to have the lyrics in this thread, so here goes. I took these lyrics from the recording, which leaves out many of the stanzas in the earlier lyrics post, and includes one stanza the older post doesn't. I guess Ted Egan didn't always sing it the same way. The four lines starting "I'm takin' you back to Broome today" are sung, preferably in call-and-response style, before each stanza, and the chorus is sung after each stanza. BACK TO BROOME (Ted Egan) I'm takin' you back to Broome today What'll we do when we get to Broome? All aboard the lugger, we're on our way What'll we do in Broome? I'm takin' you back to Broome today And you'll see all the luggers in Roebuck Bay See all the beautiful local girls See Old Tom Ellies cleaning pearls That's what you do in Broome CHORUS: So it's: Haul away! Heave away! Up with the anchor chain – two! three! four! Haul away! Heave away! We're goin' back to Broome again! (x2 last time) I'm takin' you back to Broome with me And if you want to learn about history Sit in the shade of a Tamarind tree Meet Unsinkable Kennedy And he'll tell you all about Broome. We'll take a walk to Chinatown At the Roebuck Pub, we'll knock one down Broome's the place of great renown The people are black, white, yellow, and brown It's Technicolor in Broome. There's a pearling master so astute There's a Japanese diver lookin' ever so cute Sovereign buttons on a starched white suit A mouth full of golden teeth to boot And He's properly flash in Broome. I'm takin' you back to Broome, me dears At the Conti Pub have a few cold beers There's Con Gill's cockatoo, block yer ears The greatest swearer heard in years And he's cursing his luck in Broome. Hear Captain Tallboys tell a tale On the verandah in front of Streeter & Male At the Governor Broome we'll quaff an ale Watch the luggers as they set sail They're sailing today from Broome. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Feb 21 - 08:52 AM WHY CAN'T WE GIVE REFUGE TO A REFUGEE? © Bernard Carney 2002 We are the lucky country we have hearts enough to care We can speak our minds in freedom we have boundless plains to share We don't deny our mateship regardless of the cost And our doors are always open to the lonely and the lost Well that was how it once was we were proud to make the claim But a darkening of spirit now has crept across our name For the way we treat our weakest is what the world will see When we can't give refuge to a refugee Why can't we give refuge to a refugee This world's known so much chaos there's a shadow through the lands I search the stars for answers but I just don't understand When broken souls in need of help cried out for us to hear We could have offered hope and love instead we offered fear The fear of drab detention locked like dingos in a pound The fear of no horizon on this so called Christian ground And every rule our country makes reflects on you and me When we can't give refuge to a refugee Why can't we give refuge to a refugee And the sharp eyes of the world can see just what we're coming to We who have so much but cannot share it with the few Reacting to the symptoms never thinking of the cause When hunger and injustice are the enemies of us all For the faceless wounded spirits locked behind the razor wire We rally for their freedom with our consciences on fire And our hearts become the harder and we harbour bigotry When we can't give refuge to a refugee Why can't we give refuge to a refugee And I fly no flag of Jesus speak no politicians creed But sing the song of human beings crying out in need And I'll sing it ever louder until all the wounds are healed Til they know our hearts are open even though their lips are sealed For we are the lucky country and we have hearts enough to care We can speak our minds in freedom we have boundless plains to share And we've always known compassion and rejoiced in being free But we can't give refuge to a refugee Why can't we give refuge to a refugee Notes Many thanks to Bernard Carney for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. Unions in Australia have been active in the campaign to change the country's treatment of refugees particularly those the government labels "Illegal Immigrants", and locks up in purpose built privately run jails they call "Detention Camps". These camps are made inaccessible to relatives, lawyers and even politicians. The government describes it's treatment of the refugees as "A Deterent to people smugglers". It narrowly won the 2001 Federal Election by whipping up hysteria on the issue, spreading lies like children being thrown overboard by their parents. Audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Feb 21 - 08:48 AM or this one by Kevin McCarthy, coordinator of the Denis O'Keeffe Memorial Australian Songs Session @ The National? BATTLE FOR BENELONG, © Kevin McCarthy 2007 It was on a bleak November day John Howard came undone the day he took for granted the people of Bennelong consumed with pride and vanity convinced he had it won dismissed the polls and he backed himself in the Battle for Bennelong When Maxine McKew raised her hand to run in Bennelong Howard scoffed: is this a joke? the nerve of this woman but she campaigned long and she campaigned hard she set her sights on John Maxine had come to give her all in the Battle for Bennelong To Australia’s ultra neo-cons John Howard was their man his economic miracle put wealth into their hand but eleven years of fear and hate had roused the Aussie mob and the battlers rose and had their say that day in Bennelong yeh the battlers rose and they had their say in the battle for Bennelong Now on polling day it soon emerged the contest would be tight Labor prayed whileLiberals choked those numbers can’t be right neck and neck, too close to call but when the count was done by a short half head, Maxine had won the Battle for Bennelong [CHEER] Now Maxine McKew has won a place in Australian history the reporter from the ABC brought Howard to his knees with Buckleys chance, and against the odds she took the bastard on and Maxine McKew claimed victory in the Battle for Bennelong yes Maxine McKew made history that day in Bennelong Notes Many thanks to Kevin "Blarney" McCarthy editor of the Blarney Bulletin at http://www.blarneybulletin.com/ for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. Find more of Kevin's work in this collection Journalist Maxine McKew was Labor candidate in Sydney seat of Bennelong, a seat Prime Minister John Howard had held for 33 years. Her victory was the icing on the cake of the Labor win on 24 Novembr 2007, a win that decimated John Howard's Liberal party and installed the Labor Federal Government of Kevin Rudd. Audio My folk club met that night & I was lucky enough to get some great photos as one of the audience kept popping outside to listen to the counts. When she interrupted to tell us Labor had won - faces went from shock to cheers but the exhausted bloke in the Union t-shirt who was slumped down in the front row barely raised an eyelid. Unfortunately I didn't publish any of those photos. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Feb 21 - 08:31 AM I've been looking in Union songs & saw lots of songs we've missed! how could we leave this out? DON'T BE TOO POLITE, GIRLS, © Glen Tomasetti 1969 Tune "All Among The Wool" We're really on the way, girls, really on the way, Hooray for equal pay, girls, hooray for equal pay, They're going to give it to most of us, in spite of all their fears But do they really need to make us wait three years. Chorus Don't be too polite girls, don't be too polite, Show a little fight girls, show a little fight, Don't be fearful of offending, in case you get the sack Just recognise your value and we won't look back. I sew up shirts and trousers in the clothing trade, Since men don't do the job I can't ask to be better paid The people at the top rarely offer something more Unless the people underneath are walking out the door. They say a man needs more to feed his children and his wife, Well, what are the needs of a woman who leads a double working life? When the whistle blows for knock-off it's not her time for fun She goes home to start the job that's not paid and never done. Don't be too afraid girls, don't be too afraid, We're clearly underpaid girls, clearly underpaid, Tho' equal pay in principle is every woman's right To turn that into practice, we must show a little fight. We can't afford to pay you, say the masters in their wrath But woman says "Just cut your coat according to the cloth" If the economy won't stand then here's the answer boys, "Cut out the wild extravagance on the new war toys". All among the bull girls, all among the bull, Keep your hearts full girls, keep your hearts full What good is a man as a doormat, or following at heel? It's not their balls we're after, it's a fair square deal. Notes Many thanks to Choir Choir Pants On Fire from New Zealand for permission to add their version of this song to the Union Songs collection. The song was written by Glen Tomasetti who was a well know Melbourne folk singer, writer and political activist. The song is still in use in demonstrations in Australia and has been widely used in films and as a theme song for women's radio and International Women's Day celebrations. It was first sung on Channel 7 television in the current affairs program "This Week". In the introduction to 'Songs From A Seat In The Carriage', a folio of her songs published in 1970, Glen wrote: 'In Charles Dickens 'A Tale of Two Cities' the Marquis St Evremonde rides through the streets of Paris in his carriage. It runs down a child and as the father crouches in the mud, howling like a wild animal over the body of his son, the Marquis dispenses two coins and gives the order, DRIVE ON'. Australia's traditional image identifies us with the poor from whom we are mostly descended. In world society today, however, Australia is part of the old regime, which protects and enlarges its riches at any cost to other people. Occasionally we throw out our loose change and drive on. These songs were written from a seat in that carriage'." Audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Feb 21 - 07:21 AM source - Australian Society for the Study of Labour History To mark the centenary of the NSW Teachers’ Federation, we include in this issue of The Hummer two songs about teachers and the challenges of working in the NSW State education system Twenty-nine kids, Lyrics by Sydney Trade Union Choir (2012), based on Sixteen Tons (Merle Travis 1947) and The Teacher’s Lament (Anon, 1950s) Now, some people say a teacher’s made out of steel, But a teacher’s made of stuff that can think and feel. A mind and a body with a heart and soul, An ability to teach the shy and the bold. Chorus I teach 29 kids and what do I get? Another day older and deeper in debt. St Peter don’t you call me to that Heavenly Gate, I owe my soul to the youth of this state. I woke this morning, it was cloudy and cool, I picked up my briefcase and I drove to the school. The copier’s jammed; I just can’t win And there’s playground duty before the bell rings. Chorus I teach 29 kids and what do I get? Another day older and deeper in debt. St Peter, don’t you call me to that Celestial Shore, I got 29 kids and they’re sending me more. There’s a kid in every seat from wall to wall, Any more that come will have to stand in the hall. They’re breathing down my neck; they’re walking on my toes, They’re telling me their joys and I’m sharing (all) their woes. Chorus I teach 29 kids and what do I get? Younger in heart and nothing to regret. St Peter, don’t you call me, I can’t leave here; I’ll have 29 students again next year. The bell rings at three but I’m not through, With marking and assessments and reports to do. The pressure is on, I have to flee, ‘Cause I’ve got to get back for the P & C. Chorus I teach 29 kids, I’m putting them first, But education’s goin’ from bad to worse ! Devolution’s a con – it just ain’t right, So we have to stick together and win this fight. And win this fight, and win this fight Yes, we have to stick together and win this fight! no video or audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Feb 21 - 07:17 AM another of Maurie's songs source - Australian Society for the Study of Labour History To mark the centenary of the NSW Teachers’ Federation, we include in this issue of The Hummer two songs about teachers and the challenges of working in the NSW State education system. I’m Changing our Name to Grammar Words & Music by Maurie Mulheron (2001) Oh, the cost of education makes me flinch As public schools start to feel the pinch. From each dollar we have gained Little has remained; No, our economic future is no cinch. But amidst the clouds I spot a shining ray If we can make State Aid come back our way, So, I’ve devised a plan of action, Worked it out to the last fraction, And I’m going into action here today. Chorus I’m changing our name to Grammar, And I’m heading down to Canberra you see I’ll tell those bureaucrats What they did for St Ignats Will be perfectly acceptable to me. I’m changing our name to Grammar, And I’m heading for that great receiving line So, when they hand a million grand out I’ll be standing with my hand out, Yes, I’ll get mine! When the P&C are screaming “Where’s the dough?” I’ll be proud to tell them all where they can go They won’t have to scream or holler, They’ll get ev’ry last dollar From where endless streams of money seem to flow I’ll be proud to tell them all what they can do It’s a matter of a simple form or two, ‘Cause for private education, there’s so much remuneration In Canberra the cheque waits for you. Chorus Since the first amphibians crawled out of the slime, We’ve been struggling in an unrelenting climb; We were hardly up and walking Before money started talking And subsidies were an awful crime. Now it’s been that way for a millennium or two Now it seems there is a different point of view If you’re enrolling at St Joey’s No need to spend your dough ‘Cause Canberra will pay the fees for you! Chorus (with last 3 lines repeated) lyrics, no audio Based on I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler (Words and music by Tom Paxton, copyright Pax Music, ASCAP) Used by permission. Additional words by Maurie Mulheron no wonder I can remember the tune! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Feb 21 - 07:09 AM 3 days & no songs????? Four Strong Women © Maurie Mulheron 1996 Chorus: It took a hammer, an act of love To turn that jet Hawk into a dove It took some courage, it took some strength To stop that fighter from dealing death Into the hangar, into the plane Now use your hammer to stop the pain There's steady breathing as your work starts Four strong women, four beating hearts You sang of justice, you rang the bell You drove your hammer through Timor's hell You won your freedom but you won more You stopped a death plane from making war Four strong women with hammers high Beating ploughshares for a peaceful sky They know the struggle, they know the cause Whoever profits keeps making wars Coda: Four strong women, four beating hearts Notes Many thanks to Maurie Mulheron for permission to add this song to the Union Songs site. Maurie writes: This song celebrates the actions of four British women, Andrea Needham, Joanna Wilson, Lotta Kronlid and Angie Zeltner, who are members of the peace group, Ploughshares. In January 1996, they broke into the high security hangar owned by British Aerospace in Lancashire. Their purpose was to disarm one of the newly built Hawk jets. These jets were due for delivery to the Indonesian Government who use the jet Hawk against the villagers of East Timor. The four women had researched the plane well, learning its control panel layout and serial number. Months were spent monitoring the security and general operations of the British aerospace site at Warton until they were sure that they had located the exact plane destined for Indonesia. Once they had made a positive identification, Jet ZH 955, they made their last minute preparations. They quit their flats, said their farewells, bought some tools - bolt-cutters, crowbars and small hammers, and made their way to the airfield. After an agonising period waiting for the right moment, the four women broke into the hangar and set about destroying the war machine. They developed a steady rhythm, once they realised that the security was not coming. Over a period of about an hour the women methodically destroyed the plane's weapons system with their hammers. As Andrea Needham explains, "I have to admit I thought it might be a kind of religious experience but it felt like work - a job. It was like, here is a weapon that will hurt people, so this is what we have to do to stop it." When they finished, they placed banners and streamers over the plane, sang songs of peace and dropped small seeds (of hope) everywhere. As well, they placed a video in the cockpit of John Pilger's documentary on East Timor which has footage of eyewitness accounts of the planes in action. Eventually they were arrested and charged. They faced heavy prison sentences. At their trial they argued from a difficult position: that their crime was justified because its intent was to prevent a larger crime, genocide, from occurring. As the John Pilger documentary had been found at the scene of the crime, the women were able to show the video to the jury. On the sixth day of the trial, the jury turned in a majority verdict of not guilty. Their defence had been accepted. British Aerospace were stunned. On the steps of the courthouse, crowded with supporters, journalists and photographers, a company representative stepped forward to serve an injunction ordering the women not to trespass on the company's property. Angie Zeltner took the papers and, grinning broadly, promptly tore them up. Four strong women! For more information, see the article "If I Had a Hammer" by Jane Wheatley in HQ magazine, (September/October 1996) and pages 313-322 of John Pilger's "Hidden Agendas" (Vintage, 1998). Ploughshares has a web site: http://tridentploughshares.org/ no video or audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 12 Feb 21 - 07:52 PM Fred Smith has a particular interest in the USA, having worked there for a year in 2006-2007. Here is a recent song about the election of Joe Biden, written before the invasion of the Capitol. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down, in honour or dishonour, to the latest generation. Abraham Lincoln, December 1, 1862. LONG RUN WILMINGTON JOE (Fred Smith) Wasn’t such a long time ago… November 2020 Three weeks before the snow fell upon the land of plenty Couple thousand people a day were succumbing to infection, Health workers tired and frayed, I was watching the election The primaries were anyone’s show, Joe talked reconciliation Clyburn had lived through Jim Crow, helped Joe win the nomination The President still put on his shows in the midst of the pandemic 30,000 people would go, guess his crowd ain’t academics TikTok and Twitter, the broken and the bitter listen in to orange man blow Each to their own bubbles making up their troubles in their own reality show Tuesday came around soon, boarded windows braced for violence In the end it went pretty smooth, millions voted there in silence Florida was quick to succumb then went Texas and Ohio Lots of people start to feel numb, is the red mirage a lie though? Michigan the first to turn blue, mail-in counting, Donald scolding Minnesota, Wisconsin too, you could feel the blue wall holding Nevada started tipping, Georgia started flipping for the first time since ’92 Even Arizona, Joe won Maricopa and the Goldwater state slid in blue They just kept on counting in Allegheny County on a Pittsburgh factory floor Out in Philadelphia things are looking healthier and they still kept counting some more Officials looking weary, it's turning blue in Erie, even Fox News says it is so Folks all went insane and, when Joe won Pennsylvania, the champagne started to flow Long run Wilmington Joe, now you’re feeling presidential, Plant the seeds and let ‘em all grow, feeling healing is essential Instrumental break Long run Wilmington Joe, coming in to Union Station Riding on a sliver of hope, to the coming generation There is a beaut video of the song on YT. Fred explained the genesis of the song: In early November, I was confined to my room for two weeks COVID isolation when a colleague tested positive. I figured out how to make my television work and watched the US elections unfold. I was inspired to see election officials and ordinary citizens working to make the democratic process work in the face of background noise. Sound governance and due process are boring, but better than the alternative. Here is an offering for my friends in America… He was yet to see 'the alternative' occur. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 10 Feb 21 - 07:05 PM The Land of Bright Gold John Thompson I will go to the land of bright gold A place of peace and plenty Where everyone's story is told And grief and sorrow can't find me I will enter the palace of dreams A place of peace and plenty Where magic is just as it seems And grief and sorrow can't find me I will walk through the towering trees A place of peace and plenty Where the leaves sing the song of the breeze And grief and sorrow can't find me I will go to the cave of the King A place of peace and plenty And we'll sit there together and sing And grief and sorrow can't find me I will dance in the garden of love A place of peace and plenty Where our souls can soar high up above And grief and sorrow can't find me I will climb to the mountains of peace A place of peace and plenty The place where all anger will cease And grief and sorrow can't find me I will sleep in the warmth of the sun A place of peace and plenty Where all who are gone will be one And grief and sorrow can't find me I will go to the land of bright gold A place of peace and plenty Where everyone's story is told And grief and sorrow can't find me -------------------------------------------------- Track 13 on the Cloudstreet CD, The Land of Bright Gold. From the liner notes: "John wrote this piece while thinking of the hopes that people carry for the 'other place' that they imagine will be better. It is this type of dreaming that drives us to believe in the next world, or to travel to the far side of the globe in search of new lives." Recording here. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 10 Feb 21 - 06:55 PM Homeless Beaver (to the tune of Drunken Sailor) John Thompson In '48 in Idaho For houses the animals had to go. They turned for help to a man named Elmo, Fish and Game employee Chorus: What shall we do with a homeless beaver? x3 Throw him from an airplane! Beavers, they move way too slow. From Payette Lake they had to go. Their leader was called Geronimo. He was fine and brave and furry. Elmo Heter was the man. Elmo had a cunning plan. I will do what no one else can, Transplant all the beavers! The beavers their demise were facin'. They had to get to Chamberlain Basin. Against the clock Elmo was racin'. We must save the beavers! He thought of parachutes, we don't know why, To take the beavers through the sky. A dumb idea, but worth a try. A load of airborne beavers! Elmo put them into boxes, Boxes with automatic locks as Would open when they hit the rockses. Freedom for the beavers! The beavers live there to this day, They tell their tales, they have their say. It is to Elmo that they pray, The sky-god of the beavers! --------------------------------------------------- I'm not sure about the end of the second and start of the third lines in the next-to-last verse. Track 12 on the Cloudstreet CD "Clouded House". From the liner notes: "The headline said, 'In 1948, Idaho airlifted 76 beavers to a new habitat, dropping them via parachute.' A splendidly true story." Recording here. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Feb 21 - 08:30 PM JOHN SMITH A.B. (w. D.H. Rogers attrib/m. N.Colquhoun) When the southern gale is blowing hard And the watch are all on topsail yard When five come down where six went up There’s one less to share the bite and sup Chorus Instead of the stone and the carven verse This is his epitaph curt and terse John Smith A.B. drowned in latitude fifty-three A heavy gale and a following’ sea A name is missed when the roll they call A hand the less for the mainsail haul They steal his rags and his bags and bed Little it matters to him who’s dead Chorus We’ve lost the way to the open sea We’ve missed the doom we hoped to free For the big ships runnin’ their eastin’ down Are far from the din of Sydney town Chorus Sailing ships began to visit New Zealand around the 1790s, a few on the lookout for tall timbers but most hunting for whale. At this time whalebone was used for strength and flexibility where steel is now used and whale oil kept the cotton- and woollen-mill machinery lubricated. The tall straight kauri could be used for masts and spars and flax made excellent rope - for these were the great days of sail, the "impressed" sailor, the "run-away-to-sea" and the able-bodied Jack Smith. 'Song of a Young Country' p6. Youtube clip Here's a link to information re 'Soon may the wellerman come' on the NZ folk song site. I meant to post it when I posted the lyrics: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 08 Feb 21 - 07:55 AM Continuing the Nullarbor theme : Stewie posted Kasey Chambers’ “Nullarbor Song” on Nov 1st last year, but here is a later composition : NULLARBOR, THE BIGGEST BACKYARD Kasey Chambers When I was a little girl, I had the biggest backyard in the world It went on for miles and miles as wide as it was high Down to the horizon all the way up to the sky And every now and then I heard a Mile Tree cry my name, When I was a little girl, I had the biggest backyard in the world Covered up with red dirt, as far as I could see I shared it with the railway and the aborigines Southwest of Ooldea all the way down to the sea - and back, When I was a little girl, I had the biggest backyard in the world The sun would shine until the day I asked for it to rain Counting down the sleeps until the “Tea and Sugar” train Ten cents on the track for days before it ever came - and went, When I was a little girl, I had the biggest backyard in the world Sitting 'round the campfire that started from a spark Rolling down the Gunbarrel Highway in the dark Making sure that I had all the room here in my heart - for the Nullarbor, When I was a little girl, I had the biggest backyard in the world ……. c.2010 Kasey at Tamworth in 2011 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMNdLzYluY0 R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 08 Feb 21 - 07:22 AM TEA AND SUGAR Helen Henderson Out here, there’s nothing for miles No trees, no water, just an endless sky Out where the only sound of people Is the news on the radio at suppertime. Red sun rising and the river bed’s dry Light up a cigarette, watch the world roll by I got one cold beer and my throat is burning Gonna wash away all this trouble and strife. I left my soul on ”The Tea and Sugar” Somewhere out on the Nullarbor Plain I said me a prayer for my only daughter I bought me a ticket on the gravy train. I got some dreams and my grandfather’s bible A picture of you, an old paper sack A bottle of whiskey and some tea and sugar I’m bound for nowhere down this railroad track. Once upon a time this desert was an ocean Of fishes in the water, swimming for their lives Now there’s nothing but this blue horizon A trail of tears in an indigo sky. I left my soul on ”The Tea and Sugar” …………. I’m weary of the world and everything in it I’m tired of living; I’m chilled to the bone I’ll buy me a ticket on the “Tea & Sugar” I’ll ride that train to the end of the line. I’ll take me away from the people and places I’ll take me away from the worry and pain Bleach my bones clean and white In the sun, in the sand, of the Nullarbor Plain I left my soul on ”The Tea and Sugar” Somewhere out on the Nullarbor Plain Said me a prayer for my only daughter I bought her a ticket on the gravy train. I left my soul on ”The Tea and Sugar”…………….. ……. Said me a prayer; bought me a ticket ..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlL0SrcXxts Helen Henderson (NZ) and band BIO - https://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/3794/helen-henderson and https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/82430540/kiwi-singer-helen-henderson-comes-full-circle Here are a couple of the mini docos on YT on this famous train, the “Tea & Sugar”, that ran weekly from 1917 to 1996 between Port Augusta in South Australia to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia (some 1051 miles), to service the remote settlements of fettlers (rail workers) and others : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vAh-p0-cPA This CFU doco from 1954 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOlNnLN8i08 This Yank doco from 1986 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyu9g8k7RwY This FAC doco from 1925 : Shows construction of the line (including hand ploughing using a Camel Team!) The digging/ploughing of the numerous covered dams for the engine, which used 280 tons of water per trip. (however, the dam water ended up being mostly too brackish for steam engine use!) The telegraph line all the way alongside the track. 2+ 1/2 Million sleepers used for the rail (now that’s a lotta old growth forest …..) and More. But all-in-all, a bloody hard slog! (and no one wears gloves! Bet all their backs were Fkd!) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Feb 21 - 06:19 AM 4 songs listed, no. 3 has comment "BULLETBELT (NZ) – perhaps only press play if you enjoy the effects of thrash-death metal" Years ago I was on a CBD bus when 4 classical students from the Conservatorium got on (violins, viola & cello!) & entertained us. Alas they didn't bring along their double bass, my favourite instrument, but it really wouldn't have fitted. They said another group - heavy Metal students - were on another bus - driver & passengers were glad we were not on that bus. I must ask my friend who teaches at The Con if they still send students out on buses (pre-covid of course!) sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 08 Feb 21 - 02:50 AM A Few Songs About MINNIE DEAN “The Magdalene Laundry” and other such films and reports, have brought to light many sad tales of infant/child/mother mistreatment and mortality, particularly in Ireland and the US, with many babies and children lost to mothers, not only from a weak constitution or disease, but through institutional neglect (some deliberate), and some from perhaps even outright killing? - with the potentially “lucky” ones on-sold to well-heeled buyers. Events perpetrated by Govt and Religious institutions which, rather than “caring” for, were seemingly intent on punishing mothers who were unmarried and/or poor, and were therefore apparently grossly distasteful and immoral, particularly to many of those “great minds and small hearts” of the Victorian era. This NZ song refers to the only woman hanged in NZ (in 1895) and who, it seems, was someone who lovingly took care of the evidence of your daughter’s shame, or the mother with far too many mouths to feed, and who thus enabled families to continue to live in polite society. Minnie (born Williamina McCulloch, in Scotland), is still the sad but interesting subject of books and conjecture – was she a monster, was she a long-time sufferer of post-partum depression – was she some sort of public service for assauging society’s guilty moral attitudes – or was she, as she claimed standing on the hangman’s trapdoor - Innocent? Trial by media is not a modern thing, by any means. Interestingly (to me!), Minnie Dean of Winton (north of Invercargill), was allegedly “plying her trade of baby-farming” around the time and place my GGGrandfather was rearing his family in South Island, post his goldmining exploits and now a nearby Waianiwa farmer and Invercargill pub-owner. As a publican, he no doubt heard much gossip and many a tale concerning this local woman! There is much to read on-line. But try these : https://adventure.nunn.nz/2019/10/30/the-strange-sad-case-of-minnie-dean/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/minnie_dean.shtml https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/black-sheep/story/2018761597/baby-farmer-the-story-of-minnie-dean https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2d7/dean-williamina THE BALLAD OF MINNIE DEAN [1] Helen Henderson [ Helen was brought up in Invercargill. "Minnie was like the bogeyman of our town when I was a kid," she says. "If you were giving cheek to your mum or being naughty it was like: 'You better watch or I'll send you off to Minnie Dean's farm and you'll never be heard of again.' http://www.folksong.org.nz/minniedean/index.html ] Chorus Minnie Dean, Minnie Dean, she's gonna ge'cha And take you away on the afternoon train. Oh, you'd better be good, coz Minnie Dean's gonna ge'cha And you'll never, ever, be heard of again. 1. She dressed in black and she carried a hat in a hat box when early to the station she came, And on her way back, she'd always wear the hat Invercargill to Winton, on the 5 o'clock train. 2. She was so sweet and gracious to the girls and the ladies A home for their babies she said she'd provide, It was all done in private and money was provided As she wrapped up their little ones and took them away. Bridge: Here lie the children nobody wanted Minnie died for her sins and the people they cried They cried for themselves and they cried for their children They cried for Minnie and for closing their eyes. 3. She dressed in black and she carried a hat in a hat box when early to the courthouse she came, "Judge, I'm innocent" she said, "They just disappeared" (“They got lost in the garden” “They crawled under the bed”) But they hanged her from the gallows until she was dead. . . . No, you'll never be heard of again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BLvvllCWH4 Helen Henderson Other songs about Minnie Dean : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r64jMxUacYw Marlon Williams & the Yarra Benders (who would be recognisable to ABC viewers from his musical appearances in “The Beauiful Lie” drama, in 2015) THE BALLAD OF MINNIE DEAN [2] Marlon Williams Minnie was a mother to a hundred or more In Winton town Red-faced mamas coming knocking on her door With a whole ten pounds Winter in the south makes the heart beat slow But hearts beat slower in the garden below. Then three went missing and the men start digging in the ground (ground) Men start digging in the ground (three found) Bring poor Minnie downtown But a woman won't hang in Winton town. Hundreds in the room when Minnie stood trial Many more outside Oh Minnie, you're accused of a serious crime: Infanticide The crowd all cheered as the gavel rang But have mercy on the soul of the women you hang. Then they carried her away and the crowd all followed her down (down) The crowd all followed her down (three found) Everybody gathered round To see a woman hang in Winton town Oh see a woman hang in Winton town. MINNIE DEAN [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqj9UUvdf5Y – BULLETBELT (NZ) – perhaps only press play if you enjoy the effects of thrash-death metal :) MINNIE DEAN [4] “….. written by Marylyn Hayes and Brendon Fairbairn. It is on the Passing time CD, Invercargill, N.Z. 2000, by New Zealand celtic folk music group Run the Cutter.” Which I haven’t yet found on-line …… R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 07 Feb 21 - 12:54 AM BUDDY BREATHING Mike Harding Buddy-Breathing, sharing air Deep-sea diving, taking care Just make one mistake and you’ll be drowned, Behind the mask, below the surface Diving through uncharted waters Going where no footprints can be found. Choose the surface, play it safe Or take a chance beneath the waves The ripples spread and fade where you went down. Buddy-Breathing, brave the water Make no assumptions, trust your partner When words don’t work, you’ll learn to read the signs, Conditions change, the tide advances Never take this life for granted From far below you won’t know sea from sky. Declare intentions when you dive Indifferent water will drown your cries Buddy-Breathing, share that vital line. Buddy-Breathing, sharing air Deep-sea diving, taking care Just make one mistake and you’ll be drowned, Diving deep down into love No marker on the sea above Going where no footprints can be found The ripples spread and fade where you went down The ripples spread and fade …………… My new favourite song, from the singing of Kiwis, Mike Harding and Chris Priestley! :) Listen here to Mike, with Chris on harmony, from April, 2011 in NZ : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6JQvH0n2to I like these guys and here is a compilation of some of their songs from that 2011 tour of South Island, called “Kiwi Connections” where they showcased EnZed songwriters : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIqf0gObvyA [As regards scuba diving, I enjoyed this activity when young and fit but gave it up after my first (daytime) dive with a group in Darwin Harbour – where I could not see my hand in front of me : JEEEZUZ. Not sure whether the dive companies still do that, considering the increases in the croc populations ….. But just before I arrived, in 1983, Tim Proctor’s Fannie Bay Dive Shop team attempted a Guinness Book of Records, record-breaking attempt of an underwater crossing from Darwin to Mandorah – driving a Toyota Landcruiser : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-18/how-a-car-drove-across-darwin-harbour-35-years-ago/10009608 ] R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Feb 21 - 10:04 PM This parody of 'Soon may the Wellerman come' turned up recently on the NZ Folk Song site. THE NEEDLEMAN I’ll tell you how this all began A jungle virus in Wuhan First it went from bat to man Then round the world it flew. The tourists flocked here, more and more, And down on us the Covid bore Jacinta roused her team and swore To lay that virus low. Soon may the Needleman come An' vaccinate us one by one One day when the Covid is gone We can drop our masks and go . . . FOR A COFFEE! YEAHHH! The world’s upturned, so much disorder We’re now locked down inside our border. An' I've became a loo roll hoarder 'Cause I still have to go! It's 40 weeks or even more Since I kissed my sweet Elenore The frustration's now at Level Four We're ready to explode! Soon may the Needleman come An' vaccinate us one by one One day when the Covid is gone We can drop our masks and go... AN’ MAKE LOVE AGAIN! As far as I know, the fight’s still on We still need masks, the bug’s not gone The Needleman's not yet made his call To jab our oldies, sick, and all. Soon may the Needleman come An' vaccinate us one by one One day when the Covid is gone We can drop our masks and go... ANYWHERE WE WANT TO! YEAHHH! --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Feb 21 - 05:07 AM R-J, my apologies for not answering your query re Priestley and Harding - I have been busy with stuff in the real world. I do not have any of their albums. As you say, there's some great NZ music and, like Canada, NZ punches above its weight in terms of producing some first-rate singer/songwriters. It is pertinent to point out that today is the anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi. A Maori song related to the treaty: Click Wiki entry: Treaty of Waitangi A lighter piece: T of W in the office And this one that was possibly inspired by Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson's infamous 'Living next door to Alan': Living next door to Maoris --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Feb 21 - 10:46 PM We have posted a number of songs in this thread either written or performed, by John Thompson (& Nicole Murray) of CLOUDSREET. Please post in John's OBIT thread if you are so moved : /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=169289&messages=4 This recent thread also has info : /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=168955&messages=8 Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Feb 21 - 08:15 AM TEDDY SHEEAN - FOREVER EIGHTEEN Garth Porter & Lee Kernaghan & Colin Buchanan The bow cut the swell on a course set for Timor The Armidale plowed through the waves The enemy found us, sent bombs and torpedoes Out-gunned and out-numbered we prayed Abandon the ship! came the call through the chaos Jump for your lives, the ship’s going down, And I saw Teddy Sheean He was wounded and bleeding, strapped to his oerlikon gun And he kept on firing as he was dragged under So noble for someone so young - forever eighteen We'll never forget Teddy Sheean. The blood and the oil coated men in the water The stern rose and then disappeared We clung to the wreckage and still they came at us Till the silence of evening drew near We floated two whalers and a raft from the flotsam We hung on and waited for help to arrive, I saw Teddy Sheean He was wounded and bleeding, strapped to his oerlikon gun And he kept on firing as he was dragged under So noble for someone so young - forever eighteen We'll never forget Teddy Sheean. The men who survived owe their lives to the lad The boy who stood strong and held on and fought on till the end I saw Teddy Sheean He was wounded and bleeding, strapped to his oerlikon gun And he kept on firing as he was dragged under So noble for someone so young - forever eighteen We'll never forget Teddy Sheean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QCP8xX6Mmw Lee Kernaghan sings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z1DxP2YtOU Teddy’s final service that helped save fellow sailors on the sinking corvette, HMAS Armidale, under Japanese bomber and fighter airfire, in the Timor Sea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oerlikon_20_mm_cannon the AA gun Teddy strapped himself into https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Sheean Teddy’s Story - and Govt Denials for almost 80 years Teddy was posthumously awarded the VC in August 2020, for his heroic deeds in 1942. (I note that it took some 78 years for this award to be finally approved, after years of vigorous campaigning. And yet, just recently, an Australian sporting star (born the same year Teddy Sheean died), was awarded yet another gong (an AC - she already had an MBE and an AO, plus other numerous accolades for her well-deserved tennis prowess). After retiring in 1977 from being a champion ball-belter, she eventually became a happy-clappy preacher of the same persuasion as our current prime minister and well-known for her outspoken racist and homophobic views. One can only presume that she is now being rewarded for this ‘christian’? behaviour. Strange, our societal priorities. And they wonder why so many of us have scant respect for ‘The Authorities’ .....) Spirit of the Anzacs is an album by Australian country singer, Lee Kernaghan. It was released in Australia in 2015. The deluxe 2017 edition contained 20 songs and I note that we have so far featured 6 of those songs in our Mudcat thread! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfqFDN1WdxI&list=OLAK5uy_lCulVvQDuF2H7-NXFx2im4QcjvQroSZH4 “Teddy Sheean 0003” a song by Greg Wells : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2b1-mIdTzE R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Feb 21 - 07:09 AM Really appreciate all the EnZed songs you've posted, Stewie! As I think I've said before, I don't know much past Phil Garland and Martin Curtis and I own only one CD from Kiwi land!! Sure wish I had been there; seems a bit too late now ..... (this is despite my Lancashire GG-Grandfather rearing his family on the various South Island goldfields from 1860s to 1900s, so I must have distant rellies there somewhere!!) Anyways, I came across a coupla tracks by Chris Priestley and Mike Harding - "Buddy Breathing" and "Rainbird in the Teatree" - and a medley from their 2011 Kiwi Songcatchers Tour on YT - there's obviously some really great material I've missed out on!!! Do you have stuff from them??? Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Feb 21 - 05:50 PM SCRUB AND BLACKBERRY (Paul Bond) Refrain. Here's to the home I've left so long Far in the back country Hidden in the rushes, the scrub and the blackberry Muddy paths and potholes Tractor tracks and postholes Mossy battens dangling there on the wire And the open fire Six-inch nails and hay bales Warratahs and sliprails Dogs and children yapping away in your ear And the air so clear Refrain Days of chipping thistles Curses and dog whistles Crutching in the yard with a flash of the shears As the evening nears, Talking round the table Loud guffaws and babble Families now split up and splintered like kindling wood But the life was good Refrain Youtube clip This song was the winner of the NZ Folk Federation songwriting competition in 1981. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Feb 21 - 07:11 PM LENTILS (Kath Tait) Life was cheap, our thoughts were deep We did not wash for forty weeks We ate the brown rice and the lentils We thought we were so existential We did not weep, we took a leap To the bottom of the social heap The view was clearer than from the top Our wisdom flourished, our wealth did not The social ladder it was too steep We watched our friends climb up so high And we watched them wave bye bye Disappearing in the sky We smoked a pipe, we grew a beard The neighbours thought that we were weird Yes, we were weird but we were not glum Our youth was too much fun We were not dense, we lived in tents To cut down on bills and rent Under umbrellas, we ate the lentils We thought that we were so environmental We did not mope, we bought the dope With the money that we saved on soap We made our choices and there was time So when things went wrong we could change our mind The social ladder it was too steep We watched our friends climb up so high And we watched them wave bye bye Disappearing in the sky We smoked a pipe, we grew a beard The neighbours thought that we were weird Yes, we were weird but we were not glum Our youth was too much fun Was it uncouth to spend our youth Throwing parties on the roof Our new friends were not respectable Our old friends became aloof We wrote a poem like Leonard Cohen About not knowing where we were going So we stumbled through the years Chasing a stream of peculiar ideas While the mice, the ticks and lice The weevils thrived in the brown rice The days went round, our lives did go The price of lentils stayed reasonably low And we’ve no regrets about the debts Or the savings we did not collect We’ll spend our old age eating lentils With no spare cash for non-essentials There’ll be no trips on luxury ships No new false teeth or plastic hips And as for choices they’ve nothing left But to become Buddhist nuns, I guess Another good'un from the wonderful Kath Tait. The above is my transcription from the video. I have no idea of the original stanza structure. Corrections welcomed. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 02 Feb 21 - 08:43 AM THE LOVE I LEAVE BEHIND Allan Caswell & Drew McAlister The worth of the man isn’t measured in minutes, it’s a journey that’s measured in years And it doesn’t matter where you begin, as long as it brings you here You learn more from getting it wrong than you ever do getting it right And you tell your life story with the love you leave behind, Before my time comes I’m gonna leave some sign that I was here Won’t be what I own, a fancy home, a car, or my career If I’ve lived and loved too hard and made good use of my time I’ll make the world a better place with the love I leave behind. The worth of a man isn’t measured in things, it’s secret and silent and strong It’s in the pride you take in your name and the children who carry it on You can live on this planet for eighty-odd years but it’s only a moment in time And you tell your life story with the love you leave behind, Before my time comes I’m gonna leave some sign that I was here Won’t be what I own, a fancy home, a car, or my career If I’ve lived and loved too hard and made good use of my time I’ll make the world a better place with the love I leave behind. Before my time comes I’m gonna leave some sign that I was here Won’t be what I own, a fancy home, a car, or my career If I’ve lived and loved too hard and made good use of my time I’ll make the world a better place, I’ll make this world a better place With the love I leave behind. Graeme Connors : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYdFkbsPsOs Co-written by country performer, Alan Caswell - who is apparently “…… Australia’s most recorded songwriter, with well over 750 of his songs being released around the world by artists of high calibre, like …… “ http://www.allancaswell.com/ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Feb 21 - 01:50 AM In the very early days of the Bush Music Club (est.Oct 1954), one of the first bush bands was the Spraggers, based in Lithgow - minutes Oct 54-March 55 The names of the first 4 bush bands established during these months are written on the front cover. Bushwhackers Spraggers Rousers (Rouseabouts) Drovers Bill Crossdale interview, Rob & Olya Willis folklore collection |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Feb 21 - 12:10 AM THE DYING SPRAGGER (Anon) A handsome young spragger lay dying With a miner supporting his head When he raised himself up on his elbow And then to his workmates he said Wrap me up with my pit lamp and tallow And stow my poor body below Where the ? and the blowflies can’t find me In some dark and cool tunnel below Take my old crib can and bottle Place one at my head and my toe Then scratch out my name at the pay box And tell them I’m sleeping below There’s some tea in the black dixie ? tin Line your dip tins up in a row And let’s drink to our next joyful meeting In the sky where all good workers go I can hear the big wheel on the popper And the cage as it moves down the toe For it sounds the death knell of a spragger Goodbye my good friends I must go Pay the piper to pipe me a solo Ask the union to sing me a song Have the priests ring out the old church bell So the whole town will know that I’m gone Oh if I had the wings of a bell bird Right over the town I would fly And I’d fly to the home of my loved ones But alas, my dear cobbers, I die Wrap me up with my pit lamp and tallow And stow my poor body below Where the ? and the blowflies can’t find me In some dark and cool tunnel below This coal mining parody of 'The Dying Stockman' is from Alan Musgrove and His Watsaname Band's 'Behind the Times' CD - no label or number but available via Trad&Now. A beaut album. There is no lyric booklet with the CD - the above transcription is mine. I was unable to decipher the insect (or whatever) accompanying blowflies in the third line of the repeated stanza. It sounds like 'pie-whys'. There is a piwi gene in some insects, but I doubt that is it. I also couldn't make sense of the reference to a dixie mess tin because it sounds like 'black dixie fountain'. I hope someone can supply the correct words. Note by Alan Musgrove: It was learnt from the singing of Bill Crossdale who in turn learnt it from Jack Marsden, a miner at Bellbird Colliery in the Hunter Valley of NSW. In coal mining parlance a spragger is a worker who stops coal skips by inserting a piece of timber (a sprig) between the wheel spokes as the skips have no braking system of their own. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 31 Jan 21 - 08:38 PM AS THE BLACK BILLY BOILS (Anon) As the black billy boils At the end of the whare I remember the time When I lived in a hurry With my hand on a line Tied to a bundle of money And I was a very young new chum As the black billy boils At the end of the whare I look back on the days And how they seem so very funny Now i've mended my ways And I never have a worry And it's thanks to the kauri gum Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 31 Jan 21 - 08:18 PM Sorry for that question mark in Chloe's name! Mudcat obviously didn't like my attempts at an "umlaut" (or whatever it is called in this case .....) St Brigid will forgive me! :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 31 Jan 21 - 08:09 PM I love love love this performance/interpretation by Chlo? and Jason!!!! :) THE WATCH ON THE KERB Henry Lawson, 1888 / Chloe & Jason Roweth, 2017 Night-lights are falling; Girl of the street, Go to your calling If you would eat. Lamplight and starlight And moonlight superb, Bright hope is a farlight, So watch on the kerb. Watch on the kerb, Watch on the kerb; Hope is a farlight; Then watch on the kerb. Comes a man: call him — Gone! he is vext; Curses befall him, Wait for the next! Fair world and bright world, Life still is sweet — Girl of the night-world, Watch on the street. Dreary the watch is: Moon sinks from sight, Gas only blotches Darkness with light; Never, Oh, never Let courage go down; Keep from the river, Oh, Girl of the Town! The Bulletin, 19 April 1888 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQfUhhVs5YA 'The Watch on the Kerb' (1888) Words: Henry Lawson, Music: Chloe & Jason Roweth (2017). ['The Day Before I Die' (1907) Words: Henry Lawson. ] Chloe Roweth: Voice, Tenor Banjo / Jason Roweth: Voice, Guitar / Liz Frencham: Bass [ Music recorded live at Silver Hill, Cygnet, Tasmania - Jan 16, 2018. / Video recorded at Silver Hill - Jan 19, 2018. / Music and film recorded, mixed and edited by Michael Gissing. ] “The Soul of The Poet : Songs and Poems of Henry Lawson (2018)” CD “Chloë and Jason Roweth mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Henry Lawson with a selection of his finest poems in song and spoken word. Their work includes original musical settings, and evocative use of dance music from Lawson’s (and the Roweths') home country - central-west NSW. The Roweths have found great inspiration in Henry's words, learning his poetry, and setting many lesser known poems to music. The poems that resonate with Chloe and Jason are those of a more complex and personal nature; verses that reveal Henry Lawson as a flawed genius, a creative artist, a revolutionary and a humanist.” "I can love him because he stands above us all. Because his fun and friendship, his troubled, tragic spirit, his rugged ways, the vision that he never lost, the hopes that were broken, his kindness and despair, his heart and soul poured out, everything he thought and everything he wrote for our great heritage, were as much a part of him as his drinking. And I am like him, and I understand." : From Henry Lawson’s daughter, Bertha Lawson [Jago], unpublished notes. As reprinted in ‘A Wife’s Heart - The Untold Story of Bertha and Henry Lawson’ by Kerrie Davies, first published 2017 by University of Queensland Press. https://www.rowethmusic.com.au/the-soul-of-a-poet R-J PS Down Under it is already Feb 1st (and our last month of Summer) - but UP NORF it is St Brigid’s Day and that means IMBOLC and Spring - and the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. “Brigid encompasses the stories of two women, Brigid the saint who is considered a patron saint of Ireland and the goddess Brigid a powerful woman and the patroness of healing, arts, fertility, poetry/music, prophecy and agriculture. Her feast day on the 1st February marks the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere and it is the season when we CELEBRATE HOPE and new life on earth” https://www.thereisadayforthat.com/holidays/ireland/imbolc So Happy Bridie’s Day to you all :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Jan 21 - 10:25 PM A song of a digger leaving the west coast of New Zealand for the Palmer River gold rush in North Queensland. THE DIGGER'S FAREWELL (Anon) Well it's just as you say sir, I'm off once more To the Palmer River, that's my way I landed here in sixty-four That's ten years' struggle along the Grey Ten long years since I landed here In a trackless land of wet and cold Some of our lives were pretty severe But who lacks hardship looking for gold? Latterly gold has been hard to find I've enough to carry me, none to spend I'm going away and leaving behind Not one deserving the name of friend Now the gold was pretty near tuckered out When Bill - that's me mate - he says to me There's gold on the Palmer beyond all doubt So here's for sailing out over the sea There's the whistle - a drink before we part 'A step to the corner', I hear you say? My last on the coast - with all my heart A brandy straight and then I'm away Here's a long farewell to the old West Coast With a heart prepared for whatever I find 'Success to the Palmer' - is that your toast? Mine's 'here's to the land I leave behind!' The above version is as recorded by Phil Garland: Youtube clip Alan Musgrave recorded a slightly different version on his 'Behind The Times' album. Ron Edwards collected a short song of this title from Frank Evans of North Queensland. In that one, the miner is leaving Bendigo. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 30 Jan 21 - 03:07 AM Gerry, my ukulele group does Bob the Kelpie......living in a rural area as we do, it's always popular and fun. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 30 Jan 21 - 01:07 AM The years 1915 to 1919 saw a huge explosion of working class militancy in response to the First World War which brought Britain almost to the brink of revolution. One of the most important centres of struggle was Glasgow and the Clyde. 'Red Clydeside', a CD written and performed by Alistair Hulett, celebrates its foremost protagonist, John Maclean, and the men and women who contributed to this often neglected period of our history. The song Don’t Sign Up For War’ is based on one of John McLean’s famous quotes during the lead up to the First World War when he encouraged young men to defer from signing up. Don't Sign Up For War Alsitair Hulett See thon Arthur Henderson, heid bummer o' the workin, men (1) When war broke oot he pressed his suit an' ran tae catch the train He signed a deal in London, nae mair strikes until the fightin's done In Glesga toon the word went roon'. Tak tent o' John Maclean. (2) He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend Don't sign up for war. When they turned him oot o' Langside Hall, John stood up at the fountain Whit he said was tailor-made tae magnify the friction Ye patriots can roar and bawl, it's nought but braggarts fiction The only war worth fightin' for is war against oppression. He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend Don't sign up for war. The polis wheeched him oot o' there and doon tae Queens Park station (3) They telt him plain offend again an' we'll mak' ye rue the day, son (4) But Johnny didnae turn a hair, he ca'd for a demonstration A mighty thrang ten thoosan strang turned oot against conscription (5) He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend Don't sign up for war. The next time that they came for him, John kent they meant the business (6) He didnae plea for mercy, he said gi'e me British justice (7) The justice that he ca'd for stunned many intae silence (8) When oot o' hell the hammer fell, three years was the sentence. He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend Don't sign up for war. The clamour tae release Maclean reached fever pitch and mair, man (9) In a year an a' hauf they they ca'd it aff, but Christ it taxed him sair man (10) He came back auld afore his time, but he didnae seem tae care. Man Dae a' ye can, I'm still the wan wha'll cause ye tae beware, man. He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend Don't sign up for war. The last time that they jailed Maclean he came gey close tae scunnert (11) Wi' a rubber hose pit up his nose they kept him swap suppert (12) Let him oot or keep him in, Red Clyde was ower blaistert (13) Ilk wey they turnt the Government was weel and brawly gouthart. (14) (15) He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend Don't sign up for war. Notes: 1) heid bummer = leader 2) tak tent o' = pay heed to 3) wheeched = rushed 4) telt = told 5) thrang ten thoosan strang = crowd ten thousand strong 6) kent = knew 7) gi'e = give 8) ca'd = called 9) mair = more 10) sair = sore 11) gey close tae scunnert = to the brink of collapse 12) swap suppert = forcibly fed 13) ower blaistart = in an uproar 14) Ilk wey = whichever way 15) weel an' brawly gouthart = in a quandary ---------------------------------------------------------- Recorded by Alistair Hulett and Dave Swarbrick. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 30 Jan 21 - 12:59 AM Since Then Henry Lawson, 1895 I met Jack Ellis in town to-day — Jack Ellis — my old mate, Jack — Ten years ago, from the Castlereagh, We carried our swags together away To the Never-Again, Out Back. But times have altered since those old days, And the times have changed the men. Ah, well! there's little to blame or praise — Jack Ellis and I have tramped long ways On different tracks since then. His hat was battered, his coat was green, The toes of his boots were through, But the pride was his! It was I felt mean — I wished that my collar was not so clean, Nor the clothes I wore so new. He saw me first, and he knew 'twas I — The holiday swell he met. Why have we no faith in each other? Ah, why? — He made as though he would pass me by, For he thought that I might forget. He ought to have known me better than that, By the tracks we tramped far out — The sweltering scrub and the blazing flat, When the heat came down through each old felt hat In the hell-born western drought. The cheques we made and the shanty sprees, The camps in the great blind scrub, The long wet tramps when the plains were seas, And the oracles worked in days like these For rum and tobacco and grub. Could I forget how we struck 'the same Old tale' in the nearer West, When the first great test of our friendship came — But — well, there's little to praise or blame If our mateship stood the test. 'Heads!' he laughed (but his face was stern) — 'Tails!' and a friendly oath; We loved her fair, we had much to learn — And each was stabbed to the heart in turn By the girl who — loved us both. Or the last day lost on the lignum plain, When I staggered, half-blind, half-dead, With a burning throat and a tortured brain; And the tank when we came to the track again Was seventeen miles ahead. Then life seemed finished — then death began As down in the dust I sank, But he stuck to his mate as a bushman can, Till I heard him saying, 'Bear up, old man!' In the shade by the mulga tank. He took my hand in a distant way (I thought how we parted last), And we seemed like men who have nought to say And who meet — 'Good-day', and who part — 'Good-day', Who never have shared the past. I asked him in for a drink with me — Jack Ellis — my old mate, Jack — But his manner no longer was careless and free, He followed, but not with the grin that he Wore always in days Out Back. I tried to live in the past once more — Or the present and past combine, But the days between I could not ignore — I couldn't help notice the clothes he wore, And he couldn't but notice mine. He placed his glass on the polished bar, And he wouldn't fill up again; For he is prouder than most men are — Jack Ellis and I have tramped too far On different tracks since then. He said that he had a mate to meet, And 'I'll see you again,' said he, Then he hurried away through the crowded street And the rattle of buses and scrape of feet Seemed suddenly loud to me. And I almost wished that the time were come When less will be left to Fate — When boys will start on the track from home With equal chances, and no old chum Have more or less than his mate. ------------------------------------------------------- Above, the full 16 verses. Slim Dusty set it to music and recorded it, but he only sang seven verses: 1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, and a mash-up over stanzas 14 and 15. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 30 Jan 21 - 12:51 AM The Drover's Sweetheart Lawson, Henry (1867 - 1922) An hour before the sun goes down Behind the ragged boughs, I go across the little run To bring the dusty cows; And once I used to sit and rest Beneath the fading dome, For there was one that I loved best Who'd bring the cattle home. Our yard is fixed with double bails, Round one the grass is green, The bush is growing through the rails, The spike is rusted in; It was from there his freckled face Would turn and smile at me -- For he'd milk seven in a race While I was milking three. He kissed me twice and once again And rode across the hill, The pint-pots and the hobble-chain I hear them jingling still; About the hut the sunlight fails the fire shines through the cracks, I climb the broken stockyard rails And watch the bridle-tracks. And he is coming back again, He wrote from Evatt's Rock A flood was in the Darling then -- And foot-rot in the flock The sheep were falling thick and fast, A hundred miles from town, And when he reached the line at last He trucked the remnant down. And so he'll have to stand the cost, His luck was always bad, Instead of making more, he lost The money that he had; And how he'll manage, heaven knows (My eyes are getting dim) He says -- he says -- he don't -- suppose I'll want -- to -- marry -- him. As if I wouldn't take his hand Without a golden glove; Oh! Jack -- you men won't understand How much a girl can love. I long to see his face once more -- Jack's dog! thank God, it's Jack! -- (I never thought I'd faint before) He's coming -- up -- the track. x2 Notes drover: someone who herds droves of livestock. run: "range of pasture- or grazing-land; a sheep station", pastoral holding (OED "run" n1, 22; courtesy of Eric Sharpham). dome: the firmament (the sky's concave vault). bails: stakes, fence-posts. pint-pots: bells, shaped like small beer pots. the hobble-chain: a small loose chain around the hind fetlocks, preventing cattle from running. Darling-River: the longest river in Australia, flowing from Queensland to join the Murray River at Wentworth in New South Wales and continuing on through South Australia to empty into the Great Australian Bight (courtesy of Eric Sharpham). bankers: full up to their banks. Bourke: in the centre of the Australian outback, once the largest inland port on the Darling River. Set to music and recorded by Priscilla Herdman. The lyrics given here match what she sings, which is a modification of what Lawson wrote. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 30 Jan 21 - 12:40 AM Wife to a Cocky Farmer Richard Keam I am the one who has carried the can since time before time began, Or that's the way that it's often seemed since I married a dairying man. We've had our times, and we've had our strife. It's a good but an awful hard, hard life, And the one thing sure is you'll pay the price when you're wed to a cocky farmer. I was the one got the bookwork done when the kids were in bed at night, And up every morn before the dawn when the winter frosts would bite, And I swapped me good clothes long ago for gum boots and an overcoat, And a lifetime bailing a sinking boat for the sake of a cocky farmer, And the sound of the scenes in me very dreams is the sound of the milk can lids, And I never knew how we'd get through but we managed to raise four kids, And the time that we spent away from here was less than a month in twenty years. Now the kids have gone but they shed no tears for the life of a cocky farmer. And the price we get never keeps in step with the prices that we pay, But you can't tell cows that they're out on strike. You're a slave to them night and day, And we've seen the neighbours all around toss it in and move to the local town, But you talk of this and he only frowns. He'll die a cocky farmer, And they used to say that i wore the pants in the days when they said such things, But I was a one when I was young for a bit of a wild old fling. Saturday nights at the Shire Hall dance, stars in me eyes and a head for a romance, And sometimes I think that I'm still young Nance, not the wife of a cocky farmer. Sometimes in me dreams I'm still young Nance, not the wife of a cocky farmer. Recorded by Judy Small. Also by Margaret Walters, but I don't think Marg's recording is online. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 30 Jan 21 - 12:29 AM BOB THE KELPIE Don Spencer/Allan Caswell CHORUS Sheep are cute, sheep are beaut, sheep are soft and curly. But when I take them into town, I have to start off early, ‘Cause they never go the way I want, so I need someone to help me - I just give a whistle, and I call for Bob the Kelpie. Bob the Kelpie he’s my dog, and though he’s not too pretty. He’s worth more than all those fancy dogs up in the city. He works hard in the yard to show the sheep who’s boss, I guess they’ve learned by now it doesn’t pay to make Bob cross. CHORUS X 2 Bob the Kelpie he’s my mate, he never lets me down. He loves to ride in the back of the Ute when we go into town. And we never have to lock it up, with Bob there for protection, ‘Cause he will bark at anything that comes in his direction. CHORUS X 2 Yes I just give a whistle… I just give a whistle, And I call for Bob the Kelpie. Recording by Don Spencer here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Trivia: Don Spencer is Russell Crowe's father-in-law. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Jan 21 - 06:43 PM A kiwi kids' song: RAILWAY BILL (Anon) Way down the line At any time Who is sittin' on the railway line Why there is poor old Bill Chorus Railway Bill, oh Railway Bill He won't work and he never will They'll fire old railway Bill We'll bang and strike This steel spike Nobody works like good old Mike But never poor old Bill Chorus Go toot the peeper Go press the beeper Bill, he's a railway sleeper Go wake up poor old Bill Youtube clip Neil Colquhoun commented: I don't know who Railway Bill was, but to us kids he seemed some kind of hero , defying foremen, inspectors and perhaps even holding up the express to remain sitting on the line. 'Song of a young country' p57. For the joy that's in it, here is a fine rendition of a version of the traditional song from which the song derives. Beaut! Railrosd Bill --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Jan 21 - 06:47 PM THE NEVER NEVER LAND (H.Lawson/I.MacDougall) By homestead, hut, and shearing-shed, By railroad, coach, and track — By lonely graves of our brave dead, Up-Country and Out-Back: To where 'neath glorious the clustered stars The dreamy plains expand — My home lies wide a thousand miles In the Never-Never Land. It lies beyond the farming belt, Wide wastes of scrub and plain, A blazing desert in the drought, A lake-land after rain; To the sky-line sweeps the waving grass, Or whirls the scorching sand — A phantom land, a mystic land! The Never-Never Land. Where lone Mount Desolation lies, Mounts Dreadful and Despair — 'Tis lost beneath the rainless skies In hopeless deserts there; It spreads nor'-west by No-Man's-Land — Where clouds are seldom seen — To where the cattle-stations lie Three hundred miles between. The drovers of the Great Stock Routes The strange Gulf country know — Where, travelling from the southern drought The big lean bullocks go; And camped by night where plains lie wide, Like some old ocean's bed, The watchmen in the starlight ride Round fifteen hundred head. And west of named and numbered days The shearers walk and ride — Jack Cornstalk and the Ne'er-do-well And the grey-beard side by side; They veil their eyes — from moon and stars, And slumber on the sand — Sad memories steep as years go round In Never-Never Land. By lonely huts north-west of Bourke, Through years of flood and drought, The best of English black-sheep work Their own salvation out: Wild fresh-faced boys grown gaunt and brown — Stiff-lipped and haggard-eyed — They live the Dead Past grimly down! Where boundary-riders ride. The College Wreck who sank beneath, Then rose above his shame, Tramps west in mateship with the man Who cannot write his name. 'Tis there where on the barren track No last half-crust's begrudged — Where saint and sinner, side by side, Judge not, and are not judged. Oh rebels to society! The Outcasts of the West — Oh hopeless eyes that smile for me, And broken hearts that jest! The pluck to face a thousand miles — The grit to see it through! The communion perfected! — And — I am proud of you! The Arab to true desert sand, The Finn to fields of snow, The Flax-stick turns to Maoriland, While the seasons come and go; And this old fact comes home to me — And will not let me rest — However barren it may be, Your own land is the best! And, lest at ease I should forget True mateship after all, My water-bag and billy yet Are hanging on the wall; And if my fate should show the sign I'd tramp to sunsets grand With gaunt and stern-eyed mates of mine In the Never-Never Land. The above is the complete poem as published in 1901 with the title 'The Never-Never Country'. Loaded Dog recorded an edited version with a tune by Ian MacDougall on their 'dusty gravel road' album. You can listen to it on this page: Click Another edited version with MacDougall tune: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Jan 21 - 07:02 PM ALTERED DAYS (w. John Barr attrib/m. Anon) When to New Zealand first I cam’ Poor and duddy, poor and duddy It was a happy day, sirs For I was fed on parritch thin My taes they stickit thro’ my shoon I ruggit at the pouken pin But could’ mak’ it pay, sirs Baith nicht and day upon the board Ruggin’ at it, tuggin’ at it I strived to please a paper lord Wha once had been a weaver But he got up and I got down I wandered idly thro’ the town A tattered bonnet on my croon And wasna worth a steever Nae mair the laird comes for his rent For his rent, for his rent When I hae nocht to pay, sirs Nae mair he’ll take me aff the loom Wi’ hangin’ lip and pouches toom To touch my hat and boo to him The like was never kent, sirs But now it’s altered days, I trow A weel a wat, a weel a wat The beef is tumblin’ in the pat And I’m baith fat and fu’, sirs At my door cheeks there’s bread and cheese I work or no’ just as I please I’m fairly settled at my ease And that’s the way o’t noo, sirs Youtube clip Scots in NZ --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 27 Jan 21 - 04:50 AM As well as being a songwriter par excellence, John Hospodaryk was a really nice bloke. I have his CD of railway songs. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Jan 21 - 04:00 AM another of the late John Hospodaryk's excellent songs Black Armband, a song by John Hospodaryk ©2002 Hey there Johnny this song it is for you It's not behind the razor wire hidden from our view That's why I'm wearing a black armband A black armband to demonstrate my stand White picket financial security Leafy suburban nuclear family The benifits of a growing economy Middle class utopia where the market's so free But I got a better term for all this inequity It's not incentivation Menzies nor prosperity Not back to the future to 1953 It's myopia which means that you can barely see Balacava guards rottweillers and alsatians Such is the face of your industrial relations Anti-union tyranny right across the nation On the waterfront and down the mines you're proud of your creation You've got the gall to call it reforms in the workplace When waging war on workers is a retrograde disgrace You want us cap in hand to crawl you're smug and mean and base You want our rights and hard earned gains to sink without a trace And hey now Peter this song's aiming at you too You're mean of spirit you and all your crew And that's why I'm wearing a black armband A black armband to demonstrate my stand A hundred and twenty years of public education Is being destroyed by your discrimination In favour of the rich or some denomination You call that a fair go it's an abomination There's now freedom of choice in our schooling so you say Who do you think you are fooling when most of us can't pay Then if funding the elite with our taxes is OK Then this nation will fall like a dingo stricken prey And hey there Johnny this song it is for you I see rack and ruin in all the things you do You can tell 'cause I'm wearing a black arm band For all those stolen generations you can't understand Well here's your report card you dont get many marks On greenhouse emissions and logging national parks At reconciliation you've chained up all our hearts You score a zero just a naught you get a buggery of arts Of liberty equality fraternity I didn't know Ownership of shares is democracy the way to go But on a privatised planet I guess it must be so Where any soul is bought and sold your marks are very low Well I know what you stand for will shrivel up and die We'll throw it overboard and that wont be a lie But until that day I wear a black armband In mourning for what you are doing right across the land But until that day I wear a black armband In mourning for what you are doing right across this right across this right across this right across this land Notes Thanks to John Hospodaryk for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. Black Armband was one of nearly 100 songs entered in Wobbly Radio's 2002 union song competition and is on the MayDay MayDay CD John writes: "This is my homage to John Howard. When you said selling Telstra would make Australia the "world’s greatest share-owning democracy", you disenfranchised a large section of the population. When you set about to replace unions with Opposition of showing "the politics of envy" in its frankly lily-livered criticism of your nation-destroying education policy, you insulted the 70% of parents who send their children to public schools. When you criticised those historians (myself included) as having a "black armband view" because we choose to explore the oppression of the Aboriginal people, you offended the suffering of those people. This song, then, is an attempt to throw your remark right back in your face" (1) "Razor wire": type of wire used to surround detention centres for asylum seekers. (2) "Black armband": First coined by historian Geoffrey Blainey, and adopted by John Howard, this is a criticism of those historians who mention events and conditions like impoverishment, oppression and genocide as having occurred at some stage in Australia's past. Things that are just not nice. Things that fail to mention the achievements of great men. Things that fail to paint a rosy picture of life under conservative governments. To Howard, the "black armband" view of history is very ungrateful because conservatives , after all, were born to rule and know what is good for us. (3) "White picket financial security/Nuclear suburban nuclear family": Metaphoric reference to an 80s Federal election campaign by the Liberals which included a poster depicting a white middle class family standing in front of a prestigious heritage home...as if that was the typical Australian family! (4) "Incentivation": Campaign catchphrase used by John Howard in a federal election back in the 80s. You won't find the word in a dictionary, either! (5) "Peter": Howard's Treasurer, Peter Costello. It could just as easily be the disgraced former Defence Minister and Industrial Relations Minister, Peter Reith. (6) "you've chained up all our hearts": reference to Howard's use of Joe Cocker's song "Unchain My Heart" as a taxpayer-funded propaganda weapon to sell the GST to the electorate. (7) "I didn't know/Ownership of shares is democracy": When he suggested he would sell off Telstra, Howard asserted that it would make Australia "the greatest share-owning democracy in the world", thus disenfranchising, at least in spirit, not only any citizen who doesn't own shares, but also any citizen whose shares really don't add up to much. This is real pocket borough mentality! (8) "We'll throw it overboard and that won't be a lie": reference to the "children overboard" lie. John sings the song on the MUA Centenary CD "With These Arms" Audio I really do need to other things, but it's great fun mining "With These Arms" & Mark Gregory's Union songs. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Jan 21 - 03:54 AM Bucket O’ Rust © John Hospodaryk 2002 Well hey ho you landlubbers here’s a tale of a ship of shame A leaky tub that’s manned by slaves and the Bucket O’ Rust is her name Bucket O’ Rust is her name The flag of convenience she flies the Jolly Roger of today With laundered money contraband and drugs and a crew that gets no pay A crew that gets no pay Well the Bucket O’ Rust is a grimy heap it’s a wonder that she can float And if she sinks you can’t escape you can’t launch the safety boats Launch her safety boats Her urinals are full of slime and scum but what’s even worse than that Is the rancid food in the galley must be shared with the roach and the rat You got to share it with the roach and the rat Well the Bucket O’ Rust is a great success she’s welcome in our ports She undercuts our local ships with her cheapness and her rorts Cheapness and her rorts Deregulated industry is her blood her life line You can be substandard and be a sweatshop and the government don’t mind No the government don’t mind Well sad to say the Bucket O’ Rust could this have been God’s will? On the Great Barrier Reef she ran aground with two crew members killed Two crew members killed And it took them twelve days to blast her away and free her from the reef And all through the time the oil she spilled it brought the sea to grief You know it brought the sea to grief It’s hard to believe that this story ends well and this great heap of shit The Minister of Transport saved the day when he issued a new permit (Spoken) – John Anderson was his name it’s a true story Our shipping must be competitive he said in the world economy So the Bucket O’ Rust continues to crawl like a coffin on the sea A coffin on the sea Yeah the Bucket O’ Rust continues to crawl Upon the grimy the sea Notes Many thanks to John Hospodaryk for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. This song won first prize in the 2002 MUA song competition. It is on the MUA centenary CD "With These Arms" Audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Jan 21 - 03:50 AM The Pig-Iron Song, a song by Clem Parkinson ©1964 aka Pig Iron Bob on MUA Centenary CD "With These Arms" Did you ever stop to wonder why the fellows on the job Refer to Robert Menzies by the nickname Pig-Iron Bob? It's a fascinating tale though it happened long ago It's a part of our tradition every worker ought to know Chorus We wouldn't load pig-iron for the fascists of Japan Despite intimidation we refused to lift the ban With democracy at stake the struggle must be won We had to beat the menace of the fascist Rising Sun It was 1937 and aggressive Japanese Attacked the Chinese people tried to bring them to their knees Poorly armed and ill equipped the peasants bravely fought While Australian water siders rallied round to lend support Attorney General Menzies said the ship would have to sail "If the men refuse to load it we will throw them into jail" But our unity was strong - we were solid to a man And we wouldn't load pig-iron for the fascists of Japan For the Judas politicians we would pay a heavy price The jungles of New Guinea saw a costly sacrifice There's a lesson to be learned that we've got to understand Peace can only be secured when the people lend a hand Notes Many thanks to Clem Parkinson for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collection. Clem sings the song on the MUA Centenary CD "With These Arms" Audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Jan 21 - 03:46 AM Right That Time, A song by Maurie Mulheron ©1998 They speak about it proudly, it's now union folklore How wharfies wouldn't load any pig-iron for war Japan was a threat so they walked off the job They wouldn't help the fascists for old Pig-iron Bob Chorus: They were right that time and they're right again now But the strength of one isn't much of a power So united they stand against all odds Fighting for us all against the little tin gods Indonesia's young and fighting to be free But the Dutch had different plans for their former colony When the people rose up with freedom on their lips The wharfies stopped loading any Dutch bound ships Chorus: They were right that time and they're right again now But the strength of one isn't much of a power So united they stand against all odds Fighting for us all against the little tin gods Korea was in trouble, overrun by the Yanks Wharfies told to load rifles, guns and tanks Why get involved in this bloody civil war? We're not gonna ship any weapons anymore! Chorus: They were right that time and they're right again now But the strength of one isn't much of a power So united they stand against all odds Fighting for us all against the little tin gods Pig-iron Bob's back, says we're off to Vietnam Tugging his forelocks for good old Uncle Sam The seamen wouldn't work on the war ship 'Boonaroo' And the wharfies held the line when they sacked the ship's crew Chorus: They were right that time and they're right again now But the strength of one isn't much of a power So united they stand against all odds Fighting for us all against the little tin gods The struggle's moved on, mass sackings overnight The union's survival is the heart of the fight We'll defy your threats, your thugs and court We're standing united, no wharfie can be bought! Chorus: They were right that time and they're right again now But the strength of one isn't much of a power So united they stand against all odds Fighting for us all against the little tin gods History's on our side, we'll see this battle through There's too much at stake for the profits of the few Our fathers, before us, stood on every picket line Keep their mem'ries alive and we'll win every time. Last Chorus: They've been right ev'ry time and they're right again now But the strength of one isn't much of a power So united they stand against all odds Fighting for us all against the little tin gods Notes Maurie Mullheron emailed this song as the Wharfies were mobilising for a battle to defend their right to organise. Today (Feb 9th 1998), the attempt by the National Farmers Federation and its Federal Government backers to set up a non union wharf at Web Dock in Melbourne is the main front of the battle. Maurie's song is a timely reminder of how far back the battle extends. Maurie sings this song on the MUA Centenary CD "With These Arms" which I have, & there are lots of good songs on it. Audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Jan 21 - 03:39 AM Green Bans Forever, A song by Mick Fowler ©1979 Mick Fowler, Tune: Waltzing Matilda Once some jolly squatters camped in Victoria Street There they lived for months on end They fought and struggled for the own community The rights of the tenants to defend Green Bans forever Green Bans Forever Green Bans forever in Victoria Street We sang as we hopped from chimney top to chimney top Green Bans forever in Victoria Street Down come the coppers mounted on their rescue vans Up come the thugs vans one two three We laughed as we struggled down behind the barricades You'll never drive us away said we Out come the squatters carried by the constables Into the wagon one two three The thugs with their crow bars smashed all the premises They cost 'em dough but the coppers come free Up jumped a squatter high into the chimney pot You'll have some trouble to get me said he His voice could be heard as the moon shone on the chimney top Green Bans forever in Victoria Street People of Sydney fighting for Victoria Street Should keep a watch by the Sycamore trees (spoken: they are Sycamores you know folks) And the Green Bans will stay on Bellows and their property Green Bans forever in Victoria Street ... Kings Cross the top of William Victoria Street forever hooray! Notes - This song was released as side 2 of a 45rpm 7" record in 1979 With Mick Fowler on vocals and a jazz band called Green Ban'd. Mick was a jazz musician and member of the SUA (Seamen's Union of Australia) who lived in Victoria Street Sydney. He was the last tenant to leave in 1979. correction - he left in 1976, & died in 1979 Mick Fowler monument, Butler Stairs, Victoria St inscription - Memorial plaque to Mick Flower Seaman, Musician & Green Ban Activist For his gallant stand against demolition of workers homes with the Builders Labourers Federation Green Bans They were hard old days, they were battling days, they were cruel times - but then In spite of it all Victoria Street will see low income housing for workers again. From his friends. I haven't walked down Victoria St for a few years, but when I did, I always smiled at that last line - low income housing didn't last in Victoria St or the Potts Point/Kings Cross area. There is a fair bit down the bottom of Butler Stairs in Wooloomooloo but it is mainly richer folk in the wider area. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 27 Jan 21 - 03:06 AM THE TWO-STAR HOTEL Geoff Francis & Peter Hicks ©2006 "Dark as the dungeon" they sing in the song Where the miners alone know what really goes on On that day the earth shook and the mighty rocks fell One brave man was taken, two trapped there in hell. Above ground the families they wait and they wait In fear and in hope for some news of their fate The five longest days and nights ever passed by Till a voice shouted out, "Todd and Brant they're alive!" For day after day, they kept calm and stayed cool With jokes and bold laughter, oft playing the fool Two bravest of miners in that holiest of hell Union men bunkered in the "Two Star Hotel". Their rescuers ne'er faltered by day and by night Their own lives they risked with just one goal in sight The rocks that they fought were the hardest on earth All as one put their comrades before their own worth. There was no room to move, trapped down there in their cage Where each day that passed it seemed more like an age, Then an air hole gave food, a few comforts as well Country songs and Foo Fighters rang out in their cell. There's no flat screen TV there or in-house video And there's no satin sheets in that pit down below But you never could buy what they had in that cell That's the guts and mateship of the "Two Star Hotel". Seemed the Earth was determined to not let them go But these Tasmanian men had a few tricks to show The rescuers held firm, would not yield from their task And each one he gave more than could ever be asked. At the end of two weeks they stepped out and walked tall With a wave they clocked off, into lovin' arms to fall And to pay their respects to their comrade who fell So rejoice for the tenants of the "Two Star Hotel" Yes rejoice for the heroes of the "Two Star Hotel". There's no flat screen TV there or in-house video And there's no satin sheets in that pit down below But you never could buy what they had in that cell That's the guts and mateship of the "Two Star Hotel" That's the guts and mateship of the "Two Star Hotel". http://unionsong.com/u363.html audio link and lyrics from Mark Gregory’s excellent “Union Songs” website. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaconsfield_Mine_collapse details of the 2006 Tasmanian goldmine disaster, 40kms NW of Launceston, and a kilometre below the surface, caused by an earthquake-induced rockfall. ABC reports of Beaconsfield mining rescue “8 May - Late at night, a test probe is sent through the last metre of rock separating the men from their rescuers. The men say they can see the probe, and workers begin the final push. 9 May - 4:47am AEST - rescue workers use a hydraulic rock splitter, and finally break through to the two trapped men. They are brought to a crib at the 375-metre mark, where they prepare to reach the surface. At 6:00am AEST, Brant Webb and Todd Russell walk out of the mine and move their miners' tags to the 'safe' side of the board after their two-week ordeal.” R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Jan 21 - 01:55 AM The F-111 by Lyell Sayer, Traditional (Johnny Lad) Now, Mr Robert Menzies was walking down the street, And thinking of our airforce which was mostly obsolete; "Our Canberra bombers are getting old as hell, I'd better call up Uncle Sam and see what he can sell." Chorus: Oh, the F-one-double one it is a lovely plane, It flies at twice the speed of sound and scatters bombs like rain, It's wings go back and forward, it's the latest thing around, It's a pity that it isn't safe to take it off the ground. He said to Uncle Sammy, "We want to buy a plane To save our lovely country from going down the drain; We want to scare some Asians, so see what you can do." The answer was, "Bob, buddy, we've got just the thing for you." Bob said, "We'll take two dozen." The plane they had to make, And soon they had one ready, its first flight for to take, It whistled down the runway with a dreadful roaring sound, And then broke up in little bits and fell back on the ground. They sent six off to Vietnam, the country to defend, To wipe out all the Viet Cong and cause the war to end, But Ho Chi Min said, "Comrades, don't waste our precious shells, These brand-new planes the Yankees have all fall down by themselves." Now years have come and years have gone, and we all still depend On our nice old Canberra bombers our country to defend; The plane's prices double every time one takes a spill, And if Sir Robert was still here, we'd make him pay the bill. And when they are all ready, and we have paid the fee, Our Generous Uncle Sammy will make delivery, But I doubt if it will be much good to him or you or I, At the present rate of accidents we've got a week's supply. notes - The General Dynamics F-111C was a controversial aircraft purchased by the Royal Australian Air Force in 1963. Problems began with a 10-year delay in delivery. For more, see Wikipedia video bio of Lyell Sayer - with pic of Martyn Wyndham Reed! with Collette & JohnH in the background, probably taken at the 2016 Bush Traditions Gathering the year Lyell also attended. I have a photo of a bloke who could be Lyell, for my own satisfaction I'll ask a friend who knew him in his younger days. extract from Warren Fahey's website re 60's revival - Lyell Sayer started singing and playing in public after attending the Emerald Hill concerts, and consciously patterned his style after Martyn Wyndham-Read. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Jan 21 - 09:02 PM More Moondyne Joe songs! In 1969 the Bush Music Club received 2 songsheets from a West Wustralian member Moondyne Joe and other Sandgroper Ballads (1969) by L.G. Montgomery see images 9a & 9b for the lyrics & tune ... a variant of Johnny goes down to Hilo - I loved this shanty tune - above all others - as a boy out on Blackadder Creek, in Moondyne country. I remember singing 'the bathing beauty with the seaboots on' ... I contacted friends in WA but no-one knew Sandgroper, & he was not related to Roger, who wasn't aware of his songs when Mucky Duck sang about Moondyne Joe. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Jan 21 - 08:09 PM Great stuff, R-J. You have been busy. I am fond of this one by Joe Daly. See Sandra's post with comments and links re Joe Daly on 30 October last year. I GUESS YOU HAVE (Joe Daly) I guess you've sat down in a strange pub in town And the locals are holdin' the floor The barman walks up with a ‘How are ya mate? I've never seen you here before Are you just travelling through, what work do you do?’ He takes in all what you can give, ‘Have you come very far, are you driving your car What's the name of the town where you live?’ As you drink the first glass he'll be certain to ask The highway or track that you took He heard on the news that there's thousands of roos And he tells me the potholes are crook The questions come strong, ‘Are you stayin' for long Are you married or just on the court Have you been to the war, what's that scar on your jaw?’ Then he asks of the team you support When the questions have rolled and your life story's told A new barman arrives on the shift You think it's all rosy but he's just as nosey And starts on the same lousy drift I head you know where for a breath of fresh air But find a new menace and strife, The bloke there beside me starts in how to guide me Away from the pitfalls of life So if ever in town and just looking around For a friend then there's likely as not Just slip into the pub, give the elbow a rub Of the barman, he'll tell you the lot Wherever you travel the barman unravels Your history in town or the scrub Some barmen need trimmin’, they talk worse than women Most rumours are born in the pub Oh, I guess you've sat down in a strange pub in town And the locals are holdin' the floor The barman walks up with a ‘How are ya mate? I've never seen you here before Are you just travelling through, what work do you do?" He takes in all what you can give Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 26 Jan 21 - 09:21 AM Two bushranging songs from Western Australia about one John Bolitho Johns: MOONDYNE JOE [1] Jenny Gaunt, c.2018 Joseph Johns (or “Moondyne Joe”) came on the ‘Pyrenees’ From Wales to West Australia in 1853 10 years for stealing food, his hungry mouth to feed The judge was tough who sentenced him: “A lesson to his breed” . CHORUS : Said Moondyne Joe: “You may be the boss, my friend, but you’re not the boss of me” ‘Cos all men want to be free. Joseph worked hard on the land with good behaviour true ‘Cos when you do that, they will hand a ticket of leave to you ‘Ticket of leave!’ he cried aloud, ‘I’m free again’ he sang ‘I’ll head inland to Toodyay and work as a bushman’. CH : Said Moondyne Joe …… Being good can be difficult when opportunity calls And unmarked cattle would be tempting to you all Arrested time and time again, the governor declared ‘If Joe escapes this gaol again, I swear he will be spared!’ CH : Said Moondyne Joe …… To be free of shackles, to live at liberty; Said all men want to be free Locked in Freo Gaol again, he just unscrewed the door And stole the judge’s thoroughbred, by god that man was sore Two years on the run and captured at an inn The promise stood and Joe was soon escaping once again. CH : Said Moondyne Joe …… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok_ReCWZar4 Jenny Gaunt A Perth, WA, singer-songwriter, Jenny is joined here by musicians Ash Wheeler (double bass, piano accordian), Alex Kent (percussion), Dan Walsh (banjo). MOONDYNE JOE [2] Roger Montgomery, c.1980 Come all you convicts bold and true and listen to my tale, Of a transportee who did refuse to stay in Fremantle Gaol Ten years was his sentence long, for the stealing he was taken, Of two cheeses and two loaves of bread and a piece of old chewed bacon. For serving ten years Joe was freed and he moved out of town, But only to be harmed by them who try to drag us down Arrested and then gaoled on suspicion of bush ranging, Joe says “Me boys, I’ll not stay here for another ten year’s caging”. CHORUS : “Away, Away, Moondyne Joe’s Away!” – the convicts smile, the screws they roar, “Moondyne Joe’s Away!” The traps they then took after Joe and brought him back to town, Sentenced him to full three years : “We’ll keep this bastard down!” But no evidence of bush ranging could those police find to charge him, Three years was the lesson, me boys, for trying to escape them. Again Joe served his time then left the gaol, the bars, and locks, Once again bold Joe was caught for the stealing of an ox Ten more years they sentenced him, he swore he would not stay, Four months later, hear the cry : “Moondyne Joe’s Away!” CH: “Away, Away, Moondyne Joe’s Away!” – the convicts smile, the screws they roar, “Moondyne Joe’s Away!” Again those traps they follow Joe; he’s got to finish time, Eleven years in gaol and one in irons, that magistrate did sign Moondyne Joe wrote out his case, pleading false arrest, That judge agreed, took off four years, but made him serve the rest. They built a special cell for him with a ring set in the floor, Ten bars upon the window, ten bolts upon the door Joe tried to escape again : “We’ll have him till he dies!”, He dug a hole just like a mole – and once again they cried : CH: “Away, Away, Moondyne Joe’s Away!” – the convicts smile, the screws they roar, “Moondyne Joe’s Away!” This time Joe took to bush ranging and “Bail Up!” was his call, For two short months he rode the bush until the traps did pall The bullets flew, a man went down, the police were armed too well, Once again bold Joe was caught and thrown back into gaol. He took a job in prison, lads, in the carpenter’s workshop, The warders caught him making a key for the front door lock Six more months in irons he got, in his special prison cell, In solitary confinement there, but his spirits never fell. An averter it was written out in Moondyne Joe’s own hand, Delivered to the Governor, seated in his house so grand Joe tells his own story and owned the law’s delay, The Governor’s written a pardon and it’s “Moondyne Joe’s Away!” CH: “Away, Away, Moondyne Joe’s Away!” – the convicts smile, the screws they roar, “Moondyne Joe’s Away!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mjq9dbT0hQ MUCKY DUCK BUSH BAND, 1980 [from “At Last! The Mucky Duck Album” The lineup at that time was : Davey Browne / Roger Montgomery (Composer) / Butch Hooper / Rob Kay / Jerry Everard] I note that the “Moondyne Joe” song and its Reprise, both written by Roger Montgomery (Music Roy Abbott), for the 1982 Perth musical-play of the same name, are not the same as that above. (I also note that a copy of the musical’s program/libretto is currently going on EBay for close to US$70 - Well, I still have my copy!!!) There are more songs about Moondyne Joe on YT by, for instance, Russell Morris, Johnny Ashcroft, Renegade, Ashlea Reale, et al. Plus there are some anonymous historical verses on some websites. e.g. Anonymous – sung by the public at the time of his 1867 escape[15] WIKI : The Governor's son has got the pip, The Governor's got the measles. For Moondyne Joe has give 'em the slip, Pop goes the weasel. See the history (and photo) of WA’s bushranger and escapeologist, John Bolitho Johns, 1826 – 1900 - aka “Moondyne Joe” : https://fremantleprison.com.au/history-heritage/history/the-convict-era/characters/moondyne-joe/ https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moondyne_Joe_-_A_Picturesque_Outlaw - by Charles William Ferguson, 1928 Plus lots more stuff online…….. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 25 Jan 21 - 08:15 PM NORTHERN GULF Sean Byrne / Ewan MacColl Come all you gallant fishermen That plough the stormy seas The whole year round On the fishing grounds, Chorus: In the northern Gulf In the Wessel Isles In the banks of the bays On the northern shore Where the prawning shoals are found. It's there you find the northern lads And the men from Mornington; There's Burly Blue And the men from Groote Chorus: In the.....etc From Albatross to Old Fog Bay From Weipa to Karumba town The fleet's away At the break of day Chorus: To the northern Gulf To the Wessel Isles To the banks of the bays On the northern shore Where the prawning shoals are found. They take their whole catch ashore Which they try to sell; There's shark and squid And tons of grubs Chorus: In the..... etc Thanks to Peter Bate for retrieving Sean’s lyrics from the early 1980s! Tune : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7wJxRl2n0s NORTH SEA HOLES - Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger (from 1983 x LP “Freeborn Man”) (I've yet to find, then digitise, a cassette tape with Tropical Ear's singing of this!) TROPICAL EAR Darwin’s Troppos were much of the backbone of the Top End folk music scene in the 1980s. Apparently starting in 1983 with 5 potential members, they quickly coalesced into a trio of multi instrumentalists who all sang both lead and harmony, and with a large and popular repertoire. Regular performers at the TEFC’s famous Gun Turret venue and around festivals and events, they were : Peter Bate / Sean Byrne / Leonie Carville. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Jan 21 - 07:42 PM Here's another poem about pioneers. This one is by Banjo Paterson - Wallis and Matilda suppled a tune. PIONEERS (Banjo Paterson) They came of bold and roving stock that would not fixed abide They were the sons of field and flock since e'er they learnt to ride We may not hope to see such men in these degenerate years As those explorers of the bush -- the brave old pioneers 'Twas they who rode the trackless bush in heat and storm and drought 'Twas they who heard the master-word that called them farther out 'Twas they who followed up the trail the mountain cattle made And pressed across the mighty range where now their bones are laid But now the times are dull and slow, the brave old days are dead When hardy bushmen started out, and forced their way ahead By tangled scrub and forests grim towards the unknown west And spied the far-off promised land from off the range's crest Oh ye that sleep in lonely graves by far-off ridge and plain We drink to you in silence now as Christmas comes again To you who fought the wilderness through rough unsettled years The founders of our nation's life, the brave old pioneers Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Jan 21 - 07:38 PM oops |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 25 Jan 21 - 07:11 PM Hey you Catters into Oz & Kiwi songs - this thread is getting perilously close to falling off the edge! We need more posts!! Cheers, R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Jan 21 - 03:55 AM Ah Sandra, I'm sure you've met a million famous people since then - in the Folk World at least!! It seems we'd missed this "warhorse" : THE LIME JUICE TUB trad When shearing comes lay down your drums Step on the board you brand new chums With a ra-dum ra-dum rub-a-dub-dub Send him home in a lime juice tub Chorus (optional) Here we are in New South Wales Shearing the sheep as big as whales With leather necks and daggy tails And hides as tough as rusty nails Now you have crossed the briny deep You fancy you can shear a sheep With a ra-dum ra-dum rub-a-dub-dub We'll send you home in lime juice tub There's brand new chums and cockies sons They fancy that they are great guns They fancy they can shear the wool But the buggers can only tear and pull They tar the sheep till they're nearly black Roll up roll up and get the sack Once more we're away on the Wallaby Track Once more to look for the shearing oh The very next job they undertake Is to press the wool but they make a mistake They press the wool without any bales Shearing's hell in New South Wales And when they meet upon the road From off their backs throw down their load And at the sun they'll take a look Saying I reckon it's time to breast the cook We camp in huts without any doors Sleep upon the muddy floors With a pannikin of flour and a sheet of bark To wallop up a damper in the dark Its home its home I'd like to be Not humping my drum in this country Its sixteen thousand mile I've come To march along with the blanket drum “From the singing of A.L.Lloyd. An early and very complete version appeared in the Bulletin 1898 where it was called 'The Whaler's Rhyme'. John Meredith collected a version from Cyril Ticehurst who had been a butcher in Grenfell, and who chanted rather than sang it. Lime Juice Tub is slang for a British ship. A.L.Lloyd heard it while working on the Lachlan River in the early 1930's. He writes: "This song was much sung in the woolsheds while the men were actually shearing". Lyrics and Notes taken from Mark Gregory’s excellent Union Songs website : http://folk.unionsong.com/055.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-V_WYIZ1TY Gary Shearston (with Richard Brooks on harmonica and Les Miller on banjo) “The food on English sailing ships was mostly pretty poor. To prevent the scurvy which was a likely result of a regular diet of pickled meat and ship's biscuit, a ration of lime juice was doled out. So American sailors, who were mostly better fed, contemptuously called English sailors 'Limies'. And so in this song the shearers contemptuously suggest that the unskillful English new chums should be sent home in a lime-juice ship. This version of the song comes from A. L. Lloyd, who says that it was very popular with shearers along the Lachlan thirty or so years ago. He also says that it was one of the few songs that the shearers sang while they were at work. drums - swags, of the same kind as the bluey mentioned in The Murrumbidgee Shearer. board - the floor of be shearing shed. brand new chums - migrants just newly arrived in Australia. cockies' sons - sons of small farmers (who were looked down upon by bush workers in the pastoral industries ). great guns - really good shearers. they tar the sheep till they're nearly black - they cut the sheep so much in shearing them that the sheep end up almost covered with the tar applied as an antiseptic. on the wallaby track - travelling on foot from one station to another, looking for work. press the wool - wool is packed for transport from the shearing sheds in a machine which compresses the wool into sacks. reckon it's time to breast the cook - think it is time to approach the station cook for food. At sundown, the cook would distribute a ration of uncooked food to unemployed ,'travellers' who happened to reach the station homestead at about that hour of the day. huts - stations also provided huts in which such unemployed 'travellers', could sleep overnight. damper - the usual bushman's bread, made with baking soda for leavening. with daggy tails - with lumps of excrement adhering to the wool of the tail.” Notes by Edgar Waters on Gary Shearston’s 1965 LP “The Springtime It Brings on The Shearing” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFaWjnr9C7o Here’s another version, performed by a group called “Reel Matilda”, ( http://www.prideaux-e.com/australiana/reel_matilda.htm ) but the clip has a swag of Oz pictures for you – of “Sydney AND The Bush”!! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Jan 21 - 03:08 AM way back in the 70s I had a friend who ha been at High School with Jon English - my brush with fame ... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Jan 21 - 03:03 AM THREE KIDS ON A HORSE Dave de Hugard Well, did you see them pass today, Billy, Kate, and Robin? All astride upon the back of old grey Dobbin, Jig and Jog and off to school, down the dusty track Oh what must Dobbin think of it, with three upon his back. And Robin’s at the bridle rein, and in the middle, Kate Little Billy hanging on behind, with his legs out straight. And see them coming back from school, jig-jog-jig And see them at the corner where the gums grow big, And Dobbin flicking off the flies and blinking at the sun He thinks three kids upon his back is real good fun. And Robin’s at the bridle rein, and in the middle, Kate Little Billy hanging on behind, with his legs out straight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJIqjv0CQ8I Dave de Hugard (and I am presuming he wrote this song!) Contributed by National Library of Australia: Folklorist and performer Dave de Hugard grew up in rural Queensland on a tobacco farm. Both of his parents were musical, his father played the piano by ear and encouraged his son to learn by ear at an early age. His mother listened to a wide variety of popular music. De Hugard became involved in folk music while at university in Brisbane where he completed a pharmacy degree. In 1963 he was inspired by seeing American folk singer Pete Seeger in concert to approach music more seriously. He began performing traditional and contemporary songs and tunes on the concertina and button (bush) accordion, fiddle, piano accordion, banjo and guitar. De Hugard's interest in folk song lead him to the writings of Australian folklorist and performer Bill Scott and he became aware of Australian bush music and folk traditions. He built up a large repertoire of Australian old-time and bush dance tunes and yarns and released numerous recordings including Songs of the Wallaby Track and Magpie Morning and performed regularly at folk festivals and clubs in Australia. De Hugard's interest in Australian folk and bush music lead him to complete a degree in social anthropology at Macquarie University and work as a folklore collector and researcher. The Dave de Hugard Folklore Collection is housed at the National Library of Australia in the Oral History Collection. WIKI (Discography) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_de_Hugard Thanks to GerryM for alerting me to this little treasure of a song! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Jan 21 - 01:51 AM SONGS OF THE HUTT RIVER PROVINCE (aka PRINCIPALITY OF HUTT RIVER) – a Micronation within Western Australia - In the very early 1970s, Perth folk band “The Ranting Lads” released an EP record entitled “BROKEN SERENITY” which included the story in song of the beginnings of Australia’s first (white) Micronation at Hutt River, almost 520kms north of Perth in Western Australia, and declared by secession on 21st April, 1970. It wasn’t a joke; the West Australian wheat farmer (and his neighbours) were being shafted by the Fraser Govt over wheat quotas, which was to end in bankruptcy for them and so, Leonard Casley decided to take a stand - with the Govt getting more than it had bargained for. The clever Prince Leonard Casley was “not so green as he's cabbage-looking” as the saying goes, and his Principality lasted 50-odd years!!! It had, of course, its own flag, anthem (see below), stamps, currency, passports and so on – and became a very popular tourist destination and O/S merch provider! [I still have my old Oz passport with the Hutt River Province visa stamp!] The Principality’s motto with its coat of arms was “While I Breathe, I Hope”. Well, Prince Leonard died in 2019 at the grand age of 93, owing a small fortune in taxation to the Aust'n Govt - but with his point made, and so, his son (Prince Graeme) ended the protest his father had begun those long years before and ceded their property back to its place in the Commonwealth of Australia, on 3rd August, 2020. Worth watching is the PHR’s Media Liaison Officer, Naomi Brockwell, explaining the interesting history of this secession in more detail : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBEqFQ3IHUU And here is a very short travelogue from 2016 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tQuUTMsktc The PHR Anthem is being sung here by the late Jon English & the Foster Brothers and which clip also includes a map of the locality : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfZCaoWMhWI IT’S A HARD LAND (aka PHR Anthem) Keith Kerwin, 1984 It’s a hard land, but it’s our own land Built with love and dedication Self assured is our small nation One man’s dream of independence. God bless the Prince of Hutt River Province God bless the man whose dream has come true God bless this land where dreams can come true. ”….. He was an adherent of hermeticism, a subject on which he privately published a number of research papers and books……” / ”….. But he says the point of the secession is not about power but about principle: that a small man can stand up to a bully and prosper…… “ The Pandora Archive of the PHR website : http://www.principality-hutt-river.com/ and the WIKI page : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Hutt_River Below are the lyrics of the original song - which, though I still have my EP record, I can’t find uploaded to the internet yet :( BROKEN SERENITY (aka THE BALLAD OF HUTT RIVER) R. M. Müller (aka Mrs Rita Pope) & Dobe Newton / RANTING LADS 1. Well I’ll tell you a tale of a farmer’s long fight A man who could not rest until he’d won his right : To work on his land and to live a good life With his four strapping sons, his three daughters, and the wife. Chorus: Tis of the rebel Casley a story will be told A man who valued freedom more than any sum of gold He settled in Hutt River, it was his chosen land Was there the rebel farmers will fight and make a stand. 2. Well the government decreed with one wave of its hand : We don’t want your wheat, but we will take your land “Never!” cried the farmer “This action is unjust You have betrayed the honest folk; you’ve broken your trust.” 3. “Well listen, my family, to what I have to say : Under this tyranny, our land it will decay Our own separate land for us will be the need We’ll wait thirty days – and then we’ll secede.” 4. Well the politicians muttered. He did what he meant. “We’ll raise your wheat quota twelve hundred percent!” “Too late” said the farmer “Too long you did lag It’s Hutt River Province – we’ve raised up our flag.” 5. Well the tale of his battle, it was spread far and wide He would not be beaten nor run off and hide Let others take example of this courageous man They said we can’t make it. We showed them we can. In case you think this is/was Australia’s only Micronation, check this out : https://www.monsterchildren.com/meet-emperor-smallest-country-in-australia/ Empire of ATLANTEUM (in NSW) Apparently, Australia has one of the largest number of Micronations in the world : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-06/hutt-river-commonwealth-micronations-in-australia/12521668 Perhaps it could be argued that prior to colonisation (aka invasion) by the British, the continent was always comprised of Micronations? Checkout this map : https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia And there have been numerous proposals for new Australian States since colonial times : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_proposed_states_of_Australia And also a number of proposals for West Australian secession! : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secessionism_in_Western_Australia CRIKEY!!! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Jan 21 - 01:30 AM I mentioned on the “Convicted to Fremantle” post about the dearth of Blues (acoustic and electric) on Mudcat these days and I posted “Black and Blue” by “Matt Taylor’s Chain”. I couldn’t resist this top little number as well :) I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNG Matthew Taylor Well I remember when I was young, the world had just begun and I was happy I used to wonder about the earth and how it moved around the sun so snappy Imagination goin’ wild makes a very backward child, they told me So back at school I’d sit around just waitin' for the sound so I could go home. Sometimes I think about it, it happens every day I should think of the present, ‘cause the present’s now Well I remember when I was young, how one-and-thruppence got ya to the movies To look tough we'd light a smoke and very nearly choke, but we had a real good time Growin’ older meant you get to fly a Saber Jet and fight a few wars So I’d just sit there all day and let my mind decay somethin' awful. Sometimes I think about it, it happens every day I should think of the present, ‘cause the present’s now Well I remember when I was young, I had a secret love who never knew it Well I’d do tricks upon my bike that never turned out right; I always blew it And the day we had to part, I had a broken heart but couldn’t let on So I spent my holidays just thinkin' of the ways I musta gone wrong. Sometimes I think about it, it happens every day I should think of the present, ‘cause the present’s now Well I remember when I was young the Beatles turned me on, I really blew my mind And we'd carry Jack and Pam, we'd go and watch a band and have a real good time Then I heard the black man’s blues; they really blew a fuse inside my head So with some friends we made a stand and formed our first Blues Band; it was a real good thing. Sometimes I think about it, it happens every day I should think of the present, ‘cause the present’s now Well I remember when I was Young, I remember when I was Young, I surely do Well I remember when I was Young, I remember when I was Young, I surely do Matt is a Blues-lovin’ Briso-born boy, who resides in Perth and is arguably best known for his work with top blues band, CHAIN. However, this solo song (c.1973) is an all-time favourite of a great many music fans Down Under. This is from his 1973 album “Straight As A Die” re-released 1997 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7-NlqJei7c Here is a rockin’ Live version with CHAIN (Matt Taylor, Phil Manning, Barry “Big Goose” Sullivan, Barry “Little Goose” Harvey) at Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl concert for Mushroom Records, in 1982 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTvzzgk_jEY R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Jan 21 - 12:27 AM FESTIVAL OF LIGHT Words & music Judy Small - words from Judy Small Songbook, 1986. Verse 1: I am a member of the Festival of Light And I know what's wrong and I know what's Right Right is right and you're gonna be left If you don't agree with me Mary Whitehouse is our guru And we believe that we can cure you Of every social sin and ill From the Swan to Circular Quay CHORUS: So come on in and close your mind You can leave it at the door behind you Come on in, sit right down We make the blind to see With our hands upon the Bible We commit all kinds of libel So raise your hands up to your hearts And repeat after me "I hate Reds and I hate Women Homosexuals are sinnin' child molesters, And the Lord knows that it just ain't right I stand for good clean wholesome family livin' All my sins have been forgiven I'm pure as snow as I do-si-do With the Festival of Light Verse 2: We follow the lead of moral giants: Freda Brown and Anita Bryant The media's behind us We're committed to our cause Women's place is in their houses Looking after kids and spouses Except for Anita, Mary, and Freda – They go by different laws CHORUS Verse 3: There's topless bathing down at Bondi Nakedness at Lady Jane Oh, perverts on the rampage On the shores of Thompson's Bay Moral outrage and indignation Sweep across this Christian nation If the Lord had meant us to bathe like that We would've been born that way Final CHORUS repeats last 2 lines I'm pure as snow as I do-si-do With the Festival of Light video Anita Bryant, Mary Whitehouse, Freda Brown - I haven't seen those names for a long time ... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Jan 21 - 08:51 PM BOTTLE-O (Banjo Paterson) I ain't the kind of bloke as takes to any steady job; I drives me bottle cart around the town; A bloke what keeps 'is eyes about can always make a bob -- I couldn't bear to graft for every brown. There's lots of handy things about in everybody's yard, There's cocks and hens a-runnin' to an' fro, And little dogs what comes and barks -- we take 'em off their guard And we puts 'em with the Empty Bottle-o! Chorus So it's any "Empty bottles! Any empty bottles-o!" You can hear us round for a half a mile or so. And you'll see the women rushing To take in the Monday's washing When they 'ear us crying, "Empty Bottle-o!" I'm drivin' down by Wexford-street and up a winder goes, A girl sticks out 'er 'ead and looks at me, An all-right tart with ginger 'air, and freckles on 'er nose; I stops the cart and walks across to see. "There ain't no bottles 'ere," says she, "since father took the pledge;" "No bottles 'ere," says I, "I'd like to know What right you 'ave to stick your 'ead outside the winder ledge, If you 'aven't got no Empty Bottle-o!" Chorus I sometimes gives the 'orse a spell, and then the push and me We takes a little trip to Chowder Bay. Oh! ain't it nice the 'ole day long a-gazin' at the sea And a-hidin' of the tanglefoot away. But when the booze gits 'old of us, and fellows starts to "scrap", There's some what likes blue-metal for to throw: But as for me, I always says for layin' out a "trap" There's nothin' like an Empty Bottle-o Chorus Wallis and Matilda Nicholas Reefman --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 21 Jan 21 - 04:34 AM CONVICTED TO FREMANTLE Wendy Evans / trad Ch. Lock the gate and turn the key Farewell, liberty! Massive walls close in on me Convicted to Fremantle. But I’ve got a Ticket-of-Leave, man, I go to build the state To work for West Australia, to work to make her great I’ll go to bridge the rivers and to carve the highways straight A second chance, or I will dance the rope that still awaits. But I’ve got a Ticket-of-Leave, man, I’ll go to work the land To build West Australia, to work to make her grand I’ll fence the open paddocks and I’ll build her wells and gates And if I slip, I’ll feel the whip that in Fremantle waits. But I’ve got a Ticket-of-Leave, man, to go to build a town To show West Australia’s The Colony to crown I’ll earn my right to pardon, I’ll work to walk here free For if I fail, I know the gaol that I built will claim me. But I’ve got a Ticket-of-Leave, man, I’ve suffered for my crime I’ve seen the hell of transport ships and bowed ’neath cat o’ nine I’ve earned the right to freedom and a new life I can find And I will earn the right to spurn the gaol I’ve left behind. Lock the gate and turn the key Good day, liberty! Massive walls now set me free It’s Farewell to Fremantle. Another song from the 1979 Bi-Centenary recording project “Bound for Western Australia” by poet, Wendy Evans and musicians, The Settlers (Alan S. Ferguson & Sean Roche). I have not found this track online and just hope that one day, someone will upload the whole excellent LP to the internet. My maternal Great Grandfather, George Sidney, was one who was “Convicted to Fremantle” and he arrived as a young man in 1866 on the Corona. He gained his “Ticket-of-Leave” in 1868 and worked around the Colony, gaining his freedom in 1871 – but, battled the ‘demon drink’ in his family life. His eldest ‘Currency Lass’ daughter, Annie, also spent time in prison as a young woman - she was apparently too independently-minded for her own good (which, let’s be honest here, is not a trait that’s fully approved of, even in these ‘enlightened’ times!! :) West Aussie only received convicts from 1850 (as transportation was winding down in the rest of Australia), until 1868 – the Landed Gentry had pleaded for free labour for the public works necessary in the new Colony. It was agreed that only “quality” convicts would be sent (with NO women and NO politicos), but before too long, the British Govt (which, by this time, had nowhere else in the world to shunt their riff-raff), were clearing their prisons of rapists and murderers and other violent offenders. Plus, after almost 10, 000 convicts sent, they included 62 Fenians on the very last ship!*** I should stress here, that my literate Brummie rellie was merely a two-time burglar (but with no violence)!! Though I am quite chuffed to “have a Convict in the Family”, prior to my generation, this was still considered “a stain” and was hidden and never discussed….. though unusually, my Mum (another independently-minded woman) really loved the idea! So as sung about in the above song, here are some clips about Freo Prison (aka “The Convict Establishment”) built by convicts in the 1850s with myriad 4ft x 7ft cells ….. and now World Heritage-listed!! The walls of this penitentiary are still be-set with broken glass (plus razor wire), and it was modelled on the famous Pentonville in London. It was in continual use until 1991 – and with very few improvements to the living conditions!! So I can understand why there was a massive riot and fire in 1988! Take a squizz with these short clips : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl6EDuTs6ow WAWeekender show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsn5koA_0Z0 We don’t get enough Blues music on this Folk & Blues Forum (IMHO :), so the score for this clip is the magnificent CHAIN (lead vocals, Matt Taylor), with “Black & Blue” – ENJOY! BLACK & BLUE Barry Harvey, Phil Manning, Barry Sullivan and Matt Taylor (CHAIN) You work me so hard that my back’s near broke (we’re groaning) My brow is wet and my throat’s a-choke (we’re groaning) You sent me here for ten long years (we’re groaning) And I miss my whiskey and I miss my beers (we’re groaning) Ain't seen a girl since I don’t know when (we’re groaning) And the way you treat me won’t see one again (we’re groaning Your water stinks ’cause it comes from a bog (we’re groaning) And that slop you feed us ain't fit for a dog (we’re groaning) You can beat me and try to break me but still I’ll spit at you You’ll never break my spirit even when my body's Black and Blue Well in my arm there’s a dreadful pain (we’re groaning) It’s hard digging ditches with a ball and chain (we’re groaning) You send me here for ten long years (we’re groaning) I miss my whisky and I miss my beers (we’re groaning) You broke my head cause I spat on a guard (we’re groaning) It don’t make me no better, it just makes me hard (we’re groaning) You can beat me and try to break me but still I’ll spit at you You’ll never break my spirit even when my body's Black and Blue R-J *** Eventually most were pardoned except for six “military’ Fenians – but they escaped on The Catalpa in 1876 - [see the song “The Catalpa” on 27Sept in this thread] |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 20 Jan 21 - 05:43 PM THE MEEKATHARRA GOLD MINER Robert Pyper / trad I’ve wandered all over this country, prospecting and digging for gold I’ve tunneled, hydraulic’d and cradled And I have been frequently sold, And I have been frequently sold Yes, I have lost all of my gold I’ve tunneled, hydraulic’d and cradled, And I have been frequently sold. For those that get riches by mining, there’s thousands go out the back door But this time I hit the gold lining It set me for life, that’s for sure, It set me for life, that’s for sure (for sure, right!) It set me for life, that’s for sure This time I hit the gold lining, It set me for life, that’s for sure. I got onto the prospect in Meeka, “The Pharlap” goldmine was its name The old guy that sold it’s a seeker With sixty-odd years at the game, With sixty-odd years at the game Yes, sixty-odd years full of shame The old guy that sold it’s a seeker, With sixty-odd years at the game. He showed me the lode on the Sunday, six weights in the dish in the sun But after some beers on the Monday Three ounces or more could be won, Three ounces or more could be won (that’s the grog for you!) Three ounces or more could be won But after some beers on the Monday, Three ounces or more could be won. He wanted ten grand for an option, three weights in the ton from gold won Another ten grand on adoption I signed with a loud cry of DONE! I signed with a loud cry of DONE! (done, all right!) I signed with a loud cry of DONE! Another ten grand on adoption, Well I signed with a loud cry of DONE! I took the shaft down to twelve-fifty, and crosscut and drove miles around Till I tumbled that he was a swiftee The old guy had salted the ground, The old guy had salted the ground He’d spread bloody gold dust around! I tumbled that he was a swiftee, The old guy had salted the ground. No longer the slave of ambition, a sucker for sharks and the shames I savour my happy condition Surrounded by my barren claims, Surrounded by my barren claims Surrounded by my barren claims I savour my happy condition, Surrounded by my barren claims. (spoken) And they’re as free of gold as a frog is from feathers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8DG-be6rgM Tune : “Acres of Clams” - also used for the well-known song “The Catalpa”. Another song from one of Australia’s “Singing Geologists”, Robert Pyper. He is a recorded singer of classical songs, but includes a CD of Australian Ballads and is also an author of 4 novels : www.robertpyper.com.au “To the tune Acres of Clams the song describes the pitfalls that await the new chum when he moves from panning alluvial gold to mining the hardrock. Set in Meekatharra in WA during the gold boom of the 1930's we are back in the days of pennyweights rather than grams. There are 20 dwt as against 31 grams to the ounce of gold. Providing you were still in the weathered zone, the panning-off dish was used to estimate grade by crushing a sample of gold rock and then panning off the light rock to leave a tail of gold, the grade of which could be estimated almost as well as a formal assay. It is a feature of gold mining that the longer you are away from a prospect the better you remember it. Adjourning to the bar to talk about it can hasten the remembering greatly, which is what happens here. There were many ways to salt a mine -- witness Busang in the 1990's, which was the biggest gold deposit ever discovered yet it contained no gold. There wasn't much in the Pharlap gold mine either, but I made up the tongue in cheek words in memory of a great prospector I knew. The Pharlap was later mined out in a huge open cut.” https://www.mindat.org/loc-240068.html History of The Pharlap (orig Gwalia) Gold Mine. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Jan 21 - 10:21 PM The wonderful Kath Tait in a reflective autobiographical mood: CHILDLESS MOTHER (Kath Tait) I was born way down in a valley I was born in a valley so small Far away from civilisation Hardly knew the wide world at all When I was a child I played by the river Played by the river so wild I grew up to be a childless mother Childless mother and a motherless child The raging waters of Waitaki Sing your song to me I’ll come back when I’m old and cranky Come back when I’m ninety-three Come back to drown in the river Float down over mossy stones I’ll be a spirit of the water The river it will guide my bones Ancestors are all dead and buried Ancestors are dead and gone It’s generations since they travelled Far from their Scottish home History has been forgotten Got no stories, got no songs They lost touch with where they came from I know where I belong Repeat stanza 2 I grew up to be a childless mother Lived a life so free and wild Years went by and as it happens I became a motherless child I got no roots, I got no branches Got no ties to keep me here When I’m gone there’ll be nothing left Just a ripple in the atmosphere Instrumental break I was born way down in a valley I was born in a valley so small Far away from civilisation Hardly knew the wide world at all When I was a child I played in the hills I roamed the hills so wild I grew up to be a childless mother Childless mother and a motherless child The rugged hills of North Otago Are the hills that made me wild Where the wind sings like a ghostly spirit To the young and undefiled I’ll go back to die in the hills And lie down in the rocks and stones I’ll be a spirit of the land The hills will guide my bones The above is my transcription of the YT clip. I was unable to find the lyrics on the Net. Corrections welcomed. Youtube clip Here is an article about Kath from an old issue of 'Living Tradition': Diva of the Dysfunctional --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Jan 21 - 09:04 AM rich-joy wrote ... Catter Bruce D noted in a 15May2009 post : “Going back to the subject there are a number of song about Kokoda including "The Kododa Trail" Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" - other songs from the era include "the Yanks Back Home", "The A25 Song", Bungin 'Em In, Blowing 'Em out", The Infanteer" and "Information Please" I got these songs on a very old cassette called "Australians at War" by Barry Collerson and the Reedy River Bushmen - photos 5 & 6 .” Strangely enough, I emailed my friend Ralph earlier tonight as he was a Reedy River Bushman & I believe has digitised all their music. I asked him for the words of those songs. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 19 Jan 21 - 08:15 AM Correction : Of course I meant to write in Para 2 : "Meanwhile, HAD the Japanese conquered Port Moresby ...." (long posts are dangerous late at night :) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 19 Jan 21 - 08:04 AM SONGS OF THE KOKODA TRAIL (and those Ragged Bloody Heroes) After WWI’s Gallipoli, the story of WWII’s 3-year Kokoda is probably the next most acclaimed. Precious few of the servicemen and women are still alive, but stories of the campaigns have gradually come to light, with many docos, films, and books now produced. Kokoda’s results were hard-won – battling Malaria, Dengue Fever, Dysentery, on top of Humidity, Leeches, Crocodiles, Mosquitos, Mountains, Mud et al – on top of being under-equipped (in both weapons and clothing), under-trained, under-fed – on top of being VASTLY outnumbered – against the ferocious, unrelenting, battle-hardened Japanese who had swept through Asia and the Pacific and were now invading the tropical jungles of the very mountainous Papua New Guinea region from the North. While Australia’s defense of these Mandated Territories was left to relatively inexperienced Militias (like the CMF) and in the case of the 53rd Battalion, 100 of the young men had been literally Shanghaied-Pressganged (in good military tradition - but this was, after all, the 20th century!!!!) from Sydney all in one day - and not told their destination nor permitted to inform relatives and friends, nor given training and equipment. Of course, their resentment festered..….. Meanwhile, once the Japanese conquered Port Moresby, it was just a short hop across the Coral Sea to FNQ (Far North Qld) : Oh so very close to Australia, which was, of course, their intended target (and they had already been making air raids down both the West and East Coasts). Some more background to the Kokoda songs : Kokoda, the bloody track: “Documentary made for the 50th annivesary of the Kokoda campaign. Features on camera interviews with Australian and Japanese veterans of the campaign intercut with archival footage.” AWM (Austn War Museum) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbSXJsG90hQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ6oS0v59Ig ABC’s Chris Masters’ excellent doco for “4Corners” using Damien Parer’s 1942 footage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3i_W90EqnA – aerial view of the 8-day 96km trek you can do, along the famous Trail. “The Kokoda Track is a single file, very rough, tropical jungle path that connects villages over the Owen Stanley Range. It crosses rivers and creeks as it crosses over six mountain ranges, covered in mud. The vegetation changes along the way and so does the track, but one thing remains constant, it is rough, narrow and requires concentration to avoid slips, trips and falls.” And finally : KOKODA – is it Track or Trail?! : both have been used, but “trail” has the edge (and not due to any American usage!) : https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/the-kokoda-track-or-trail David Campbell’s poem “Men in Green”; a school favourite for me - first published in The Bulletin in 1943 (I’m surprised not to have found a musical setting though)……. https://ninglun.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/friday-australian-poem-12-david-campbell-men-in-green/ RUGGED 'N' BUGGERED David Nipperess This song is directly inspired by Peter Brune’s book ‘Those Ragged Bloody Heroes’. The lyrics reflect the language of spoken accounts included therein. Apologies for any instances of historical inaccuracy - put it down to artistic license. - David Nipperess. I was working for my father On a dairy farm out on Otway When one day that thrice-poxed postie With a conscription notice came John Curtin said “boy you’re the one To protect our dear home from the rising sun” ‘Cos the volunteers were fighting for England Only the rugged and the buggered remained So they placed me in a Choco battalion 39th AMF was its name And they sent us on off to New Guinea Even though we were only half-trained I remember turning twenty quite well ‘Cos the very next day was when Singapore fell And as the panic spread to Port Moresby Only the rugged and the buggered remained So we marched on up to Kokoda And the track it was sheer muddy hell And they told us to hold this great ridgeline boys Before the Japs could get there as well But they took us at about six to one When the best thing we had was an old Lewis gun And the cry went back to Port Moresby Only the rugged and the buggered remained Well we fought them off with our rifles With our spades and our boots and our knives And we gave those sons of the Emperor The bloodiest fight of our lives But we knew we hadn’t a hope As we paid with our youth to retreat down the slope And as the veterans sailed for Port Moresby Only the rugged and the buggered remained We were on our last bloody legs at Isurava We were sick, we were starved, we were worn Then the veterans came to fill out our line Just when we thought we were gone Well we staggered away from the front Our clothes were old rags and our guns rusted up And as I looked out amongst my companions Only the rugged and the buggered remained LISTEN HERE : https://miguelheatwole.bandcamp.com/track/rugged-n-buggered Thanks to GerryM for knowledge of this one. KOKODA TRACK A.E. Brooks & Slim Dusty (aka David Kirkpatrick) With no shouldered arms or bayonet fixed, they march on Anzac Day The measured tramp of steel-shod heels a memory away Veterans of a jungle war who went to hell and back Those Ragged Bloody Heroes of that grim Kokoda Track. So dig your reversed rifles in the mire of memory The swirling mists of time have healed the scars You climbed that golden stairway to keep our country free Where the jungle hid your nightmare from the stars. When sullen days brought no relief from blood and muck and mire And death was ever striding at your back You trod that hallowed path to be baptized in hellfire The Ragged Bloody Heroes of that grim Kokoda Track. Oh the devil took the hindmost and the snipers took the fore With no quarter asked or given in that muddy, bloody war With black angels there to guide them, the salvos by their side Those Ragged Bloody Heroes simply marched and fought and died. Astride a broken mountain top you stood defiantly As the devil took your comrades one by one He taunted you and beckoned you to face eternity You saluted with a burning Thompson gun. His hand was on your shoulder like a burning grip of steel But you turned him and you fought off his attack You broke the devil’s squadrons and you brought him to your heel The Ragged Bloody Heroes of that grim Kokoda Track. Oh the devil took the hindmost and the snipers took the fore With no quarter asked or given in that muddy bloody war While politicians pondered and great generals swelled with pride Those Ragged Bloody Heroes simply marched and fought and died. With no shouldered arms or bayonet fixed they march on Anzac Day With the memory of white crosses and the mounds of fresh- turned clay Of green fields and a bugle call and a solemn requiem [spoken] "And at the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them." Those Ragged Bloody Heroes of that grim Kokoda Track. Those Ragged Bloody Heroes of that grim Kokoda Track. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RydSdjW5zi4&t=131s Slim Dusty sings. From his album: "Natural High" ONLY THE BRAVE ONES Lee Kernaghan, Garth Porter, Colin Buchanan Storm cloud blacks the sky, the rain comes pouring down This God-forsaken place will bring you to your knees We sweltered through each day in sweat and desperation Diggers on the march on the Kokoda Track. Step by muddy step, tortured hour by hour Some prayed, some swore with fear, but you'd never show your mates The kid beside me dropped, shot right between the eyes Death waits in the jungle under Kokoda skies. And it's only the brave ones, afraid, but keep on going One step moving forward, the next step slipping back Scared bloody stiff; still you keep on going It's only the brave ones out on the Kokoda Track. From the land of the rising sun, they came screaming through the darkness And a few Militia boys, they held the buggers back The wounded carried down by fuzzy wuzzy angels*** Heroes’ blood was spilt on the Kokoda Track. Yes, it's only the brave ones, afraid, but keep on going One step moving forward, the next step slipping back Scared bloody stiff; still you keep on going It's only the brave ones out on the Kokoda Track. Private Kingsbury fought beside his mates in Isurava When it seemed that all was lost, alone he rushed the line Well they finally cut him down but his courage turned the battle He laid down his life on the Kokoda Track. Yes, it's only the brave ones, afraid, but keep on going One step moving forward, the next step slipping back Scared bloody stiff; still you keep on going It's only the brave ones out on the Kokoda Track. Yes, it's only the brave ones out on the Kokoda Track. ***Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels was the name given by Australian soldiers to Papua New Guinean war carriers who, during World War II, were recruited to bring supplies up to the front and carry injured Australian troops down the Kokoda trail during the Kokoda Campaign…… Despite the great fatigue often experienced by the Carriers, no known injured soldier that was still alive was ever abandoned by the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, even during heavy combat….. “The care they give to the patient is magnificent” (WIKI) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG0M3GNM4TQ&t=11s sung by John Schumann (Redgum), Lee Kernaghan, Garth Porter. THE KOKODA ANTHEM (BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA) Frank Gallagher Our Anzacs left for over there When darkness fell on Leicester Square In freedom's name for liberty They fought and died for you and me Poland's gone, France has fell Pearl Harbor blown to hell Prison camps, millions dead Europe's burning, newsreel said Australian sons of the Southern Cross It's time to stand against the odds The Kokoda Trail and the Rising Sun And fight with God 'til the battle's won The Kokoda Trail the track to hell Where soldier sons and angels fell That mountain range of death and pain Where young blood flowed like jungle rain The Kokoda Trail the track from hell Where Fuzzy Wuzzy angels dwell Heroic souls to guide us on And safely bring our wounded home Australian sons of the Southern Cross Victorious against the odds The Kokoda Trail and the Rising Sun They took them on and fought and won Australian sons of the Southern Cross Victorious against the odds The Kokoda Trail and the Rising Sun They took them on and fought and won They took them on and fought and won https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWN8BJ4Jp6w Sung by Adam Harvey & Gina Jeffreys Sorry, didn’t have the energy to transcribe these last two! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wasceChoMfw Kokoda - Hamish Wyatt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I73WZPJ4fmo The Ballad of Kokoda - Lance Birrell N.B. and of course, I know it wasn’t JUST the Australians - the Papuans and the Americans were also involved in this PNG war!! And I’m aware that I may have left out important detail, but the story is just too big for one post, which anyway, is mostly about the songs :) Just found this Mudcat thread!! which discusses Kokoda and things pertaining (including songs of course) : /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=40206,40206 In it, Catter Bruce D noted in a 15May2009 post : “Going back to the subject there are a number of song about Kokoda including "The Kododa Trail" Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" - other songs from the era include "the Yanks Back Home", "The A25 Song", Bungin 'Em In, Blowing 'Em out", The Infanteer" and "Information Please" I got these songs on a very old cassette called "Australians at War" by Barry Collerson and the Reedy River Bushmen.” R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Jan 21 - 05:06 AM LANES OF WOOLLOOMOOLOO by John Dengate Oh, then who's your mate, my Johnny lad, so drunk he can hardly stand With his eyeballs staring so wildly and his violently shaking hand? His name is not for the naming, but his story I'll tell you true; He's a child of the great depression from the lanes of Woolloomooloo. Reared on bread and dripping and on dollops of dole plum jam, He dodged the police and his father's boot and his fare on the city tram. Mustered in the militia on the wharves of Woolloomooloo, Fought disease and the Japanese in the summer of '42. Never you mind his shaking hand or his strangely twisted mouth; He was cut off at Templeton's Crossing when the Japs came swarming south, He wept and prayed in the jungle and God to his prayers was deaf: Chocko! Retreat on your bleeding feet, and where was the A.I.F.? You'll find him now in Bell's Hotel or round by the Domain; You'll find him under a Moreton Bay, sleeping it off in the rain, You'll find him wandering William Street without any work to do, He's a child of the great depression from the lanes of Woolloomooloo. He's a hollow, dirty derelict, abandoned by the fates; His soul's at Templeton's Crossing with his dead militia mates, White lady is his mistress, they fornicate and woo, Spawning blind oblivion in the lanes of Woolloomooloo. John's notes give: Templeton's Crossing: New Guinea battlefield Chocko: Chocolate soldier – derisive term for militiaman (An Australian soldier who had not volunteered for the A.I.F) White Lady: Methylated spirits and lemonade. To which I probably should add: A.I.F. : Australian Imperial Force – the regular army units. Dole: Unemployment payments, and some food issues, made during the great depression (1929/39) Domain: Public park area to the east of Sydney, frequented by the homeless Methylated spirits: Denatured alcohol – originally made poisonous with methyl alcohol but now rendered nauseating with turpentine. The cheapest possible alcohol. Moreton Bay: The Moreton Bay Fig – a wide-spreading tree with large leaves planted widely in Sydney's inner city parks. William Street: Major street of Kings Cross – inner eastern suburb of Sydney Woolloomooloo: East Sydney harbourside suburb – once slums, but these are being 'gentrified' as their value rises. Published in My Shout! Songs and Poems by John Dengate, Bush Music Club, Sydney, 1982 originally posted by Bob Bolton in 2001 video Jason reciting, backed by Chloe & Jason Roweth Band. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Jan 21 - 04:53 AM when I visited the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway some years back, I understood why John wrote "fought disease and the Japanese" as the deaths from tropical diseases far outweighed the battle deaths. Approximately 625 Australians were killed along the Kokoda Trail and over 1,600 were wounded. Casualties due to sickness exceeded 4,000. google maps photos of Kokoda Park memorial walkway unfortunately I can't see a photo of the panel showing casualty counts sandra of course, everyone (posting here!) knows I mean John Dengate's Lanes of Woolloomooloo, normally a powerful poem. Once I heard a sweet-voiced soprano singing it (it did not work) but as Jason & Chloe have also put a tune to it, I can post it! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 19 Jan 21 - 01:22 AM I came across this recording whilst researching Kokoda for my upcoming song posts in this thread. David is a Melbourne singer-songwriter and who wrote this poignant song in 2007, after watching the film, KOKODA. WAR David Mooney Why do we have to fight; there’s no good in war All of our children, and many to go on before, Speaking out loud, in one mouth, telling the truth to closed doors Is there anyone listening, anyone listening at all? But it’s quiet tonight, when I close my eyes, it’s quiet all around Will I wake up at light, will I open my eyes Will I be in safer ground? When you fall, some will die, tell me there’s some good in war Yet the battle’s not over and we gather the wounded and dying, I have a family, so does he, we should be home very soon I keep sending those letters, but it’s never the same without you. But it’s quiet tonight, when I close my eyes, it’s quiet all around Will I wake up at light, will I open my eyes Will I be in safer ground? They say it’s over, we can go home, how can a dead man be free? And the ones that return have their memories burn in their mind. But it’s so quiet tonight, when I close my eyes, it’s quiet all around Will I wake up at light, will I open my eyes Will I be in safer ground? And it’s quiet tonight, when I close my eyes, it’s so quiet all around Will I wake up at light, will I open my eyes Will I be in safer ground? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTnr6qkoEi8&t=4s David Mooney KOKODA – the movie – (aka KOKODA : 39th Battalion) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokoda_(film) Here is a trailer for the acclaimed 2006 Aussie film, which was filmed in Qld’s Gold Coast rainforest hinterland, around Mt Tamborine, (which is nearby to the Army’s (still active) jungle warfare training grounds at Canungra) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTGQeZscLBY R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 18 Jan 21 - 08:00 PM I loved that, Sandra, Thanks! Jim's article is sadly no longer on the website, but via Arthur Stace's WIKI bio, I found the Wayback Machine's copy : https://web.archive.org/web/20110716135030/http://simplyaustralia.net/article-jkl-eternity.html Not being a Sydneysider, nor an Eastern-Stater, by birth, I had never heard of "Mr Eternity" until talked of in a Judy Small concert in the 80s!! It's such a lovely thing (but which would probably land you in gaol these days :( Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Jan 21 - 09:39 AM Jim writes great songs, here's my favourite Mr Eternity © Jim Low When I was a child walking down the street I’d see this strange word written, written at my feet Eternity was what it read, I asked my Dad just what it said And it meant forever, and ever and ever Always, always Chorus: And Mr Eternity The man whom we never see In the early light of day With his chalk he’d write away Eternity, Eternity What to a young child could this strange word mean A day, a week, a year, to some it might have seemed Another year to Christmas seemed eternity And a week to Saturday’s pictures was like forever to me The city streets he wrote on no longer seemed the same When Mr Eternity left this life Eternity to claim And when the word in yellow chalk faded from my view I knew a part of childhood had disappeared too And it went forever, and ever and ever Always, always video |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 18 Jan 21 - 07:41 AM THE BROKEN SOLDIER Jim Low Along a dusty, bushland track When we were only kids We came upon a sandstone sphinx And some pyramids On a Sunday outing We couldn’t believe our eyes A little piece of Egypt, Under Australian skies. Fashioned in remembrance Where the wild flowers grow By a broken soldier All those years ago His efforts kept their memory The years could not condemn Those poppy clouded soldiers Who won’t return again. He suffered in the trenches The western front of fears The heavy German shelling Rang loudly in his ears He saw the cost of battle The sacrificial bones Then damaged and disabled Begrudgingly sent home. Did he ever wonder Why he didn’t die And so become a hero In his country’s eyes? © Jim Low LISTEN HERE : http://www.simplyaustralia.net/the-broken-soldier-lyrics/ “The stone works mentioned in this song were crafted by a returned World War One soldier named William Shirley. They are in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park New South Wales.” Read the article Remembering Private Shirley at http://www.simplyaustralia.net/remembering-private-shirley/ Available on the CD "Journey’s End" This whole post was taken from the very excellent “SIMPLY AUSTRALIA” website from Jim & Valda Low – which I had no idea was still going!! http://www.simplyaustralia.net/ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 18 Jan 21 - 03:14 AM Have I missed this essential song somewhere in the thread??!! ALL THE FINE YOUNG MEN Eric Bogle / John Munro They told all the fine young men "Ah, when this war is over, There will be peace and the peace will last forever" In Flanders Fields, at Lone Pine and Bersheeba For king and country, honour and duty The young men fought and cursed and wept and died. They told all the fine young men "Ah, when this war is over, In your country’s grateful heart we will cherish you forever" Tobruk and Alamein, Buna and Kokoda In a world mad with war, like their fathers before The young men fought, cursed and wept and died. For many of those fine young men All the wars are over They found their peace It's the peace that lasts forever When the call comes again, they will not answer They're just forgotten bones lying far from their homes Forgotten as the cause for which they died. Ah Bluey, can you see now why they lied? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgpiQF_ulzM Written in the mid 80s, but taken here from Eric Bogle’s 2010 album “A Few Old Songs for Very New Times” Try also : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNWxVtyE5YI Albin Eriksson of Sweden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RqGnPKjxvI Toein' in the Dark (from South Yorkshire) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Jan 21 - 08:35 PM Here's another song of the sea from the land of the long white cloud. ACROSS THE LINE (Anon) I've traded with the Maoris Brazilians and Chinese I've courted half-caste beauties Beneath the kauri trees I've travelled along with a laugh and a song In the land where they call you mate Around the Horn and home again For that is the sailor's fate I've run aground in many a sound Without a pilot aboard Longboat lowered by lantern light Pushed off and gently oared Rowlock creaking, a thumping swell And a wind that would make you ache Who would sail the seven seas And share a sailor's fate We've sailed away to the northward We've sailed away to the east We've skinned our sail in the teeth of a gale And stood in the calmest seas Eastward round by Dusky Sound And Pegasus through the Strait Port Cooper, Ocean, Tom Kain's Bay For that is the sailor's fate The above is as printed in 'Song of a Young Country' p11. Note by Colquhoun: In the north, the Bay of Islands became busier and busier. Kororareka grew as the world's southernmost port with whitewashed houses lining the shore. However, in the south the sealing industry was dying, for the massive slaughter of seals as they came ashore to calve led to their rapid decrease in numbers. Sailors, moreover, were far less willing to seal. Tales of gangs left to die on the southernmost wind-swept islands spread rapidly. The seaman on the coastal trading vessels carried these stories with them as they sailed 'eastward round by Dusky Sound and Pegasus through the Strait'. Here is a rendition by Phil Garland. It has a chorus and different final stanza: Chorus: Across the Line, the Gulf Stream, I've been in Table Bay Around the Horn and home again, for that is the sailor's way Final stanza: We've sailed away to northward, we've hauled away to east We've trimmed our sail in the teeth of a gale and stood in calmest seas We've set our course by a southern star, by Stewart through the Strait Westward round by Milford Sound for that is the sailor's fate Youtube clip Here is a link to the entry in the NZ folk song site: Click This rendition by Phil Drane is also fine: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Jan 21 - 07:28 PM Evidently 'Soon may the Wellerman come', which I posted above on 5 October, has goner viral on the Net. Youtube clip Mudcat thread with link to recent article in 'The Guardian': Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Jan 21 - 08:47 PM a brilliant song! I loves these comments This song is named "The Waltz of the Baby Murderer" in my playlist think that tim is the only one who could perform this song and not make it increddibly tasteless. Being a member of that orchestra must be the hardest job in the world. How can they not burst laughing?! ...Probably why there's no flute solo.... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Jan 21 - 07:29 PM LULLABY (Tim Minchin) Sleep, little baby, sleep now my love The Milky Way's shining high up above When you grow up, you will learn all that stuff But for now, close your eyes Close your eyes Sleep, little baby, try not to squawk Tomorrow and tomorrow you'll learn how to walk To love and laugh, to make toast and talk But for now, beddy-byes Your blanket's hand-knitted with pure angora wool Your nappy is dry and your tummy is full Of enough antihistamine to chill out a bull Yet still all this gringing What more could you want for? I just cannot guess You constantly complain to me; you should feel blessed There are children in Africa, starving to death And you don't hear them whinging What more can I do to put a stop to This mind-numbing noise you are making? Where is the line between patting and hitting? When is rocking "rocking" and when is it "shaking"? I don't know what else I can do to try to hush you My heart says "I love you", but my brain's thinking "fuck you" And hoping a child trafficker will abduct you At least then I'll get a few hours in bed I've shushed and I've cooed and I've even try to sing "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da" in the exact voice of Ringo Now all I have left is to hope that a dingo Will sneak in and rip off your fat bitching head Hush little baby, don't say a word Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird In the hope you get avian flu The nice folk in A&E will take care of you That's it, close your eyes, shhh, not a sound I can barely see your tiny belly moving up and down One thing they don't mention in the parenting books: Your love for them grows, the closer to dead they look Tim Minchin strutting his Lehrer-like humour with half a symphony orchestra: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 14 Jan 21 - 09:08 PM Here's a YT clip of Hallom's edited version of 'Where dead men lie' referenced by GerryM in a post above on 26 December: Youtube clip Gerry Hallom also took a poem by Banjo Paterson and turned it into a fine song: THE FIRST SURVEYOR (Paterson/Hallom) The opening of the railway line, the governor and all With flags and banners down the street, a banquet and a ball The bands are marching on parade, playing loud and clear And all the town is gathered ‘round to cheer the engineer Chorus The opening of the railway line, they’re raising cheer on cheer The man who brought the railway through, our friend the engineer They cheer his pluck and enterprise, his engineering skill ’Twas my old father who found a way beyond that big red hill Before the engineer was born, he forged a mountain way And it was our first camping ground - just where I live today Chorus Others came across the range and built a township here And then there came the railway line and this young engineer Who rides around in luxury, he’s lauded and he’s praised But after all he only took the trail, the same my old man blazed Chorus The old man’s long been dead and gone without feast or cheer He’s buried by the railway line - I wonder does he hear I wonder can he hear them pass and does he see the sights When whistling shrill the Sydney trains go rolling by at night Chorus It seems they want me to come down, the oldest settler here Present me to the governor and this young engineer But I’ll do without the bands and flags, the speakers waxing free I know who ought to get the cheers and that’s enough for me Chorus Youtube clip The original poem: THE FIRST SURVEYOR "The opening of the railway line! -- the Governor and all! With flags and banners down the street, a banquet and a ball. Hark to 'em at the station now! They're raising cheer on cheer! 'The man who brought the railway through -- our friend the engineer.' They cheer his pluck and enterprise and engineering skill! 'Twas my old husband found the pass behind that big red hill. Before the engineer was born we'd settled with our stock Behind that great big mountain chain, a line of range and rock -- A line that kept us starving there in weary weeks of drought, With ne'er a track across the range to let the cattle out. "'Twas then, with horses starved and weak and scarcely fit to crawl, My husband went to find a way across the rocky wall. He vanished in the wilderness -- God knows where he was gone -- He hunted till his food gave out, but still he battled on. His horses strayed ('twas well they did), they made towards the grass, And down behind that big red hill they found an easy pass. "He followed up and blazed the trees, to show the safest track, Then drew his belt another hole and turned and started back. His horses died -- just one pulled through with nothing much to spare; God bless the beast that brought him home, the old white Arab mare! We drove the cattle through the hills, along the new-found way, And this was our first camping-ground -- just where I live today. "Then others came across the range and built the township here, And then there came the railway line and this young engineer; He drove about with tents and traps, a cook to cook his meals, A bath to wash himself at night, a chain-man at his heels. And that was all the pluck and skill for which he's cheered and praised, For after all he took the track, the same my husband blazed! "My poor old husband, dead and gone with never a feast nor cheer; He's buried by the railway line! -- I wonder can he hear When by the very track he marked, and close to where he's laid, The cattle trains go roaring down the one-in-thirty grade. I wonder does he hear them pass, and can he see the sight When, whistling shrill, the fast express goes flaming by at night. "I think 'twould comfort him to know there's someone left to care; I'll take some things this very night and hold a banquet there -- The hard old fare we've often shared together, him and me, Some damper and a bite of beef, a pannikin of tea: We'll do without the bands and flags, the speeches and the fuss, We know who ought to get the cheers -- and that's enough for us. "What's that? They wish that I'd come down -- the oldest settler here! Present me to the Governor and that young engineer! Well, just you tell his Excellence, and put the thing polite, I'm sorry, but I can't come down -- I'm dining out tonight!" --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Jan 21 - 07:20 PM LAST TIME I SAW HIM (Bob McNeill) I stayed when all the men had gone To drink to my husband's return Their voices carried to the shore Like the last time I saw him He was in the fields when I was young Nothing but toil in rain and sun And the fertile earth our father sowed Froze to ice in those winters And drove the men out in their boats But he was tall and dark A raven like his father was so strong And in my sons the eyes were brightest As clear and bright as his The only warning was the breeze What chance a small boat in such seas Tossed and turned away Tossed and turned Tossed and turned away from me But he came home today And all the men would say They found him on a beach Where his brothers used to play In waves that tossed and turned I stayed when all the men gone And I prayed my husband would return Their voices carried to the shore The last time I saw him The lyrics are from his website. The stanzas in the YT clip are in a different order. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 12 Jan 21 - 07:28 PM THE BALLAD OF FERGIE McCORMICK (Marcus Turner) Now, Fergie McCormick was walking one day When he noticed a building on fire The screams of a woman could plainly be heard Through the flames as they soared ever higher The trembling lady was clutching a baby The building was ten stories high It could plainly be seen that both she and the child Were most certainly doomed for to die Now the firemen were there with their ropes and their ladders And holding a big trampoline Though they tried to enourage the lady to jump She was patently not very keen For the babe was too small to survive such a fall And so she refused to let go What could they do, they were right in the stew As they helplessly gazed from below The up stepped the hero - ‘Tis Fergie McCormick’, he cried ‘Throw your baby to me Fear not I will catch it, from death I shall snatch it And safe in my arms it will be’ Now, the big fullback's arms and his masculine charms Allayed all the young mother's fears She cried, ‘Bless you Fergie!’ Then tossed her child over the edge, as her eyes filled with tears Now, the rest of this story will long be remembered In legend throughout all the land For there, on the ground, as the crowd gathered round The wee babe landed safe in his hands ‘He's rescued the child’, said the crowd, going wild The excitement was plainly too much. As they all stared in wonder, with a swift up-and-under He kicked forty metres for touch Youtube clip The tune is 'The Catalpa'. I first heard the joke some decades ago told in a pub session by Ted Egan. In that telling, the hero was an AFL high flyer by the name of Safe Hands Flanagan who bounced the babe three times and kicked him through a bakery door. The story is also often told with a soccer goalie as hero. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 12 Jan 21 - 03:25 AM FATHERS OF THIS COLONY Wendy Evans / trad music We left behind our homeland, the land where we were born We sailed on the Parmelia**, around the wicked Horn We had but few possessions; the other folk were grand But we were richer far than they, because we loved the land. In storms we reached our new land, the land that we have tamed The gentry spoke in anger and said someone should be blamed What use were silks and satins then; we blessed our homespun cloth And hardy life that knew the land and braved the tempest wrath. At last the ship offloaded us and cargo we had brought The gentry brought their furniture, and carriages and port Beside their piles of riches, our start in life looked poor But basic needs and stock and seeds, and tools we brought ashore. When given land, we cleared it soon with toil and aching back And sowed the land and prayed for rain and built a simple shack The gentry told their servants to clear acres by the score But we knew what to sow and when, and so our land grew more. We pioneered with heartbreak, because Nature asked for blood We fought with drought and tempest, with fire and with flood We built Western Australia. Will Men recall what’s true That land, Men built this nation, and each day they fight anew. Chorus: It was not gold that built this land, but those who loved the earth Their wisdom and their labour and their patience gave it birth No rich man built this country, save other people’s toil The Fathers of This Colony were those who loved the soil. Another song from the 1979 Bi-Centenary recording project “Bound for Western Australia” by poet, Wendy Evans and musicians, The Settlers (Alan S. Ferguson & Sean Roche). I have not found this track online and just hope that one day, someone will upload the whole excellent LP to the internet. ** WIKI tells us that the Parmelia was an 1825 Quebec-built barque, sold in 1827 to a director of the British East India Company. In 1829, it brought the first settlers and civilian officials to the new Swan River Colony, in what would become Western Australia, sighting the new colony on June 1st (= the beginning of winter). Captain James Stirling, the civil superintendent of the colony, arrived on the HMS Challenger, with HMS Sulphur carrying a detachment of the 63rd Foot Regiment. Stirling assumed the duties of Pilot on the Parmelia, for her grand? entrance into the new colony, and long story short, after a day of bad weather, she ran aground on a sandbank and lost her foreyard, rudder, windlass, spare spars, longboat and skiff, - and was leaking at a rate of 4 inches (10 cm) per hour and then rode out a storm at anchor for three days before finally being brought to a safe anchorage. Passengers were unloaded on June 8th. Perhaps not such an auspicious start to the new British colony!! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 11 Jan 21 - 06:50 PM SOMETHING IN THE PILLIGA Slim Dusty (Pubs, Trucks & Plains album) This story was told to me by a mate - and he was still shakin after 20 years Well that’s what he told me anyway. I was drivin through the Pilliga, getting tired of the road Pulled over for a breather, stretch my legs and check the load It was getting close to sundown; been away near on a week When I pulled into this campsite on the banks of Tooley Creek. Well I walked around the trailer; the bush was pretty still Checkin ropes and kickin tyres and the night air had a chill I was climbin in the cabin when I thought I heard a moan And I got this sudden feeling that I wasn’t on my own. Oh there’s somethin in the Pilliga, I’ve heard old timers say There’s some won’t even camp there; some never go that way And if you listen to their stories, they’ll make yer skin just crawl Some may offer their opinion and some never talk at all. Well I put it down to maybe the wind blowin in the trees Completely disregarding shaky feelings in my knees I was climbin in the camper; 40 winks was all I’d take When I felt the cabin shakin; I was really wide awake. Oh I grabbed the tyre lever out from underneath the seat Hit the lights and threw some roman sandals on my feet I was creepin round the bullbar; out roared this awful sound And my hair was standin straight up; I was frozen to the ground. Hey there’s somethin in the Pilliga, I’ve heard old timers say There’s some won’t even camp there; some never go that way And if you listen to their stories, they’ll make yer skin just crawl Some may offer their opinion and some never talk at all. Then this thing came chargin for me; it was all of 10 feet high With hair all covered over, murder in its devil’s eyes And I must have started screamin like a banshee in full flight For it roared and grunted somethin and then vanished in the night. When finally I woke up I was lyin on the ground In an eerie kind of stillness, nothin moved nor made a sound Both my eyes were big as saucers, still seein in my mind That primeval apparition, red eyes burning into mine. Oh there’s somethin in the Pilliga, I’ve heard it rant and roar And my nerves were shot to pieces rememberin what I saw It was big and it was hairy; its perfume really reeked Yeah there’s somethin in the Pilliga mate, on the banks of Tooley Creek Let it stay there in the Pilliga on the banks of Tooley Creek. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-UjD-m6L9g Something in the Pillaga sung by Slim Dusty If you thought “Bigfoot” and his mates were restricted to North America or to Nepal’s Abominable Snowman/Yeti, think again. These elusive, mystical – but very real – creatures have been sighted, plus heard (and now recorded), all over the planet, since, well – since Forever! Just as there are - or were :( many varieties of particular species of animals, it is believed there were also at least 11 variations of hominins, which “died out” - apart from us – and science is gradually finding skeletal evidence of them. Meanwhile, every country and culture has their stories and legends about still-existing bi-pedal hairy hominoids that “shouldn’t” exist - and with the digital age, we hear more and more about our increasing interactions with them. Australia is no exception – hence the above song! There is barely an area that hasn’t reported one, or multiple, encounters and the Aborigines warned the new settlers about them from the start of colonisation in the late 1700s, reports of which were duly relayed back to England. It appears each Indigenous language group had their own name for them, but today they are generally known across Australia as YOWIES (that’s the very tall ones, there is a smaller mob (shorter than us), called JUNJADEES). As with the USA & Canada’s Sasquatch, there is much activity on YouTube from Yowie investigators, particularly in NSW and QLD, though there appear to be very few songs written about the topic. The Yowie’s National Anthem “We Are Australian” is sung here by The Seekers and in the accompanying slideshow, at 03:17 you can view a World Map which details the different types and names of some 27 x BigFoot types from all over – most illuminating!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Z5QYSfRjE Leeann Flynn wrote in 1999, this Yowie number : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn9vzkRRJy4 and Rowan Blackmore’s 2016 song : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21becQK9TFs HERE is some good data from a credible source – Gary Opit has had a weekly wildlife and environment show on Australian radio for over 20 years and much field experience in Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, and Eastern Australia. He reveals some of his many experiences that have made him a Believer : https://www.sasquatchstories.com/yowie-the-aussie-bigfoot Then there’s this amazing 2017 report from the NSW Border Ranges and from a witness with Science creds from here to next Tuesday : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY3nlEMfcnE This is from a clip on Aboriginal Mysteries. The Yowie segment is from 07:11 to 10:15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVXwQ8n_Vcs and here is a description from Aboriginal folklore : “ …. Indigenous Australian lore specifically includes the ability of the Hairy Men to induce states of mind on human beings as well as to appear visible or not, at will…… “ Us not “believing” in them does not change the fact that these extraordinary creatures still exist. If you’re at all interested in this subject, do the research. There’s much to be found. A final musical offering : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyW7cimXPl8 “We Didn’t Find the Yowie” from the Monster Hunters Australia Band (Halloween Special) LoL - I’ll refrain from further comment!! :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 10 Jan 21 - 08:46 PM END OF THE EARTH (Anon/N.Colquhoun reconstructed) The end of the earth is not far from here And it's getting darker year by year The gum's getting smaller and deeper down And never again will I see a town With tiny white houses all in a row And women in aprons to and fro And the bar in the pub down by the sea Where a ship is waiting there to carry me Back to the land from where I come When I was born, where I was young With a ruddy good tingle on my young face And money to jingle all over the place Aye, but then I'd punch the foreman's nose And run to sea for the 'there she blows' And get caught out for the homeward cruise And end up working in moleskin trews And get a little drunk and get a little sore And end up fighting it with the law For what are them bright shop samples for When a man is hungry and a man is poor And's got no work worth working for And's running up north away from the law Aye, a-walking up north like everyone To end up sitting out in the sun At the door of a shack with a hole for a lum A-scraping up clean a hundred-weight of gum Youtube clip 'Hooking' for gum, as it was called, was only the very beginning of the work. The digger pushed a long metal spear into the ground to locate the gum, an experienced man quickly distinguishing between gum, rock or tree root by the feel of the spear in his hand. Since few storekeepers paid any more than pennies for gum in its unclean state, it had to be thoroughly scraped in order to more easily assess its quality. [Note in 'Song of a Young Country p25]. One hundred-weight of the gum takes about ten good hours scrapin'. We shared everything - family, that is. Otherwise I don't know how 'twas to be done. But some men, as I recall, lived on their own. Worked on their own. All that scrapin' just by themselves - for the money - enough to live. [Joseph Smith, Dargaville. Personal communication to N. Colquhoun.] --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Jan 21 - 10:13 PM WE WANT FREEDOM (ABORIGINAL CHARTER OF RIGHTS) (K.Walker [Oodgeroo Noonuccal]/G.Shearston) Chorus: Must we native old Australians In our own land rank as aliens? Banish bans and conquer caste Then we’ll win our own at last We want hope, not racialism Brotherhood, not ostracism Black advance, not white ascendance Make us equals, not dependants We need help, not exploitation We want freedom, not frustration Not control, but self-reliance Independence, not compliance Not rebuff, but education Self-respect, not resignation Chorus Free us from a mean subjection From a bureaucrat protection Let’s forget the old-time slavers Give us fellowship, not favours Encouragement, not prohibitions Homes, not settlements and missions We need love, not overlordship Grip of hand, not whip-hand wardship Opportunity that places White and black on equal basis Chorus You dishearten, not defend us Circumscribe who should befriend us Give us welcome, not aversion Give us choice, not cold coercion Status, not discrimination Human rights, not segregation You the law, like Roman Pontius Make us proud, not colour-conscious Give the deal you still deny us Give goodwill, not bigot bias Chorus Give ambition, not prevention Confidence, not condescension Give incentive, not restriction Give us Christ, not crucifixion Though baptised and blessed and bibled We are still tabooed and libelled You devout salvation-sellers Make us neighbours, not fringe-dwellers Make us mates, not poor relations Citizens, not serfs on stations Chorus Then we'll win our own at last Youtube clip Note by John Baker for Gary Shearston's 1964 album 'Songs of our time': We Want Freedom (the Aboriginal Chater of Rights), as arranged by Gary Shearston, is as new and different as the Yirrkala Aboriginal bark painting petition on reservation rights to the House of Representatives in 1963. The Aboriginal Charter of Rights (retitled 'We Want Freedom'in its song form) was written by Aboriginal poet Kath Walker* and dedicated to the 5th Conference of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders held in Adelaide in 1962. The poem also appears as the dedication piece to Kath Walker's book of verse published in April, 1964, under the title 'We Are Going'. In the music of Gary's arrangement can be seen the modern folk process of weaving together the old and the new as penetrating poetry becomes a moving and powerful song. After writing the chorus, the inspiration for his chant-like cadence in the verses came from the 'Devil Dance' (a song from Yirrkala in Eastern Arnhea Land), collected and recorded by Sandra LeBrun Holmes. The end result of this cross-pollination of poetry and song in the tribal and folk fi elds is an anguished demand for human understanding. [* later known as Oodgeroo Noonuccal] A paper on the poetry of Kath walker: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 08 Jan 21 - 03:54 AM CITY OF BRISBANE Gary Rose The year was 37, and the month was February and the 19th day, had just begun On a warm and windy morning the Stinson’s engines fired, its last humming song was sung She climbed from Brisbane town and flew on her way to Lismore with passengers and mail But the clouds they were a gathering and the cyclone hit them hard with a force enough to break her soul. And somewhere on her way she was plucked from the sky like a giant hand had pushed her to the ground On a high and lonely ridge in the wild McPherson range the City of Brisbane died And eight days had gone and the search was scaling down when O’Reilly started out anew Reports had placed the wreck far out to sea with no hope left for passengers or crew. But Bernard O’Reilly was convinced that he must help and set out in the bush where he was bred For two days he trekked through that harsh mountain range in the hope he’d find them somewhere up ahead From the top of a ridge he saw a sentinel, a burnt-out tree standing stark It was eight miles ahead on the course that she flew, on through the forest dark. Well three men had survived and Jim Westray went for help, but died from a fall along the way John Proud lay there with a badly shattered leg and Joe Binstead tended him for days Then ten days had gone when O’Reilly heard their calls and rushed on renewed in his quest And there he found those two men just barely alive where City of Brisbane lay at rest. I’ll bring a Doctor and a hundred men he cried as he left and rushed off down the mountain side Only three hours had passed when the word was ringing out and an army of rescuers arrived For eight hours they climbed through the rain that night, O’Reilly in the lead throughout And another day and night they battled at their task and carried the survivors out. And the memory lingers on for all those brave men O’Reilly, Binstead and Proud And the five lonely graves on that rugged mountain side where the City of Brisbane died. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQWPILJqTDA "City of Brisbane" - Briagolong Bush Band - from Gippsland in Victoria. From their album "seventeen" The Stinson Model A airliner : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinson_Model_A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk6XcvbIF1Y The Riddle of the Stinson This “rare” 1987 Australian film (which I am just about to view and which has good reviews), concerns the crash and rescue attempts of the ‘City of Brisbane’ Stinson model A airliner in 1937 in the exceedingly rugged McPherson Ranges in what is now Lamington National Park (one of many), on the Qld-NSW border. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Riddle_of_the_Stinson - Jim Conway (Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band) is responsible for the harmonica score (along with many other film and radio projects.) Some other stories from the Crash and related people are here : https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/4773644/one-mans-mission-to-find-a-missing-plane/ Historical news data and clips from Qld State Archives : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsHrvhOvNMc Some Comments on modern Trek experiences and some Pics : https://www.aussiebushwalking.com/qld/stinson-crash-site-from-christmas-creek- R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 07 Jan 21 - 07:27 PM Sandra, many thanks for the links. Warren Fahey recorded an interesting variant of 'Wild Rover' from Sally Sloane. I’VE BEEN A WILD BOY (Traditional) Oh, my father he died and he left me his estate I married a lady whose fortune was great And through keeping bad company, I've spent all my store I have been a wild boy but I'll be so no more Oh, there was Bill, Tom and Harry, and Betsy and Sue And two or three others belonged to our crew We sat up till midnight and made the town roar Oh, I've been a wild boy but I'll be so no more I was always too fond of treating ladies to wine Till my pockets grew empty, too soon I would find Twenty pounds in one night, oh, I've spent them and more Oh, I've been a wild boy but I'll be so no more Oh, it's first down to Newgate, a prisoner I stand I had on cold irons, I had to lament And I had to find comfort as I lay on the floor Oh, I've been a wild boy but I'll be so no more Oh, the next, down to Newgate a prisoner I stand And what I have longed for, is now out of hand And if ever I gain my liberty as I've had before I will be a good boy as I have been before Oh, bad luck to all married men who visit strange doors I have done so myself, but I'll do so no more I'll go home to my family, I'll go home to my wife And I'll be a good boy all the rest of my life Youtube clip The version printed in Stewart and Keesing's 'Old Bush Songs' is closer to the more familiar one that was doing the rounds in the revival. You can find it on Mark Gregory's marvellous site: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Jan 21 - 01:53 AM Stewie - Visit to Tritton Hall by Duke Tritton's daughter and one of his grandsons Harold Percy Croydon (Duke) Tritton, 1886 - 1965 Chris Woodland's presentation on Duke Tritton, NFF 2005 on the 40th anniversary of his death (Chris knew Duke) We applied for a presentation on Duke, The Time Meas Tucker Man for the 2019 National, but were unsuccessful. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 05 Jan 21 - 10:05 PM Thanks, r-j! Yes indeed, Cathy's song about the hotel demolition was very popular. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Jan 21 - 09:39 PM Oh that's a good post, JennieG! I came across another song to do with the quilt about a month ago and had thought of adding it to my list of possibles (wonder where it was?? :) but too may good songs and good ideas and not enough time, eh!! I know Cathy Miller ("The Singing Quilter") was in Darwin awhile and wrote a song about the almost overnight destruction of the iconic Hotel Darwin, too. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 05 Jan 21 - 08:26 PM THE 'RAJAH' QUILT – Cathy Miller We set sail on the 'Rajah', transportation had begun On the 5th of April in 1841. Bound for far Australia with our great and public shame It was the 19th of July before we'd walk on land again. Farewell to our future, goodbye to kith and kin, Good riddance to old England's towns, will I ne'er see them again? And the crossing would be risky – maybe some of us would die - I thank God for my safe passage, and I thank God for Elizabeth Fry! She gave to us one thimble, a single ounce of pins, One hundred needles and one small bodkin, Nine balls of sewing cotton, a pair of scissors and some thread, Two pounds of patchwork pieces, and a Bible To earn our daily bread. Some said we were evil, some said we were no good, So they shipped us off around the world like we were cords of wood. No thought to our future, out of sight and out of mind, No other reformation save the work of Mrs Fry. She knew we'd fall on hard times with nothing else to do - We might have to sell our bodies when our prison time was through, But with new skill at the needle there's no lack of honest toil, And it filled our days along the way to Van Dieman's soil. She gave to us one thimble, a single ounce of pins, One hundred needles and one small bodkin, Nine balls of sewing cotton, a pair of scissors and some thread, Two pounds of patchwork pieces, and a Bible To earn our daily bread. By the time we got to Rio several quilts were done, We sold them for a guinea each and shared with everyone. It was the first honest money some of us had ever made, And the first thing of beauty we ever had to trade, For the last half of our journey we sewed with loving touch A quilt for the woman who had given us so much With broderie Perse, the finest patches we could clip, The hours quickly passed aboard the convict ship. She gave to us one thimble, a single ounce of pins, One hundred needles and one small bodkin, Nine balls of sewing cotton, a pair of scissors and some thread, Two pounds of patchwork pieces, and a Bible To earn our daily bread. For we were whores and we were mothers, young and healthy, old and frail, We were ripped out from our homeland and sent to Hobart's gaol. With loneliness and sorrow there was no lifeline and no rope, But each one carried with her a bundle filled with hope. It was such a small investment for the future of a land To pull the desperate up with such a gentle caring hand, With Mrs Fry's conviction in faith and industry We started our new lives with some respectability. All that with just one thimble, a single ounce of pins, One hundred needles and one small bodkin, Nine balls of sewing cotton, a pair of scissors and some thread, Two pounds of patchwork pieces, and a Bible To earn our daily bread. Cathy Miller is a Canadian singer/songwriter who has lived in Australia. The 'Rajah' quilt is the only such known quilt in existence; it was found in an attic in Scotland in the 1980s and is now in the collection of the National Library of Australia, Canberra. Mrs Fry's society to reform conditions for female prisoners eventually became known as the 'British Society of Ladies' and it was they who ensured that each prisoner was given a small bag containing the items (plus a small pair of spectacles if required) described in the song, with the idea that a woman with sewing skills could earn a respectable living. Quilts made along the voyage were indeed sold, there is a record of one made on the 'Wellington' being sold in Rio for one guinea. We know the story of this quilt – in reality a 'top' only; it would have been used as a summer bedspread rather than a padded quilt – because of a meticulously embroidered label on one side which reads: “To the Ladies of the Convict Ship Committee This quilt worked by the convicts of the ship Rajah during their voyage to Van Dieman's Land is presented as a testimony of the gratitude with which they remember their exertions for their welfare while in England and during their passage and also as a proof that they have not neglected the ladies kind admonitions of bring industrious * June * 1841 *” Due to its age and fragility the 'Rajah' quilt is not exhibited very often, but I was lucky enough to see it several years ago. As would be expected the stitching varies from exquisite to not very good. 'Broderie Perse' mentioned in the song is a technique of cutting motifs from fabric (a spray of flowers or a bird on a leafy branch) and stitching it to a background, thereby making a small piece of expensive printed fabric stretch further; the quilt centre is made using this technique. The 'Rajah' quilt |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 05 Jan 21 - 07:22 PM Sara Storer was raised on a wheat farm in Victoria, but began writing songs whilst working as a teacher in Katherine, NT. She now lives near Albury, NSW. RAINING ON THE PLAINS (Sara storer) The galahs they know that it's that time Upside down on the power lines Making a family on their minds Raining on the plains again Can you hear it drumming on that old tin sheet No better sound to make you fall to sleep To dream of tonne crops and big fat sheep Raining on the plains again Haven't seen the Warrumbungles all day There's a fair chance so the old blokes say Reminds them of the start back in '58 Yeah thunder on the plains again Looks like the break that we've been looking for And the dogs are doing donuts on the lawn Chasing their tails they can smell the storm Raining on the plains again You can't make money out of dirt that's dry Bring on the rain from that stormy sky Grab a beer from the fridge And raise it high 'Cause it raining on the plains again Instrumental break The last time the dog did that Couldn't get to me ute for the fences and logs Couldn't sleep with noise of the mozzies and the frogs What a storm on the plains again The galahs they know that it's that time Upside down on the power lines Making a family on their minds Raining on the plains again No you can't make money out of dirt that's dry Bring on the rain from that stormy sky Grab a beer from the fridge And raise it high 'Cause it raining on the plains again No you can't make money out of dirt that's dry Bring on the rain from that stormy sky Grab a beer from the fridge And raise it high 'Cause it raining on the plains again Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 05 Jan 21 - 07:04 PM Another little ripper from the Duke. THE GOOSE-NECK SPURS (Duke Tritton) I’ve been in lots of trouble, I’ve been in tons of strife But the fix I was in at the Shingle Hut was the toughest of my life I’d dumped a mob of weaners at a place called Leaning Gum I sang a ditty to my horse, ‘Oh, Sydney here I come' But I pulled up at the Shingle Hut, a little wayside pub Tired of mutton and damper, I wanted some decent grub The barmaid was a buxom lass, I thought her very nice You wouldn’t think to look at her, but her heart was made of ice I handed her my hard-earned cheque, it was over fifty quid There was a quick gleam in her eye, but her thoughts she quickly hid She smiled at me so sweetly and said, 'It’s getting late I cannot cash your cheque today, now would you care to wait?' 'My husband won’t be home tonight, so stay you really must I’d feel much safer with you here, for you’re a man I’d trust' Then away went all my chances of seeing Sydney town For that barmaid was a trimmer at lambing fellows down I had one drink, or maybe two, I’m sure it was no more, And I came to in the ‘dead house’, feeling sick and sore. It was the barmaid woke me, with the toe of her little shoe 'Get out!', she said, 'you drunken mug, three days is enough for you' A big bloke stood behind her, a nasty looking brute I was too crook for brawling or I’d have jobbed the coot And the barmaid said, 'Your cheque’s cut out, you’d better make a shift Here is a bottle for the road, it is my parting gift' 'All right', I said, 'I’ll get my horse, tonight I’ll travel far' 'Oh no!', she laughed, 'you can’t do that, your horse has jumped the bar' And so it had, my saddle too, likewise my swag and dog No doubt she had me cornered like a possum in a log I wandered off into the scrub, I heard a dingo calling And soon I knew that I was lost and a heavy frost was falling I opened up the bottle and had a swig of rum, It hit me like a hammer, my legs went weak and numb I knew that I had been stung again, my head went round and round I thought I saw the barmaid before I hit the ground And I awoke ‘neath a barbed-wire fence in a patch of Bathurst burrs With nothing to cover my freezing hide but a pair of goose-neck spurs You can hear Duke Tritton sing his song and read a piece by Warren Fahey about 'lambing down' here: Click You can also find recordings on Bob Rummery 'The Man with the Concertina' and Alan Musgrave & His Watsaname Band 'Behind the Times'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Jan 21 - 05:24 AM “A shearer's song from the Forbes district, that drives on at the pace of a ringer [master shearer] on the long blow in a busy shed. The Ward and Paine's mentioned in the song are a brand of shears. Jackie Howe, likewise mentioned, shore 321 wethers at Alice Downs, Central Queensland, in 1892. His record stood until 1947, when Daniel Cooper shore 325 at Glenara, Langkoop, Victoria. The tune, best known in Australia in association with the words of The Shearer's Cook, is a Scottish melody sometimes called Musselburgh Fair (It also exists in America, as The Cruise of the Bigler).” A.L.Lloyd on : “The Old Bush Songs” sleeve notes. LACHLAN TIGERS Well, at each gate each shearer stood as the whistle loudly blew, With eyebrows fixed and lips set tight and the tigers all fed too. You can hear the clicking of the shears as through the wool they glide And see the ringer already turned and on the whipping side. A lot of Lachlan tigers, it's plain to see they are, And the ringer goes on driving as he loudly calls for tar. “Tar here, you dozy loafer,” and quick the tar boy flies, “Broom here and sweep them locks away,” another loudly cries. The scene it is a lively one and ought to be admired, There's never been a better board since Jacky Howe expired. Along the board the contractor walks, his face all in a frown, And passing by the ringer he says, “My lad keep down.” I mean to have those bellies off and topknots too likewise, My eye is quick, so stop your tricks or from me you will fly. My curse on that contractor by flaming day and night To shear a decent tally here in vain I've often tried. I have a pair of Ward and Paine's that are both bright and new, I'll rig them up and let you see what I can really do. For I've shore on the Bogan where they shear them by the score, But such a terror as this to clip I've never saw before. A lot of Lachlan tigers, it's plain to see they are, And the ringer goes on driving as he loudly calls for tar. The scene it is a lively one and ought to be admired, There's never been a better board since Jacky Howe expired. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfZZSa0aEjM This is Gary Shearston in 1965 displaying his A.L.Lloyd vocal influence!, with Les Miller on banjo. Ah, Folk in the 70s!! Here are the Bushwackers Band in London, 1977 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vhahHg0FNo Yay! That’s Mick Slocum singing lead (and still singing I believe); Dobe Newton murdering the lagerphone with great energy and style; the lovely late Louis McManus Jnr on fiddle #1; ; must be Davey Kidd on fiddle #2; Jan Wositsky on that dual bodhran – and bones (speaking of great energy and style!); leaving the late Pete Farndon on bass. [ I’m relying on the Comments section of the clip + the website Roll of Renown, coz some players I don’t recognise …...] Notes on Gary’s recording by Edgar Waters : “LACHLAN TIGERS goes to the same tune as The Station Cook. It is a good tune, and it seems to have come from Scotland. It is one of the few Scottish folk-song tunes used in the bush. This version comes from A. L. Lloyd. Jackie Howe was a famous shearer, in fact the most famous shearer of them all. He shore 321 sheep in one day in 1892, and his record stood until 1947. gate - the gate of the pen in which sheep are held alongside each shearer's work place in the shed. whistle - as a signal to begin or end work. tigers - as in the common Australian colloquial phrase, "he's a tiger for work,' meaning a very hard and enthusiastic worker. ringer - the fastest shearer in the shed. whipping side: - the second side of the sheep to be shorn, after the finnicky work of shearing legs, head and so on was over. tar - antiseptic used for cuts given sheep in shearing. contractor - shearers are not generally employed directly by the stations, hut by a middleman who contracts with the stations to see that their sheep are shorn. topknots - the wool on the head of the sheep. Ward and Paine's - a brand of shears. Bogan - river in western New South Wales.” R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 Jan 21 - 03:45 AM but I like it! Train trip to Guilford - Jason & chloe Train trip to Guilford - Cj Shaw |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 05 Jan 21 - 03:25 AM Sandra, surely that's not the best video you could find for Train Trip to Guilford! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Jan 21 - 09:41 AM JIM JONES AT BOTANY BAY Oh listen for a moment lads and hear me tell my tale How o'er the sea from England's shores I was compelled to sail The jury says he guilty sir and said the judge says he For life, Jim Jones, I'm sending you across the stormy sea. And take my tip before you ship to join the iron gang Don't be too gay at Botany Bay or else you'll surely hang Or else you'll surely hang says he, and after that Jim Jones It's high upon the gallows tree the crows will pick your bones. You'll have no chance for mischief there, remember what I say They'll flog the poaching out of you, out there at Botany Bay The waves were high upon the sea; the wind blew up in gales I'd rather have drowned in misery than come to New South Wales. The winds blew high upon the sea and the pirates came along But the soldiers on our convict ship were full five hundred strong They opened fire and somehow drove that pirate ship away I'd rather joined that pirate ship than come to New South Wales. For day and night the irons clang and like poor galley slaves We toil and toil and when we die, must fill dishonoured graves But bye and bye I'll break my chains, into the bush I'll go And join the bold bushrangers there Jack Donahue and Co. And some dark night when everything is silent in the town I'll kill the tyrants one and all, and shoot the floggers down I'll give the law a little shock - remember what I say They'll yet regret they sent Jim Jones in chains to Botany Bay. ROUD 5478 anon Transport Ballad, dating from late 1820s, but first published c.1890s by Charles MacAlister. The tune is “Irish Mollie, Oh!” (OR is sometimes “Skibbereen” - apparently) A very popular number with upcoming generations investigating folk music! But here is The Bushwackers and Bullockies band rendition which apparently uses a Mick Slocum tune and which many a British folkie picked up after their 1974 tour : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVkYnRy5JF4 Which I quite like. However, I am far more used to this tune : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sCZp1lIMMk sung in 1964 by Marian Henderson for the famous PIX magazine recordings - (but which is NOW known as “The Hateful Eight” Song – such is the power of Hollywood!!!!) Old Crow Medicine Show has this take, c.2010 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kD3wYO8MHk (only they used to think that it was a Dylan song!) Any More?! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Jan 21 - 08:02 AM Darcy Dugan (1920 – 1991) was an Australian criminal who gained notoriety for his many daring escapes. This song is a paraphrase of his evidence before a Royal Commission into the brutal treatment of prisoners at Grafton Jail. DARCY DUGAN ~ Bob Campbell ~ Trad Tune : Jim Jones at Botany Bay My name is Darcy Dugan, I’ve spent 40 years inside I’ve never robbed the needy man, my record testifies Non-violent escapeologist, in the papers I’ve been named Despite my reputation, my pride I’ve still maintained. I’d like to tell you people what it’s like in Grafton Gaol The screws they beat you day and night, they’re brutes that never fail They aim to break your spirit and they torture just for fun They’re the dregs of all humanity, the warders with the guns. I won’t forget the night they threw hot water on my back The scalding raised up blisters, but I vowed that I’d never crack They beat me in the morning; it was freezing cold at night But I won’t look down for any screw, I’ll not give up the fight. They beat me 10 nights in a row, but they couldn’t make me break I looked each warder in the eye and that’s the thing that they hate I tried to keep my sanity, the hardships to endure Though my body was in agony, my heart took 10 times more. They killed off Kevin Simmonds, in the passion for revenge He made them look like fools, although they caught him in the end They hated how the working people cheered him down the road That awful day in Kurri Kurri, Kevin proudly strode.*** The prison’s burnt at Bathurst and there’s more of that to come For liberty and justice words, can still stir a spark up in some! The sadists in their uniforms are worse than any crim But! The bastards who have put them there, are even worse than them. *** the Kevin Simmonds story : http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/simmonds-kevin-john-11690 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRGKjvpPVUI&t=184s DARCY DUGAN sung by Bob Campbell SAME SONG, THOUGH WITH SOME DIFFERENCES (+ more pics on HR clip) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bJ_6dJKYhA Darcy Dugan sung Bob Campbell with Home Rule http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/dugan-darcy-ezekiel-25998 Darcy Dugan’s bio http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AltCrimJl/1978/1.pdf The Royal Commission reports THE LEGEND OF DARCY DUGAN http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65338 Bernie Mathews Born to a world of prisons outliving a life of strife, They called him gunman and gangster and labels equally concise. In a world of grog shops and bookies with cockatoos on the fence* - his pockets overflowed with pounds, shillings and pence*. There were trams And Trocaderos* and shootings up the Cross; when the Darlo beak* full-stopped him and hit him with the lot*. He escaped the tram And the cells And the prison on the Bay*. Then they moved him up to Grafton* and bashed his sins away. With spirit unbroken he led the riot of sixty-three then tried to do a runner but they smashed him to his knees. Served up with batons*, and boiling water too, he took his lumps without a whimper as they flogged him black and blue. I miss the old man and our walks upon the yard it was there, deference got paid, to the hardest of the hard. A success among failures, in that place of the living dead. His caged memories, stifle reality, in a seventy-five-year head. A decade has passed since they put him in the ground but the legend that is Dugan, now roams freely, all the prisons of this land. • *the Darlo beak is NSW prison jargon for a judge at Darlinghurst Criminal Court in Sydney, NSW, Australia. • *the lot is NSW prison jargon for a life sentence. • *the Bay is the former Long Bay State Penitentiary in Sydney, NSW, Australia. • *cockatoos on the fence is prison jargon for somebody who is the lookout. • *pounds, shillings and pence was Australian pre-decimal currency. • *The Trocadero was a Sydney dance hall circa 1940s & 1950s. • *Grafton Jail was the Alcatraz of the NSW prison system 1943-1976. • *Served up with batons is NSW prison jargon for a baton-whipping by prison guards. “Darcy Ezekial** Dugan was a Sydney bank robber and jail-breaker. He was the last man sentenced to death in NSW after being convicted of shooting a bank manager during the armed robbery of the Ultimo Commonwealth Bank in 1950. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment and he served over 30 years inside NSW prisons. [He] was a serial jail-breaker who escaped from the prison tram, escort vans and NSW prisons. He was sent to The Alcatraz of the NSW prison system at Grafton during the 1960s where he was brutalised by prison guards for his repeated escapes. He led a mutiny inside Grafton Jail and tried to escape from the jail. Dugan suffered a stroke in 1987 and was released from prison. Darcy Dugan died in a nursing home in August 1991 [with Parkinson’s Disease]. He is buried in Sydney’s Rookwood cemetery.” http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65338 N.B. This fascinating site reveals things that thankfully, most of us will likely never experience, but, also things we will rarely be allowed to know of, particularly if you live in the sunny, secretive state of Queensland (who said JOH was dead??) ** EZEKIAL is a Hebrew name meaning “God’s strength” – and how he needed it, to survive the brutal and corrupt prison system for so long! viz https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/hard-man-tamed-by-poetry-and-time-20120803-23khh.html “BLOODHOUSE : Darcy Dugan (1920-1991) with Michael Tatlow” – published posthumously in 2012. 'Mike, a lot, sometimes rot, has been written about me. Please hold this, my real story, to edit and present to a new generation, after I and the crooks we've exposed have turned to dust.' Darcy Dugan "Written in secret during his long years in jail and smuggled out to keep it safe from his enemies until now, Bloodhouse is Darcy Dugan's brutally honest and gripping story of his extraordinary life and times." R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Jan 21 - 06:34 AM Train Trip To Guilford , A song by John Dengate (1975) John Dengate - guitar and vocals. Waiting, waiting for the twenty past four to arrive; Mate, the twenty past four doesn't run any more, The next train's the quarter past five. Time means money, they say, And I must get to Guildford today Did he say platform nine for the Liverpool line? Do I have to change trains on the way? Indicator, please won't you indicate soon With your little round light that this platform is right; I've been waiting at Central since noon. This old fellow here next to me Caught the bus up from Circular Quay; He scratches his arse with his pensioner's pass But he's on the wrong line for Narwee. Waiting, waiting, for the twenty past four to arrive; Mate, the twenty past four doesn't run any more, The next train's the quarter past five. Come on you timetable mob, I'm desperately short of a bob, I'm in my good gear and I'm right off the beer And at Guildford they say there's a job. Indicator, please won't you indicate soon With your little round light that this platform is right; I've been waiting at Central since noon. The service is worse than a fraud And the fare's more than I can afford But I'll never complain - here comes the train to Guildford And now I'm aboard. But it's Wentworthville, Pendle Hill; We're rattling towards Emu Plains. I should have got out when I heard someone shout At Granville, "You have to change trains." Waiting, waiting for the twenty past eight to go back, But the twenty past eight is half an hour late And I think I'll lie down on the track. video |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Jan 21 - 05:57 AM The Little Sparrow Music: John Meredith, words: Launcelot Harrison There was a little sparrow, And he was out of work So he put his bluey on his back And he set out for Bourke. He walked until he had bunions, Then thought he would enquire, But found that he had only got As far as Nevertire. He was hungry and so weary He could hardly drag along When suddenly along the track He found an Emu egg. He boiled it in his billy can, And chuckled in his glee While by his Waterbury watch He counted minutes three. And when the minutes three were gone He thought it time to stop. He took his little tomahawk And he cut off the top. 'Twas a pity that he boiled it, 'Twould have been much better fried, For as he stooped to sup it up, He tumbled down inside. And when he fell inside the egg, He to his sorrow found Three minutes wasn't long enough And the poor little chap drowned. The moral of this story is, If Emu eggs you seek For supper, you should take great care To boil them for a week. First published in Singabout, Journal of Australian Folksong, Volume 5(2), December 1964 No video, but dots are here |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Jan 21 - 07:48 PM I couldn't resist posting this one: STEWIE (John Schumann) Ward 8 at the Q.E., somewhere down Woodville A smoky grey Thursday - take out your sword Stewie was born, there was blood on the sheets The doctor was drunk and the sister was bored Home was a weatherboard housing trust unit A low cyclone fence and a sparse gravel drive Dad was a truckie from Adelaide to Melbourne Two trips a week just to keep them alive The first sentence for Stewie was going to school In prison-grey trousers he marched in the yard His mum shed a tear at his vaselined pushback Clutching a ruler, his name on a card ‘Step forward Stewart Bedson’, the headmaster said It seemed like Stewie was always in strife ‘Step forward Stewart Bedson’, the magistrate said ‘This time 10 years... next time, life’ Grades 1 through 7 passed pretty quickly Detention and caning and one million lines Stewie could write just enough to get by Stewie could read all the shoplifting signs There was a bond for a biro and a fine for some fags Another kid's bike, leading up to a car Photographs, fingerprints, juvenile courthouse A year in McNally's for going too far ‘Step forward Stewart Bedson’, the magistrate said Over pine-panelled wood leaned the face of the law ‘We think you're a threat to property and justice Three years up the creek, while we make sure’ A robbery with violence for retaliation For beatings and bashings at the hands of the screws Time in and time out and time and again Is this what they mean by paying your dues? Some people had plenty while others had none For the same working week it seemed year after year Worked over by coppers for tipping the scales Life wasn't meant to be easy. ‘Step forward Stewart Bedson’, the magistrate said Over pine-panelled wood leaned the face of the law ‘We think you're a threat to property and justice Three years up the creek, while we make sure’ Ward 8 at the Q.E., somewhere down Woodville A smoky grey Thursday - take out your sword Stewie was born, there was blood on the sheets The doctor was drunk and the sister was bored Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Jan 21 - 07:28 PM A none too flattering historical snapshot of my birth city. ONE MORE BORING NIGHT IN ADELAIDE (John Schumann) Well it's one more boring Thursday night in Adelaide And it looks like everybody must have died There's no one on the streets and nothing on TV Well I think I'll go and burn my TV guide Doesn't Ernie Sigley bring you down? Don't you think Mike Willesee's a clown? Oh well I think I'd like to go and hear some rock'n'roll music played So I'll check the amusement pages of the paper Reggae bands doing one night stands at the Lion Hotel and Arkaba And the girl at the bar thinks I'm going to take her home in my MG and Hanging out at discos brings you down Hanging out at discos brings you down Down on Anzac highway in my rusty old FV And I'm looking for some food to take away Finger lickin' kitten and a double fisted bun Well I've chewed and spewed and so I'm here to say Orange laminex pizza bars bring you down Orange laminex pizza bars bring you down Yes we know it was the festival of art and all that stuff And the culture vultures still sat on the fence Before you put your bum on those plush red seats take a look in your backyard Don't we need some changes in this town? Arty farty cities bring you down Don't we need some changes in this town? Before you put your bum on those plush red seats take a look in your backyard Don't we need some changes in this town? Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Jan 21 - 07:10 AM THE PLAINS OF WOOMERA ~ Phil Underwood ~ © 2015 It’s 10,000 miles from Scratchell Bay where the cliffs of the white do shine To the red red sand of Australia’s land where there’s a thing (??) opal mine. We tested our rockets at High Down, and we all went out by air Through Bahrain and Singapore, to Australia’s southern shore. And the Plains of Woomera. The sun beats down on the barren ground, as far as the eye can roam “Black Arrow” she did stand on the native’s sacred land Of the Plains of Woomera. We could not launch when the wind blew up and the dust around did fly The Aussies they did chaff : “did the wind blow out your match?!” On the Plains of Woomera. But the very next day was fine and clear and her engines roared with fire And shining like a star she rose into the air Above the Plains of Woomera. The Government had said : The Project’s Dead – but we launched her anyway And “Prospero” will orbit for a hundred years Above the Plains of Woomera. It’s 44 years since I stood there, and now I have returned My spirit it does fly like “Black Arrow” in the sky Above the Plains of Woomera. My spirit it does fly like “Black Arrow” in the sky Above the Plains of Woomera. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XVy6993jnI sung by Phil Underwood, composer and folk performer. Dedicated to his father, John Underwood (1930 – 2014) “who helped pioneer British spaceflight …. and bluegrass music on the Isle of Wight” :) “A song composed and played by me, Phil Underwood, December 2015. My father John Underwood was a senior engineer on the Black Arrow rocket programme which, despite successfully launching satellite Prospero into orbit in 1971, was cancelled. Black Arrow was tested at Highdown on the Isle of Wight and launched from Woomera rocket range in Australia. Dad and his colleagues appeared on BBC Television's flagship programme Coast in 2010. He was also a fine folk singer and morris dancer. I play his banjo in the video. Prospero still orbits.” HIGH DOWN was the British Rocket Testing Facility, on the western end of the Isle of Wight, near the famous Needles. Whatever still remains now, is a National Trust precinct. Most design and static test firing was done at High Down in the UK, and then transported and launched at Woomera, in South Australia (an enormous tract of land – 270,000 square kilometres in those days). Geographically, the UK was less than ideal to do final launches and the two most likely places investigated for satellite launches were UIST ( islands in Scotland’s Hebrides), and, on the north coast of Norfolk. However, the closeness of the trajectories to the North Pole, and to the North Sea oilrigs, (and to mainland Europe!), easily won the toss for the vast “Plains of Woomera” instead!! Those with a yen for this interesting slice of history, and why it eventually stopped at both locations, should delve into this website : http://www.spaceuk.org/ Of course, it wasn’t just about the space race, the arms race was also intertwined…… Meanwhile, try this rocket tests clip from Woomera’s local museum : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x80sNNusBs&t=14s And this one too, for some alternative shots of tests and collisions - and also the local Aboriginals : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5khcr8DO34 Here is the Dept of Defence explanation of Woomera’s history and its current purpose : https://www1.defence.gov.au/bases-locations/sa/woomera/about but checkout this 2010 story from the Australian Geographic magazine : https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/travel/travel-destinations/2010/05/woomera-nuclear-danger-zone/ Plenty more historical clips on-line. [I didn’t mention that it was also a shame job Govt Detention Centre for a while too, for “unauthorised” refugees…… ] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woomera_Immigration_Reception_and_Processing_Centre Finally, just came across the legendary adventurer, JACK ABSALOM! : “Red Dirt And Rockets”, 1993 – if you’re pushed for time, the Woomera segment starts at 22:20 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akQSZ071f2k&list=PLDa33Rs7vBKojDLOkDaCzfIns0g_n1DLL&index=6 Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 02 Jan 21 - 11:46 PM Ah, thank you, JennieG! I found a version of David's excellent song, sung by Fay White and co, while a "going backwards getting nowhere" dance was done, in Hobart : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfKpdUO7F-k "This dance is supposed to symbolise that when dealing with politicians, and “The Establishment” in general, all we achieve is a lot of puff, getting nowhere. We danced it when the French were yet again testing their bombs in the South Pacific. You progress backwards … how we often feel when dealing with governments!" There is also a different song of the same name, by Robert Danielson, also protesting the French tests at Mururoa : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbcKL1RLXUA Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 02 Jan 21 - 10:13 PM As promised: Mururoa Mon Amour – David O'Connor Je suis annoye about the Mururoa tests: Dans mon opinion ce n'est pas la best. J'ai un bon suggestion pour toute la France: If you wanna make a mess, mess your own damn pants. Chorus: Drop it in Paris, c'est votre bombe: If it's so darn safe, test it at home: Stick it up the Eiffel Tower, or stick it up your vest: Use the Champs Elysees for your nuclear tests. Tous le monde ecoute the crack of doom: Quand votre bombe va boom! Boom! Boom! Permettez-moi de vous assure, When you're radio-active, il y a no cure. Chorus: Drop it in Paris, c'est votre bombe: If it's so darn safe, test it at home: Stick it up the Eiffel Tower, or stick it up your vest: Use the Champs Elysees for your nuclear tests. Ne droppez pas votre bombe dans my backyard: Makes normal living tres, tres hard. Pick up your installations both old and new: Have your next explosion chez vous. Chorus: Drop it in Paris, c'est votre bombe: If it's so darn safe, test it at home: Stick it up the Eiffel Tower, or stick it up your vest: Use the Champs Elysees for your nuclear tests. Cher monsieur, ecoute what I say, Pas plus tests, take them away. Cher monsieur, do this for me: Make the South Pacific nuclear free! Chorus: Drop it in Paris, c'est votre bombe: If it's so darn safe, test it at home: Stick it up the Eiffel Tower, or stick it up your vest: Use the Champs Elysees for your nuclear tests. The tune is in the same family as 'Midnight Special'. David writes: "This was obviously written when the French were still testing their nuclear weaponry on Mururoa, and after they sank the 'Rainbow Warrior' in Auckland Harbour. I have always felt that the normal of deeply committed protest song helps the committed to express their feelings, but doesn't help the target to change. I think that maybe humour will at least get the target to think a bit. I have even sung it to French people; it made them laugh as well." |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Jan 21 - 09:35 PM My favourite ballad of Ben Hall is one that I have recited over many years. I have been unable to find any audio or video of it as a song. Graham Jenkin put a tune to it which you can find at page 100 of his 'Great Australian Balladists'. Stewart/Keesing printed it in their 'Australian Bush Ballads'. In an early edition, they attributed it to 'anon', but in a subsequent edition attributed authorship to the great Will Ogilvie. Jenkin rejects this attribution claiming that there is no evidence to support it and that it is nothing like Ogilvie's style. I like to think it is by Ogilvie who is one of my favourite bush balladists. THE DEATH OF BEN HALL (Anon/W.Ogilvie?) Ben Hall was out on the Lachlan side With a thousand pounds on his head A score of troopers were scattered wide And a hundred more were ready to ride Wherever a rumour led They had followed his track from the Weddin’ heights And north by the Weelong yards Through dazzling days and moonlit nights They had watcher him over their rifle sights With their hands on their trigger guards The outlaw stole like a hunted fox Through the scrub and stunted heath And peered like a hawk from his eyrie rocks Through the waving boughs of the sapling box As the troopers rode beneath And every night when the white stars rose He crossed by the Gunning Plain To a stockman's hut where the Gunning flows And struck on the door three swift, light blows And a hand unhooked the chain And the outlaw followed the lone path back With food for another day And the kindly darkness covered his track And the shadows swallowed him deep and black Where the starlight melted away But his friend had read of the big reward And his soul was stirred with greed He fastened his door and window-board He saddled his horse and crossed the ford And spurred to the town at speed You may ride at a man's or maid's behest When honour or true love call And steel your heart to the worst or the best, But the ride that is ta'en on a traitor's quest Is the bitterest ride of all A hot wind blew from the Lachlan bank And a curse on its shoulder came; The pine-trees frowned at him, rank on rank, The sun on a gathering storm-cloud sank And flushed his cheek with shame. He reined at the court and the tale began That the rifles alone would end Sergeant and trooper laid their plan To draw the net on a hunted man At the treacherous word of a friend False was the hand that lifted the chain And false was the whispered word 'The troopers have turned to the south again, You may dare to camp on the Gunning Plain' And the weary outlaw heard He walked from the hut but a quarter mile Where a clump of saplings stood In a sea of grass like a lonely isle And the moon came up in a little while Like silver steeped in blood. Ben Hall lay down on the dew-wet ground By the side of his tiny fire And a night breeze woke, and he heard no sound As the troopers drew their cordon round And the traitor earned his hire And nothing they saw in the dim grey light But the little glow in the trees And they crouched in the tall, cold grass all night Each one ready to shoot on sight With his rifle cocked on his knees When the shadows broke and the dawn's white sword Swung over the mountain wall And a little wind blew over the ford A sergeant sprang to his feet and roared ‘In the name of the Queen, Ben Hall!’ Haggard, the outlaw leapt from his bed With his lean arms held on high ‘Fire!’ And the word was scarcely said When the mountains rang to a rain of lead And the dawn went drifting by They kept their word and they paid his pay Where a clean man's hand would shrink; And that was the traitor's master day As he stood by the bar on his homeward way And called on the crowd to drink He banned no creed and he barred no class And he called to his friends by name But the worst would shake his head and pass And none would drink from the bloodstained glass And the goblet red with shame. And I know when I hear that last grim call And my mortal hour's spent When the light is hid and the curtains fall I would rather sleep with the dead Ben Hall Than go where that traitor went Paul Slade printed a truncated version on his murder ballad site. However, he also presented extensive research on the Ben Hall story. It is well worth a read: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Jan 21 - 08:36 PM Several songs about Ben Hall have been posted above, but not the ballad that John Meredith collected from Sally Sloane. BEN HALL (Anon) Come all you young Australians and everyone besides I'll sing to you a ditty that will fill you with surprise Concerning of a ranger bold whose name it was Ben Hall But cruelly murdered was this day which proved his downfall An outcast from society. he was forced to take the road All through his false and treacherous wife who sold off his abode He was hunted like a native dog from bush to hill and dale Till he turned upon his enemies and they could not find his trail All out with his companions men's blood he scorned to shed He oft-times stayed their lifted hands with vengeance on their heads No petty mean or pilfering act he ever stooped to do But robbed the rich and hearty man and scorned to rob the poor One night as he in ambush lay all on the Lachlan Plain When thinking everthing secure to ease himself had lain When to his consternation and to his great surprise And without one moment's warning a bullet past him flies And it was soon succeeded by a volley sharp and loud With twelve revolving rifles all pointed at his head Where are you Gilbert, where is Dunn, he loudly did call It was all in vain they were not there to witness his downfall They riddled all his body as if they were afraid But in his dying moment he breathed curses on their heads That cowardly hearted Condel the sergeant of police He crept and fired with fiendish glee till death did him release Although he had a lion's heart more braver than the brave Those cowards shot him like a dog no word of challenge gave Though many friends had poor Ben Hall his enemies were few Like the emblems of his native land his days were numbered too It's through Australia's sunny climb Ben Hall will roam no more His name is spread both near and far to every distant shore For generations after this parents will to their children call And rehearse for them the daring deeds committed by Ben Hall You can hear Chloe and Jason Roweth's fine rendition at about the 1-hour mark of this video: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Jan 21 - 01:34 AM a fantastic session song - I wonder when we will hear it again! That’s Not The Way, by Leon Rosselson, additional words by Robin Connaughton sung by Robin Connaughton ON THE PEOPLE HAVE SONGS (2001) “I am an occasional songwriter, Tech teacher, singer and unionist. Exasperated by the rise of economic rationalism and the sustained move to the right in the major Australian political parties, I wrote new words to ‘The Plan’, a song by Leon Rosselson that I’d learned and couldn’t get out of my head. Don’t try for an exact birthday for the current version, the song keeps acquiring and losing new verses as needed!” That’s not the way it’s got to be There should be jobs for you and me Hiring not firing should be the master plan The workers shouldn’t have to pay Just to keep the boss at bay The world shouldn’t turn just to please a wealthy man I don’t like Keating, I didn’t like Hawke All they bloody did was talk And fight with each other while the country went to pot The Labour party doesn’t seem To know what the word labour means Retrenchment and recession They are now the workers’ lot We’ve got John Howard for a year or three Captain mediocrity Cutting back on welfare and the poor old ABC Costello, Reith and Vanstone too And a Labour rat to spice the brew Senate rat or rationalist they’re no friends to you or me In NSW we’ve got Bob Carr More like a Liberal every hour Fighting with his workers, nurses, teachers and police Who said the DLP was dead? The Labour right lifts up his head He’s just a Labour squatter And we're cockies on his lease Victoria ran under Kennett’s rules Closing down the government schools Sacking public servants and stealing their back pay Victoria is on the dole And Kennett thought he was on a roll If you want to help the workers mate there is a better way Economic rationalism, now there’s another sacred cow Sane as scientology, and as fallible as the pope I don’t like trickle-down, y’see No money trickles down to me Meanwhile me wages goes on trickling up like smoke the first verse is repeated as a chorus. I didn't know the original song, & found the first part of the video very confusing! The familiar words arrive at 2.14 wot a shame this old song refers to a prehistoric world ... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 01 Jan 21 - 09:35 PM r-j, Sandra has my email addy and keeps me updated! Re the version of the national anthem......I would like to chuck it completely and start afresh. It's a dreary tune and nobody knows the words - mumble mumble Straya fair mumble - a new tune with new words. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Jan 21 - 09:00 PM new year, new anthem? Anthem. The lyrics for this revised anthem were written by Judith Durham, Kutcha Edwards, Lou Bennett, Camilla Chance and Bill Hauritz. video performed by Kutcha Edwards during the KAGE Team of Life theatre production. Australia, celebrate as one, with peace and harmony. Our precious water, soil and sun, grant life for you and me. Our land abounds in nature’s gifts to love, respect and share, And honouring the Dreaming, advance Australia fair. With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair. Australia, let us stand as one, upon this sacred land. A new day dawns, we’re moving on to trust and understand. Combine our ancient history and cultures everywhere, To bond together for all time, advance Australia fair. With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair. Australia, let us strive as one, to work with willing hands. Our Southern Cross will guide us on, as friends with other lands. While we embrace tomorrow’s world with courage, truth and care, And all our actions prove the words, advance Australia fair, With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair. And when this special land of ours is in our children’s care, From shore to shore forever more, advance Australia fair. With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance . . Australia . . fair. Campaign to make Anthem our national anthem Would you like this revised anthem to become our Australian official anthem? If so, we welcome your involvement in having this version sung and performed in your local community. No matter how small your action we’d then like to hear about it. In the comments section below, please tell us the story of how you talked about this with friends, in your workplace, had it sung in your child’s school, at your sporting event and so on. Thanks! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 01 Jan 21 - 08:04 PM Sorry guys. It is my intention to get those Alphabetical & Date listings of the first 4+ 1/2 months of song postings (almost 620 of them!), out to you today (Sandra, Stewie, Gerry). Jennie, if you could PM me an email addy for the 2 x Excel spreadsheet attachments, you could get a copy too! Plus any other interested readers?! Gerry and Myrtle the Turtle will start the Next Edition listing, from 01Jan2021. [back to you now, Sandra, hehe] We are having 'Woodford Withdrawals' here in Maleny and missing the Music and Community, and the Fire Event (first festival missed since 1992, bar one, in my case!), but after breakfast, I promise I will do my darnedest to finalise these spreadsheets! I SO HOPE there are no errors, but that mouse can get a bit wayward in a spreadsheet, so I can't realistically promise that :) Meanwhile, Wishing All of Us a New Improved 2021, Cheers! Rich-Joy :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Jan 21 - 07:10 PM Legendary Torres Strait Islander, Seaman Dan, has died aged 91. Like Uncle Dave Macon, he didn't begin making recordings until late in life. He was 70 when he made his first recording. Click I couldn't find any lyrics for 'Old Man Blues' so this is my transcription: OLD MAN BLUES (Seaman Dan) Chorus I got no time for old man blues So many things I love to do Got no time for old man blues One of those things is singing for you When I was a young man I rambled around Just couldn’t keep my feet on the ground Turn of the tide, off I’d be gone Sailing the ocean with a cargo of song I’m eighty-seven, some days I feel young I still recall every song that I’ve sung The glad ones, the sad ones, the ones in-between Flow like a river, run through my dreams Chorus And when the day is over, sun is sinking low I trust in luck tomorrow, that’s all I need to know Instrumental break Now that I’m older, no spring in my step I still remember, I never forget With Georgie and Terry, Izzy and Ray All us old ramblers still rambling today And when the day is over, sun is sinking low I trust in luck tomorrow, that’s all I need to know Chorus (x2) Youtube clip Rest easy, Dan. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Jan 21 - 07:00 PM oops, that was the day I sent my list to Rich-Joy & I missed them (blush) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 01 Jan 21 - 03:43 PM Sandra - I posted both those songs (and anothr one) on 16th December. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Jan 21 - 07:45 AM I thought we had Norman Brown, but it had been omitted! Ballad of Norman Brown by Dorothy Hewett, ©1962 There was a very simple man, Honest and quiet, yet he became The mate of every working man, And every miner knows his name. Chorus Oh Norman Brown, oh Norman Brown The murderin' coppers they shot him down, They shot him down in Rothbury town, A working man called Norman Brown. "An honest man," the parson said, And dropped the clods upon his head, But honest man or not, he's dead And that's the end of Norman Brown. Coal bosses wiped their hands and sighed, "It is a pity that he died." It will inflame the countryside, And all because of Norman Brown. At pit-top meetings and on strike In every little mining town, When miners march for bread and rights There marches honest Norman Brown. He thunders at the pit-top strike, His voice is in the women's tears, With banner carried shoulder-high He's singing down the struggling years. A miner's pick is in his hand, His song is shouted through the and, A land that's free and broad and brown, The land that bred us Norman Brown. Last chorus Oh Norman Brown, oh Norman Brown, The murderin' coppers they shot him down. They shot him down in Rothbury town, To live forever ... Norman Brown. lyrics video ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Rothbury songs - The Country Knows the Rest by Graham Seal, posted 08 Sep 20 - 03:51 AM A Sad Day on the Coalfields (Tragedy At Rothbury), by Roger Grant (1929), posted 01 Jan 21 - 07:31 AM |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Jan 21 - 07:31 AM I haven't heard Myrtle for many years, what a wonderful song. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Sad Day on the Coalfields (Tragedy At Rothbury) A Song by Roger Grant (1929) There were sounds of sobs and crying as the daylight floods the sky, The hour of life has vanished and the long night passes by, I lift my eyes to heaven and in tears I'll call her son, Who was taken from his mother by the crack of someone's gun. Yes, in the hour of sorrow there's one thing I can't conceal, For my heart is always longing and my thoughts will often steal Across the bush to Rothbury whose surface leaves a track To the boys who went on picket and the boy who'll never come back. There was music at the graveside and in grief the mourners stood, Still the wind a hymn was humming with the trees upon the hill, The sun was shining brightly on sad friends from every town, And the minister started praying for our dead pal Norman Brown. Yes, in the hour of sorrow there's one thing I can't conceal, For my heart is always longing and my thoughts will often steal Across the bush to Rothbury whose surface leaves a track To the boys who went on picket and the boy who'll never come back. Lyrics, history & audio - sung by Alan Musgrove from his 1999 CD 'A young man and able' |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 01 Jan 21 - 04:23 AM MYRTLE THE TURTLE © Bernard Bolan "Eric Bogle once said: 'And I thought I was half mad until you started writing songs about turtles running banks.' He's probably right." - Bernard Bolan I've got a little pet and his name is Frank He's always very wet, 'cos I keep him in a tank In my office, in a city bank, A long-necked turtle is my little mate, Frank. A long-necked turtle, his mother called him Myrtle, 'Til he started doing what a Myrtle doesn't do But the bank's been booming since he came on deck 'Cos he isn't just a pretty face and one long neck. I got him as an egg at a very early age. I thought he'd be a budgie, so I put him in a cage. Got a little ladder, and a little bag of seed, And a book on budgies for my wife to read. When she saw him hatch out, she saw there was a catch out - "Funny bloody colour, and he's got four wings! "Isn't very cuddly, in fact he's bloody ugly, "Falls off his ladder, and he never sings." But once in my office, and swimming in his tank He soon became immersed in the business of the bank Noted each deposit, and every payment made, Who was overdrawn or who had not been paid. He continued learning, soon he showed a yearning To influence decisions that I had to make. So if you were penniless and had a loan to take His neck would waddle and his head would shake. Last week, Frank created quite a stink When his pocket calculator went upon the blink Banging on his window, water everywhere, Threw his bowler hat in my maiden hair. Soon he got a better one, albeit a wetter one Back in business was my little mate Frank. Tap tap tapping, he was underway, We took over Westpac the following day. Very soon the profit of the company had soared. Frankie was appointed as the Chairman of the board. A company tank with water weeds and lights A little lady turtle to warm his nights When he started wooing, nearly brought us ruin His mind was of'n'on the job, - and he was too! But the phase soon passed, and we all gave thanks, Now there's lots of little turtles, little Franks and Myrtles, Shaking and a'nodding all the livelong day. So if you're having trouble with your banks, Be sure to be kind to the turtles in the tanks. And if you get your money, you can all give thanks To the little Myrtle turtles and their long-necked Franks. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Can't find any videos online. More Bernard Bolan lyrics. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 31 Dec 20 - 07:34 PM Here's a cracker of a song about coping with Covid. WE ALL COPE IN DIFFERENT WAYS (Darren Hanlon) I had a ground breaking idea but I forgot to write it down Now every thought starts to distort and they chase themselves around Every concept loses meaning when you look at it too long Today’s amazing line becomes tomorrow’s awful song Well time’s longer than rope I once heard somebody say There’s nowhere to tie the end on to so I just float away It’s been 3 weeks since I’ve seen the cheeks of friends I’s goodbye kissing Now I feed the magpie mince and hope he’ll stay a while to listen Chorus: We all cope in different ways So don’t be too hard on yourself A hopeless string of empty days Like standing on an arctic shelf Staring deep into the void Of your undiscovered mind Searching desperately to find Some comfort from the malaise We all cope in different ways We now watch the kind of films our former selves would not believe Old dvds of Keanu Reeves as we sneeze into our sleeves I make calls to my great aunty and file tax 10 quarters old But each receipt reminds me of when we were free and bold Then I got lost in Jane Austin, her posthumous work ‘Persuasion’ She’s the early 1800’s poster girl for isolation Her characters claim love if from some wealthy socialite But Jane retained her single life and stayed at home to write Chorus They say the world’s been granted this chance for collective Zen But I keep refreshing to find more death and my heart it breaks again But statistics are just fish sticks without their human faces How can I empathise with all the lives that each number embraces When the behaviours of my own neighbours are making me suspicious They prance around all over town like mobile Petri dishes So I lock all the doors and windows and pull the blinds to make a blinker I’ve become my own worst nightmare - anti-social over-thinker We all cope in different ways So don’t be too hard on yourself A hopeless string of empty days Like standing on an arctic shelf Staring deep into the void Of your undiscovered mind If you’re lucky you might find Some comfort from the malaise We all cope in different ways Youtube clip Darren Hanlon --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 31 Dec 20 - 09:23 AM Continuing some music in the Australian Atomic Age : Two very different approaches in songwriting, about the (on-going) disasters of Maralinga. First up is Pitjantjatjara band, The Wedgetail Eagles, and the second, Midnight Oil. But meanwhile, more on THE GREAT SHAME JOBBERY (and sorry for the long post ….) Scholar, poet, author, visual artist, musician, Judith Nangala Crispin, has written ***Five Threnodies for Maralinga published here : https://www.axonjournal.com.au/issue-c1/five-threnodies-maralinga (recommended reading) and on this webpage : http://demosjournal.com/maralinga/ has included a 1952-1963 timeline and comprehensive list of Britain’s nuclear tests in Australia, including the quantities contained of Plutonium, Uranium, Beryllium, and so on ** in comparison to the small quantities in the devastating bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – which is illuminating, to say the least. Also included are the names, ages and death-dates of 68 babies and young children buried in Woomera Cemetary during the years of the Tests, many of whose deaths have been attributed to the 10 years of “minor” trials (some 550) of nuclear weapons at Maralinga, which ultimately, generated more contamination than the major tests. Those people who lived and worked at the long-range missile-testing “Woomera Rocket Range” (open to tourists these days but a “closed town” from 1947-1982), had signed the “Official Secrets Act” and their pleas for a proper explanation of their family deaths were met with either silence, lies, or sealed records. 68 babies and children lost to their families. Something to think on. Read about “Project Sunshine” testing for Strontium 90 : “…. Young bones were chosen because they were particularly susceptible to accumulating the Sr-90 isotope. Around 1,500 exhumations took place, in both Britain and Australia — often without the knowledge or permission of the parents of the dead…..” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-24/maralinga-nuclear-tests-ground-zero-lesser-known-history/11882608 “The Advertiser” in Adelaide reported in Sept 2001 about these tests - AND the payments made to pathologists and morticians to persuade them to provide the bones – almost 22,000 in Australia and Papua-New Guinea between 1952 and 1978 : https://nuclear.foe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Advertiser-Maralinga-Dossier.pdf It has been estimated that some 17,000 servicemen from Australia, Britain, New Zealand and Canada, and civilians, were exposed (many deliberately) to the atomic testing and radiation during the period from 1952 to 1963 the vast majority of whom, were never compensated in any way for resulting ill health. For most, any records were edited, hidden or destroyed, meaning they could never even prove they had been present. The 1985 McClelland Royal Commission report : read the Conclusions from page 7 https://nuclear.foe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Royal-Commission-conclusionsrecs.pdf [ and in 2020, Govts and MSM wonder why folk would rather believe “conspiracy theories” than TRUST politicians, bureaucrats and scientists, et al : I mean, REALLY???!!! ] There are many short documentary films and clips on YT concerning the history of atomic testing in Australia and elsewhere. I missed the documentary film “Maralings Tjarutja” earlier this year, but maybe it can be found somewhere….. : “The film shows the experiences of the Maralinga Tjarutja people, in which the elders "reveal a perspective of deep time and an understanding of place that generates respect for the sacredness of both", their ancestors having lived in the area for millennia.[185] Despite the disregard for the traditional homelands of the Maralinga Tjarutja shown by the British and Australians involved in the testing, they have continued to fight for their rights to look after the now-contaminated land..[190] : Meanwhile, this 50min one is on YT “Australian Atomic Confessions” but not yet watched by me : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WMsJxTe-hU&list=PL1Wo0ifL6HBeESJaotuaEmlQRPfcXPfnP Footnotes : *** A threnody is a wailing ode, song, hymn or poem of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person. WIKI ** also radioactive Cobolt 60 tracer pellets, found scattered all over the landscape after one test, not listed “MARALINGA” was an Aboriginal word meaning "thunder", but not in the Western Desert language of the local people; it came from Garik, an extinct language originally spoken around Port Essington in the Northern Territory.[28] BtW, Happy New Year! [I think I’m almost ready to move on from this particular research – it’s just too depressing] To The Music!! MARALINGA – WEDGETAIL EAGLE BAND The Wedgetail Eagles were a popular central desert Aboriginal rock band from the Pitjantjatjara tribe in Australia. Pumani Michael / Amos Lennon / Victor Tunkin c.1984 Where the red dust blows across the land Is the place where my people used to stand Where the Maralinga bomb went off that day And now Mamu*** roams everywhere And Anangu wait to go back there Where the Maralinga bomb went off that day They came across our land that day Our food and homes they took away It seemed as though we might just fade away By Anangus strong and living still We'll make the white man pay the bill Till the Maralinga people go back home The wind it blew, the stormclouds grew And when the sky went dark we knew That the Maralinga bomb went off that day It's my fathers land you see And its calling out inside of me It's the land my people still call "back home" They came upon our land that day Our food and homes they took away It looked as though we might just fade away By Anangus strong and living still We'll make the white man pay the bill Till the Maralinga people go back home Where the red dust blows across the land Is the place where my people used to stand Where the Maralinga bomb went off that day And now Mamu*** roams everywhere And Anangu wait to go back there Where the Maralinga bomb went off that day They came upon our land that day Our food and homes they took away It looked as though we might just fade away By Anangus strong and living still We'll make the white man pay the bill Till the Maralinga people go back home *** The Maralinga Tjarutja people, refer to the land around ground zero as "Mamu Pulka", Pitjantjatjara for "Big Evil". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nEhzQn6-Ek The Wedgies MARALINGA – MIDNIGHT OIL James Moginie and Peter Garrett , c.1983 Spoken : I come from a land of wide open spaces Where the world turns around us and we just follow suit There's heat in the air and peace reigns supreme Got white flags on the clothes lines and the deals are clean In the wind, the ashes fly The poisoned crown, the charcoal ground And if you can't see the smile in me That's where I wanna be There's only god, there's only christ Think I'll lie down, for just a while And if you can't see the smile in me Well, that's where I wanna be Spoken : And the grass became granite And the sky a black sheet Our bed was a graveyard We couldn't feel our blistered feet And the moaning and groaning and sighing of death And the silence that followed And the very harsh reality So we watch and check them out and listen as we learn Throw the pearls before the swine, ebb and flow and turning tide Yeah we watch and catch them up no matter how they jump The pigs will have to come to ground,we got to make it happen Well, it's not really that new, yeah, try and make it happen now What are we to do, yeah, maybe there's a chance for you All around, an eerie sound Their dreams a cloud, their world in shrouds Coz in the wind, those ashes fly Not much time, but time to try And if you can't see the smile in me, that's coz I wanna be I wanna be here at the end, Yes I want to be here at the end Well, we have to be here at the end ….. I got to be here at the end, We must be here at the end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66FeJzGvfTg The Oils R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Dec 20 - 08:46 PM R-J, here's a kiwi one for you: NO WARSHIPS (Gumboot Tango) I’ll tell you a tale about my little town Well, it looks like the whole place is just closing down With the shops disappearing and businesses folding And I’ve painted ‘No Warships’ on the back of my Holden The hospital’s closed and the factory’s been sold And the milkman and the mailman are collecting the dole So take me some place where the future is golden And I’ve painted ‘No Warships’ on the back of my Holden Now everyone’s going ‘round holding their breath Saying, ‘what can we sell when we’ve got nothing left?’ Give back the hopes and the dreams that you’ve stolen And I’ve painted ‘No Warships’ on the back of my Holden Now they tell me that the government is the servant of the people But the people they’re serving they aren’t my people And I don’t care how high the percentage they’re polling And I’ve painted ‘No Warships’ on the back of my Holden Now where is the voice that once was so loud Of nuclear freedom of which we’re so proud When the Aussies and the Yanks can treat us like children And I’ve painted ‘No Warships’ on the back of my Holden Now everyone’s going ‘round holding their breath Saying, ‘what can we sell when we’ve got nothing left?’ Give back the hopes and the dreams that you’ve stolen And I’ve painted ‘No Warships’ on the back of my Holden You can give back the hopes and the dreams that you’ve stolen And I’ve painted ‘No Warships’ on the back of my Holden Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 30 Dec 20 - 08:12 AM Yet More Atomic Tests Music : Checkout some (or all) of the articles linked to in this Dossier (and more clips on YT from survivors and investigators) : https://nuclear.foe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Advertiser-Maralinga-Dossier.pdf Sobering reading. The secrets and deliberate withholding + The deliberate lies + The callous disregard for the Australian population – both black and white – both civilian and military – by both the British Govt AND the Australian Govt (who, to be fair, were also lied to by the Brits), including the denials from both that radiation problems had occurred - and even that servicemen were involved!!!! Perhaps they were hoping the rank-and-file would all be dead before they could be tempted to break the “Official Secrets Act”??? Guess it cuts down the cost of potential compensation claims and negative publicity…. Here is Paul Kelly’s contribution : MARALINGA (aka Rainy Land) This is a rainy land This is a rainy land No thunder in our sky No trees stretching high But this is a rainy land This is a rainy land My name is Yami Lester I hear, I talk, I touch but I am blind My story comes from darkness Listen to my story now unwind This is a rainy land This is a rainy land First we heard two big bangs We thought it was the Great Snake digging holes Then we saw the big cloud Then the big, black mist began to roll This is a rainy land This is a rainy land A strangeness on our skin A soreness in our eyes like weeping fire A pox upon our skin A boulder on our backs all our lives This is a rainy land This is a rainy land No thunder in our sky No trees stretching high But this is a rainy land My name is Edie Millipuddie They captured me and roughly washed me down Then my child stopped kicking Then they took away my oId man to town They said 'Do you speak English?' He said 'I know that Jesus loves me I know Because the bible tells me so' This is a rainy land This is a rainy land No thunder in our sky No trees stretching high But this is a rainy land This is a rainy land https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvXgspzP0go R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Dec 20 - 05:42 AM many years ago we had a session on body counts - singers sang songs where people die, I can't remember what the bloodiest song was, but I won by reciting (I can't hold a tune on my own) "When the wind blows". No own could beat 'a billion lost souls falling into hell' sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 30 Dec 20 - 05:01 AM More Music of the Atomic Age: Possibly the saddest 14+ minutes you can spend, is to watch and listen to the following presentation on YouTube by Japanese artist, Isao Hashimoto – the soundtrack representing 2,053 of the nuclear explosions over our World from 1945 to 1998 and therefore of the destruction of parts of the Earth and inhabitants - in one form or another. Very sobering. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLCF7vPanrY&t=128s This version has a music composition overlaid, by Andrews Wax : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAKH9KU3BHc&t=492s A reminder here that Sandra posted Eric Bogle’s “When the Wind Blows” on Sept 18th. This song was based on Raymond Briggs’ 1982 graphic novel of the same name, which, as he said, was “a chilling little book” : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_the_Wind_Blows_(comics) Meanwhile, Paul Lawler, in Darwin, wrote this number for his folk-rock band, “Gutter Press”. It is, however, yet to be digitised and posted to his channel. NUCLEAR FISSION ( aka MARILINGA ON ) Paul Lawler, May1983 © Nuclear fission, provoked a decision To find out why I had no emission. I was given permission to see a physician Who told me I should stop all coition. Exit creation, no ejaculation Radiations, yield mutation. With trepidation, I applied embrocation And tried to stop this ulceration. Contamination, incarceration Expectation – castration. Amputation, desolation Causation – detonation. ~ Paul Lawler ~ Some Industry and Govt hype infers that we’re naïve to worry overly much about the ongoing and unsolved problem of nuclear waste; that it’s just not as dangerous to the planet and inhabitants as many have made out. But, we’ve trusted Them before, eh…………… :( Anyway, here is what France is trying, underneath the town of Bure : https://www.ft.com/content/db87c16c-4947-11e6-b387-64ab0a67014c (and SONGS, STORIES, and ART may all have a part to play!) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Dec 20 - 10:23 PM THE RED ROSE TOP (Traditional) I'll cut off the red rose top And plant the willow green, green In all this world the you may see It's slighted I have been, been Oh, when your thyme is pulled and gone They care no more for you, you There's not a place your thyme goes waste But it spreads all over with rue, rue It spreads all over with rue John Meredith collected this from Sally Sloane who learned it from her grandmother. It is derived from the English song, 'The seeds of love'. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Dec 20 - 12:35 AM a most excellent song |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 28 Dec 20 - 10:50 PM The late David O'Connor wrote a good one about the French nuclear tests in the Pacific - when I have time I'll type it out. It starts off: Drop it in Paris, c'est votre bomb...... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 28 Dec 20 - 10:02 PM The Reedy River still flows © Bruce Watson 2013, winner of the Bush Music Club 60th Anniversary Song competition Chorus: Time goes by, how the years they fly And fashions may come and may go But as long as there’s music, as long as there’s dance The Reedy River still flows The Reedy River still flows In the far distant times of the Dreaming When people first walked this land There was music and dancing to sing up the spirits To bring us together, every woman and man Chorus And from far distant lands others came And still come to our bounteous shores They bring stories and songs that tell who we are And we dance round the room as did others before Chorus In far distant places through the bush of Australia The song catchers tirelessly roamed Collecting the stories and tunes of our country Collecting the dances, the songs and the poems Chorus So let’s sing songs of those come before us And let’s strike up the fiddle and bow And let’s dance till we drop, and then sing one more chorus So the River of Music still flows Chorus video - Bruce & the "Ringwood All Stars" a scratch band from the Ringwood Folk Club. Bruce wrote this song to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Sydney Bush Music Club, the longest running folk club in Australia, in 1954. The club emerged from the folk musical production "Reedy River". The song celebrates tradition and continuity using the metaphor of a river. Musicians: Harry Gardner, Peter Ellis, Maggie Somerville, Maree Butler, Don Gingrich |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Dec 20 - 09:01 PM BtW, I did NOT mean to suggest in my earlier post, that there were NOT songs about the French Muroroa and British Christmas Is. tests etc etc, just that I hadn't yet found the obvious ones on YT (MORE TIME! is the thing .........) Here, for example, is the HERBS number called "FRENCH LETTER" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuJ8PP1Icfw "When Herbs’ recording of ‘French Letter’ – a song protesting French nuclear testing in the South Pacific – spent eleven weeks on the New Zealand charts in 1982, it represented a mainstream peak for a musical movement that had begun in this country some 50 years earlier....." from "Decades of Dissent : Protest Songs in New Zealand" : https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201852325/decades-of-dissent-protest-songs-in-new-zealand Be good to hear this one :"Unity Singers member Rudy Sunde can be heard performing ‘Talking Radiation’, a talking blues adapted from Pete Seeger in which he asks ‘How would you like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island’?" [aka Kiritimati Island, that the British nuked) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_nuclear-free_zone Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Dec 20 - 07:11 PM SEND THE BOATS AWAY Lynn Clark Once, in seas of silver, fishermen would cast their nets To take the bounty of the Sea: those men are fishing yet, But now their boats are laden down with goods of lethal store, And in these peace-times we should fear those sea-bound men-of-war. Chorus: (so) Send the boats away, my friends, (now) send the boats away. We care not how we run them out, but send the boats away, For if we choose to live in peace then who are they to say? Let's take a stand, protect this land, and send the boats away. Who will want those nuclear holes when those nets are raised? To our oceans whose seas are filled with waste, And fishing-boats of fisher-folk lie useless on the shore, For bearing down upon them now are those sea-bound men-of-war. Chorus Once I slept easy in my bed, mind free from Holocaust, But now it seems like nuclear-free Pacific zones we've lost, For now the boats are laden down with goods of lethal store, And in these peace-times we should fear those sea-bound men-of-war. Chorus Send them away Send them away Send them away. [lyrics taken from Mudcat thread] This song was very popular in Sessions when I first came to Qld years ago – and esp the heartfelt harmonising by Lonnie Martin and Helen Rowe – I find it hard to believe that the only YT version I can find is by a Teesider – but a goodun, nonetheless!! So here is the late Vin Garbutt singing Lynn Clark’s NZ plea for a Nuclear-free Pacific : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ElwvsTVMIk R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Dec 20 - 06:45 PM After Stewie’s posts of 12Dec of “The Eagle & the Islanders” re the US atomic tests on the Marshall Islands in the Pacific, and “Anchor Me”, re the French bombing of the peace vessel “Rainbow Warrior”, I mentioned that I was researching Britain’s atomic testing in Australia and subsequent songs. I haven’t found any yet about the Montebello Islands off WA, nor Emu Field in SA . Nor even the British tests on two Kiribati islands (aka Christmas / Malden) – or oddly, songs in English re the French (193 tests, 1966-96) on two Tuamotu islands (aka Mururoa / Fangataufa) - in the Pacific), but, there are quite a few songs nowadays about Maralinga (though this situation seems to have taken a long time to develop!!) and this one below, by the late Alistair Hulett, is probably the best (and to-the-point), so far. But I’ll cover a bit more of the Test histories and deplorable results, when I post a couple of the other 15+ songs (like Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil) …. R-J THE PLAINS OF MARALINGA Alistair Hulett Remember in the old days how we sucked up to the Poms We stood and sang their anthem like a pack of Uncle Toms And they bought our beef and wool So we let them test their bombs. In the heartland of Australia where the black-skinned nation roams There was nothing in the papers about what was being done If Robert Menzies knew, by Christ, he wasn’t letting on For he loved his flamin’ knighthood, that great Australian son Much more than he loved the land where the Pitjantjatjara run. Out on the plains of Maralinga What happened there was a bloody disgrace Out on the plains of Maralinga It was total disregard for the black Australian race. No one asked the local people if they thought it was okay If you haven’t got a job, mate, you haven’t got a say Oh, and if we lost a few, they were only in the way If they’d been white, then bet your backside there’d be holy shit to pay. Out on the plains of Maralinga What happened there was a bloody disgrace Out on the plains of Maralinga It was total disregard for the black Australian race. They said fallout was harmless, they knew that was a lie But it never slowed them up when there were people camped close by Who tell a story how they saw a big flash in the sky Then they all got sick and one by one began to slowly die. Out on the plains of Maralinga What happened there was a bloody disgrace Out on the plains of Maralinga It was total disregard for the black Australian race. Now the sun set on the Empire though they never thought it would And now your Uncle Sam controls the neighborhood Andin the name of peace and justice, he swears he’s Robin Hood But in Chile and El Salvador, the truth is understood. He’s got bureaucrats and technocrats, diplomats and spies Working for the Pentagon, they’re its bloody nose and eyes But you only feel disheartened until you realize When the workers of the world unite, we’re twice their bloody size. Out on the plains of Maralinga What happened there was a bloody disgrace Out on the plains of Maralinga It was total disregard for the black Australian race. Out on the plains of Maralinga What happened there was a bloody disgrace Out on the plains of Maralinga It was total disregard for the whole human race. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BxpFy_1kM&t=3s – Alistair Hulett (with slideshow) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Dec 20 - 09:08 PM A little late, but a poem with a christmas reference. Wongawilli put a sprightly tune to this favourite from John O'Brien. TANGMALANGALOO (John O'Brien) The bishop sat in lordly state and purple cap sublime And galvanized the old bush church at confirmation time And all the kids were mustered up from fifty miles around With Sunday clothes, and staring eyes, and ignorance profound Now was it fate, or was it grace, whereby they yarded too An overgrown two-storey lad from Tangmalangaloo? A hefty son of virgin soil where nature has her fling And grows the trefoil three feet high and mats it in the spring Where mighty hills uplift their heads to pierce the welkin's rim And trees sprout up a hundred feet before they shoot a limb There everything is big and grand, and men are giants too But christian knowledge wilts, alas, at Tangmalangaloo The bishop summed the youngsters up, as bishops only can He cast a searching glance around, then fixed upon his man But glum and dumb and undismayed through every bout he sat He seemed to think that he was there, but wasn't sure of that The bishop gave a scornful look, as bishops sometimes do And glared right through the pagan in from Tangmalangaloo "Come, tell me, boy," his lordship said in crushing tones severe "Come, tell me why is christmas day the greatest of the year? "How is it that around the world we celebrate that day "And send a name upon a card to those who're far away? "Why is it wandering ones return with smiles and greetings too?" A squall of knowledge hit the lad from Tangmalangaloo He gave a lurch which set a-shake the vases on the shelf He knocked the benches all askew, up-ending of himself And so, how pleased his lordship was, and how he smiled to say "That's good, my boy. Come, tell me now; and what is christmas day?" The ready answer bared a fact no bishop ever knew - "It's the day before the races out at Tangmalangaloo" Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Dec 20 - 08:44 PM Wongawilli's Oz take on Martin Curtis' 'Gin and Raspberry'. RUM AND RASPBERRY (Wongawilli/Curtis) Searching for cattle - we first came this way From Talbingo township took many long days To cut through the scrub till we found a good claim And we called it the Rum and Raspberry. The rumours went out and thousands poured in A handful grew rich while many grew thin They all hoped to find their own patch of ground As rich as the Rum and Raspberry Chorus: Oh but it's hard, cruel and cold Searching Kiandra for nuggets of gold An ounce to a bucket - we'll all sell our souls For the taste of the Rum and Raspberry At first it was summer, we all thought it grand No shirts on our backs as we sluiced and we panned But then came the snow and the westerly blow And there's ice down the Rum and Raspberry Chorus Jimmy McGrath, he worked hard and worked long Ready to smile or to sing us a song But then he struck gold and was found dead and cold Down in the Rum and Raspberry Chorus I'll work out my time and I'll stay out of strife, Save all me tin to send home to me wife And when me time's done, I'll leave on the run And to hell with the Rum and Raspberry. Chorus But to hell with the Rum and Raspberry! Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Dec 20 - 09:47 AM Wake up landlord by Dick Diamond, tune Charles Allen (an historical item, published here for posterity) You know a feller always has to make A speech when there's a celebration, The thing we celebrate of course Is the Land Act legislation. CHORUS So come on fellers, we're going to sing; Ring out people, we're having a ding; Dance up ladies, from near and far, Wake up landlord and open the bar. A thousand squatters owned this state With not an acre over For farming folk like you and me Until we did 'em over. CHORUS We fought it out with tooth and nail Until there came a testing, And we got our good green acres By the strength of our protesting. CHORUS And we stocked our free selections With free cattle when we could, Just to show there's no ill feeling As any cocky would. CHORUS Wake up Landlord, from 1954 Reedy River song book Wake Up, Landlord is a structural part of the play & it didn't stand alone as a song. (email from Alex Hood, who appeared in 1953/54 Sydney production of Reedy River, 27th Dec 2020) When I found Don Henderson's parody 'One of the Has-Beens' about the collection of a folk song (19 Aug 20 - 02:12 AM), I took it to a session to get someone to sing it for me (I can't hold a tune on my own!) but I won't be taking 'Wake up landlord' anywhere. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Dec 20 - 08:50 AM Another song from Reedy River Widgegoweera Joe. words Bill Tully, music traditional (note in RR program) I'm only a back-blocks shearer, as easily can be seen I've shorn in almost every shed on the plains of the Riverine I've shorn in most of the famous sheds, I've seen big tallies done But somehow or other, I don't know why, I never became a gun CHORUS: Hurrah, me boys, my shears are set, I feel both fit and well Tomorrow will find me at my pen when the gaffer rings the bell With Haydon's patent thumbguards fixed and both my blades pulled back Tomorrow I go with a sliding blow for a century or the sack I've opened down the windpipe straight, I've opened behind the ear I've shorn in every possible style in which a man can shear I've studied all the cuts and drives of the famous men I've met But I've never succeeded in plastering up those three little figures yet When the Boss walked past this morning, he stopped and he stared at me For I'd mastered Moran's Great Shoulder Cut, as he could plainly see But I've another surprise for him, that'll give his nerves a shock Tomorrow I'll show him I have mastered Pierce's Rang-tang Block And if I succeed, as I hope to do, next year I intend to shear At the Wagga Demonstration, that's held there every year And there I'll lower the colours, the colours of Mitchell and Co Instead of Deeming, you will hear of Widgegoweera Joe Also known the Backblocks Shearer. Another from Ron Edwards. Some online versions have W Tully as the author. Featured in Reedy River. Audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Dec 20 - 08:37 AM Another song from Reedy River, very close to RR version Lazy Harry's Oh we started down from Roto when the sheds had all cut out We'd whips and whips of Rhino as we meant to push about So we humped our blues serenely and made for Sydney town With a three-spot cheque between us as wanted knocking down Chorus But we camped at Lazy Harry's, on the road to Gundagai The road to Gundagai Not five miles from Gundagai Yes we camped at Lazy Harry's on the road to Gundagai Well we struck the Murrumbidgee near the Yanco in a week And passed through old Narrandera and crossed the Burnett Creek And we never stopped at Wagga for we'd Sydney in our eye But we camped at Lazy Harry's on the road to Gundagai Oh I've seen a lot of girls my boys and drunk a lot of beer And I've met with some of both chaps as has left me mighty queer But for beer to knock you sideways and for girls to make you sigh You must camp at Lazy Harry's on the road to Gundagai Well we chucked our blooming swags off and we walked into the bar And we called for rum-an'-raspb'ry and a shilling each cigar But the girl that served the poison she winked at Bill and I And we camped at Lazy Harry's not five miles from Gundagai In a week the spree was over and the cheque was all knocked down So we shouldered our Matildas and we turned our back on town And the girls they stood a nobbler as we sadly said good-bye And we tramped from Lazy Harry's not five miles from Gundagai Last chorus And we tramped from Lazy Harry's not five miles from Gundagai The road to Gundagai Not five miles from Gundagai Yes we tramped from Lazy Harry's on the road to Gundagai Notes First published by Banjo Paterson as "Lousy Harry's" in an article in the Adelaide newspaper The Chronicle 10 March 1900 in this collection. Later printed in Paterson's Old Bush Songs in 1905. This version from the singing of A.L.Lloyd. Ron Edwards collected a version of the song from Jack Parveez in Charters Towers, Qld. Parveez had a different tune and his shearers "started out from Reio". Roto is a station in south central NSW. Gundagai lies on what is now the main road from Sydney to Melbourne, the Hume Highway. Perhaps more songs mention Gundagai than any other town in Australia. Three-spot-check: a check in the hundreds of pounds Audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Dec 20 - 08:31 AM Another song from Reedy River, but not the same words Click go the Shears Out on the board the old shearer stands, Grasping his shears in his long, honey hands, Fixed is his gaze on a bare-bellied "Joe," Glory if he gets her, won't he make the "ringer" go. Chorus: Click go the shears boys, click, click, click, Wide is his blow and his hands move quick, The ringer looks around and is beaten by a blow, And curses the old snagger with the blue-bellied "Joe." In the middle of the floor, in his cane-bottomed chair Is the boss of the board, with eyes everywhere; Notes well each fleece as it comes to the screen Paying strict attention if it's taken off clean. The colonial experience man, he is there, of course, With his shiny leggin's, just got off his horse, Casting round his eye like a real connoisseur, Whistling the old tune, "I'm the Perfect Lure." The tar-boy is there, awaiting in demand, With his blackened tar-pot, and his tarry hand; Sees one old sheep with a cut upon its back, Hears what he's waiting for, "Tar here, Jack!" Shearing is all over and we've all got our cheques, Roll up your swag for we're off on the tracks; The first pub we come to, it's there we'll have a spree, And everyone that comes along it's "Come and drink with me!" Down by the bar the old shearer stands, Grasping his glass in his thin honey hands; Fixed is his gaze on a green-painted keg, Glory he'll get down on it, ere he stirs a peg. There we leave him standing, shouting for all hands, Whilst all around him, every "shouter" stands His eyes are on the cask, which is now lowering fast, He works hard, he drinks hard, and goes to hell at last! The first version of this song was titled "The Bare-Belled Ewe" and was published the Bacchus Marsh Express in 1891. The version above was published much later in the Twentieth Century magazine in 1946 in an article by Percy Jones. Recent research has discovered a 1939 version titled "The Shearers Song" published in the Sydney newspaper the World's News A variant of that was published in the NSW newspaper the Wellington Times in December 1939. Printed in Stewart and Keesing's Old Bush Songs with the following note: "From Dr Percy Jones's collection, with one additional stanza, "Now Mister Newchum" etc., collected by John Meredith from Mrs Sloane, of Lithgow, New South Wales. "Mrs Sloane is 60, and learnt most of her songs from her mother in the early part of this century. Mrs Sloane plays button-accordion, fiddle, mouth-organ and jewsharp, and her mother, Mrs Frost, played concertina, accordion and jews-harp." The word "Joe" is presumably a corruption of "Yowe" or "ewe." Audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Dec 20 - 07:53 AM One of the songs from the first Sydney production of Reedy River words as sung in Reedy River By The Eumerella Shore, as sung by John Thompson There's a pretty little valley on the Eumerella shore Where I've lingered many happy hours away On my little free selection I have acres by the score When I unyoke my bullocks from the dray To my bullocks I will say, "Now, no matter where you stray, For you'll never be impounded any more, For you're running, running, running on the duffer's piece of land, Free selected on the Eumerella shore." When we find a mob of horses, and the paddock rails are down, Though before that they were never known to stray, Oh how quickly we will drive them to some distant inland town And sell them into slavery far away. To Jack Robertson we'll say, "You've been leading us astray, For we'll never go a-farming any more, For it's cheaper running cattle on the duffer's piece of land Free selected on the Eumerella shore." From Ron Edward's Great Australian Folk Songs, taped from the singing of Sam Long (b. 1894) of "The Glue Pot", Wondecla, Queensland, 25 March 1965. Ron notes that the correct spelling is probably "Umaralla" from the river by that name near Cooma, NSW. There is also a town on that river called Numeralla. Audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Dec 20 - 06:07 AM Some of the songs from Reedy River are missing from this songbook! Shock, horror, 4 iconic songs from THE iconic Australian musical drama set in the years following the Shearers' Strike of 1891 plus another that is unknown. The unknown song is Wake Up, Landlord, lyrics, Dick Diamond, music Charles Allen, and is "a structural part of the play & it didn't stand alone as a song. (email from Alex Hood, who appeared in 1953/54 Sydney production of Reedy River, 27th Dec 2020) These are the songs from the 1954, 1960 & 1966 editions of the Reedy River songbook. Ballad of 1891, posted 10 Sep 20 - 08:14 PM Banks of the Condamine, posted 15 Oct 20 - 08:27 PM By The Eumerella Shore Click go the Shears Four Little Johnny Cakes 24 Sep 20 - 04:36 AM Lazy Harry's My Old Black Billy, posted 03 Oct 20 - 07:30 AM Reedy Lagoon, posted 21 Aug 20 - 11:52 PM Reedy River, posted 20 Aug 20 - 11:04 AM Wake Up, Landlord lyrics, Dick Diamond, music Charles Allen - Widgegoweera Joe Wild Rover No More, posted 20 Aug 20 - 11:04 AM |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Dec 20 - 11:37 PM that track comes from his 1987 LP Declan Affley - TAR 020. I have a CD of that record & play it constantly along with Dave Brannigan's 2003 CD, I love his voice. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 26 Dec 20 - 10:58 PM I didn't look hard enough. Here's Declan Affley's recording of the Chris Kempster setting of Do You Think That I Do Not Know. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 26 Dec 20 - 10:55 PM This Henry Lawson poem was mentioned upthread (18 Aug 20 08:53 PM) but I thought we should also have the words here: Do you think that I do not know Henry Lawson They say that I never have written of love, as a writer of songs should do. They say that I never could touch the strings with a touch that is firm and true. They say I know nothing of women and men in the fields where Love's roses grow. I must write, they say, with a halting pen – do you think that I do not know? My love-burst came, like an English Spring, in days when our hair was brown. And the hem of her skirt was a sacred thing, and her hair was an angel's crown. The shock when another man touched her arm, where the dancers sat in a row. The hope, the despair, and the false alarm – do you think that I do not know? By the arbour lights on the western farms, you remember the question put, While you held her warm in your quivering arms, and you trembled from head to foot. The electric shock from her finger-tips, and the murmuring answer low, The soft, shy yielding of warm red lips – do you think that I do not know? She was buried at Brighton, where Gordon sleeps, when I was a world away, And the sad old garden its secret keeps, for nobody knows to-day. She left a message for me to read, where the wild wide oceans flow. Do you know how the heart of a man can bleed? Do you think that I do not know? I stood by the grave where the dead girl lies, when the sunlit scenes were fair, Neath white clouds high in the autumn skies, and I answered the message there. But the haunting words of the dead to me shall go wherever I go. She lives in the Marriage that Might Have Been – do you think that I do not know? &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& There are (at least) two outstanding musical settings for this poem. One is by Slim Dusty, as recorded here by Priscilla Herdman. The other is by Chris Kempster. It was recorded by Declan Affley. I can't find that online, but there's nothing wrong with this recording of Chris Kempster's setting by Martyn Wyndham-Read. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Dec 20 - 09:34 PM Sandra, Loaded Dog sing Lawson's original words. Their tune is by Phil Roeterdink, a member of the band. R-J has posted a couple of songs by Doug Ashdown. Since we were born in the same city - Adelaide, South Australia - and he was the first live folk act that I saw back in the '60s, I thought I should post another of his songs. I couldn't find the lyrics on the Net so this is my transcription. THE SADDEST SONG OF ALL (D.Ashdown/J.Stewart) The papers got wet in the morning rain The birds sang - Friday started early that day Mr Albert Aloysius Jones rubbed the sleep out of his bones Ate his toast and he spoke her name His feet went off to find a train Same old way and his hand reached out to catch its pay There was much he didn’t know about his life The girl who typed his letters loved him better than his wife And he couldn’t hear the song the children sang He couldn’t see the trees behind the wall And he never heard the melody the bells played when they rang For the city sang the saddest song Mrs Milly Jones arose and ran a comb around her curls Did the washing and the ironing for 3 dirty little girls And her body glowed as she recalled that the man who sold the milk Still thought her young and sweet enough to say that she was made of silk And she smiled as she remembered all the things about his touch She wondered how a man like that could make her feel so much And then she cooked the dinner The Jones’ leaves were in a pile The children smiled and brought them breakfast on a tray Mr and Mrs Jones rubbed the sleep out of their bones Took the food and said, ‘thank you’ Then they wondered what to do with Saturday And her hand reached out to catch his pay And as he gave he smiled and called her ‘mother’ She spent some upon the children and rest upon her lovers And they couldn’t hear the song the children sang Couldn’t see the trees behind the wall And they never heard the melody the bells played when they rang For the city sang the saddest song of all Youtube clip I heard Ashdown at a small folk club called The Catacombs. Folk revival in Adelaide --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 26 Dec 20 - 07:50 PM I feel I should put in a little mention of Australia's fabulous Russian Men's Choir - from Mullumgrad in Northern NSW!! They are DUSTYESKY*** and don't speak Russian, just sing in it and they are now (well, pre-Covid) garnering world-wide attention - and the Russians love them!!! Watch this recent clip from ABC-TV's Australian Story program, about the group : https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2002Q034S00 ( their part starts at 13:10 ) : A wonderful fun and blokey experience! Na Zdorovie!!! (Nostrovia/Cheers!) R-J *** an "ESKY" (or "chillybin" in NZ), is an Australian portable icebox, first and foremost to keep yer beer cold. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 26 Dec 20 - 09:18 AM SING FOR NO-ONE (SING FOR EVERYONE) © Kavisha Mazzella, 2015 “There is a gypsy saying "Sing for No-one sing for everyone" I love this philosophy and it helps me put a perspective on what I'm here to do ...” Before we were born, song was there She pulled us from the womb for us she cared And whispered in our ears life's mystery And when we die she surely will be there Song says "Oh please use me, you're my voice, you're my hands Fashion me into a melody That tells the human story It's misery and glory Don't be silent that would be a tragedy!" Sing for no one sing for everyone . . . sing for we are servants of the song Sing for being together never mind the weather Sing for no one sing for everyone! Our instruments the weapons of our choice to disarm oppression with our voice Though we make an orphans choir we set all hearts on fire and angels weep as we do rejoice Sing for no one sing for everyone . . . sing for we are servants of the song Sing for being together never mind the weather Sing for no one sing for everyone! We cry because there's evil in this world watch the oyster as her art unfurls Why not turn your sorrow into a song tomorrow and let your tears become a string of pearls... Sing for no one sing for everyone . . . sing for we are servants of the song Sing for being together never mind the weather Sing for no one sing for everyone! Kavisha Mazzella sings this song here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSzgZCV9ikI If you are new to Kavisha, read something of her amazing musical History here – and be sure to checkout her many beautiful earlier compositions, too : https://www.kavisha.com/index.php/about/history e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY-bfG6PJYc WEDDING SHEETS, 1993 (re-recorded 2015) “ ….. is a song set after WW2. It describes the feelings of a young Italian bride who is coming out to Australia by boat to meet her husband for the first time.Many women experienced this way of migrating to the new world especially after WW2.It was called "Sposa Procura". Sometimes the marriages were very successful but other times, sadly, it was a disaster. I had the great fortune to meet these women whilst I was doing a community music project of traditional Italian folk song collection and songwriting the stories of the Italian migrants and formed a choir in Fremantle West Australia, in the late eighties called "The Joys Of The Women" It was then that I heard their true stories and wanted to create songs to tell their tales. Their story has also been documented in the award winning 1992 film "The Joys Of The Women" by Franco Di Chiera. ….. You can purchase the DVD of The Joys Of The Women from Electric Pictures, Fremantle West Australia http://electricpictures.com.au” Here is are 3 short music clips from 1992 about these earlier projects of Kavisha’s : https://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/joys-women/clip1/ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Dec 20 - 06:19 AM Flash Jack from Gundagai - trad I've shore at Burrabogie and I've shore at Toganmain I've shore at Big Willandra and out on the Coleraine But before the shearing was over I longed to get back again Shearing for old Tom Patterson on the One Tree Plain Chorus All among the wool boys all among the wool Keep your blades full boys keep your blades full I can do a respectable tally myself whenever I like to try And they know me round the backblocks as Flash Jack from Gundagai I've shore at Big Willandra and I've shore at Tilberoo And once I drew my blades boys upon the famed Barcoo At Cowan Downs and Trida as far as Moulamein But I was always glad to get back again to the One Tree Plain I've pinked them with the Wolseleys and I've rushed with B-bows too And shaved them in the grease boys with the grass seeds showing through But I never slummed a pen my lads whatever it might contain When shearing for Old Tom Patterson on the One Tree Plain I've been whaling up the Lachlan and I've dossed on Cooper's Creek And once I rung Cudjingie shed and blued it in a week But when Gabriel blows his trumpet lads I'll catch the morning train And push for Old Tom Patterson's on the One Tree Plain Audio Notes Printed in Paterson's Old Bush Songs with the note: "Wolsleys and B-bows are respectively machines and hand-shears, and 'pinking' means that he had shorn the sheep so closely that the pink skin showed through.... 'I rung Cudgingie shed and blued it in a week' i.e he was the ringer or the fastest shearer of the shed, and he dissipated his earnings in a single week's drunkeness.... 'Whaling up the Lachlan' In the old days there was an army of professional loafers who walked from station to station, ostensively to look for work, but without any idea of accepting it. These nomads often followed up and down certain rivers, and would camp for days and fish for cod in the bends of the river. Hence whaling up the Lachlan". The song was also published (without attribution) in The Land 4 July 1930. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Dec 20 - 05:56 AM When the Army Prays for Watty, poem by Henry Lawson When the kindly hours of darkness, save for light of moon and star, Hide the picture on the signboard over Doughty's Horse Bazaar; When the last rose-tint is fading on the distant mulga scrub, Then the Army prays for Watty at the entrance of his pub. Now, I often sit at Watty's when the night is very near, With a head that's full of jingles and the fumes of bottled beer, For I always have a fancy that, if I am over there When the Army prays for Watty, I'm included in the prayer. Watty lounges in his arm-chair, in its old accustomed place, With a fatherly expression on his round and passive face; And his arms are clasped before him in a calm, contented way, And he nods his head and dozes when he hears the Army pray. And I wonder does he ponder on the distant years and dim, Or his chances over yonder, when the Army prays for him? Has he not a fear connected with the warm place down below, Where, according to good Christians, all the publicans should go? But his features give no token of a feeling in his breast, Save of peace that is unbroken and a conscience well at rest; And we guzzle as we guzzled long before the Army came, And the loafers wait for `shouters' and -- they get there just the same. It would take a lot of praying -- lots of thumping on the drum -- To prepare our sinful, straying, erring souls for Kingdom Come; But I love my fellow-sinners, and I hope, upon the whole, That the Army gets a hearing when it prays for Watty's soul. audio from Loaded Dog -CD That there dog o' mine I don't have this Loaded Dog album, but I know the song from Dave de Hugard's version on "Songs of the wallaby track" Stewie, do Loaded Dog sing Henry's original words? When the Army Prays for Watty by Henry Lawson, as sung by Dave de Hugard When the kindly hours of darkness, 'cept for the light of moon and star, Hide the picture on the signboard over Watty's Horse Bazaar; When the last rose-tints are fading on the distant mulga scrub, The Salvos pray for Watty at the entrance of his pub. And I often sit at Watty's when the night is very near, With a head full of jingles and as I sip back me beer, For I sometimes have the fancy that, if I am over there When the Salvos prays for Watty, I'm included in the prayer. There's Watty in his arm-chair, in its old accustomed place, With a fatherly expression on his round passive face; And his folded arms before him in a calm, contented way, He nods his head and dozes when he hears the Salvos pray. And I wonder does he ponder on the distant years and dim, Or his chances over yonder, when the Salvos pray for him? Has he not a little fear of that hot place below, Where, according to the good Christians, all publicans should go? But his features give no token of a feeling in his breast, Except of peace unbroken and a conscience well at rest; And we guzzle as we guzzled long before the Salvos came, And the loafers wait for "shouters" and we all get there just the same. It'd take a lot of praying, lots of thumping on that drum To prepare our sinful, straying, erring souls for Kingdom Come; But I love my fellow-sinners, so I hope, upon the whole, That the Salvos get a hearing when they pray for Watty's soul. final verse is repeated. It'd take a lot of praying, lots of thumping on that drum To prepare our sinful, straying, erring souls for Kingdom Come; But I love my fellow-sinners, so I hope, upon the whole, That the Salvos get a hearing ... when they pray for Watty's soul. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 26 Dec 20 - 04:43 AM TUMBA-BLOODY-RUMBA Traditional He looked for work at muster-time. We tried him as a rider, We tried him as the rouseabout, and as the cook’s off-sider. He said he'd sailed the seven seas, he’d been up in Alaska, He’d been in every western state from Texas to Nebraska. Chorus (after each verse): He said he’d shorn a sheep or two, and cut a bit of lumber, And waged war on the kangaroos, at Tumba-bloody-rumba. We tried him as a shearer, we tried him as a stacker, We tried him digging rabbits out. He wasn’t worth a cracker. He had a shop in Singapore, he owned a pearling lugger, He was a champ at baccarat, Australian rules and rugger. He never showed his aptitude at jobs he was allotted, But showed his skill upon the booze, and cigarettes he blotted. He said he’d climbed the Matterhorn, he’d been a union leader, And years ago in Adelaide he was a pigeon breeder. We tried him digging fencing posts, we tried to find his caper, Until that happy pay-day when he got his piece of paper. I wonder where he is now, perhaps back on the lumber, Or shooting kanga-bloody-roos at Tumba-bloody-rumba. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Recorded by Warren Fahey. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 26 Dec 20 - 04:32 AM BLOODY ROTTEN AUDIENCE (Tony Miles) Well, here's a song I've written specifically for you Who sit out in the audience and talk through all I do I cannot understand it cause I'm pretty good, you see So there must be something wrong with you, there's nothing wrong with me Chorus (after each verse) You're a bloody rotten audience whilst I am very good If brains were made of oak and ash then you'd have balsa wood I'm ethnic and authentic and I'm really full of class While you're ignorant, you're cultureless, you're philistines en masse. I'm an artist and authority on music and what's more I'm incredibly informative on folksong and folklore I'm a wonderful performer and so you all must be So bloody thick and stupid not to like the likes of me I'm a folkie and that's obvious, you can tell it by me clothes And when I sing traditional, I sing it through me nose And if you persist in talking every time I sing a song I'll fix you with 'Bold Robin Hood', that's eighty verses long. And when I sing contemporary, my heart and soul are pure I must be bloody brilliant, cause my writing's so obscure My hero's Leonard Cohen, I dig him perfectly But I must be so much better, because no-one here digs me. But now I'm going to leave you, cause I feel I'm wasting time Couldn't possibly be wasting yours, so you must be wasting mine And let me tell you now that I'm not up here for me health So if you don't come and pull with me, I'll go and pull meself Ch.: You're a bloody rotten audience whilst I am very good If brains were made of oak and ash then you'd have balsa wood I'm ethnic and authentic and I'm really full of class But underneath it all I'm just a pain in the flipping ass. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Recording by Eric Bogle. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 26 Dec 20 - 04:29 AM THE DEATHS GO ON Peter Kearney Eddie Murray was drinking the night into day Police picked him up and took him away One hour later he was dead in his cell Took his own life – so police records tell Gone. And The Deaths Go On. Dying of 200 years. Robert Walker was lowered and beaten in hell In Broome, Dixon Green dropped dead in his cell John Pat, in Roebourne, was kicked to the ground They cleaned up his body - then the doctor came round Gone. And The Deaths Go On Dying of 200 years. The Coroner spoke from his smooth white face “Death by misadventure : the usual case” Charlie Michaels was bent like a bow on the floor His heart just snapped – he couldn’t take any more Gone. And The Deaths Go On. Dying of 200 Years. And how must it feel to be black in this land? When all of the power is in the white hand When that hand can suddenly turn to a fist – You’re no one. You’re nothing. You’ll hardly be missed Gone. And The Deaths Go On Gone. And The Deaths Go On GONE. (NB These lyrics reflect the Hammer & Tongues and No Strings Attached arrangements, rather than keeping strictly to Peter Kearney’s original song.) It’s nigh on 40 years since the death of Eddie Murray in police custody, which sparked public debate on these police crimes - and which eventually led to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, running from 1987-1990. Sadly, Eddie’s wasn’t the first death – and he certainly wasn’t the last - and the families of the young men in this song, and of many other Aboriginal men and women, are still trying to get some sort of justice from the Australian judicial system. The song was written by prolific singer-songwriter, Peter Kearney, and it won the Declan Affley Memorial Award at The National Folk Festival, for 1988. Peter is known for his “folk-hymns”, strong social justice/peace focus and indigenous and christian issues. However, the version that I sang with Darwin a cappella harmony group “No Strings Attached” was set to music by Perth’s Kerry Fletcher, and arranged with Phillip Griffin, for that fabulous West Aussie trio, “Hammer & Tongues”(Kerry Fletcher, Lyn Hazleton, Maria Wilson? ) who blew me away at the Maleny National Folk Festival in 1989. Very sad that their 1991 cassette “Voices Abreast” is not available on the internet, as all their songs were just great. Hopefully in the New Year, I’ll at least be able to post to my YT channel, a version by “No Strings” …… Here is Peter Kearney’s website : https://peterkearneysongs.com.au/home and this is his song version on YT : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqNd4DxxBW0 (although, I must confess that it doesn’t quite sound like I remember from the cassette I had, possibly with the group CROSSOVER (maybe just my aging memory?!) Plus it has an extra verse one may like to incorporate ……) Here is an Adelaide choir version using Kerry Fletcher’s setting, from The Tutti Ensemble : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyKhPId2tFw [“The original Tutti Choir : a performing choir and band with up to 75 participants over half of whom identify with disability.”] R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 26 Dec 20 - 04:27 AM WHERE THE DEAD MEN LIE Barcroft Boake Out on the wastes of the Never Never - That's where the dead men lie! There where the heat-waves dance forever - That's where the dead men lie! That's where the Earth's loved sons are keeping Endless tryst: not the west wind sweeping Feverish pinions can wake their sleeping - Out where the dead men lie! Where brown Summer and Death have mated - That's where the dead men lie! Loving with fiery lust unsated - That's where the dead men lie! Out where the grinning skulls bleach whitely Under the saltbush sparkling brightly; Out where the wild dogs chorus nightly - That's where the dead men lie! Deep in the yellow, flowing river - That's where the dead men lie! Under the banks where the shadows quiver - That's where the dead men lie! Where the platypus twists and doubles, Leaving a train of tiny bubbles. Rid at last of their earthly troubles - That's where the dead men lie! East and backward pale faces turning - That's how the dead men lie! Gaunt arms stretched with a voiceless yearning - That's how the dead men lie! Oft in the fragrant hush of nooning Hearing again their mother's crooning, Wrapt for aye in a dreamful swooning - That's how the dead men lie! Only the hand of Night can free them - That's when the dead men fly! Only the frightened cattle see them - See the dead men go by! Cloven hoofs beating out one measure, Bidding the stockmen know no leisure - That's when the dead men take their pleasure! That's when the dead men fly! Ask, too, the never-sleeping drover: He sees the dead pass by; Hearing them call to their friends - the plover, Hearing the dead men cry; Seeing their faces stealing, stealing, Hearing their laughter, pealing, pealing, Watching their grey forms wheeling, wheeling Round where the cattle lie! Strangled by thirst and fierce privation - That's how the dead men die! Out on Moneygrub's farthest station - That's how the dead men die! Hard-faced greybeards, youngsters callow; Some mounds cared for, some left fallow; Some deep down, yet others shallow. Some having but the sky. Moneygrub, as he sips his claret, Looks with complacent eye Down at his watch-chain, eighteen carat - There, in his club, hard by: Recks not that every link is stamped with Names of the men whose limbs are cramped with Too long lying in grave-mould, camped with Death where the dead men lie. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Recorded by Gerry Hallom, who only used stanzas 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8, and made some changes in the words. Also recorded, to a different tune, by Margaret Bradford. Nothing up on the web, to the best of my knowledge. Boake, born in 1866, wrote the poem in 1891, and took his own life in 1892. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 25 Dec 20 - 10:50 PM THE SPIRIT OF THE LAND - [2nd version] Hugh McDonald The rivers are dry across the land And the farmers’ fields have turned to sand 'Cause the rain hasn't come For two years, almost three The topsoil’s gone with the hot north wind The crops won't grow and rust set in And the cruel south wind of Winter brought no relief. Ch. And the old men in the public bar Talk of floods and droughts before The night goes on and the conversations die But the battlers don't give up It's written on their hands and in their eyes And the spirit of the land survives. On Saturday nights in the Royal Hotel Hank the Dutchman plays guitar He sings Country and Western favorites - and requests It used to be his second job A bit of a laugh for a couple of bob Now it's all he's got 'cause his crops all died from thirst. So he spent his savings on cattle and sheep He got some credit, got in too deep But stock won't graze on pastures turned to salt He tried to get work as a travelling man Selling Rawleighs products from the back of his van But the cockies all shop in town where things are cheap. chorus The school’s all rundown The roof’s rusted and the paint peeling The playground’s just a dustbowl; not a spot of green But kids still kick their footballs Sending dustclouds to the sun And it's good to know that drought can't spoil the fun. And in the cricketers’ lounge late at night Where the cockies talk and the shearers fight And their wives drink shandies 'cause they'll be driving home The talk centres around the price of wheat The lack of rain and the lack of sheep 'Cause credit’s stretched - and it won't stretch any more. Chorus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFIgEIvnL-E The late, renowned, Hugh McDonald, singing at Brisbane’s 1988 EXPO. This song is from the REDGUM album "Spirit Of The Land". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_McDonald_(Australian_musician) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 25 Dec 20 - 10:44 PM I recall singing this number in one annual MayDay Choir in Darwin, early 90s! SPIRIT OF THE LAND - [1st version] Martin Kellock When you look around, look at how we're living And you see the way that we treat those who stand in our way Always taking more, never ever giving Don't you feel ashamed, of what we're doing today? Wish I could repay, all our acts of desecration European eyes couldn't see beyond their own greed All the tribal land, all the native population How long must it go on, how long can they bleed? Chorus : Oh I, wish we could remember Maybe, then we'll understand They know, where the wealth is hidden They know, Spirit of the Land. Spirit of the Laa-and !!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo61FNMTHSY Spirit of the Land from Ross Hannaford’s Lucky Dog; lead vocal by composer Martin Kellock. The late, talented and zany, Ross Hannaford, now much missed. His best-known group was probably Daddy Cool but he was also a much sought-after session guitarist : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Hannaford “….. Ross at his best was a uniquely sublime musician, and the best I ever heard from him was always live. In his last few years he played superb R&R/R&B etc. at the St Andrews Pub with The Useful Members of Society - his solos on Neil Young's On The Beach in particular were as inspired, innovative and expressive as any electric guitar of that kind ever played by anyone ever, anywhere; and with his duos, trios and quartets at the hole in the wall venue of Claypots in Barkly Street St Kilda around the same time, his ineffably ethereal extemporisations on his own original themes were indescribably transporting…. “ Jacob Marley, YouTube channel. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Dec 20 - 06:52 PM that must have been a looooong time ago ... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 24 Dec 20 - 05:58 PM Sandra, I have the vinyl from back-in-the-day. But if the Fossickers have something they can put online, that would be excellent. Marg Walters ran a monthly singaround back then. For a while, the venue was Craig's place. Daisy was a baby then. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 24 Dec 20 - 09:01 AM THE BATAVIA SHANTY John Warner’s song of the tragic and grisly tale of shipwreck, mutiny and slaughter in Houtman’s Abrolhos, a group of islands off the central coast of Western Australia, in 1629 by renegade sailors of the Dutch East India Company. Nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, tea Heave and fall on the southern swells Fill the holds of the VOC Roll Batavia down But down in stout Batavia’s hold There’s a massive weight of jewels and gold Quarter-million guilders worth, all told Roll Batavia down. For months the murderous plot’s been laid Heave and fall on the southern swells To slip away from the ships of trade Roll Batavia down Make passage south to the unknown land Turn buccaneer as the skipper has planned Slaughter all others out of hand Roll Batavia down. What’s that gleam on the larboard quarter? Heave and fall on the southern swells Moonlight glinting on the water Roll Batavia down No moonlight here, but the crashing wave The lookout cries too late to save Batavia from her island grave Roll Batavia down Now some did drown and some made land Heave and fall on the southern swells But few can hide from death’s cold hand Roll Batavia down The sword and dagger do their work Who knows where bloody murderers lurk To silence traitors with a dirk Roll Batavia down The commander’s gone and the captain too, Heave and fall on the southern swells Along with the best of the barge’s crew Roll Batavia down Protection that they might have made By this desertion is betrayed Throats stretched to the slaughterer’s blade Roll Batavia down The rescue ship has come too late Heave and fall on the southern swells For those who met a bloody fate Roll Batavia down The thieves have paid for their plunder dear Trial and torture, pain and fear Death for every mutineer Roll Batavia down Stark the creaking scaffolds stand Heave and fall on the southern swells The dead swing over the blowing sand Roll Batavia down They say that dead men tell no tales Who knows but many a spirit wails In the cold lament of the southern gales Roll Batavia down Batavia : Words and Tune : John Warner “The Batavia sailed with a convoy to Java on her maiden voyage in 1628, laden with jewels and gold for the Dutch East India Company (the VOC). In a plot by Jeronimus Cornelisz the vessel was parted from the fleet and inadvertently wrecked on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands off the coast of Western Australia. [While Captain Pelsaert and some crew sailed a longboat to Java to get help,] Over a two-month period Cornelisz and his companions slaughtered 125 of the 200 survivors of the wreck, planning to seize the rescue vessel and turn pirate. They were foiled by a group of loyal soldiers led by Wiebbe Hayes and [when Pelsaert returned,] a dreadful justice was finally meted out to Cornelisz and the other mutineers.” https://40degrees-south.com/cds/life-of-brine/notes/#2 The WIKI Tale : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batavia_(1628_ship) : of the 332 originally on board, 122 people made it to Java. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3ecidTxr18 – Daniel Kelly sings JW’s Batavia Shanty R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Dec 20 - 05:11 AM Gerry, The Fossikers sing 'Used to be a River' as Craig's daughter is a member. I can ask them if they have a recording sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 24 Dec 20 - 04:21 AM SALVATION JANE words and music: Fay White (With some changes made by the folk process. It thanks John Warner) In the Flinders Ranges grows a flower glorious to see Pink and purple, paddocks full, a goldmine for the bee For its nectar yields a blending honey and its pollen's a link in the chain Giving food for the hive so the bee-keeper blesses it And calls it Salvation Jane But across the border in New South Wales it's a different kind of scene For the flower infests the western plain - down to the Riverine And it gives the cattle a liver disease that affects the grazier's purse So he sees the weed with a jaded eye And calls it Paterson's Curse Salvation Jane, Salvation Jane Adverse? Converse?, is it Paterson’s Curse Or is it Salvation Jane? Cross the border again to South Australia for the farmer's voice to hear He says that the weed grows greener longer and later in the year So it feeds your cattle in droughty weather and fattens them nicely too It's no great trouble if you manage it well Just depends on your point of view Well I know some folks whose hearts are like a paddock ploughed and bare Fertile ground for growing good grain and reaping a harvest there But with constant, constant care they’re watering seeds of pain And they’re reaping a crop of Paterson's curse And not Salvation Jane Salvation Jane, Salvation Jane, For better or worse, turn Paterson's Curse Into Salvation Jane. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Fay White writes, "Salvation Jane/Paterson's Curse is a harmful pasture weed in eastern Australia but it sustains livestock in times of drought. The ambivalent nature of this biennial plant gives us a quaint metaphor for how we handle our lives - happiness and excess grief aren't dealt out by fate, but are choices we make ourselves." Recorded by Jill Stevens on the album Desert Rain, Restless RRP016. No recordings available online, so far as I know. My thanks to Margaret Walters for contacting Fay White, and to Fay White for her permission to post these lyrics. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 24 Dec 20 - 04:03 AM The Garden (Kate Fagan) I knew a woman who lived alone, Saving seeds and lifting stones, Watching leaves and moving(?) bones Until she built a garden. A garden for her broken heart , A garden like a poet's art, Lines of flowers to stop and start The seasons in her garden Calling all you women, calling all you men. The garden of our future is planted in our names. Food to feed the many, birds to sing a song. It's a garden for our children even if we plant alone I knew a woman who loved to sing, She had a song for everything. A song for Winter, a song for Spring, A song to fill a garden. Even when the sky was gray She'd find a verse to greet the day, A tune to see her on her way, To carry in her garden Calling all you women, calling all you men. The songs that we remember, we sing them in our names. Words to hold the many, music to bring us home, They're stories for our children even if we sing alone. I knew a girl who loved to dance, Held the world in both her hands, Every flower, every plant She tended in her garden. Roses for her mother's heart, A friesia by the circle path, Bluebells, daffodils, sweet blue grass, She planted in her garden Calling all you women, calling all you men. The garden of their future is planted in our names. Food to feed the many, birds to sing a song, It's a garden for our children even if we plant alone Calling all you women, calling all you men. The garden of our future is planted in their names. Food to feed the many, birds to sing a song, It's a garden for our children that we never plant alone. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Recorded by Margaret and Bob Fagan on the 2019 CD, Landmarks on the Journey, FMCD007. Not on the internet, so far as I know. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 24 Dec 20 - 03:55 AM Shelter Eric Bogle I'm drowning in the sunshine as it pours down from the skies There's something stirring in my heart, bright colours fill my eyes As from here to the far horizon your beauty does unfold And oh, you look so lovely, dressed in green and gold And I can almost touch the ocean, shimmering in the distant haze As I stand here on this mountain on this loveliest day of days Round half the world I've drifted, left no wild oats unsown But now my view has shifted and I think I've just come home To the homeless and the hungry, may you always open doors May the restless and the weary find safe harbour on your shores May you always be our dreamtime place, our spirit's glad release May you always be our shelter, may we always live in peace I'm drowning in the sunshine as it pours down from the skies There's something stirring in my heart, bright colours fill my eyes As from here to the far horizon your beauty does unfold And oh, you look so lovely, dressed in green and gold Here's a recording. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 24 Dec 20 - 03:47 AM Used to Be a River Craig Edmondson 1. This used to be a river (used to be a river) But now it is a sewer (now it is a sewer) But it used to be a river, And I wonder where the river got to go. Chorus: These changes, I have seen, I have seen To the people and the places Dear to me, dear to me. 2. This used to be a mountain (used to be a mountain) But now it is a golf course (now it is a golf course) But it used to be a mountain, And I wonder where the mountain got to go. Chorus 3. This used to be a forest (used to be a forest) But now it is a Kmart (now it is a Kmart) But it used to be a forest, And I wonder where the forest got to go. Chorus 4. You used to be my baby (used to be my baby) But now you are a stranger (now you are a stranger) But you used to be my baby, And I wonder where my baby got to go. Chorus &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Recording by Craig Edmondson, from the 1987 vinyl Bondi Road, Restless RRP019. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 24 Dec 20 - 03:41 AM And the Band Played "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" Tony Miles When I was a young man and played a guitar I lived the free life of a rover. From Brisbane's green river to dusty folk clubs I waltzed my old Martin all over. And at each club I played, the people said ‘Son, We do like your songs’, but when I was done They'd leap on the stage saying "Now I'll sing one" And this is the song that they'd sing. 1st Chorus: 'And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda', Then the audience soon forgot me And amidst all the tears, flag waving and cheers, I'd slip to the loo for a pee. How well I remembered that terrible day, How my blood boiled much hotter than water. For up to that time I'd been well on the way To winning the publican's daughter. Johnny Turk, he was singing and sang the song well, I showered him with insults and truth is to tell, I wished Eric Bogle had gone straight to hell And never had come to Australia. 2nd Chorus: 'And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda' was such a well loved refrain that when Johnny Turk had finished the berk Started all over again. And now every April I sit on my porch And watch my past life pass before me. And I wished I had written that rambling song That brought Eric Bogle such glory. And the songs what I wrote, I don't sing them no more They're tired old songs from a tired old bore And the young people ask ‘What did he write them for?’ And I ask myself the same question. 3rd Chorus: 'And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda' - How the singers respond to that call, And as year passes year all my hopes disappear That no one will sing it at all |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 24 Dec 20 - 03:15 AM NOTE TO FOLLOWERS OF THIS THREAD : Sorry for promising the new spreadsheets of the thread's CONTENTS up to the Solstice, but I figured most folks will be off celebrating the coming of this year's end (!) and it makes more sense to close off Edition One on Dec 31st. As Sandra said previously, if you'd like a copy of the two emailed spreadsheets, just PM me (or her) with an email addy (or post it here in code, LoL) Seasons Greetings, R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 24 Dec 20 - 02:45 AM Further to yesterday’s song about The Female Factory, here is a composition from Canadian?? singer-songwriter Catherine Doucet (yes very Joni-like!), Mary Hindle: Ballad of a Female Convict Down Under https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9fl_ZAQCnE “This song is based on research of the life of Mary Hindle, a young woman falsely accused of a crime and sent to the penal colony of New South Wales, Australia in 1826. Her punishment was hard labour at the Parramatta Female Factory. 15 years into her sentence, her family died. Shortly thereafter, she took her life.” Today, I came across this most interesting website and research by Dr. Heather Blasdale-Clarke : http://www.colonialdance.com.au/ Australian Colonial Dance : The History of Music and Dance in Australia 1788-1840 and some pages regarding Song and Dance in the Convict Realms : http://www.colonialdance.com.au/convict-research and these song links on the pages make interesting reading (well, what else is one to do on The Eve of Merry Bah-Humbug, Down Under?!) : Auld Robin Grey Drops of Brandy King of the Cannibal Islands Michael Wiggins Off She Goes Tekeli Apparently the song “King of the Cannibal Islands” [i.e. FIJI - and referenced in a number of the Old Sydney Town police reports included here] fell out of currency in Australia, but continues in America …………………….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNnl63U4bTA You will note that the female of the species received harsher sentence for disturbing the peace by Singing; namely lengthy times in Mrs Gordon’s establishment (i.e. The Female Factory), whereas the menfolk copped a small fine or a few hours in the stocks. Such was Life. HOWEVER, some of the Dancing men were “Sentenced to dance the mazy round of Mr. Murray’s spiritual rectifier [aka the treadmill]” for a few days - not so good :( But all-in-all, the website does give evidence of another side to early Colonial life, for “the lower orders”!! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Dec 20 - 08:36 AM THE FEMALE FACTORY John Hospadaryk Monday morning, Old Stringybark comes out to take a peep At the best-behaved girls who stand in line like dirty sheep It’s one way to get a pardon by being sold, by being married off to some cove who’s far too old Might be better than this place of infamy Might be better than this stinking hole : The Female Factory. Within the hour the Reverend Marsden will have you given away Oh, you’ll be taken up- country somewhere ‘fore the end of the day And when you think about it, it could have been a lot worse For the Authorities there, they were not averse to using the Cat o’ Nine Tails or shaving your head And you personally knew some girls who made sure they left that place dead. Let’s not mince words : if you’re not high-born, you’re a whore And the best that you’ll be called is ‘unfortunate wretch’ and nothing more You were savaged on the transport ships, you were raped in Sydney Town You were forced to give them favours on the barge that brought you down You were forced to live in filth, but what is even worse is that your sex and class have no redress Small wonder that you curse. Monday morning, Old Stringybark comes out to take a peep. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSZB-52gdg Chloe & Jason Roweth (BATTLER’s BALLAD), in 2012. WIKI : “Female factories were based on British bridewells, prisons and workhouses. They were for women convicts transported to the penal colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. An estimated 9,000 convict women were in the 13 female factories, in the colonies of NSW and Van Diemen's Land. This spanned a period of 52 years -1804 to 1856. An estimated 1 in 5 to 1 in 7 Australians are related to these women. The factories were called factories because each was a site of production. The women produced spun wool and flax in all the factories. In the main factories other work was undertaken such as sewing, stocking knitting and straw plaiting. Hard labour included rock breaking and oakum picking.[1] Women were sent to the female factories while awaiting assignment to a household or while awaiting childbirth or weaning or as punishment.” https://femalefactoryonline.org/about/history/parramatta-female-factory/ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Dec 20 - 07:41 AM WINTER IN AMERICA (1976) (orig. Leave Love Enough Alone, 1974) Doug Ashdown & Jimmy Stewart The harbour's misty in the morning love Oh how I miss December The Frangipani opens up to kiss the salty air I know you're getting ready for the office I suppose he's still there With you, sharing our morning sun. ch: Winter in America is cold And I just keep growing older I wish I could have known Enough of love to leave love enough alone. I've learned something of love I wish I’d known before you left me But it's funny how you don't know what you've got Until it's gone And I hope you're getting all the love you’ve ever wanted But I wish I was there With you, sharing our morning sun. I wake into the sadness of the rain And making love to strangers And wishing I had known Enough of love to leave love enough alone. Winter in America is cold And I just keep growing older I wish I could have known Enough of love to leave love enough alone. Winter in America is cold And I just keep growing older I wish I could have known Enough of love to leave love enough alone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi12rCeWD1A : Doug Ashdown, c. 1976 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Ashdown Version by Australia’s Margret RoadKnight (and a Mudcatter!) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1npgoO0mL0k R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Dec 20 - 07:00 AM ANTIQUE ANNIE'S MAGIC LANTERN SHOW (Jimmy Stewart & Doug Ashdown) Porcelain plates and penny-farthings Places you can visit now from long ago Ruby rings and old brass hearthings Chippendale, mahoganies that glow Children's music, box-ed cameos At ‘Antique Annie's Magic Lantern Show’ Come and see her wares Climb three flights of stairs Come and see her face at a place They call Antique Bentley-driven Edgecliff ladies Touch and tease, and toil and spoil her show Dainty, dusty, Dresden dancers Answers Annie sweetly, bowing low Annie answers all that you wish to know At ‘Antique Annie's Magic Lantern Show’ They bought her coloured glass They thought that they’d bought her past Through the silver and the lace at a place They called Antique Chippendale, mahoganies that glow Children's music, boxed cameos At ‘Antique Annie's Magic Lantern Show’ Come and see her wares Climb three flights of stairs Come and see her face at a place They call Antique …. Antique https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEA-40wWa7M Marian Henderson’s beautiful rendition from her 1970 “Cameo” album, which became ‘collectable’ (I still have my LP!) Here is the version by co-writer, Doug Ashdown, an Adelaide boy, from his 1970 album “The Age of Mouse” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mROiP4s2u1c R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Dec 20 - 05:11 AM Thanks for posting John’s Fitzgerald Inquiry song, Sandra! Yes, sadly The Bellevue is merely one of MANY heritage buildings throughout Australia, destroyed (IMHO) mostly by greedy Councils and State Govts in the pockets of Developers – and mostly they seem to be replaced by buildings of absolutely ZILCH architectural qualities etc ….. (IMHO, of course!) Back to the Song Posts : I think we’re overdue for a WARHORSE, and I don’t think we’ve had this one yet : THE CONVICT MAID trad You lads and lasses all attend to me While I relate my tale of misery By hopeless love was I once betrayed And now I am, alas, a convict maid. To please my lover did I try full sore I spent upon him all of my master’s store Who in his wrath did so loud upbraid And brought before the judge this convict maid. The judge his sentence then to me addressed Which filled with agony my aching breast To Botany Bay you must be conveyed For seven long years to be a convict maid. For seven long years I toiled in pain and grief And cursed the day that I became a thief Oh had I stuck by some honest trade I’d ne’er have been, alas, a convict maid. This is, I think, the most basic version of the story (it’s the one I remember singing in my youth, anyway!) In those days it was sung to good effect by Marian Henderson, as in this clip : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbct0Jd5X6g The tune is also known as “The Croppy Boy” & “McCaffery” and even “Lord Franklin” is related …. AND THEN THERE’S THIS VERSION : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEE7mQ0fAzQ by Melbourne trio, “BUSH GOTHIC” “Bush Gothic wander through the dankest, weirdest corners of the trad song books and emerge as post modern slash anti establishment slash folk feminists. Are they outsiders, lurking on the cultural fringe? Or have they penetrated to the inner core of Australian identity? BBC Music Magazine gave them FIVE STARS and they are multiple Best Music Award winners at The Adelaide Fringe.” ‘Rising folk stars, inventive and edgy’ - The Guardian 'Extraordinary, even revolutionary. Unforgettable folk.' - The Canberra Times 'Rescues Australian folk from the world of beards and blue jeans.' - The Age From their website bio. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Dec 20 - 02:25 AM BICYCLE BUILT FOR THREE by Noel Gardner, 2016. winner of the 2018 Dengate Parody Competition, Illawarra Folk Festival. Malcolm, Malcolm give us some answers do We thought, you had principles, but I guess we hadn’t a clue It seemed like a stylish marriage, leather jacket and gold carriage But now your, not so sweet, upon that seat, with Pauline and Tony to Malcolm Malcolm, the blue sweater is more your style Mr Harbour Side Mansion, making money and flashy smile Trusts and Cayman havens, reduced tax, with offshore trading You slather your mates, reduce welfare rates, a right wing repertoire Malcolm Malcolm, the vision you sold was a lie Your born to rule mentality, is now well magnified You sold us a pup for powe, as you climbed your way up the tower As the walls cave in, you morph into spin, with shallowness quantified Malcolm Malcolm, how far right, are you willing to go To outflank Pauline, and appease your bed fellows Refugees are now dispensable, your lack of caring, reprehensible Your appeasement to win is such a sin, clearly you were all show Malcolm, Malcolm you really are such a hack Rupert’s lap dog, Mr Elite just spreading his crap You spruik the coal companies message, attack renewable energy You banker toff why don’t you piss off, and give us our future back Malcolm, Malcolm give us some answers do We thought, you had principles, but I guess we hadn’t a clue It seemed like a stylish marriage, leather jacket and gold carriage But now you're not so sweet, upon that seat, with Pauline and Tony too Noel Gardner 1/11/16 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Dec 20 - 02:01 AM Queensland policeman (Fitzgerald Enquiry) by john Dengate. Tune New England Cocky, 'Twas a Queensland policeman, or so I've been told Whose pockets were bulging with ill-gotten gold. Though his salary was modest, his rake-offs were big: Corruption had made him a very fat pig. He did not build his house out of sticks or of straw; He built it of bricks and he dead-locked the door. But when the big bad wolf enquired at his gates, The pig got so scared that he dobbed in his mates. "Well, I may be a pig, but my voice is in key, A bloody canary's got nothing on me." And his song was so long, by the end of the day, He had sung the Commissioner's super away. Well he dobbed and he snitched and he warbled and trilled Till right across Queensland his guts he had spilled. From Brisbane to Cooktown his singing was heard And Mr Fitzgerald wrote down every word. Now all you bent coppers, take warning from me, Steer clear of the brothels, the drups and the S.P. though the wages of sin are exceedingly great; Remember the bagman and don't trust your mate. John's note - Inspired by a comment of an ex-wharfie mate of mine: "I couldn't care less about the corruption; it's the dobbing I can't stand". page 45 'My Shout again', Malaney, Qld, 1989 dobbed/snitched - told tales, (a great sin in all circles, whether it is the innocent, foreign-born child telling the teacher she was blaming the wrong pupil & naming the one who misbehaved, or in adult circles, both suburban or criminal) super - Superannuation/pension S.P. - Starting Price, gambling on horses, an illegal activity |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Dec 20 - 01:41 AM I've just delved, & wow! I was in Brisbane in August 79, just before the Bellevue Hotel was destroyed - Bellvue hotel demolition I was visiting a friend & she drove me past the gutted, balcony-less building. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Dec 20 - 12:23 AM Thanks Stewie, for The Hills of Coromandel – the late Phil Garland is certainly an ENZED National Treasure. My last posting of “Brisbane Blacks” c.1982 reminded me that I had recently come across this number - “PIG CITY” by The Parameters, 1983 - in the notorious JOH (Bjelke Peterson) ERA. In an earlier time, a protest song like this would surely have come from The Folk Movement!! I have just ordered Andrew Stafford’s publication of the same title, which should make interesting reading!! Here is Pig City : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehx4CZSsojI [and where a Commenter observed : “The not so funny thing was that neither Goss [next Labor premier] nor the Fitzgerald Enquiry, gaoled a single member of the various arms of Joh's secret police” …………] I will post the lyrics “next year” when I further research songs of that very lengthy tyranical and corrupt era. I look forward to delving into this website : http://radicaltimes.info/ Radical Times Archive : "Collect, Preserve, and Share" “An audio-visual archival resource focusing on radical activism around Australia, particularly during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s (although resources are not restricted exclusively to this time period). The archive recovers "lost" and rare independent Australian documentaries (also vérité footage of historical significance) in order to preserve these films, videos and audio for posterity before they reach end of life and disappear permanently. The focus is on visual/aural material.....the archive currently has 204 film streams and 91 audio streams. While the focus is on Australian resources, there is an international section featuring films made outside Australia by Australians. To round out the collection and provide context, printed matter, photos, and other images are included where possible. Not only is this archive designed as a tool for appreciating and understanding the past, it is also hoped it will provide perspective and ideas for future endeavours for social and political action.” R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 22 Dec 20 - 11:46 PM BRISBANE BLACKS Dennis ‘Mop’ Conlon {Verse 1} On TV I saw a story, of the Brisbane Blacks A story that is touching, a story that is right In the story, a group of people sitting in a park Drinking in harmony, drinking until dark {Chorus 1} You wonder why they’re like that Those so-called “drunken blacks” They know that they’ve done no wrong But the pressure from society is strong {Verse 2} Every day, each passing day, our culture slowly dies Like a piece of paper thrown onto a fire Now all we’ve got is ancient weapons, now is our only trade Compared to all the immigrants, look how much we’ve made {Chorus 2} You look down through your noses to see The Black-man problem down at your feet With weary eyes looking up at you Waiting for the message to get through {Verse 3} Now it’s time for them to sleep, and it’s not in a bed But in some warm surroundings, in a park or in a shed Warmed only by the grog that’s been drunk through the day Warmed only by the grog, the killer of his mates {Chorus 3} The very first Australians around The very first people to be down And why we fight, is to be recognised Only to be felt by your blind eyes Yes, only to be felt by your blind eyes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAIZIPvuKrE&t=20s Brisbane Blacks: Mop and the Dropouts (aka Denis Conlon and the Magpies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSMIVejAQt0 Brisbane Blacks: The Story of Mop and the Dropouts ..... a video by Ben Carr, 2010 (10mins13secs) “Brisbane 1982: The Commonwealth Games were on. A land rights movement was taking place, and a little known band from Cherbourg was about to make history. Despite what Dennis 'Mop' Conlon knew when writing the song Brisbane Blacks, he could not have anticipated it would go on to become an anthem and define a period in time. Looking back on the history of the band, but also the political and social climate of Brisbane in the 1970's and 80's, the film delves into why Aboriginal people needed a voice to stand up against a conservative and racist government. As Dennis Conlon says, "We're not into politics, we play music." However, being in a band at the time and being aboriginal, Mop and the Dropouts couldn't help but be political.” Cherbourg : This was originally known as Barambah (the 1840s pastoral run), and is now an Aboriginal community, NW of Brisbane, outside the town of Murgon. “The history of Cherbourg is one of Aboriginal people being forcibly removed and brought from all over Queensland and Northern New South Wales to a newly formed government reserve. Under the Aborigines Protection Act of 1897 the settlement then called Barambah, was gazetted and established in 1904.” “The Cherbourg Memory ….. we offer you a window to our world – the Aboriginal people in South East Queensland, Australia. On this site we tell stories of our people – why they were brought here and what they have become over the 110 years they have lived here. It is a difficult and sometimes sad story, but it is essentially a story of survival and hope” : https://rationshed.com.au/about-cherbourg/ “Mothers Eyes” by Mop and the Dropouts : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_picsVjFlU R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Dec 20 - 09:29 PM Another good'un from the land of the long white cloud. R-J, back in September you indicated that it was one of your NZ favourites. HILLS OF COROMANDEL (Dave Jordan) The hills grow ancient, green and tall, as they have always done there And press together over all, to shield the earth from sun there Seedlings grow, young trees grow old, old ones die and turn to mould Till bush returns to hills once clear, and man, it seems, was never there But the apple trees still bloom each year in the hills of Coromandel It was the gold that brought the men when thousands here did rally Their secret shattered shafts remain, abandoned in the valley Roads they fashioned in the clay are overgrown or washed away And fences built by settlers' hands are gone restoring broken lands And a rusted gateway lonely stands in the hills of Coromandel No more the taverns where they stood, no more the thousand people And timber church is gone for good with ruined, rotted steeple It's years now since the miner came to work the gold, exhaust his claim Then leave the place for better game than that he'd found, but just the same The toppled tombstones bear their names in the hills of Coromandel Those days of gold are past and gone with the men who took their chances The bush is slowly marching on in a silence no one answers Now birds call loud to empty air - no one comes, there's nothing there But a gate that's open to nowhere and names on sandstone faint but clear And the apple trees that bloom each year in the hills of Coromandel Youtube clip Dave Jordan --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Dec 20 - 09:11 PM Bugger! My apologies, R-J, for doubling up on your post. I normally check by using the 'find' function on my Mac, but failed to do so yesterday. I saw your resile post. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 22 Dec 20 - 06:35 AM CATTLE AND CANE Robert Forster / Grant McLennan As performed by Brisbane’s “The Go-Betweens”, 1983 I recall, a schoolboy coming home through fields of cane to a house of tin and timber and in the sky a rain of falling cinders from time to time the waste, memory-wastes I recall a boy in bigger pants like everyone just waiting for a chance his father's watch he left it in the showers from time to time the waste, memory-wastes I recall, a bigger brighter world a world of books and silent times in thought and then the railroad the railroad takes him home through fields of cattle through fields of cane from time to time the waste, memory-wastes and the waste, memory-wastes spoken interlude further … longer … higher … older … The Go-Betweens, 1983 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCbyByY-A6w Line-up for this song : / Grant McLennan (bass, vocals / Robert Forster (guitar, vocals) / Lindy Morrison (drummer, backing vocals). WIKI on the song : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_and_Cane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i76J4kO8eCA Cattle and Cane, as sung in 1999 by Aboriginal singer, Jimmy Little Here is Jimmy’s Hit of “Royal Telephone” on Bandstone in 1963 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPVjJaa8fXI WIKI on Jimmy Little : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Little R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 22 Dec 20 - 03:48 AM Sorry Stewie! BLACK BOY was posted and linked exactly one month ago, on 21st Nov!! This is why we need the alphabetical spreadsheet nowadays :) Cheers, R-J PS Hope you read my recant/resile post of the 20th, re the proposed thread split? I have indeed seen The Light, haha! :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 21 Dec 20 - 07:31 PM Iconic song by a band from outback South Australia. BLACK BOY (Coloured Stone) A shy black boy you came to the city To learn about life and how its people are He's very stubborn, he was just a child And now his life is mystified Chorus: Black boy, black boy Black boy, black boy The colour of your skin is your pride and joy Black boy, black boy, Black boy, black boy, Your life is not destroyed He didn't know school but they called him black boy He hardly talked to the girls and boys Don't be a fool just obey the rules 'Cause you'll just learn the truth Chorus And one day you'll grow up to be a man To learn and live and understand Sticks and stones may break your bones But names will never hurt you You'll be the one who's having fun So you just keep learning on Chorus Youtube clip There is a Wikipedia article on Coloured Stone, but I could not link it here because it has an incorrect address. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 21 Dec 20 - 09:20 AM CALM AND CRYSTAL CLEAR -- Neil Murray -- Looking out on the back roads of my life There's me again as a five year old child Staring at the broken toys scattered in the sand Knowing deep inside I was already an old man This road unravels out of darkness now toward me I feel the world stretch out vast now before me We live and dream in an ancient hallowed land Some things that happen we may never understand For I hear the voices of the past (Sing of rage and relief Revelation’s come at last (And it's keeping me from sleep And it's coming to me (I hear the word and it's calm and crystal clear Yes it's coming to my life Calm and crystal clear We are bound for an unknown destination The stars above offer no consolation We all live and breathe and die alone together Some place some day we'll leave our bones to the weather But just like the smell of rain on the wind far away A little truth arrives at the dying of each day I wish the mountain would come and take me in her arms I don't care what happens I won't come to any harm For I hear the voices of the past (Sing of rage and relief The Revelation’s come at last (And it's keeping me from sleep Well it's coming to me (I hear the word and it's calm and crystal clear Yes it's coming to my life Calm and crystal clear (I hear the word and it's calm and crystal clear) I hear the word and it's calm and crystal clear (I see the world and it's coming oh so near) I see the world and it's coming oh so near I hear the word and it's calm and crystal clear I see the world and it's coming oh so near Come into my life (Calm and crystal clear Come into my life (Calm and crystal clear Come into my life Listen Here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnp4-YlrCaw (this 1989 vidclip has a one-line upload glitch, but is slightly better visual quality than the other available copy….) Some background at the time on the post-Wurumpi Band Neil Murray : http://members.iinet.net.au/~jscott/nmurray/ccc_promo.htm http://members.iinet.net.au/~jscott/nmurray/article_spiritual_element.htm His 1993 semi-autobiographical novel : SING FOR ME, COUNTRYMAN and NATIVE BORN (songs of Neil Murray) - are still available : http://www.neilmurray.com.au/index.html R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 21 Dec 20 - 09:13 AM I'm pleased to be able to report that the revamped LIST of Oz/NZ Songs (Lyrics-Links) posted to this thread - now as a spreadsheet - is almost ready to distribute - just waiting for the Solstice to be done. Dec 21st : that's the cut-off date for this first edition of the Excel spreadsheet, with one sorted by title and another by date posted. Cheers, Rich-Joy :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Dec 20 - 08:00 AM Woodturner's Love Song Words & Music: Phyl Lobl If I had a piece of Maple, red or white or pink, I'd turn you a set of chair legs so you could sit and think. And when you sit and think love I hope you'll think of me, For I'd like to be there in your thoughts if not in your company. If I had a piece of Coachwood white and fine and pure, I'd turn you a handle smooth and round, a handle for your door. And when I come to see you, you could make that handle spin, And open up the door my dear, to let your true love in. If I had a piece of Silky Oak of even textured grain, I’d turn you a lamp stand for your light, tapered tall and plain. And when you turn your light on, I hope it'll be for me, For you're the light of my life, the only one for me. If I had a piece of Cedar, the grain well shot with red, I'd turn you a set of corner posts for a fine double bed. A bed for you to lie on with the one that you love best, But I hope you'd lie with me love and farewell all the rest. Yes I'm a turner, that's my trade, as you can plainly see, But the thing I'd really like to turn is to turn your heart to me. Alas in that I have no skill, I've never learnt the art, And Cedar, Maple and Silky Oak don't make a lover's heart*. If I had a piece of each of these with singing strings tuned fine, I'd turn them into an instrument to ease this heart of mine. I'd let my fingers do the work that words can't quite make plain, They'd tell you then about love's joy and also of love's pain. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audio This song was written in the early seventies. I wanted to write a song about industrial realities for wood-turners. I interviewed a woodturner Neil Bollingmoore and it became a love song when he spoke so lovingly about wood that I wrote a love song about someone who had much love to give but was shy and un-sure. Some years later he rang and asked for the song as he was getting married. A few (too few) years after that his widow rang and wanted the song again to play at his funeral. Some years later I asked an instrument maker (ROCKY CREEK STRINGS) to make me an all wooden Banjolele made of those woods. I added a verse. I also now repeat the last line of each verse. The last verse is coloured by my own widowhood and Geri Lobl's love of Fritz Kreisler's compositions for violin LOVE'S JOY - Liebesfreud and LOVE'S SORROW - Liebesleid lover's instead of woman's is more universal. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 21 Dec 20 - 05:10 AM Shoalhaven Man Words & Music: Geoff Drummond I was a timber cutter, up in the Cambewarra, long before your mother ever gave you a thought. There was no fancy schoolin' then, just some pioneering men. The land was our teacher, hard lessons she taught. I swung an axe handle before I was eight years old; cuttin' the timber and carryin' the load. Then down to the Currumbeen, beside some old bullock team. We took what we needed, but we let the rest go. Chorus: It was a wonderful land. I'm a Shoalhaven man. From the slopes of the mountain to the shores of the sea; A 'bushie' am I and I'll stay till I die. Shoalhaven's the country for me. Now I ain't no saint, and I ain't no bloody scientist But I still got my eyes and a feel for this land. In sixty years of bravin' the bush of the Shoalhaven I've seen me some changes and they're terrible plain. Now the time came when some of them big city business men Bought boxes to put their retirements in And they redone Vincentia as a three bedroom brick veneer And sold 'em off for holidays to make a few quid. Chorus: They come for the stars at night, they come for the peace and quiet. They come for the bushland that no man can claim. And they call themselves locals with their haemorrhoids and their ulcers... It's the damn city livin' that they've got to blame. They don't like the snakes, so they flatten the greenery. They can't take the spiders so they Baygon the halls. And they bulldozed Culburra till it looked like Parramatta. God! I wonder why they ever went movin' at all. Chorus: It was a wonderful land till the damn caravans spread like cancer from Canberra to the coast of the sea. And it makes a man cry to see his land die. No she ain't the place she used to be. But, she's my home, and she's the country for me. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Here are some notes on the song, by Pat Drummond. This is another of Geoff's songs; one which I left with the Bushwackers in 1986 when I was filling in on guitar with them. A classic tale of early timbergetters and the respect they had for the land, this song finally achieved the recognition it deserved at Tamworth last year. The song was released by the Bushwackers, who were nominated in the nationally televised 1990 Golden Guitar Awards as 'Band of the Year'. The nomination came ironically on the weekend the band was staging yet another of their Melba like 'final ever' performances. One of those final shows in 1990 saw me teamed with the lads for a double bill at the Imperial Hotel. This concert kicked off in near scorching midday temperatures but if the day wasn't hot enough, the emotional climate was at fever pitch. The 'Bushies' set included a killer version of "Shoalhaven Man" and a real treat for me when I was invited to re-join the band on stage for "Brittania", the classic track penned by bassist Roger Corbett. The awards that night unfortunately brought yet another disappointment for the band that broke the ground that John Williamson, Redgum, myself and a host of others came to profitably build upon. The award for "Best Band of the Year" was won by their oldmates, "The Bullamakankas". It was sad, but almost fitting, for a band that never achieved the measure of recognition they truly deserved; whose rewards always went, as the Lawson poem predicted a century earlier, to "The Men Who Follow After". My version of the song was by way of recognising the long overdue debt so many Australian musicians owe to the Bushwackers. (Epilogue: The Bushwackers reformed five years later in 1995 with, of all people, Peter Drummond, my son, on Drums. Peter attended his first Bushwackers Concert at The Paris Theatre in Sydney on 30/6/1980 when he was barely 5 years old. In 1999 he was recieving standing ovations for his solo 'showcases' during The Bushwackers sellout shows at The Toyota Country Music Festival.) Recording by Wongawilli. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 21 Dec 20 - 04:26 AM Of Trees and Humankind ?Wendy Joseph, 1982 The trees of the forest grew tall The oak and the hazel, the ash and wild apple Their power respected by all Their strength safely guarded by priests of the lore Sacred the old ways, and earth's ancient pathways. No more Then strangers came onto the land They lacked comprehension their godheads were different They simply did not understand They laughed at the old ways with scorn and derision They raped and they slaughtered, and all was justified By the word 'civilised' See the forests die Lai lai lai! Lai lai lai lai luh lai lai lai lai lai Lai lai Lai lai lai luh lai lai lai The trees of the bushland grew strong The casuarina, the red gum and mulga Honoured by those who belong The brown Pitjantjara, the emu, the brolga Clear understanding and warm affinity With the earth and the trees Calm serenity Then strangers came onto the land Born of those ancients, both victim and victor They simply did not understand They laughed at the old ways with scorn and derision They raped and they slaughtered, and all was justified By the word 'civilised' See the bushland die Lai lai lai... And now here we sit on the land The children of children of children of ages If only together we'd stand With courage and love we could turn back the pages The earth and its fullness are ours if we try Raise the cry! Raise the cry And see the trees grow high! Lai lai lai... &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Recorded by Margaret Walters on For the Future and the Past, and by The Fagans on Kitchen Dance. Video by Ecopella. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 21 Dec 20 - 04:12 AM The TAB Song John Dengate Each Saturday morning I crawl out of bed, Hungover from Friday's excess, Feeling crook in the comics and crook in the head And with mountains of sins to confess. And then I remember it's race day again, And I collect up my clothes off the floor. I tune in to Early's selections at ten – The adrenalin's pumping once more. [Some insert these lines as a chorus: At Warwick Farm, Rosehill and Randwick they race, It's a sign of our moral decay, But wipe that superior smirk off your face, I expect a trifecta today.] I have a snake's hiss, I give breakfast a miss, Wallet and form guide I grab, Then I suddenly bolt like a two year old colt All away down the hill to the Tab. It's number of units and number of race, The numbers spin round in my brain, And I stand there blaspheming and cursing the place, The biros are broken again. Oh, the longshots are rough, and the favorites are short, And I never know what's running dead, So I ring up my mate, but he got home so late That his missus won't rouse him from bed. Beadman could win on a horse made of tin, So I back everything that he rides, And the big Melbourne gray is a good thing each way, And a couple of others besides. And fellas, quinellas are sometimes a chance, And doubles are always a go, So when I walk out I am light in the pants 'Cos the Tab has got most of my dough. A quick break for grub, then it's into the pub, And I stand there and weep in my booze, For the horses I back veer all over the track, And they lose, and they lose, and they lose. Oh, seek not escape in the gambling my friend Though your life may be humdrum and drab. Seek solace in psalms or in young ladies' arms, But never go into a Tab. At Warwick Farm, Rosehill and Randwick they race, It's a sign of our moral decay, But wipe that superior smirk off your face, I expect a trifecta today. To the tune of Seamus O'Brien, Please Won't You Come Home. As sung on The Follies of Pollies, also 35 Years of the National Folk Festival. Many small differences from the version in My Shout. John would update the names of the radio announcer and the jockey from time to time. TAB – off-track betting site. comics – comic cuts – guts snake's hiss – piss biro – brand of ballpoint pen I couldn't find a recording by John Dengate of this song online. Here's a recording by John Thompson. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Dec 20 - 12:43 AM oops! I might forget other stuff, but never that "d" (grin!) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 20 Dec 20 - 11:20 PM I was going to bite the bullet, Stew, and ask you what the heck this “d” reference was all about. Luckily I went searching first, rem’bering my apparent motto in Life is : “if all else fails, read the instructions”. And Lo! There, in the Mudcat FAQ - Newbies Guide, was the answer!!! Not only that, but there’s HEAPS of other interesting hints that I’d long forgotten (or never known?), coz sadly, the “use it or lose it” thang really does apply to me these days :( Thread too big to load in your computer? “In the "messages" column on the Forum Menu, there's a column of numbers that tells how many messages are in each thread. If the thread has more than 50 messages, that number is a clickable link that will display the thread in batches of 50 messages. Next to that number is a small "d" that is a link that will display the messages in reverse (descending) order.” -Joe Offer- So sorry, Stewie, and I take back my suggestion of a split thread. Too Easy! (as ‘they’ say constantly in Quoinsland) Cheers, R-J :)) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Dec 20 - 11:02 PM Turning again to McKenzie and dog saga, I recently came across this article on the net which gives a summary of the legend - it's worth a read: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Dec 20 - 08:29 PM For fans of Paul Kelly's music, today is Gravy Day. Yesterday's 'Canberra Times' has this article: Click HOW TO MAKE GRAVY (Paul Kelly) Hello Dan, it's Joe here, I hope you're keeping well It's the 21st of December, and now they're ringing the last bells If I get good behaviour, I'll be out of here by July Won't you kiss my kids on Christmas Day, please don't let 'em cry for me I guess the brothers are driving down from Queensland and Stella's flying in from the coast They say it's gonna be a hundred degrees, even more maybe, but that won't stop the roast Who's gonna make the gravy now? I bet it won't taste the same Just add flour, salt, a little red wine And don't forget a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang And give my love to Angus and to Frank and Dolly Tell 'em all I'm sorry I screwed up this time And look after Rita, I'll be thinking of her early Christmas morning When I'm standing in line I hear Mary's got a new boyfriend, I hope he can hold his own Do you remember the last one? What was his name again? (Just a little too much cologne) And Roger, you know I'm even gonna miss Roger 'Cause there's sure as hell no one in here I want to fight Oh praise the baby Jesus, have a merry christmas, I'm really gonna miss it, all the treasure and the trash And later in the evening, I can just imagine, You'll put on Junior Murvin and push the tables back And you'll dance with Rita, I know you really like her Just don't hold her too close, oh brother please don't stab me in the back I didn't mean to say that, it's just my mind it plays up Multiplies each matter, turns imagination into fact You know I love her badly, she's the one to save me I'm gonna make some gravy, I'm gonna taste the fat Tell her that I'm sorry, yeah I love her badly, tell 'em all I'm sorry And kiss the sleepy children for me You know one of these days, I'll be making gravy I'll be making plenty, I'm gonna pay 'em all back A beaut collage of Paul Kelly performances: Gravy and mash A singalong video: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Dec 20 - 08:01 PM R-J, I am totally against your proposal of a split. The songs should be kept in a single thread. The Mudcat 'd' function is there to split the thread (presently into 15 pages) if required. Gerry, great that you are joining us and adding songs. It would be excellent if you could use your influence to alter the thread title to Mudcat Australian and New Zealand Songbook. Let's face it: despite Joe's efforts, the 'rise up' concept has not gotten off the ground. This songbook does overlap with other Australian databases but has many songs unavailable elsewhere and also, as far as possible, is providing video or audio links to performances. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 20 Dec 20 - 07:55 PM You Don't Speak For Me (Judy Small) You who scribble on walls with your miniscule minds? You who make midnight calls, you who rattle my blinds? The violence you preach is the core of your creed? You don't speak for me ?You call yourselves patriots, swastika-style? You feed on the fear of the ignorant child? There's no love of nation or people or land?In the hatred behind your smile ?You don't speak for me, no you don't speak for me ?I've seen where you come from, I've seen where you lead ?It's a poisonous fruit that grows from your seed? You stir up the hatred till something explodes ?You don't speak for me ?You who slaughter free creatures and then call it sport? You proudly display the corpses you've shot? You talk about freedom and rights and control? You don't speak for me ?You who poison the airwaves with Ghengis Khan views? You broadcast your bias and call it the news? You say that you speak for the millions out there? And deny that you're lighting a dangerous fuse? You don't speak for me, no you don't speak for me ?You don't speak for me, you don't speak for my friends? We've followed that line, we've seen where it ends ?Intolerance, hatred, division and strife? You don't speak for me ?You who march in your hundreds of thousands for peace ?You who work for political prisoners' release? You who fight the injustice of women ignored? You speak for me ?You who combat apartheid wherever it's seen? You who struggle to keep the unique forests green ?You who fight for the rights of all people in chains ?You speak for me, you speak for me, you speak for me &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Online at https://youtu.be/DEzt1B2Oo9A |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 20 Dec 20 - 07:41 PM Seasons of War Phyl Lobl Chorus: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, War has all the seasons. One and two, three and four, Man will give the reasons. Soldier in the Spring of war, Knows just what he's fighting for, Told so many times before Fighting for his freedom. Chorus Come the Summer all is growing And the fruit of war is showing Pain and hate he will be knowing Fighting for his freedom. Chorus When his friends begin to fall And the bombs rain down on all Then he hears the Autumn call Fighting for his freedom. Chorus Winter finds the glory gone. War is grey to look upon. Soldier wonders what he's won Fighting for his freedom. Chorus &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& From her Broadmeadow Thistle album. She writes, Written in the summer of the Vietnam War, I hoped this song would not be relevant any more. I no longer have such youthful optimism. The chorus works as a round sung behind the verses. Recording available here. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 20 Dec 20 - 07:48 AM Great to read your posts, Gerry! (sorry, can't answer your questions :( Sandra, am close to finalising the revamped 'Big List' in 2 versions (one, songs alphabetically, and one, songs by Posting dates)! Following on from Jack's post alluding to this thread's size and unwieldiness and loading time (which has also concerned me; we're now up to about 730 posts), I wonder how folks feel about requesting that it be split??? Say, from Dec 1st onwards??? And also, for them both to be renamed to include New Zealand!! How do folks feel?? (and does Joe agree??!) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Dec 20 - 07:34 AM I've emailed Margaret. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 20 Dec 20 - 04:12 AM Does anyone have the words to Salvation Jane, written by Fay White? This isn't the song of the same name recorded by Chloe & Jason Roweth, back when they were Us Not Them; I want the song recorded by Jill Stevens, with a chorus that goes something like Salvation Jane Salvation Jane For better or worse Turn Patterson's Curse Into Salvation Jane. I've had no luck finding it on the web. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 20 Dec 20 - 03:41 AM Bandwidth By Nerds & Music (Clark Gormley & Wayne Thompson) https://www.clarkgormley.com/nerds-music Chorus: Narrow is the bandwidth, there's nae enough bandwidth, cut us some more bandwidth, Joe. [sung once after each line below] The networks as slow as a sloop in the doldrums I built me an 80-foot skiff in the meantime Before I hoist the mainsail the damn screen freezes We sailed off course, now we're waiting for the bitmap We sail in stormy seas, but we still don't have the wav file To get my phone to sync, I had to throw it overboard, yeah The NBN ain't the promised land that we hoped for There's bugger-all hope we'll ever see live-streaming &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& The NBN is the National Broadband Network, currently being installed around Australia. This is probably the only sea shanty to be written about it. Recording here. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 20 Dec 20 - 03:34 AM Whaleroad John Warner As the weaver lays her webs, so the seasons turn. In the heart an aching sets, the seaward ways to learn. With the coming of the Spring, and the cruel ice breaking, Men have built them carven ships, and the whaleroad taken. The whaleroad is a restless road. The lifting of the prow, The heaving of the bellied sail, the salt spray on the brow. The oar thresh on the lifting swell, a white bird on the foam, The surf snarl on the gravel strand, the heart that aches for home. Proud Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks took the great whales' way. Vikings from the icy North dropped anchor in the bay. Drake, Magellan, Tasman, Cook, and other names beside Hauled their anchors, trimmed their sails, to catch the morning tide. Reef the main to gallant there, the squall is coming hard. Tiny men string out like crows along the topsail yard. Reeling from the freezing blast, the ship rides out the wave. Many an aching tired hand has made Cape Horn his grave. What's this madness in the blood that spurs them on to fight The twisting of the wave-flung wheel in the howling night? Who can answer but themselves? Perhaps not even they, but Breast the capstan, man the brace, let's get her underway. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Another terrific song by John Warner. On his album, The Sea and the Soil. So far as I know, no recording has been posted to the web. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 20 Dec 20 - 03:24 AM Dark-eyed Daughter Phyl Lobl Mother may I go out to swim? Yes my dark-eyed daughter, Mother I would go out to swim. but at the pool I can't get in, Because of the colour of my skin, because I'm your dark-eyed daughter. Mother may I go to the show? Yes my dark-eyed daughter, Mother tell me do you know. which side of the theatre I should go? Go where the colour of your skin won't show, my darling dark-eyed daughter. Mother will I go to school? Yes my dark-eyed daughter, Mother when I go to school. will the children treat me cruel? Children follow their parents' rule, my darling dark-eyed daughter. Mother will I go to work? Yes my dark-eyed daughter . You will go to work one day, But only get half of your pay. The other half will go the way Of somebody's dark-eyed daughter. Mother when will all this end? I don't know my daughter, Maybe it will end the day. when heaven and earth will pass away, And we will hear a great voice say, you're welcome here …… my daughter. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Sandra has mentioned this song a couple of times, but I think the lyrics have not been posted to this thread. I quote from Phyl Lobl's website: My first recorded song, almost my first song, was sparked by media coverage of the student bus ride led by Charles Perkins and University students in 1965. An old traditional rhyme gave a frame for the song. 'Mother may I go out to swim?' 'Yes my darling daughter. Hang your clothes on a Hickory limb, But don’t go near the water.' The last verse of the song was born not from a belief, but from realisation and dismay that many of those who did profess to believe could also hold racist views. ‘The 1967 referendum in which 90% of the Australian Community voted in favour of deleting sections of the Constitution discriminating against Aborigines showed goodwill. To enable Aborigines to become independent, self-reliant people this goodwill must be translated into active and positive attitudes. Together we must build a nation where dark and white live in harmony with growing understanding and respect for one another, mutually contributing to the enrichment of our Commonwealth. This is the challenge of these songs and of the present day Aboriginal advancement movement.’ This is still the challenge but now many aboriginal people show us the value of their culture, they show us the meaning of resilience, they show us the way ahead, they show us how to forgive, they show us their worth. However, the journey for too many of our First People is still hard and slow. When I see the positive stories that do emerge I feel vindicated but humbled by their willingness to accept and continue the struggle. In this new era of recognition, there is still a need for deeper more positive acceptance of responsibility by us all to give value to their existence and to be of assistance. I ask if anyone finds the material on this site to be useful, and are grateful, that they make a donation to an Australian indigenous project or organization. Access the Phyl Lobl recording here. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 20 Dec 20 - 03:14 AM Home Among the Gum Trees Robert Alexander Brown / Walter Edward Johnson I've been around the world A dozen times or maybe more I've seen the sights, and had delights On every foreign shore But when my friends all ask of me The place that I adore I tell them right away Chorus: Give me a home among the gumtrees With lots of plum trees A sheep or two, a kangaroo A clothesline out the back Verandah out the front And an old rocking chair I'll be standing in the kitchen Cooking up a roast With Vegemite on toast Just me and you, a cockatoo And after tea, we'll settle down Beside the hitching post And watch the wombats play Chorus There's a Safeway on the corner And a Woolworths down the street And a new one's just been opened Where they regulate the heat But I'd trade them all tomorrow For a simple bush retreat Where kookaburras sing Chorus Some people like their houses built With fences all around Others live in mansions Or in bunkers underground But I won't be contented Til the day that I have found The place I long to be Chorus &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Best known from recordings by Bullamakanka and by John Williamson, both of whom changed the words a bit. I've gone back to the original recording by Captain Rock for the lyrics here. That recording also includes a humorous introduction, and a verse in high school French, neither of which I have been game to transcribe. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 20 Dec 20 - 02:52 AM Mary Parker's Lament Judy Small There's a little more grey in the hair nowadays As I sit here and watching my grandchildren play And I wonder if they have the faintest idea Of the life that their grandmother knew. For it's oh and alas for you Mary my girl To be torn from the life you knew half round the world And never again to see home. It was back in the eighties, a younger girl then With auburn hair flashing I'd walk with my man And he'd tell me the places he'd take me to see If only that he had the means. But then I was with child and I saw him no more In the pain of our parting I thought I should die And I stole from my master some blankets and cloth Just to keep me and baby alive But t'was all for a nought for the baby he died It felt like a part of me perished inside And for stealing I's sent as a transport to sea Never knowing for where I was bound. And it's oh and alas for you Mary my girl To be torn from the life you knew half round the world And never again to see home. Seven long years was the sentence I bore It felt like a lifetime as I came ashore And I wept when I saw the life waiting for me As a chattel, a whore and a slave. So I married a convict, the safer to be From the soldiers and the freed men who chased after me And for seven long years we did work for our keep Ever dreaming of England and home. And the children I bore were the joy of my days I longed for my mother to see them at play And our hands grew rough from the scrubbing and dirt And the sun turned our fair skins to brown. Then on ticket of leave we were granted some land And worked it and ploughed it by sweat of our hands And forgot about England except in our dreams And called New South Wales our true home. And now here I sit watching my grandchildren play And looking back over the length of my days And it's clear in my mind is the Plymouth I knew And I weep for my mother again. For it's oh and alas for you Mary my girl To be torn from the life you knew half round the world And never again to see home. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& The details of the song are fiction, but there was a convict named Mary Parker who came to Australia with the First Fleet, and Judy Small is a direct descendant. Recording by Judy Small here. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 20 Dec 20 - 01:58 AM The Goanna Drover (Ted Egan) I was drinkin' in the bar of the Birdsville pub when this long skinny fella comes in. Crazy old moleskins, concertina leggins – on his face was a devilish grin. Well he pressed the bar, gave a little "Yee-hah!", said I'm sorry that I've got no dough, But I'll spin you a yarn if you'll buy me a drink – it's a story that you all should know. Chorus: Yes, he said he was a drover, the finest in the land. He was travelling around Australia, ten thousand goannas in hand. He said, I'm drovin' ten thousand goannas. I've been five years on the track. Started at Cairns where we dipped the mob, and then we headed for the Great Outback. We went due West to the 'curry, across them black soil plains. We got bogged down at the Isa, and had to fit the goannas with chains. (Chorus) Well walkin' 'em down the Murranji track the goannas started climbin' trees. But a drover's got to improvise, so I solved that problem with ease. The monsoon rains was due to start, we had no time to lose. We got forty thousand sardine tins, and we fitted the goannas with shoes. (Chorus) Well we clanked across them Gibber plains, it be hard on shoes out there. But the move paid off in the channel country 'cause the rivers had filled Lake Eyre. I got an old bull camel, and I showed him who was boss. I hit the camel with the old brick trick, and he water-skied the goannas across. (Chorus) So here I am at the Birdsville pub, and if you buy me another drink I'll tell you about me future plans. That's fair enough wouldn't you think? He said, I'll have a rum this time, a double. Good luck, yeah, cheers! Well I'm off now mates, so long, hooroo, I'll be in Hobart within two years. (NO chorus) We called, hang on a minute, we can see you're a bit of a star, But drovin' goannas to Tassie, that's takin' things a bit too far! How do you get them goannas right across Bass Strait? He flashed us all his devilish grin, and said, I'm not goin' that way, mate! (Chorus x2) Ted Egan sings it here. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Dec 20 - 10:35 PM SAPPER'S LULLABY (Fred Smith) Up from the Role 2, and down past the gate, out to the flight line We stood in the sun, slouch hat and gun as two caskets passed us by And followed the padre, on to the Herc, and out in to the pale summer sky We walked back to Poppy’s and went back to work, with the Dust still in our eyes So soldiers, sing me your sapper’s lullaby You give it your all, knowing if you should fall That all good things must die These young engineers whose job is to clear the roads that we may pass Always out front and, when they bear the brunt, man it happens fast Sapper D Smith had a wife and a son, the apple of his eye Snowy Moerland was just 21, way to young to die Soldiers, sing me your sapper’s lullaby You give it your all, knowing if you should fall That all good things must die So go call your mother, call your old man, on that welfare line Tell em you love 'em, while you still can, 'cause all good things must die Soldiers, sing me your sapper’s lullaby You give it your all, knowing if you should fall That all good things must die All good things must die Live performance with introductory info: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Dec 20 - 02:24 AM cartoon about Keith Richard's birthday |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Dec 20 - 02:19 AM I was looking for the Keith Richards song & can't find the lyrics, check out the latest cartoon here |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 19 Dec 20 - 01:49 AM Love the Sao song! I have seen Pat perform it - and yes, he does put in more than one. Love his "Keef song" too. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Dec 20 - 01:26 AM I was just reminded of Pat Drummond & thought we needed some of his songs! The Sao* Song, Words & Music: Pat Drummond, For Alice Oppen and all the members of The Arnott Family, Dateline: Macdonaldtown 1955 Chorus: Can you put a Sao in your gob in one go? Can you jam it all in and give us a grin, without breaking the corners off? Can you put a Sao in your gob in one go? When I was a kid, if one of us did, that kid'd be the king of the block. When I was a kiddie in the nineteen sixties, each day we'd come home; Mum'd make us milkshakes and ask how the day'd gone. Then it was up the back for the cricket match where the whole world came to play but we'd drop our bats and stop dead in our tracks when one of the kids'd say. Chorus: Now mostly Mum'd catch us but she'd fail to see the joke. She'd say "You wouldn't have a brain to begin with. You kids'll bloody choke!" Then she'd grab the pack and give us a whack and the cricket match went on. We were backyards full of Bradmans singing 'the Sao song'. Chorus: Now it seems all trace of the baby boomer years has slipped away; Sao Biscuits after school and a Mum to watch you play. For the kid's are in the Daycare centres now from the moment that they're born and the backyard died of loneliness when the cricket left the lawn. But in the last few homes where the garden gnomes and the 'Hills Hoist' rule the day; if you listen very carefully you'll sometimes hear them say. Chorus: * Sao is a registered trademark of the Arnotts Biscuits Company of Australia video |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Dec 20 - 09:20 PM Here is my attempted transcription of another fine poem from Joe Charles. I couldn't decipher part of a line in the second stanza. Joe's poems are not available on the Net. Corrections please. TO THE TALL SHIPS (J.Charles/P.Garland) Chorus Let me dream of tall ships from lands I’ll never know Rollin’ down from London town to the Roaring Forties blow From coral sands to the awful lands of endless ice and snow Let me dream of tall ships from lands I’ll never know I remember Lyttelton like a half forgotten dream When still the great tall sailing ships were anchored in the stream When all along the rugged shore wild shouts and laughter rang While the ragged rascals hauled away to the rough old song they sang When they swaggered down the street to every smoky bar If they passed you up the wind, they smelt of rope and tar And sitting in the sunshine with the …..?? verandah rail They kept the youngsters all wide-eyed with many a long-spun tale Or down along the waterfront, the smoky fussing train Brought trucks of wool and tallow, hides and flax and grain To keep the donkeys puffing steam and the lumpers on the run While out of the reeking holds, exotic cargoes ton by ton Chorus The last time I saw Lyttelton through a haze of smoke and steam There were no tall ships at the quay or anchored in the stream No more ragged ruffians who smelt of rope and tar No burly bearded captain with a reeking black cigar Only the great grim ships of steel, whining, groaning cranes Stinking, roaring motor trucks and streamlined diesel trains Only the seagull’s lonely call and the grey and smoggy sky To steer a dream of sail not steam and the days so long gone by So dream with me of tall ships … Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Dec 20 - 08:08 PM R-J, as I indicated on the wrong thread, I don't have Roly's song. If anyone has a copy, it would be Jeff Corfield. I posted a link at 08-51 pm on 13 December which might satisfy Jack's query. I didn't post lyrics as I thought a couple of McKenzie songs were sufficient for this thread. However, I transcribed it this morning and posted to your dogs and horses thread. It is a good'un, so I'll post it here: McKENZIE AND HIS DOG (J.Charles/P.Garland) Pull up your chair and pour out a beer While I sing a song of a Scots mountaineer They were hard times, hard times I fear Very hard times for a Scots pioneer His beard was so long it blew out in the breeze And the soles of his feet were like billygoats’ knees For he didn’t wear boots though the weather was cruel And he lived his whole life on cold mutton and gruel They were hard times, hard times I fear And as hard as the times was this tough mountaineer He caught a wild bull, it was big as a bus And he tamed it, I’m told, without any fuss It stood sixteen hands and its back was as wide To carry two bales of wool and the Scotsman besides They were hard times, hard times you’ll agree Hard times for a Scotsman to save a bawbee He had a sheepdog, a beaut one I’m told Worth three times its weight in whisky and gold He was half dingo with collie dog crossed And he learned to find sheep that no one had lost They were hard times, hard times you’ll agree Very hard times for the dog, you’ll see Now our Scottish friend was exceedingly tough For he rode his wild bull from Fairwell to Bluff Seeking a run with plenty of feed But he had a plan for the sheep he would need They were hard times, hard times indeed But he had a plan for the sheep he would need So pour me a beer and I’ll give you the gen It was like taking worms from a deaf and blind hare While Mac plied the cockies with whisky and talk His wily wee dog took their sheep for a walk They were hard times, hard times I fear And Mac he did time for just half a year But it was hard times, I’ll know you’ll agree They named the whole plain MacKenzie Country Yes, they named that whole country of mountain and fog They honoured the man, but they shot his poor dog Here is the audio link again: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 18 Dec 20 - 05:55 AM To clarify, I believe Jack was referring to a particular NZ song about MacKenzie and his Dog? Ending : ""They pardoned Mackenzie, but they shot his poor dog"" Stewie posted 2 such songs on Dec 13th, but obviously not the one Jack was meaning) .... Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Jack Campin Date: 18 Dec 20 - 01:50 AM Maybe - that thread was too much for me to follow. The punchline is unmistakable and nobody would leave it out. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 18 Dec 20 - 12:00 AM Stewie, I was watching this 2014 ABC-TV clip from an earlier post, on modern shearing and the attempted industry changes [like the Rousies are not girls with whisky and beer on trays, like in "the Shearer's Dream", but are hard-working mostly female O/S backpackers!!] : https://www.abc.net.au/landline/bare-belled-ewe/5232722 Anyway, I was reminded of Roly Griffin's "The Robot Shearer" - are you able to post that?! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Dec 20 - 07:10 PM Cathie O'Sullivan put a tune to another gem from the pen of Dorothy Hewett. THERE'S ANGUISH IN KNOWING (Hewett/O'Sullivan) There is anguish in knowing that I cannot reach you This kiss can break no barrier of bone I know no ease of language that might teach you In that last place we must stand alone Only in bitter struggle do we grow wise Knowing no quarter, and no compromise There is anguish in knowing that I cannot break you Beyond this wall of flesh you stand intact Ah! with what fingernails of hate I'll rake you Till love has ground its teeth on sour fact Eyes, mouth and hands made blind, compassionate Beyond the sting of love, the burr of hate There is anguish in knowing we can never meet In this small room where we are most alone And yet the grass against the root grows sweet And yet the flesh tastes sweeter at the bone Four walls of love and sunlight on the floor And the Judas kiss that closes the last door Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 17 Dec 20 - 03:01 AM I’m probably halfway through the proof-reading and tweaking of “The List” Sandra!! Meanwhile, another popular Aussie song from my childhood!! Little Boy Lost Johnny Ashcroft In the wild New England ranges came the word one fateful day, To every town and village, that a boy had lost his way. All the townsfolk quickly gathered and the wild bush horses tossed, As they went to search the ranges for a little boy lost, They went to search the ranges for a little boy lost. A lad of just four summers, Stephen Walls, that is his name, And nobody doubts his courage, 'cause he's hardy and he's game, But there's danger in this country that man has seldom crossed, And they wonder if they'll find alive this little boy lost, And they wonder if they'll find alive this little boy lost. Came the night, came the morning. Another night, another dawning, And a mother weeps in silence as she kneels before the Cross, And she prays to God in heaven for her little boy lost, And she prays to God in heaven for her little boy lost. The little town's deserted, no-one walks upon the street, For they comb the wild bush country on a thousand aching feet. They searched every hidden valley though his trail they never crossed, And their hopes are slowly fading for this little boy lost, And their hopes are slowly fading for this little boy lost. The blazing sun beat down upon the earth that final day, With heavy hearts they prayed to God above to show the way, When from a scrubby gully came the voice they've ne'er forgot, "Where's my daddy, where's my daddy?" cried the little boy lost, "Where's my daddy, where's my daddy?" cried the little boy lost. In the far New England ranges there's a boy that's known so well, There's a story that the town's folk and the bushmen often tell, How he fought a rugged country, where man has seldom crossed, And a mother's prayers were answered for her little boy lost. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPjisfbL8_E song from 1960 by Johnny Ashcroft – “a retired (he’s now 93!) Australian country music and folk entertainer, singer, songwriter, and musician, who has also recorded pop, skiffle, jazz, and disco as his alter ego, the Baron.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Ashcroft The vidclip is from the 1978 film “Little Boy Lost”. Watch here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WI1OI2bgJo The song is based on a true story and young Steven Walls (who only passed away earlier this year), went missing whilst helping his father round up sheep, near Guyra, NSW (located on a volcanic uplift of the Northern Tablelands, the town is one of the highest in Australia at 1,330 metres (4,364 feet) above sea level.) People, young and old, still regularly go missing in the often rugged land of Oz. Well, in the City too, but that’s another sad story ….. https://www.johnnyashcroft.com.au/johnny-ashcroft-%E2%80%93-little-boy-lost-50th-anniversary.html R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Dec 20 - 08:45 PM BRADMAN (Paul Kelly) Sydney, 1926, this is the story of a man Just a kid in from the sticks, just a kid with a plan St George took a gamble, played him in first grade Pretty soon that young man showed them how to flash the blade And at the age of nineteen, he was playing for the state From Adelaide to Brisbane, the runs did not abate He hit 'em hard, he hit 'em straight He was more than just a batsman He was something like a tide He was more than just one man He could take on any side They always came for Bradman ‘Cause fortune used to hide In the palm of his hands In the palm of his hands A team came out from England Wally Hammond wore his felt hat like a chief All through the summer of '28, '29 They gave the greencaps no relief Some reputations came to grief They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn And in the hour of greatest slaughter The great avenger is being born But who then could have seen the shape of things to come In Bradman's first test, he went for eighteen and for one They dropped him like a gun Now big Maurice Tate was the trickiest of them all And a man with a wisecracking habit But there's one crack that won't stop ringing in his ears ‘Hey Whitey, that's my rabbit’ Bradman never forgot it He was more than just a batsman He was something like a tide More than just one man He was a match for any side Fathers took their sons 'Cause fortune used to hide In the palm of his hands In the palm of his hands England, 1930 and the seed burst into flower? All of Jackson's grace failed him, it was Bradman was the power He murdered them in Yorkshire, he danced for them in Kent He laughed at them in Leicestershire, Leeds was an event Three-hundred runs he took and rewrote all the books That really knocked those gents The critics could not comprehend this nonchalant phenomenon ‘Why, this man is a machine!’, they said ‘Even his friends say he isn't human’ Even friends have to cut something He was more than just a batsman He was something like a tide More than just one man He was half the side Fathers took their sons 'Cause fortune used to hide In the palm of his hands In the palm of his hands Summer, 1932 and Captain Douglas had a plan When Larwood bowled to Bradman, it was more than man to man And staid Adelaide nearly boiled over, as rage ruled over sense When Bert Oldfield hit the ground, they nearly jumped the fence Now, Bill Woodfull was as fine a man as ever went to wicket And the bruises on his body that day showed that he could stick it But to this day he's still quoted, and only he could wear it: ‘There's two sides out there today And only one of th em’s playing cricket' He was longer than a memory And bigger than a town His feet they used to sparkle And he always kept them on the ground Fathers took their sons Who never lost the sound Of the roar of the grandstand Now shadows grow longer And there's so much more yet to be told But we're not getting any younger, so let the part tell the whole Now the players all wear colours, the circus is in town ?I no longer can go down there, down to that sacred ground He was more than just a batsman He was something like a tide More than just one man He was half the bloody side Fathers took their sons 'Cause fortune used to hide In the palm of his hands In the palm of his hands Youtube clip Don Bradman --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Dec 20 - 07:15 PM The first test against India starts today and finally some coverage on free to air TV. I MADE A HUNDRED IN THE BACKYARD AT MUM'S (Greg Champion) As I went out to have a bat just the other day I had no idea what was coming my way I played a chanceless innings and I earnt every run And I made a hundred in the backyard at mum’s Chorus Oh, I made a hundred in the backyard at mum’s I clobbered and I crunched every fabulous run I toiled and I sweated and when the day was done I’d made a hundred in the backyard at mum’s I started out real shaky-like just poking around Me sister with her off breaks well she had me pinned down But when me little brother bowled I gave him the clout And when we stopped for lunch I was twenty-four not out Then me uncle Nev came on bowling his quicks But I was scoring freely with deflections and flicks As I passed me fifty I called for a beer And when I hit the roof next door they all began to cheer Chorus I took some on the body but they didn’t hurt a bit I only hit the ball that was there to be hit I hooked ’em off me eyebrows and I tried to keep me head And the ton came up with a straight drive through the window of the shed Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 15 Dec 20 - 08:07 PM Fine additions, Jennie. Sandra, thanks for the Musgrove link. I wasn't aware of that album - I have just ordered it via your link. I have his excellent 'Songs They Used To Sing' album. Here is the swansong of the godfather of Australian blues after being diagnosed with cancer. GOING ON A JOURNEY (Dutch Tilders) Going on a journey, don't know if I'll be back Going on a journey, don't know if I'll be back If I do, baby, meet you down the track Going on a journey, may be back but I don't know when (x2) If I don't come back, say goodbye to sweethearts and friends Going on a journey, but I sure hope I return (x2) 'Cos there's so much left that a poor boy has to learn Going on a journey, may be back but I don't know when (x2) Well, if I have to say goodbye to sweethearts and friends Going on a journey Going on a journey Going on a journey Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Dec 20 - 06:45 PM I have that CD of Alan's & will play it today in commemoration. Graham's CD is one of my favourites so I normally play it every day. thank you, proofreader! sandra (turning off the radio & putting on Alan's CD) Reviw of Behind the Times by Musgrove & his Watsaname Band |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 15 Dec 20 - 06:16 PM Thanks for three excellent songs, JennieG! and especially on the actual anniversary (I was only aware of the first song - have fond memories of occasional Catter Tony in Darwin's singing of Norman Brown, by Dorothy Hewitt) Thanks too, Sandra, for your most excellent work with The Lists - I will start with the proof-reading, hopefully today. On with The Songs!! Cheers, R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 15 Dec 20 - 05:30 PM Last song - I know only of these three songs about the incident at Rothbury. This was a contemporary song written by Roger Grant, a musician who played in dance bands around the Hunter coalfields region. On the first anniversary of Norman's death thousands gathered at Greta (which wasn't a very town in those days) and sang this song. As far as I know, Alan Musgrove is the only person to have recorded it. A sad day on the coalfields Roger Grant Sung by Alan Musgrove There were sounds of sobs and crying as the daylight floods the sky, The hour of life has vanished and the long night passes by, I lift my eyes to heaven and in tears I'll call her son, Who was taken from his mother by the crack of someone's gun. Yes, in the hour of sorrow there's one thing I can't conceal, For my heart is always longing and my thoughts will often steal Across the bush to Rothbury whose surface leaves a track To the boys who went on picket and the boy who'll never come back. There was music at the graveside and in grief the mourners stood, Still the wind a hymn was humming with the trees upon the hill, The sun was shining brightly on sad friends from every town, And the minister started praying for our dead pal Norman Brown. Yes, in the hour of sorrow there's one thing I can't conceal, For my heart is always longing and my thoughts will often steal Across the bush to Rothbury whose surface leaves a track To the boys who went on picket and the boy who'll never come back. A sad day on the coalfields |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 15 Dec 20 - 05:24 PM Graham Seal's song "The country knows the rest". My choir in the big Smoke sang this song. The country knows the rest Graham Seal The year was nineteen-twenty-nine, the place was Rothbury town, The miners were all locked out and our wage had been knocked down, From March until December we lived on bread and dole, Until the Rothbury mine re-opened, with scabs to dig the coal - And the country knows the rest … So the miners’ dole was cut and our strike pay couldn’t last, But the men and women of Rothbury determined to stand fast. All across the coalfields miners heard the call, On a warm night in December they met at Rothbury, one and all - And the country knows the rest … It was early in the morning upon that fateful day, Many hundred miners gathered there to send the scabs away, A piper played before us in the breaking blood-red dawn, But when we reached the Rothbury mine gates a bloodier day was born - And the country knows the rest … The police were in the bushes with pistols in their hands, There were more of them on horseback to break the miners’ stand, Just how it started I swear I'll never know, But the guns began firing and the blood began to flow - And the country knows the rest … When the firing was all over and the police had broken through, Many miners badly beaten - bullet-wounded, too, Beneath the Rothbury mine gate Norman Brown was lying dead, And the lifeblood from his veins stained the coaldust red - And the country knows the rest … http://unionsong.com/u572.html |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 15 Dec 20 - 05:21 PM Today, 16th December, is the anniversary of the so-called 'Rothbury Riot' in which Norman Brown was murdered by police. Norman was my mother's cousin and his story is one of family sadness - his younger sister Dorothy had died just three years earlier, so his mother lost both her children in tragic circumstances. (Norman's sister and I share the same middle name, Grace; I was named for her) Norman Brown Words by Dorothy Hewitt, Tune: Traditional (Bold Nelson's Praise) There was a very simple man, Honest and quiet, yet he became The mate of every working man, And every miner knows his name. CHORUS Oh Norman Brown, oh Norman Brown The murderin' coppers they shot him down, They shot him down in Rothbury town, A working man called Norman Brown. "An honest man," the parson said, And dropped the clods upon his head, But honest man or not, he's dead And that's the end of Norman Brown. Coal bosses wiped their hands and sighed, "It is a pity that he died." It will inflame the countryside, And all because of Norman Brown. At pit-top meetings and on strike In every little mining town, When miners march for bread and rights There marches honest Norman Brown. He thunders at the pit-top strike, His voice is in the women's tears, With banner carried shoulder-high He's singing down the struggling years. A miner's pick is in his hand, His song is shouted through the land, A land that's free and broad and brown, The land that bred us Norman Brown. Last chorus Oh Norman Brown, oh Norman Brown, The murderin' coppers they shot him down. They shot him down in Rothbury town, To live forever ... Norman Brown. Norman Brown |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Dec 20 - 05:15 AM enjoy your beer, rich-joy. I've finished transferring the songs to a spreadsheet & will send it to Rich-Joy for proof reading! my original doc was a mess, to put it politely, sometimes I jumped numbers - oops, I dunno how ... If anyone wants a copy after it's proofread, just ask. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 15 Dec 20 - 03:13 AM Sad indeed, Sandra. I've just been reading of the horrendous "Marsupials Destruction Act" from 1855 in Qld, amended 1885 and included not just the introduced feral pigs, red fox, hares, but dingoes (of course) PLUS kangaroos, wallabies, pademelons, rat kangaroos, bandicoots, koalas, wedge-tail eagles ...... HALF A MILLION KOALAS were destroyed in Queensland alone, in 1927!!!!! Easy to do, yes, but how the hell were they harming anything??!! We sing songs lustily about the Sheep Industry, but why not Laments about the war waged against Australia's native creatures??? And The War drags on ..... sigh ..... Stewie's song post on Dec12th re the Marshall Islands atomic tests by the US, has an alarming update here in this ABC (Aust) news clip from 2017 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=autMHvj3exA I am at present preparing some songs for a post about Britain's Atomic testing in Australia in the 50s and 60s, esp at Maralinga, Emu Fields, Christmas Island, Monte Bello Islands ............. On that cheery little note, I think I might go and have a beer. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Dec 20 - 02:26 AM now all we need is a koala song, cos our icon is heading for extinction. NSW koala bill dumped after Liberal MP Catherine Cusack crosses floor but trees are still being cut down & housing estates are still being planned for koala land. found a good one - an old one! Koala Koala by John Williamson, found on JW's Family Album, 1990, Audio Koala Koala - we love you But we chop down your home And you run Koala, Koala - where do you go When we take your gum tree away Please don't run on the road And please don't cry Help is on its way We're gonna learn what makes you die Gonna send in some money today You can't dig a hole Or live in a roof Or hang from a big, fig tree If I plant you a special Eucalypt Will you come and live with me Koalas they used to be everywhere What a paradise it could be A walk in the bush could be heaven Bring the dreamtime back to me Yeah, we're going to learn what makes you die Gonna send in some money today |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 14 Dec 20 - 08:02 PM THE GIFT OF LIFE (Phil Garland) So long Kevin Kiwi, your life was not in vain You are our country's emblem so your memory will remain When I heard your mates were dying, it was so hard to believe What can we do to help prevent a huge catastrophe Chorus Pass the hat around amongst family and friends It's time to work together before this story ends Every contribution helps our little spotted mate The gift of life is something we can all appreciate The kiwi is a special bird - although he cannot fly The sporting logo he inspires is truly flying high. Kevin needs protection, it's time to make a stand We must learn to play our part and lend a helping hand The bush is almost silent where Kevin once roamed free How will our kids identify a bird they've never seen Possums, stoats and weasels may seem cute and small Send them back where they belong, we don't want them here at all Wake up New Zealand before it gets too late If we want to save our kiwis, we must learn to shut the gate Keep your family pets inside. don't ever let them roam If we want Kevin to survive, then training starts at home Youtube clip This is from Phil's 1998 album 'A Sense of Place'. Since that time there has been some success in protecting the kiwi with 2 of the 5 species downlisted from 'endangered' to 'vulnerable'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 14 Dec 20 - 06:29 PM Interesting to recall this song and this time in Australian history and its comparison to now!! (and no wonder the current conservative govt is again trying to stomp on the Union movement once and for all :) THE PIG-IRON SONG Clem Parkinson, 1964 Listen here : http://unionsong.com/u150.html Did you ever stop to wonder why the fellows on the job Refer to Robert Menzies by the nickname Pig-Iron Bob? It's a fascinating tale though it happened long ago It's a part of our tradition every worker ought to know Chorus We wouldn't load pig-iron for the fascists of Japan Despite intimidation we refused to lift the ban With democracy at stake the struggle must be won We had to beat the menace of the fascist Rising Sun It was 1937 and aggressive Japanese Attacked the Chinese people tried to bring them to their knees Poorly armed and ill equipped the peasants bravely fought While Australian water siders rallied round to lend support Attorney General Menzies said the ship would have to sail "If the men refuse to load it we will throw them into jail" But our unity was strong - we were solid to a man And we wouldn't load pig-iron for the fascists of Japan For the Judas politicians we would pay a heavy price The jungles of New Guinea saw a costly sacrifice There's a lesson to be learned that we've got to understand Peace can only be secured when the people lend a hand. Notes below and lyrics, from Mark Gregory’s excellent website : http://unionsong.com/u150.html “In his biography of wharfies leader, Ted Roach - "From Pig Iron Hero to Long Bay Gaol" Denis Kevans describes how Ted Roach consciously used the Eureka Oath at marches and rallies, before and during the famous "Dalfram" Pig Iron dispute, in November, 1938, in Port Kembla, NSW. Ted Roach, who was the Secretary of Kembla Branch, and later, Federal Assistant General Secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation, told Denis Kevans: "I got hold of the Eureka Oath from a Lloyd Ross pamphlet. The wharfies, en masse, took the oath, and through the Trades and Labour Council, and at as many mass meetings as possible, we had the oath recited and sworn." Ted said that taking the Eureka Oath "went over big, a big lift, it was very lifting". During the 11 weeks Dalfram dispute, Attorney General in the United Australia Party government, Mr. Robert Gordon Menzies, gazetted "The Transport Workers Act". He did this to break the spirit of the wharfies, who were locked out over their refusal to load pig iron onto the "Dalfram", part of a 300,000 ton BHP pig iron contract with "aggressor nation", Japan. The TWA also known as the "Dog Licence Act", or the "Dog Collar Act" allowed for the dismissal of the wharfie work force, and their replacement by untrained, non-union workers, each of whom needed only to purchase a licence for one shilling to work on the wharves. Ted Roach, a step ahead of the authorities, arranged for "Bunny" Griffiths to go and buy the only TWA licence bought in Port Kembla. Ted Roach then publicly burnt the licence, outside the Customs House. Ted Roach told Denis Kevans that he burnt the licence as a conscious re-enactment of the miners' burning their licences at Eureka. Many thanks to Denis Kevans for permission to add this information.” EUREKA’s history was recalled in Sandra’s 30Nov song post above and JennieG’s song post of 03Dec and my two link posts of 03 Dec. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Dec 20 - 09:22 PM Another song of the McKenzie legend. THE OLD MACKENZIE TRAIL (Bob Edwards) There's a story that you're bound to hear if you're down Otago way About an outlaw and the dog that bought him fame Of an ancient Maori trail To a grassy mountain vale In the rugged land that bears Mackenzie's name And the station riders say When Aurob'ralis play And the stars that form the Southern Cross are shining high and pale You may F see a phantom collie Drive a ghostly mob of sheep Through the mists along the old Mackenzie Trail When the campfires are a blazin' And the drovin' men are lazin' All fired with Hokonui mountain grog There's a story in the makin' Wth perhaps a little bacon As they weave their legends round Mackenzie's dog Now Mackenzie so the story goes Rode the ranges on a steer Preselecting squatters' sheep then when he'd done He would tell his collie pup To go back and round them up And to punch them homeward to his mountain run Then the troopers took the trail Swore to bring this Scot to jail And recover all the mossy faces too And they captured him at last In a rugged mountain pass And he went before the judge in Timaru There was no sign of repentance When Mackenzie heard his sentence But the last words rang from him a broken cry He defied the law and told them That no prison bars could hold him When the judge condemned his faithful dog to die. That was years ago but the records show That Mackenzie kept his word On the evening of a cold and wintry day When he rolled the dice with fate How the troopers fired too late Though they wounded him Mackenzie got away Now there are city folks who swear That Mackenzie and his dog Were nothing more than thievin' scoundrels wrapped in hair and hide But along the mountain stations Where the campfires burn at night You can hear oldtimers speak their names with pride. There's a story that you're bound to hear If you're down Otago way When the night winds through the mountain passes wail They will tell you tat's Mackenzie Whistling home his collie dog Through the mists along the old Mackenzie's trail You can hear a shortened version here: Youtube clip The above lyrics are from the NZ folk song site. The page also gives links to a traditional song and historical material re McKenzie. Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Dec 20 - 08:51 PM For R-J's dog and horse theme. McKENZIE'S GHOST (Kath Tait) I've mustered from Southland, through Central and North In that rough barren country of tussock and gorse And I've listened to songs that the old shearers tell And passed them along with me own tales as well Chorus McKenzie, McKenzie was that you I saw Roaming them backhills just up from Benmore With 50 odd sheep and a good shepherd's dog Was it your ghost in the morning fog? They tell of McKenzie, sheep stealer they say He stole squatters' sheep and he drove them away With one strong eyed dog who hypnotised sheep To a far distant land where no white man had been Some say you were criminal, some say a good man Put down by the law and your dog it was damned They took you to prison but you set yourself free Then they took you again, your dog hung from a tree Them high country gales that blow through the night Where the musterers camp in the fire's dim light They often bring sounds way off in the dark Like a lone shepherd's whistle and a lone sheepdog's bark Youtube clip My father was an engineer on the Benmore Dam," says Kath, "and I had learnt about James McKenzie at school. I was reluctantly dragged away from the Mackenzie Country to Auckland at the age of 14, and lived in Auckland for the next 20 years. The McKenzie song was the first song I ever wrote, at the age of 17, after reading James McNeish's book The McKenzie Affair." Phil Garland recorded it on his 'Swag of Dreams' album with an introductory verse of his own: When evening shadows lengthen and starry skies grow bright You rest beside your campfire, keeping warm on chilly nights You might hear a distant whistle or a far-off wailer go Then see a highland shepherd with a phantom mob of sheep In an eerie silence passing so walking in their sleep At their heels closely followed by a silent collie dog His master's true companion before they vanish in the fog Perhaps this ghostly vision will send shivers down your spine While you watch this cavalcade forever tramping onwards Down the corridors of time Youtube clip Phil's note: The legend of James McKenzie displays a remarkable durability ... In 1855, McKenzie, an illiterate Scots drover, was accused of stealing 1000 sheep and hiding them in the hitherto unexplored inland basin which would later bear his name. Along with his remarkable dog 'Friday', reputed to be half dingo, half collie, he discovered and explored a huge spectacular hidden plain, surrounded on all sides by high snowy mountains. Upon capture, he was thrown into Lyttleton Gaol where the harsh conditions nearly drove him insane. His farcical trial has been described as one of the most glaring miscarriages of in NZ history. Although public opinion of the day called for him to be hanged, he was eventually pardoned some nine months later and quickly disappeared from view. Subsequently myth and legend would have us believe his loyal dog was shot, while McKenzie is believed to have returned to Australia and settled down in Queensland. The exploits of McKenzie and his dog have become so romanticised over the years that they are now firmly entrenched in NZ folklore. The vast inland plain that he discovered was given his name, MacKenzie Country (despite the different spelling). The striking bronze statue of a shepherd's dog erected in recent times at Tepako (in tribute to the legion of faithful border collies that have long mustered the vast high country runs) has also assumed something of the McKenzie legend, often acquiring (incorrectly) the popular mantle of McKenzie's dog. Phil also recorded and put music to a poem by Joe Charles, 'McKenzie and His Dog'. You can listen to it here: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 13 Dec 20 - 12:57 AM FWIW, by my rough calcs, I reckon we've posted 510 songs so far :) So many more to go (only I really should go and werk for a while :( Over to the rest of "Youse Mob" :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 13 Dec 20 - 12:41 AM TRACTOR PIONEERS Peter Pratt (Australian 'Western' singer) Dedicated to the Tractor Pioneers, like Peter’s father, Charles Roy Pratt (1915-2008), whose farming life covered the passing of the Horse era into Tractors. A good song and an interesting slideshow, which covers farming in the NSW districts between Moree and Narrabri, and some further south around Junee (just north of Wagga). By the fire Mother knits while in his chair the old man sits Staring at the quiet dancing flames He recalls the block of land from the bush he cleared by hand To realise his dream of growing grain. Old hands that know the feel of an iron steering wheel On a frosty night beneath the winter stars He can smell the fresh-turned soil, kerosine, the hot sump oil Fond memories of those tractor days gone by. Ch. He was a Tractor Pioneer Saw the passing of an era as the horse teams disappeared And it changed the farming scene of yesteryear Oh he was a Tractor Pioneer. Those tired bones now pain from years in wind and rain As an army coat hung damp across his back Through summer harvest heat, sitting on a cast-iron seat As the wheat dust settled on his grease-stained hat. We’ve come so far since then, it’s hard to comprehend So many memories graze the old man’s mind These simple quaint machines, once the essence of his dreams Now slowly fade into another time. Chorus …. So by the fire Mother knits while in his chair the old man sits And remembers those good 1950s years And he still can hear the sound of a Bulldog*** working ground And the rocks as they resound against the shears. They were the Tractor Pioneers Saw the passing of an era as the horse teams disappeared And it changed the farming scene of yesteryear Yes, they were the Tractor Pioneers. *** presumably the KL Bulldog from Victoria, based on the German Lanz Bulldog tractor : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanz_Bulldog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML_L0B0Sv4o : starting a 1951 KL Bulldog (after heatup!) ‘crook gudgeon’ but! :) Loads of fun. And here is Peter singing his celebration of his father’s life : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvT_RSVS3X4&t=8s R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 12 Dec 20 - 11:05 PM A song originally recorded by the Muttonbirds was re-recorded and released to mark the 20th anniversary of the bombing of the 'Rainbow Warrior'. ANCHOR ME (Don McGlashan) Full fathom five Someday I'll lie Singing songs that come From dead men's tongues Anchor me, anchor me As the compass turns And the glass it falls Where the storm clouds roll And the gulls they call Anchor me, anchor me, anchor me Anchor me In the middle of your deep blue sea, anchor me Anchor me In the middle of your deep blue sea, anchor me Anchor me, anchor me Let the salt spray lash The shivering skin Where the green waves crash And the whirlpools spin Anchor me, anchor me, anchor me Anchor me In the middle of your deep blue sea, anchor me Anchor me In the middle of your deep blue sea, anchor me Anchor me Where the banshees cry And the bells they sound When you lift me high When you pull me down When you pull me down When you pull me down Anchor me In the middle of your deep blue sea, anchor me Anchor me In the middle of your deep blue sea, anchor me Anchor me, anchor me Anchor me, anchor me In the middle of your deep blue sea, your deep blue sea In the middle of your deep blue sea, your deep blue sea Anchor me, anchor me Anchor me Anchor me Anchor me Youtube clip NZ Herald article --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 12 Dec 20 - 10:33 PM THE EAGLE AND THE ISLANDERS Way out on the ocean, blue Pacific sea Lay some coral islands Once were free Gentle people lived there by lagoon and restless palm Open hearts and easy smiles Knew no harm No long distance liners ever came to call Once a year, a freighter If at all They never knew of Hitler or the world at war outside Nagasaki, Hiroshima Or how many, many died As always in a battle, only the leaders choose It’s the innocent who suffer And who really lose And, for these lovely islands, misfortune cast the die As spoils of war they fell Under the Eagle’s eye But the Eagle was not contented with her victory hour She coveted, at any cost The greatest power So she built another weapon that was bigger than before Even though she had already Won the war And to these hapless islands, the Eagle brought her bomb And she built an iron tower To explode it from And as the wind blew steady, and as the sea shone gold The sun it burst in unison A hundredfold The frightened island people did not understand That they were all a part Of the Eagle’s plan They saw the ashes falling and they thought that it was snow And they watched their children play Among its deadly glow From Paul Metsers 'Fifth Quarter'. Sleeve note: After the end of the 2nd World War, the Marshall Islands, a remote chain of coral atolls in the north-west Pacific, were part of the territory designated to be held in trust by the United States, presumably until the political climate in the area was considered to have stabilised. By 1954, the USA had developed the largest atomic bomb to date and had decided to use the northern part of this entrusted area as a test site. On the day set for the test, weather reports advised that the prevailing winds would carry fallout to the inhabited island of Rongelap, in the southern part of the Marshall chain. In spite of this, it was nevertheless decided to continue with the explosion. Meteorologists, present at the time and interviewed later, were among the many who concluded that the Rongelap people were deliberately exposed to determine the effects of fallout on humans. After the explosion, the ash of the molten coral from the test site rained down on Rongelap for three days and the islanders, who had received no prior warning, soon began to suffer the effects of radiation poisoning and burns. This lamentable state of affairs continued to plague the islanders and for the next thirty years they suffered on their ruined land while their parliamentary representative, Jeton Anjain, tried valiantly but unsuccessfully to elicit aid and compensation from the Americans, who generously built a supermarket on the island and sold the people tinned (uncontaminated) food. Finally, Anjain turned to Greenpeace and it is a shaft of light in the dark tunnel of the ruthlessness of powerful governments that the last act of Greenpeace’s flagship, the “Rainbow Warrior”, before she was bombed in New Zealand by the French security service, was to transport these diseased and suffering islanders to a new home, the island of Mejato, some 120 miles away. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 12 Dec 20 - 08:45 PM Thanks to GerryM for alerting me to this song, over in the “Aussie-Kiwi Horses and Dogs” thread. The lyrics and Eric's notes are taken from one of the two Mudcat threads on the song. AS IF HE KNOWS Eric Bogle It's as if he knows He's standing close to me His breath warm on my sleeve His head hung low It's as if he knows What the dawn will bring The end of everything For my old Banjo And all along the picket lines beneath the desert sky The light horsemen move amongst their mates to say one last goodbye And the horses stand so quietly Row on silent row It's as if they know Time after time We rode through shot and shell We rode in and out of Hell On their strong backs Time after time They brought us safely through By their swift sure hooves And their brave hearts Tomorrow we will form up ranks and march down to the quay And sail back to our loved ones in that dear land across the sea While our loyal and true companions Who asked so little and gave so much Will lie dead in the dust For the orders came No horses to return We were to abandon them To be slaves After all we'd shared And all that we'd been through A nation's gratitude Was a dusty grave For we can't leave them to the people here, we'd rather see them dead So each man will take his best mate's horse with a bullet through the head For the people here are like their land Wild and cruel and hard So Banjo, here's your reward It's as if he knows He's standing close to me His breath warm upon my sleeve His head hung low It's as if he knows. these are Eric's notes from the CD, Colour of Dreams : During WWI, Australia shipped about 53,000 horses overseas to serve in the various theatres of that war. Of that number, only one returned to Australia at the end of the war, and it was, of course, a General's favourite mount. The rest, or at least the survivors of that original 53,000, were not allowed to return home mainly because of quarantine restrictions, it was feared they could spread anthreax and similar diseases throughout Australia's cattle industry. So the ANZACS were ordered to get rid of what horses they had left. In the European theatre of war many of the horses were sold or given to French and Belgian farmers and peasants and such like. But in Palestine the Light Horsemen refused to either give or sell their horses to the local Arab population, as they thought that the Arabs in general treated their animals with dreadful cruelty. Mind you, I can't think of anything more cruel than subjecting innocent horses to the horrors of modern warfare, but I guess those were the prevailing attitudes of the times. So, rather than leave their horses to a lifetime of slavery, as they saw it, the Light Horsemen shot them. Each man shot his best mate's horse, and that was that. I wrote this song after reading an Anzac Day newspaper artivle about an old veteran Light Horsemen called Elijah Conn, who was talking about his horse, Banjo, and how his best mate shot Banjo just before they marched off to the ship that was waiting to take them home to Australia. Even after 70 years, Elijah's eyes filled with tears when talking about it. This song is for Elijah and Banjo. Sorry to take up so much of your time with this little story, but it's one that deserves to be heard I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXXWFbPjgmc This version of Eric’s heart-rending song is by Peter Pratt and has a slideshow with many interesting images. If you read through the YT Comments (which I tend to do!), and also the posts on the 2 x Mudcat threads concerning this song, you’ll see that as with everything, there was more to the story, and other points of view, complicating this history. There were something like 1.5 million riding horses, mules, donkeys, draft horses et al, used by the allied forces for the Empire – hard to get one’s head around the implications of that figure! One poster points to the possible influence on Eric of Banjo Paterson’s “The Last Parade”, writing about the same situation in the Second Boer War. PETER PRATT, the "smooth western crooner” ….. is from a family of wheat farmers in southern New South Wales and a lover of the western country song. Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Smoky Dawson are his musical hero's….. A former drover, ringer and rouseabout, this wool classer lives and works in regional Australia. His love of this land’s heritage is also evident in his involvement with the Australian Heritage Light Horse Troop….. See Also : http://www.lighthorse.org.au/poetry-and-song/ R-J [My Great Uncle, Bill Youd of Collie, left Albany, WA with the first wave of soldiers - as a Blacksmith with the Australian Light Horse. Thankfully he returned, but spent the rest of his working life quietly, keeping to himself and raising Poultry.] |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 11 Dec 20 - 08:35 PM Good one, Dave. Like Sandra, I look forward to more. Here is a Kiwi bullocky song from one their finest songwriters. BULLOCKY (Peter Cape) Dat ol' brindle bullock wi t'e white wall eye Maul and wedges and a tot'ra tree He'll lead t'is team til t'e day he die Maul and wedges and a tot'ra tree Swing t'at maul and drive t'em dogs Maul and wedges and a tot'ra tree Chris' keep t'e tailers from a rollin' log Maul and wedges and a tot'ra tree Whitey an' Teufel is hardly broke Maul and wedges and a tot'ra tree Can't pull together in a double yoke Maul and wedges and a tot'ra tree Lancewood pole an' a nine-foot lash Maul and wedges and a tot'ra tree Whip t'rough the air but never touch flesh Maul and wedges and a tot'ra tree Some men got stones set up for the names Maul and wedges and a tot'ra tree But a good strainer post tells a bullocky's fame Maul and wedges and a tot'ra tree As noted in 'An Ordinary Joker', the song attempts to capture the accents of Bohemian/Dalmatian bush workers of North Auckland. Chris' [Christ] tailers [timber workers] Double yoke [pulling harness for bullocks] Dogs [spikes which hold railway lines on sleepers] Maul [wooden hammer] wedges [v-shaped steel wood-splitters] Lancewood [small native tree] Some men got stones [headstones on graves] Strainer post [main post on a fence] Whitey [bullock's name] Teufel [devil] is hardly broke [broken in - trained] Tot'ra [totara tree] Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 11 Dec 20 - 09:19 AM It is now the 12th, Down Under. As today is a bit of a special memorial day for me, and as Stewie has previously posted some Mike McClellan, I am unashamedly posting my favourite! THE ONE I LOVE - Mike McClellan - I don't care for dancing and I'm not much at talk At least it’s never been that way I know it's not easy to understand my ways When there's so much that I oughta say When I'm standing right before you, I feel like the fool Blinded by the light in his eyes No, and love’s light steals the dark night in his soul And the one I love she shines like silver The one I love she glows like moonlight The one I love is warm like sunshine The one I love Yes, the one I love she shines like silver The one I love she glows like moonlight The one I love is warm like sunshine The one I love I don't care for parties and I like the quiet life And I've never felt at ease within a crowd I've never found it easy to live the way I do Sometimes the song’s the only time I think out loud When I'm standing right before you, I feel like the fool Who never finds the right words to say No, and his chance goes with the last dance of the night And the one I love she shines like silver The one I love she glows like moonlight The one I love is warm like sunshine The one I love Yes the one I love she shines like silver The one I love she glows like moonlight The one I love is warm like sunshine The One I Love Listen to Mike here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcJwkXeiFrk “(celebrating) Another Grey Day” was one of my faves too, great guitar and bluesy feel……. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UO8FTphM1k R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 11 Dec 20 - 07:55 AM Thanks Dave! - that post was well-timed, coz : NINE MILES FROM GUNDAGAI I'm used to punching bullock teams across the hills and plains I've teamed outback these forty years in blazing droughts and rains I've lived a heap of troubles down without a flamin’ lie But I can’t forget what happened [to] me nine miles from Gundagai T’was getting dark, the team got bogged, the axel snapped in two I lost me matches and me pipe - ah what was I to do The rains came on t’was bitter cold and hungry too was I And the dog sat in the tucker box nine miles from Gundagai Some blokes I know have stacks of luck, no matter how they fall But there was I - lord luvva duck - no flamin’ luck at all I couldn't make a pot of tea nor get me trousers dry And the dog sat in the tucker box nine miles from Gundagai I can forgive the bloomin’ team, I can forgive the rain I can forgive the dark and cold and go through it again I can forgive my rotten luck but hang me till I die I can’t forgive that bloody dog nine miles from Gundagai But that's all dead and past and gone; I've sold the team for meat And where I got the bullocks bogged now there is an asphalt street The dog, ah well, he took a bait and reckoned he would die So I buried him in that tucker box nine miles from Gundagai ”In Australian Tradition Jan 1967 John Meredith wrote a piece entitled 'Along the Road to Gundagai - but how many miles?'. In it he explores the origins of this song and its relatives. He is of the opinion that it derives from 'Bullocky Bill' which was printed in the Gundagai Times in 1857. Meredith writes "Over thirty of our old bush songs and ballads are about Gundagai - the struggles of her people and the troubles and fun that the bullockies and the shearers had there in the second half of the last century". He dates 'Nine Miles from Gundagai' from the 1880's. As Meredith points out the song could hardly have lived so long if the dog had merely sat in the tucker box. Whatever the case, it's the dog that has a memorial outside Gundagai. Gundagai journalist and poet Jack Moses published a collection of his poems in 1938. Both the collection and first poem are called 'Nine Miles from Gundagai' but only last verse matches any of the song.” Thanks to MARK GREGORY’s great site for lyrics and notes : http://folkstream.com/064.html Jack Moses (1860 - 1945) a travelling wine salesman and poet, had his poem published Jan1924 in Nth Qld Register. Read here : http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/poetry/nine_miles_from_gundagai.html The 1880 poem by Bowyang Yorke (aka reporter Tom Kinnaine), can be read here along with further explanations - and stories of the iconic statue in Gundagai : https://janedogs.com/dog-on-the-tuckerbox/ Listen to : The Wild Colonial Boys (Jacko Kevans, lead) from 23:15 at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOioyIDnQeo&t=913s R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 11 Dec 20 - 06:57 AM good to see you here, Dave, I look froward to lots more songs from your songbook sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: DaveJohnson Date: 11 Dec 20 - 06:24 AM Here's one that I thought deserved a tune and chorus. There are very few bullocky songs and yet these men were the mainstay of early colonial transport. Bill the Bullocky In an article called Gundagai's Dog by JG Castleton written in 1938 he says these words were sighted on a matchbox holder and dated 1859. In “Songs of Australia” it is set to an Irish rebel tune and given a rollicking chorus to rollick by myself. As I came down through Conroy's Gap, I heard a maiden cry, "There goes old Bill the Bullocky, he's bound for Gundagai!' Chorus With a heave on the yoke and a heave on the chains And the crack of the whip again and again. 'A better bullock-driver never cracked more honest crust; A kinder-hearted driver never dragged a whip through dust.' With Spark and Charlie in the lead and on the pole old Ball, Who bent his back, nor cared a damn if the others pulled at all. His team got bogged at Five-Mile Creek; Bill lashed and cried and swore, 'If Nobby don't haul us out of this I'll speak to him no more!' So Nobby strained, and broke the yoke, and poked out Baldy's eye, And the dog sat on the tucker-box five miles from Gundagai. Come all you bullock-drivers, and listen to my rhyme, And if ever you go a-carrying, don't bind yourselves to time. For I'm on the Sydney Road, my boys, my fortune for to try, And I'm loaded for a storekeeper, in the town of Gundagai. Song file with abc and pdf links |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 11 Dec 20 - 03:31 AM speaking of Dogs ...... THE KELPIE Lyrics, Bill Robertson / Music, Lyndon Kris To build this country, the new Promised Land The Kelpie was there; it gave us a hand Mustering the High Country in hail and the rain Or in the Outback on a dry dusty plain. Without any wages, working daylight to dark T’was in the back country they made their mark Mustering sheep and cattle, and horses too The Kelpie dogs did what we couldn’t do. He moved to the left, he moved to the right He backed them on through until they took flight He drove from behind and ran to the lead Turned them around and slowed them to feed : This Kelpie Dog is one heck of a breed! [spoken] The sun pounded down, they’d stopped to rest This Kelpie dog was still giving his best He’s tough as a Dingo, never complains Some say they’re related, well, that’s no shame. The Kelpie doesn’t mind, they’ll go anywhere When the going gets tough, they just don’t care They’re the best b…? this world’s ever seen The Kelpie dogs, yeah, they’re a working machine. He moved to the left, he moved to the right He backed them on through until they took flight He drove from behind and ran to the lead Turned them around and slowed them to feed : This Kelpie Dog is one heck of a breed! [spoken] Crossing rivers so deep and wide – they move stock to the other side The edge of the banks so terribly steep – a difficult place for a large mob of sheep Pushing forward and paniced with fright – all bunched up – what a terrible sight Some went down in the mud and the glue – He never lost one to the old Barcoo.*** Relentless and tough, endearing to all They respond in a flash to their master’s call They came from mixed cultures, just like we all do Now the genes of Australia run through their veins too. With the passing of time, we’ve been remiss We forgot to thank Kelpie for doing all this When our need was greatest, they gave us a hand To build a nation, a new prosperous land. Spoken : Thanks Kelpie – you did it : what we couldn’t do YOU LITTLE BEAUTY! Sung by Ian Sandercoe : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFSehjkFNHw From the 2012 documentary “KELPIE THE LEGEND” https://vimeo.com/ondemand/kelpiethelegend (trailer + watch or buy) ***The Barcoo is a river in SW Qld rising in the Warrego Range and eventually joining Cooper’s Creek. All are mentioned in Australian folksongs and stories. Barcoo Rot, Barcoo Fever were maladies also mentioned, but are apparently rarely experienced these days, probably due to better quality food and safer water. Interestingly, a Barcoo Dog is a noise-making device for herding sheep when dogs are unavailable. It’s made of wire and bottle tops and was first recorded in 1936. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 10 Dec 20 - 10:01 PM On 20 August, I posted lyrics to Lawson's 'Down the River', but no sound links. Since then, I have found a couple of renditions: Loaded Dog Gerry Hallon --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 10 Dec 20 - 08:56 PM THE DYING FETTLER A strapping young fettler lay dying With a shovel supporting his head The ganger and crew round him crying As he let go his pick-handle and said: Ch. Wrap me up in a tent or a fly, boys And bury me deep down below Where the trolleys and trains won’t molest me To show there’s a navvy below. There’s tea in the old battered billy-can Place the dogs spikes out in a row And we’ll spike to the next merry meeting To show there’s a navvy below. Hark, there’s the wail of a trolley Far, far away it seems It sounds like the inspector is coming And hopes to see us all here. So back to your shovels, my boy-lads And bend your backs with a will For this inspector has no time of judgement But there is a navvy below. “The Dying Fettler” was collected at Lappa Junction, N.Q., August 21, 1966. It will be readily recognised as a parody on “The Dying Stockman”. It was sung by Vic Leonard, who in turn had learned it from Frank Stock of Koorboora, a now extinct mining centre.” Ron Edwards, To the North – Pt 5 of The Overlander Songbook, 1966 The town of Koorboora (east of Herberton), was in an area of Tin and Wolfram (Tungsten) mining, extant from the late 1800s to maybe 1930s. A Fettler (in this song), is someone who repairs or maintains a Railway. ***[Horace Flower, 1st published, Portland Mirror, 1885]. “The Dying Stockman”*** has collected a fair few parodies and the tune (and its variations) is, I think, very well-known, but I have included two links. One to Dave de Hugard’s singing : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxZ5EARLsQ8 And one, from a more classical voice. I am not normally drawn - at all - to the use of this type of singing style in folk music, but, I suspect that is probably a Baby Boomer penchant!! This chap, as well as being a singer and writer, is a geologist and Australia does a pretty good line in Singing Geologists!! So here is Robert Pyper : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INCf9_YXFYA I might post his own song about gold mining in 1930s Meekatharra, sometime soon. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 10 Dec 20 - 08:13 PM DOWN IN THE BRUNNER MINE (Anon) They work in the heat and the coal black dust Sticks to the skin like a burn'd pie crust We curse each day that the miner must Go down in the Brunner mine Down at the face of the the Brunner mine Two hundred feet by the survey line There's never a sign of sun and sky Down in the Brunner mine The miner's breath comes short and hot He's using all the breath he's got Whether it's good for his lungs or not Down in the Brunner mine A sound that'll creep through the miner's soul Is the shake and rattle and down she'll roll A hundred feet of rubble and coal Down in the Brunner mine A cave-in'll give us a shut down day But that'll never make a miner gay For the trembling earth speaks Judgment Day Down in the Brunner mine Youtube clip Note in 'Song of a Young Country': New Zealand's worst mining disaster occurred at the Brunner Mine in Westland on the morning of 26 March 1896 when an explosion at the coalface rocketed through the whole mine and killed every man, a total of 67. The accident left 186 children fatherless and 14 other aged and invalid persons without a bread winner. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 10 Dec 20 - 09:48 AM I'm currently working on a blog about the 1960 Banjo Paterson Festival at Orange (NSW) & was tracing the songs sung there, 4 years after the Bush Music Club was established & less than 10 years after people started looking for traditional Australian songs to counter the increasing Americanisation of our culture. It will appear here Bush Music Club blog, I'm just waiting for some info from a foundation member & another who joined within the first few months about 2 songs with alternate titles. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 10 Dec 20 - 08:02 AM Great to see that version of The Darby Ram, Sandra - I didn't find that one, but it is the variant that Jeff Corfield referenced for the chune of John Dengate's "The Bicentennial Song" - which I posted it back on Dec 3rd!! Funny how the cogs of the Universe can align for us, LoL! Cheers, R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 10 Dec 20 - 04:31 AM speaking of the famous Ram as were doing, The Ram of Darby, perhaps the earliest version of this song family collected in Australia, or maybe just the earliest version published in Oz in Singabout 1(4), Spring 1956 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Dec 20 - 07:31 PM Oops, I'm not doing too well. It was John Flynn who posted the link. My apologies, John. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Dec 20 - 07:27 PM Gerry posted a link to a recording of Peter Cape's 'Talking Dog' to R-J's thread about dogs. There are minor variations to Cape's original. I searched YT but somehow missed the recording. by Graham Wilson. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Dec 20 - 07:02 PM TALKING DOG (Peter Cape) Young cow cocky sitting on a log Sharpening his axe, talking to his dog Tells his dog he's sick of baching all his life Dog answers back and says, 'Better get a wife' Chorus For with the ducks in the duck pond Porkers in the pen You no sooner finish milking Than you've started off again He hitches up the buggy, drives down to the hall Lots of lovely crows there, lined against the wall Says to his dog, 'Leave the choice to you' The dog cuts out a good one, says 'She'll do' For the ... Got to get a licence, got to get a ring Got to see the parson, get the choir to sing: Great day coming, down the church at three 'Who gives this woman?' and the dog says "Me' Not the ... This young cow cocky still hasn't got it right The dog talks all the daytime, missus talks at night Going to leave them to it, take another lease Get up in the tea-tree, get a bit of peace From the ... If you want a moral (though I dunno why you should) Talking to your dog won't do you any good But if you must be talking, just keep it sweet and nice Here's a tip from me, mates, don't take his advice Or the ducks in the duckpond Porkers in the pen They'll keep you going at it When they get you back again Or you'll have ... I couldn't find a recording of this on the Net. The tune is printed in 'An Ordinary Joker' p64. Martin Curtis recorded it on his 'Gin and Raspberry' album. ABC file available on this page: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Dec 20 - 02:49 AM Stewie has posted some songs by Charles Thatcher [ Charles R. Thatcher (Charles Robert), 1831-1878 ] and so here is : "Thatcher's Colonial Minstrel: A new collection of songs by the inimitable Thatcher." from Otago University Research Heritage program. "Thatcher's Colonial Songs: Forming a complete comic history of the early diggings, 1864" "Song Lyrics (descriptions and parodies) by Charles R. Thatcher about Melbourne, and Victoria, Australia. Cover shows the price is sixpence. The songster was published and printed by Charlwood and Son in Bourke Street, Melbourne, while the retailer is given as Cole's Book Arcade in Bourke Street, Melbourne. Music is not provided, but a note regarding what tune the song should be sung to is given at the start of the lyric. Also includes 'The Victoria Songster: Containing new and original colonial songs together with a choice selection of the most popular songs of the day', published by Charlwood and Son, 1860. [37 pages are missing between p 109- 145]" Download here : http://otago.ourheritage.ac.nz/items/show/10641 (145pp - it took me a while though, on a rural connection) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Dec 20 - 02:28 AM THE ALBURY RAM Numerous tunes - numerous choruses - numerous verses - even numerous towns titles They abound for the British (and American) folksong “The Derby Ram” and from which song, Australia’s version comes!!! SO MANY versions of that darn song on YT – whodathunkit??!! (even Archie Fisher has a version : Crikey! :) The MainlyNorfolk website has LOTS of info on the song/s : https://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/thederbyram.html The song [version 1] features in John Lahey’s Great Australian Folk Songs with 8 verses - and a tune arranged by P. Evans. This is the version that the prolific Raymond Crooke uses : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FavKdhHtz-g&t=4s I was also after the version I knew, from The Twiliters’ 1965 recording of “The Albury Ram” – but their version has not yet been uploaded to YT, that I can find. However, from memory, their tune is a slower version of this A.L.Lloyd one [version 2] : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qiy9qcc3nJc The Albury Ram (Victorian Folk Music Club’s collection) [version 1] As I was going to Albury along the other day, I saw the finest sheep, sir, was ever fed on hay. Singing blow you winds to morning, blow you winds, hi-ho! Blow away the morning dew, blow boys, blow. The sheep he had four feet, sir, upon which he used to stand, And every one of them, sir, it covered an acre of land. The sheep he had two horns, sir, they grew so mighty wide, They're going to build a bridge with them from Albury to Clyde. The sheep he had a tail, sir, it grew so mighty long, 'Twas used to build a telegraph from Sydney to Geelong The wool upon his belly, it bore him off the ground, 'Twas sold in Melbourne the other day for a hundred thousand pounds. The wool upon his back, sir, it grew so mighty high, The eagles built their nest there, for I heard the young ones cry. A hundred gallons of oil, sir, were boiled out of his bones, Took all the girls in Albury to drag away his frame. The man who owned this sheep sir, he must have been mighty rich, And the man who made this song up was a lying son-of-a-gun. Dalby Ram - A.L.Lloyd [version 2] As I was going to Dalby all on a market day I met the biggest ram my boys that ever was fed on hay And indeed my lads it's true my lads I never was known to lie And if you'd been in Dalby you'd seen him the same as I The wool on this ram's belly well it grew into the ground Cut off and sent to the Sydney sales it fetched a thousand pound The wool on this ram's back my boys grew so very high The eagles came and built their nests and I heard the young 'uns cry The horns on this ram's head they reached up to the moon A little boy went up in January and he didn't get back till June And indeed my lads it's true my lads I never was known to lie And if you'd been in Dalby you'd seen him the same as I The man that fed this ram my boys he fed him twice a day And every time he opened his mouth he swallowed a bale of lucerne hay The man that watered this ram my boys watered him twice a day And every time he opened his mouth he drunk the river dry Now this old ram he had a tail that reached right down to hell And every time he waggled it he rung the fireman's bell And indeed my lads it's true my lads I never was known to lie And if you'd been in Dalby you'd seen him the same as I The butcher that stuck this ram my boys was up to knees in blood And the little boy who held the bowl was carried away by the flood Took all the boys in Dalby to roll away his bones Took all the girls in Dalby to roll away his stone the crows Now the man that fattened this ram my boys he must have been very rich And the man who sung this song must be a lying son of a .... so he is Well now my song is ended I've got no more to say So give us another pint of beer and we'll all of us go away Believe what you will. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Dec 20 - 12:13 AM "MURTOCH DELANY'S DESCRIPTION OF THE RACES" ANONYMOUS (songwriter) : To the tune "Ballynamony-ora" [Ballinamona ora] The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (20 October 1810), 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article628109 Don't you know I from Hawkesbury came to behold Your Races, that seem'd to delight young and old, Where each rode a-foot, if not blest with a horse And cantered away to the place called the Course Sing Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, A tight little horse-race for me. Och! then what a noise open'd up to my view, About young Paddywhack, and old Bryanboroo, But sacrilege surely it was at the least, That Paddy's dear name should belong to a beast. Sing Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, Ah! no such vile nick names for me. There were Gentlemen mounted so fine and so gay, And ladies that look'd like a star at noon-day; When I see the dear creatures I grieve that I'm poor, Since Beauty's the planet we all must adore. Sing Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, A smart little damsel for me. Six jokers on horseback were standing stock still, Like as many dragoons that were learning to drill, Till losing their wits, sure, they all at one time Gallopped off at full speed, without reason or rhyme. Sing Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, Ah! no such diversion for me. In no time at all sure they twirl'd round about, And met cheek by jowl at the place they set out Then faster and faster they went - I protest, To see which could manage to break his neck best. Sing Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, Their necks they may crack all for me. But think what the devil myself could possess; - One said would I lay, and I thought I'd say yes! Then because I just lost and had nothing to pay, Why I raced by myself, and so gallopped away; Sing Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, Ballynamony-ora, No kicking nor whipping for me! More info at : https://www.sydney.edu.au/paradisec/australharmony/chronicle1801-1810.php R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 08 Dec 20 - 11:52 PM The Volunteers: a ballad (Words only; no tune indicated) Source: "THE VOLUNTEERS, A BALLAD", The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (8 April 1804), 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article626124 When menac'd with civil commotion and noise Shall Britons inactively slumber? Then away to the field, the bright musket to poise, With courage, regardless of number. With patriot firmness the laws we'll maintain; With spirit and vigor we'll brave the campaign; Our women and children relinquish their fears, And trust to the prowess of bold Volunteers. Should France, in her fondness for places abroad E'er honor our Coast with a visit, Before on the soil many moments they've trod They'll find our politeness exquisite. With a Marseillois dirge, or a Carmagnel dance To the music of musquetry let them advance But dreadful the musars will be to their ears Struck up by the phalanx of firm Volunteers. Should sordid Mynheer foreign conquest pursue, And fly from his DAMS to assist us, Our RED COATS, supporting the Volunteer BLUE, With good hearts and flints cannot fail us. No jarring contention those hearts shall divide, But Britain's blest Genius o'er Britons preside And the Foes of our MONARCH retreating in tears Shall fly from the ardour of bold Volunteers. just found here : https://www.sydney.edu.au/paradisec/australharmony/chronicle1801-1810.php R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 08 Dec 20 - 11:09 PM I think we may have around 495 song lyrics so far (most with recording links) - wadyarekun Sandra?! Well Done Us, in any case :) Of course, there is NOTHING stopping ANYONE from posting Oz-Kiwi songs here ........... (she says hopefully) I'm working on a couple more before my mini workbreak (except I'd rather do this than all the houseshite threatening to bury me! :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 08 Dec 20 - 08:42 PM OLD TI CH: Old TI, my beautiful home, That's the place where I was born; The sun and the moon that shine, Make me long for home, Old TI, my beautiful home. TI, my beautiful home, TI, my home sweet home. Darling, won't you take me, Where the sun is sinking, farewell. Why are you looking so sad, my dear, Why are you feeling so blue? I'm thinking of someone so far away, In that beautiful place called TI. Take me across the sea, Over the deep blue sea, Darling, won't you take me, Back to my home TI. When at the break of dawn, Your dear face I cannot see, You will always think, Always think of me. Up above the clouds, Your dear face I cannot see, But in your memories dear, Never, never say goodbye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj1LDel24PI JESSIE LLOYD version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyYPShjofjI TED EGAN version “Another from the Joy Durst Memorial Australian Song Collection (1980 edition), published by the Victorian Folk Music Club. Published with the following note: Popularised by Joy Durst. From Thursday Islanders at Cairns, Queensland. TI is the popular name for Thursday Island, the administrative centre of the Torres Strait Islands which lie off the Northern tip of Queensland. The islands have been part of Australia since their annexation by Queensland in 1879. The indigenous population are Melanesian islanders.” Lyrics and Notes taken from John Thompson’s “Oz Folksong a Day”blog: http://ozfolksongaday.blogspot.com/2011/11/old-ti.html Documentary : Islands of the Torres Straits, 1989 (This Land Australia series by TED EGAN) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23Ih37aPrNM “Are You From TI?” is another popular Island song (Seaman Dan version ) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY23WrKbMCU R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Dec 20 - 07:36 PM Alan Mann of Loaded Dog introduced me to the music of C.W. Stoneking several years ago and since then I have added several of his delightful albums to my collection. His style is reminiscent of the great Leon Redbone. I love this whimsical song: TALKIN' LION BLUES (C.W. Stoneking) O-lay-eeeeeee O-lay-ee-ee-ee O-de-o-lay-ee-oh-oh O-da-lay-eee I was over in Africa minin' for gold O-ooh, minin' for gold Come along a big lion, caught me in my hole O-de-lay-eee, caught me in my hole The lion said, 'Buddy, you plumb outta luck O-ooh, you plumb outta luck' Made a lunge for me, lawd, I had to duck O-de-lay-eee, I had to duck I jabbed that lion right clean in the jaw O-ooh, right clean in the jaw Picked up his tail, dragged him 'cross the floor O-de-lay-eee, dragged him 'cross the floor I chained him up in the back of my truck O-ooh, in the back of my truck Said, 'what's that you had to say about luck? O-de-lay-eee, that you said about luck' The first place I took him was ten miles away O-ooh, ten miles away Told the people, 'Listen what this lion can say O-de-lay-eee, what this lion can say' The lion looked round, he started to cry O-ooh, he started to cry Said, 'this man punched me and he blackened my eye O-da-lay-eee, and he blackened my eye' The people got angry, they started to shout O-da-lay-ee-ee-ee-eee Lion said, 'That's what I was talkin' about' O-de-lay-eee, oh-oh, lawd, lawd They hauled me up the courthouse stairs O-ooh, up the courthouse stairs The judge was a monkey in an old wicker chair O-de-lay-eee, in an old wicker chair The monkey said, 'Guilty', and the people all cheered O-ooh, and the people all cheered He slammed his gavel, said, 'twenty five years' O-da-lay-eee, said 'twenty five years' I'm in Africa wearin' a ball and chain O-de-lay-ee, a ball and chain I'll never mess with a talkin' lion again O-ooh, a talkin' lion again Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Dec 20 - 06:44 PM Thanks for the kind words, John. It is great to have feedback from a Kiwi. R-J, the Speaker of the WA parliament must be very tolerant. The Hon David Templeman has been permitted to amuse the chamber with his ditties on several occasions. Here is another: Ode to 2020 --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Dec 20 - 09:57 AM and here's the earliest copy as published in Singabout, Volume 2(3), December 1957 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 08 Dec 20 - 08:28 AM Shores of Botany Bay I'm on me way down to the quay Where the good ship now does lay To command a gang of navvies I was told to engage But I thought I would stop in for a while Before I went away For to take a trip on an emigrant ship To the shores of Botany Bay. Ch. Farewell to your bricks and mortar Farewell to your dirty lime Farewell to your gangway and your gang plank And to hell with your overtime For the good ship “Ragamuffin” Is lying at the quay For to take old Pat with a shovel on his back To the shores of Botany Bay. The best years of our life we spend At working on the docks Building mighty wharves and quays Of earth and ballast rocks Our pensions keep our lives secure But I'll not rue the day When I take a trip on an emigrant ship To the shores of Botany Bay. Oh the boss came up this morning And he said "Why Pat, hello If you do not mix that mortar quick Be sure you'll have to go" Of course he did insult me I demanded all me pay And I told him straight I was going to emigrate To the shores of Botany Bay. And when I reach Australia I'll go and look for gold There's plenty there for the digging of Or so I have been told Or maybe I’ll go back to me trade Eight hundred bricks I'll lay In an eight hour shift for eight bob pay On the shores of Botany Bay. Notes Collected from Duke Tritton by John Meredith. Tritton learned the song while busking in Sydney early this century. He also wrote the last verse. Second verse is from Therese Radic's Songs of Australian Working Life : MARK GREGORY http://folkstream.com/080.html Version here by The Wild Colonial Boys, 1970 (lead, Tony Lavin) starts at 12:20 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOioyIDnQeo R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST,John Flynn Date: 08 Dec 20 - 08:25 AM Another very appreciative regular visitor to this thread. Many many thanks to Sandra, Stewie, Rich-Joy and others for all their many enjoyable contributions. From a Kiwi (and former member of the NZFLS) who has lived in Perth since 1975. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 08 Dec 20 - 07:45 AM I'm reading a dog book at present, hence this offering! DOG’S MEETING (aka CANINE CATASTROPHE) The dogs they held a festival They came from near and far And some they came by aeroplane And some by motor car Before into the concert hall They were allowed to look Each dog had to take off his Boom ba-Boom*** And hang it on a hook Yes, each dog had to take off his Boom ba-Boom And hang it on the hook. Well, when they were all seated there Each mother, son and sire, A dirty little yellow dog Began to holler ´Fire!´ Out they rushed in panic They didn't stop to look Each dog he grabbed a Boom ba-Boom From off the nearest hook Yes, each dog he grabbed a Boom ba-Boom From off the nearest hook. So that's the reason that you’ll see When walking down the street Each dog will stop and swap a smell With every dog he meets And that's the reason why, me boys He’ll leave a big fat bone Just to go and sniff a Boom ba-Boom To see if it’s his own Just to go and sniff a Boom ba-Boom To see if it’s his own. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGodoFa0FIU Canine Catastrophe : The Wild Colonial Boys (lead : Bob McInnes) John Thompson writes : “A joke old enough to have developed many versions. Ron Edwards notes that many of both his and John Meredith's informants claim Henry Lawson as the author, however there is no evidence that this is the case.” Many variants, Many titles, Many tunes. Possibly started life in Scotland, long ago ….. Australian versions often set to “The Lincolnshire Poacher”, as with the Wild Colonial Boys version. ***however you wish to make the 'knock-knock' sound .... R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: SqueezeMe Date: 08 Dec 20 - 07:03 AM Thanks, Stewie, for posting Saltwater Cowboy; couldn't understand all the words from the recording I have. I missed the earlier post of Snowy River Men, Sandra. Sorry to have put you to any trouble, and the subtle slap on the wrist re. log-in duly noted :-) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Dec 20 - 03:59 AM another oops, I posted Aunty Rooney on 18 Sep 20 - 02:17 AM |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 08 Dec 20 - 01:20 AM Thanks, Sandra - jolly good! It's a great song. Mind you, I remember my mother used to sing around the house and we always wished that she wouldn't.....because she couldn't..... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Dec 20 - 12:34 AM yes, & I posted it - 29 Aug 20 - 10:52 AM it's probably my favourite of his songs, or is Aunty Rooney my favourite? It's the story of a family entertainment in the days before TV where everyone participates "today I'll play the mouth organ my mother let me bring" I'll type it up later today sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 07 Dec 20 - 10:08 PM Is my memory playing me false, or did Kevin Baker write a song called "Superstar"? About how people used to sing while going about their everyday tasks, but now you have to be - or think you have to be - a superstar, to sing. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 07 Dec 20 - 09:44 PM OMG Stewie! I am amazed that the Speaker just let the Hon MLA Templeman keep going to the end!! Wonder if there was "fallout" for anyone?! I seem to recall a famous Sth African politician (a great female singer and activist, whose name at present escapes me) was stopped from her attempt at singing in the South African Parliament .... R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 07 Dec 20 - 09:05 PM SqueezeMe, here's your other request: SALTWATER COWBOY (Pigram Brothers) Lend me your body tonight, my bluewater lady This salty wind is getting to my bones These lugger sails are moving too slowly For this saltwater cowboy sailing home This ol' copper hat is aching my shoulders These lead-weight boots don't need any spurs To ride these waves and bare-back mermaids Ah this saltwater country is my home Stand back, you shallow water man Let a deep sea diver through Selamat tingal, nakula jarndu Sayonara, slo'n', gallow nyundu These lugger sails are moving too slowly For this saltwater cowboy sailing home Stand back, you shallow water man Let a deep sea diver through These lugger sails are moving too slowly For this saltwater cowboy sailing home For this saltwater cowboy sailing home For this saltwater cowboy sailing home Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Dec 20 - 07:59 PM oops, I didn't check - the words are there with the video. sandra (blushing) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Dec 20 - 07:54 PM lost your password SqeezeMe? I love Kevin's work, but very little is available outside his records & CDs, & Dave de Santi is not aware of anyone still singing his songs. Doesn't mean that folks don't slip in an occasional song in sessions, but ... I've posted a video of Snowy River men, 29 Aug 20 - 10:04 AM, but not the words. Decades ago BMC published the words not knowing who wrote it & I do have a jpg of them, all I need to do is find it. I asked Ralph to OCR scan the words of 'One hand's the boss's' (05 Nov 20 - 05:22 AM) & probably could ask him to do so again. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 07 Dec 20 - 07:12 PM Welcome, Guest. Thanks for your feedback; it is appreciated. I posted 2 Pigram Brothers songs above - 'Dry River Bed' and 'Johnny's Shoes'. I'll post your suggestions. R-J, you'll love this parody of 'Sounds of Silence' if you haven't heard it. Parliament can be fun for a few moments. West Oz pollie --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST,SqueezeMe Date: 07 Dec 20 - 09:54 AM Another regular reader of this thread here. Please keep up the good work; this is a wonderful resource. One or two notable omissions (my humble opinion only). Kevin Baker's "Snowy River Men" has long been a favorite. And maybe something from Broome's Pigram Brothers, perhaps "Saltwater Cowboy". Or have they already been posted and I've missed them???? |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Dec 20 - 08:37 PM NEW CHUM SHEARER (Traditional) Well the new chum toils with heart and soul Shearing the sheep just to make a roll Out in the outback, far away Then off to Sydney for a holiday And down in the city he's a terrible swell As he takes a taxi to the Kent Hotel, The barmaid says, 'Well you look ill It must have been rough tucker, Bill' And down in the city he looks a goat With his Oxford bags and Seymour coat Spends his money like a fool of course He's worked for like a bloomin' horse Then he shouts for everyone round the place Then it's off to Randwick for the big horse race Dopes himself on back-ache pills Talks high tallies and tucker bills His money's gone, he's sick and sore And the barmaid's looks aren't kind any more His erstwhile friends don't give a hoot It's back to the bush, per what? - the boot! And back in Bourke where the flies are bad, He tells of the wonderful times he's had The winners that he shouldn't have missed And he skites of the dozens of girls he's kissed And he stands on the corner scrounging a fag The shirt tails showing through his Oxford bags He's pawned that beautiful Seymour coat He's got no money - oh, what a goat Got no tucker, got no booze, The soles are gone from his snake-skin shoes Camps in the bend, in the wind and rain Waits for the shearing to start again So all you blokes with a cheque to spend Don't go down to the city where you've got no friends Head for the nearest wayside shack It ain't so far when you've got to walk back! Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Dec 20 - 01:45 AM it was posted on 10th Sept, I'll send you the feral list, Jennie. It is easily searched, it's just the running numbers that are a problem, but the replacement spreadsheet is (very) slowly filling sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 06 Dec 20 - 12:38 AM Have we done "The ballad of 1891"? Because if we haven't, we should. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Dec 20 - 10:34 PM Welcome!! Phil :) All Good, Sandra! :) Indeed, Stewie! Best way to think of it, eh : Mudcat Australian and New Zealand Songbook Any more songs, JennieG?! I think when we get to 500 songs posted (which is VERY close!), I personally need to take a small break, as work (and crap) is piling up here (and these 36* days in the colonial Hill Station of Maleny does NOT help matters!!). But I'll be back :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 Dec 20 - 09:49 PM good to see you here Phil R-J 3 songs added. NZ Southern Cross was one of 3 links you included in the post about Bushwackers' Southern Cross, I didn't think of them as songs to list (oops) sandra ps. I am the famous Picky Proofreader (ask Dale for a testimonial, I check all her articles) but proofreaders can't proofread their own work, well, that's my excuse & I'm sticking to it. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST,Phil Date: 05 Dec 20 - 08:58 PM You may be the only ones posting but you're not the only ones reading the thread - please keep it up. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 05 Dec 20 - 08:48 PM A NAUTICAL YARN (Anon/Trad) I sing of a captain who's well known to fame A naval commander, Bill Jinks was his name Who sailed where the Murray's clear waters do flow A freshwater shellback with a yo-heave-a-yo. To the port of Wahgunyah his vessel was bound When night came upon him and darkness around Not a star on the waters its clear light did throw But the vessel sped onwards with a yo-heave-a-yo 'O captain, O captain, let's make for the shore For the winds they do rage and the winds they do roar' 'Nay, nay!' said the captain, 'though the wild winds may blow I will stick to my vessel with a yo-heave-a-yo' 'O captain, O captain, the waves sweep the deck O captain, O captain, we'll soon be a wreck To the river's deep bosom, each sailor will go' But the captain laughed lightly with a yo-heave-a-yo. Farewell to our sweethearts, the girls we adore, Farewell to our friends, for we'll see them no more, The crew shrieked with terror, the captain he swore We had struck on a sandbank, so we all walked ashore A song of the Murray River paddle steamers. The words are attributed to Keighley Goodchild, but Ian Mudie thought this very unlikely. The usual tune is 'Villikins and his Dinah". Burl Ives was the first to record it. R-J, you will recall that it was a favourite of Smokey and Batey. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 05 Dec 20 - 08:19 PM Whatever, R-J, I am not concerned. We are assembling an eclectic collection of Oz and Kiwi songs which hopefully will survive. The rise up Mudcat proposition seems to be something of a damp squib. Perhaps the title of this thread could be altered to 'Mudcat Australian and New Zealand Songbook'. Anyhow, our mysterious moderator popped his head in on one occasion - what more could you want! Onwards and upwards. Sandra, many thanks for your updated list which R-J forwarded to me. You are doing a splendid job. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Dec 20 - 08:06 AM Not sure if I should actually voice this concern, but the thought has crossed my mind that there's not only just the four of us POSTING here - for months now - but MAYBE we're the only ones READING as well???!!! . . . . . . Hello? :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Dec 20 - 07:49 AM Yes JennieG, I wonder how much of it is a reaction to "these Times we're living in" - looking back to when Life and Time moved more slowly and one seemed to have more of a handle on things - aka "more control"??! - definitely more Youth, Physical Strength, and Energy, LoL!! Sandra, I'm so sorry to hear you've had so much trouble with "The List"!! um ..... I'm almost loath to mention that 3rd December's update was still missing 3 or 4 songs : 23Nov Down City Streets (Ruby Hunter) 25Nov The Shearer's Dream (attrib. Lawson) 01Dec I Am Pegasus (Ross Ryan) Also the 30 Oct entry still needs Malcolm Gordon's NZ song added (same name as Bushwacker's = Beneath the Southern Cross) Sorry! But I guess as Stewie would say : "Onwards and Upwards!" G'Luck. Cheers, R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 05 Dec 20 - 06:04 AM r-j, the "yearn to return" is real. I left the country town where I was born and bred vowing never to return, but 40 years later I did. However the town I returned to is not the town I left, many people are gone, things and people (including me) change, and we are happy here. Himself was a city boy but loves living in Tamworth. At least we stayed in the same state! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 Dec 20 - 05:45 AM I used to own that NLA booklet, I think I donated it to the BMC library. Re the (famous) list - it is a mess, I lost count on more than one occasion, & several numbers were duplicated (253 a & 253b) & once I went from no. 168 to 189 (oops) & of course there were the songs I left out. I tried an on-line converter to convert docx to xlsx - wot a mess!, everything went into column A, so I might just paste author & title into a spreadsheet. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Dec 20 - 04:59 AM CREAMSLEEVES The Twiliters, 1965 Poor Grandma died and in her will She left me her love and her doctor's bill A moth-eaten cat that was always ill And a little machine that played Greensleeves. I had an idea and quick as a wink I bought an old van and I painted it pink With a freezer that came from an ice-skating rink That only worked when I played Greensleeves. Business was booming, I owned a fleet My vans went tinkling down every street The jingle of money was oh so sweet I'll bet the Pied Piper played Greensleeves. Greensleeves at the rooster's crow The grocer's body swings to and fro He was condemned, he had to go For throttling a man who sang Greensleeves. (slowly with feeling) Last week they shot my best icecream man Today they blew up their nineteenth van For the grocers have formed their own Ku Klux Klan And the robes that they wear all have green sleeves. Now the army's made tanks out of every van To send to the jungles of Vietnam Australia's the envy of Uncle Sam 'Cause Yanks don't have tanks that play Greensleeves. But the army's got problems I'm telling you They can sell pink tanks when the war is through But what in the world are they going to do With a hundred machines that play Greensleeves? The Twiliters - a 1960s folk trio from Perth, Western Australia. The members were Jim Maguire, Kerry White & Greg Ferris (who took the place of other founding member, Hans Stampfer). Maybe working mainly out of The Eastern States?? Sadly both Greg and Kerry (he of the beautiful voice), died too young. AFAIK, Jim and Hans are still working in Perth in medical-type professions….. “The Twits” as they were affectionately known, were excellent entertainers and musicians and were easily one of THE best Oz folk bands of those earlier times. They had 2 x LPs and 1 xEP out and I think they are still downloadable from Paul the Stockman’s blog, [https://australianfolk.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Twiliters ], but this song is all I have found on YT (hence its appearance here on this thread). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvnjG7XEVsM R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Dec 20 - 04:20 AM The Roar of the Crowd Denis Kevans © 1962 I heard the roar of the wind, boys, in the mighty, green-shirt pines. As if the trees were blazing, like a gas-fire in the mines, The wind's voice kept on mounting against the midnight's face, I felt that roar well up in me, that roar has left its trace. I heard the roar at the school-gates, when the holidays began, When the kids raced out like brumbies, grown men turned and ran, They raced down through the playground, and they roared out - "We are free!" Ah, the hungry roar of those school kids, still lives inside of me. I heard the roar at a foothball match, as it rose in the crowded stands, When a winger leapt and took a pass, with magic, outstretched hand, And the double roar, as he came inside, and flashed across the line, Ah, that was a roar that stirred my soul, a roar that was a sign. I heard the roar on the race-course, when the favourite lunged ahead, And he grabbed the lead, at the leger, and the rest of the field seemed dead, And the roar for horse and jockey, with the numbers in the frame, And that was a roar that spurred my blood, and victory was its name. And I heard the roar of soldiers when they first went to the front, When war was only a sporting match, and they begged to go on a "stunt", And they roared: "Come on Australia!" "Wagga!" and "Henty! and "Hay!" Ah, that was the roar of the slaughterhouse, and there's nothen' more to say. And I heard the roar at the Town Hall, when the delegate rose to speak, A roar to shake the merciless, a roar to raise the weak, To raise the weak and wandering, to give eyes to the blind, That was the roar off a tidal wave that was making up its mind. http://unionsong.com/u132.html (lyrics - thanks to Mark Gregory's great website) Denis Kevans (1939-2005), fondly known as "Australia's Poet Lorikeet", thought Bob Campbell’s Home Rule band had the best version, but I haven’t found it online ….. Gary Shearston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzcKVHRUzGU R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Dec 20 - 01:20 AM Yes Stew, “my beloved WA” can be all that and more!! Interesting to see Warren’s reprinting of Hesperian’s extensive research of “Ode to Westralia”!! :) Your first link (to the tune) is a page in the “Museum of Performing Arts” taken from an “unknown publication”, which of course, any Oz Folkie could have told them : it is a page torn from John Lahey’s worthy compilation : ”Great Australian Folks Songs” !! But they don’t ask us, do they? ….. sigh ….. I was happy to spend my formative years in Perth, with a few holidays in the southern “Eastern States” and eventually the obligatory – and very welcome – 3 years overseas. I left The Family and WA “for the last time” in 1983, heading for the magical unknown of Queensland – and very happily got side-tracked by 10 wonderful years in Darwin, meeting many memorable folks (including your very good self, haha!) And though Qld’s been good, as an aging widowed pensioner (cue violins), I find it passing strange that I now have an increasing ‘yearn to return’ to WA - despite(?!) The Family mostly being gone. Is this what happens in older age??? Well, it probably won’t come to much. For one thing, ya still need plenty of moolah to Rest in the West!!! “A Small Book of Ballads” by the NLA was a good find – must be tons of stuff squirreled away in Institutions that the citizenry should know more about, eh. R-J PS I'll send you Sandra's latest Song Listing soon .... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 04 Dec 20 - 10:18 PM I stumbled upon this document whilst engaged in a fruitless search for a musical rendition of Charles Thatcher's goldfields parody of 'There's a good time coming'. It has interesting notes and fine illustrations - published by the National Library of Australia. A Small Book of Australian Ballads --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 04 Dec 20 - 08:04 PM R-J, your beloved WA did not escape the poet's pen. ODE TO WESTRALIA (Anon) Land of forest, fleas, and flies Blighted hopes and blighted eyes Art thou hell in earth’s disguise Westralia? Art thou some volcanic blast By volcanoes spurned, outcast Art unfinished, made the last Westralia? Wast thou once the chosen land Where Adam broke God’s one command That He in wrath changed thee to sand Westralia? Land of politicians silly Home of wind and willy-willy Land of blanket, tent and billy Westralia! Home of brokers, bummers, clerks Nest of sharpers, mining sharks Dried up lakes and desert parks Westralia! Land of humpies, brothels, inns Old bag huts and empty tins Land of blackest, grievous sins Westralia! Evidently sung to various tunes including 'Men of Harlech'. John Fahey gives a tune by Peter Evans which can be found on this page: Click Warren Fahey tells the story here: Click As published in a Tasmanian newspaper in 1899: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Dec 20 - 04:05 AM R-J - oops, how embarrassing - how did I miss so many (blush) yes, you have missed an update Date: 03 Dec 20 - 05:39 AM Hey Sandra! My latest copy of "The List" is up to song #425 on Nov 7th - have I missed an update?! Going on that last listing, I'm gonna have to upset your Numbering, coz I have a few songs here that missed "The List"!!! 22Aug - The Cooma Cavaliers (Ulick O'Boyle) 04Oct - Dance Up the Sun (John Thompson) 04Oct - Down in the Goldmine (Anon / JB Geoghegan) 21Oct - Norway Yawl ( Bob McNeill) NZ 26Oct - The Miner (anon) 30Oct - Liverpool Echo aka Lawler's Balcony (Dave Oakes) 30Oct - Beneath the Southern Cross [1] (Bushwackers) - " " " " [2] (Malcolm Gordon NZ For both versions of "Beneath the Southern Cross", the lyrics are within the links - not ideal, I know - but sometimes that's the way it has to be, as I'm not inclined to type them out at this stage!!! :) Cheers, R-J PS With your recording system, just wondering if there is any way to have a List that one can Sort Alphabetically on the Titles??? ========== looks like I need to start again, but use a spreadsheet this time. what I'll do is insert the missing ones in red in my doc, then check out the free convertors - docx to xlsx - eek! This looks like a job for my Personal Help Desk, or my other geek friend. first the missing ones ... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Dec 20 - 12:43 AM THE GEORGETTE Bill Jones (The Lost Quays), WA Heave away, Haul away The Georgette’s goin down, me boys Heave away, Haul away The Georgette’s goin down. The Georgette was a mighty ship that sailed the coast in ‘76 From Fremantle she plied her trade and chased The Fenians away, Catalpa’s tale is often told, but here’s a story we should know For Sam and Grace and their rescue bold, heed well, it will unfold. To Adelaide that ship did go, with passengers and cargo stowed It was just passed Cape Naturaliste when trouble it began, The hull was breached, the water came, the wind it roared with might and main But in night when the pumps gave ‘way, the Georgette’s time had come. The passengers and crew they bailed, but by the dawn the engine failed The captain steered her to the coast, ‘twas all that he could do, She drifted to Calgardup Bay with ragged coast and rugged spray But on the cliffs, a stockman watched and knew just what to do. To the Bussell homestead Sam did race, and there he found Ellen and Grace The men were all out working and would not be back in time, But young Grace Bussell had a plan, she gathered horses, ropes and Sam They head off to the cliffs that day, a rescue to perform. Now in the Bay, the Georgette struck, the lifeboats all capsized and sunk, The passengers and crew they were a-tossed into the waves, When down the cliff came Grace and Sam, across the beach and through the sand Without a thought for life and limb, they raced into the surf. By hanging onto horse and ride, the passengers were swept aside For four long hours young Grace and Sam, they rescued all they could, The tale was told throughout the land and round the world their story sang So raise a glass to Grace and Sam and the fate of the Georgette. The story (in song) of “The Catalpa” and its rescue in April of 1876 of the “six bold Fenians” from Fremantle, WA, to freedom in Americle, has been posted above by Stewie on 27Sept. The fate of the vessel that failed to stop HMG’s political prisoners escaping (“The Georgette”) is the subject of this song : wrecked 144 years ago, almost to the day! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPXYvmpQzs4 A presentation in May2020 by the Lost Quays of the story of the “Georgette”, who remark : “This is the product of minds pushed to the edge by the isolation of the strange times in which we live!” I posted this song link on 28Sept but without lyrics, along with this blurb : “…..It tells of Aboriginal stockman, Sam Isaacs, sighting the distressed SS Georgette (built 1872, 211 tons, steam/sail), from the clifftops around Calgardup Bay (allegedly, her cargo of mainly jarrah timber, leather, hides, and whale oil, had shifted and holed the vessel and the incoming water stuffed the boilers.) Sam ran the 20 Kms to Wallcliffe House where 16 year old Grace Bussell then joined him and together they rode their horses back and forth from ship to shore for around 4 hours (and remember, West Aussie does rather a good line in sharks!), and rescued many of the 50 or so remaining passengers and crew (some had drowned, but some had already made it to shore). I sure hope the horses were okay. Grace was naturally and rightly claimed a heroine (Australia’s youngest) and plaques and citations followed. As can be expected, recognition for Sam, took somewhat longer………….. WA’s generally inhospitable coastline, with its tricky winds, strong surf and currents, chilling water and unusual underwater topography, is (literally) littered with shipwrecks and “lost vessels” that will probably never be found. However, the Georgette’s final resting place is at Redgate Beach, near Margaret River, in about 5metres of water. https://www.tracesmagazine.com.au/2013/11/saving-grace-western-australias-shipwreck-rescuer-grace-bussell/ However, the interesting writeup by the WA Museum as regards the state of the vessel before leaving Fremantle (bound for Adelaide), indicates perhaps, that all was not as it should be …… http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/wrecks/georgette. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Dec 20 - 08:15 PM THE ORANGE AND THE GREEN (Anon) John Davies hears with great regret the news that's going round That Sandy Ross has lost the fight at George's River ground No more his crowing will be heard, no more his colours seen For I think he's had enough this time of Foley and the green Chorus Oh, the green the colour of the brave, we'll raise high in the air And to our enemies we'll show? the colour that we'll wear For the orange flag has been pulled down, the battle fought out keen And Sandy Ross has lost the fight at George's River green The yellow ties they mustered strong upon that Tuesday morn Poor Sandy he came up to time with his head and beard all shorn When Foley stepped into the ring? to fight for Ireland's green 'Sinn Fein, Sinn Fein', he cried aloud as he saw his friends close by 'I've come to fight for Ireland's cause and for that cause I'll die And to deny her colours ?I ne'er will be so mean For in this ring die or win ?for dear old Ireland's green' 'Here's to him men, here's to him, boys', then Sandy Ross did say 'I've come to fight for old King Bill upon this glorious day My yellow scarf around my waist that has come into bud Will be dyed deep red upon this ground with this poor Fenian's blood' They both shook hands, you'd really think no ill feeling lay between The colours bright that made this fight, the orange and the green For two long hours that fight did last, 'til Ross's seconds came between And threw the sponge high in the air in favour of the green The usual tune for this is 'Wearing of the green'. For a variant tune check out John Fahey 'Great Australian Folk Songs' p82. Larry Foley, the Irish-Australian idol, fought Sandy Ross, a Scot, in a bare-knuckle fight that lasted 2 hours 40 minutes. See page 231 of this document: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Dec 20 - 07:34 PM This one was sent to 'The Queenslander', a Brisbane newspaper, in October 1894. Offence alert: n- word appears twice. THE BUSHMAN’S FAREWELL TO QUEENSLAND (Anon) Queensland, thou art a land of pests For flies and fleas one never rests Even now mosquitoes round me revel In fact they are the very devil Sandflies and hornets just as bad They nearly drive a fellow mad The scorpion and centipede With stinging ants of every breed Fever and ague with the shakes Tarantulas and poisonous snakes Iguanas, lizards, cockatoos Bushrangers, lags, and jackaroos Bandicoots and swarms of rats Bulldog ants and native cats Stunted timber, thirsty plains Parched-up deserts, scanty rains There's rivers here you can't sail ships on There's nigger women without shifts on There's humpies, huts, and wooden houses And nigger men who won't wear trousers There's Barcoo rot and sandy blight There's dingoes howling all the night There's curlews' wail and croaking frogs There's savage blacks and native dogs There's scentless flowers and stinging tree There's poisonous grass and Darling peas Which drive the cattle raving mad, Makes sheep and horses just as bad And then it never rains in reason. There's drought one year, and flood next season Which sweep the squatters' sheep away And then there is the devil to pay To stay in thee, O land of mutton I would not give a single button But bid thee now a long farewell Thou scorching, sunburnt land of hell! I first came upon this in John Fahey's 'Great Australian Folk Songs' - a tune is given at p91. This is the only musical rendition I can find on the Net: Youtube clip Original poem All the versions of the poem available on the Net omit these 2 lines from the original: There's Bathurst burr and speargrass too Ticks and Belyando spew Belyando is in central Queensland. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Dec 20 - 04:16 PM The Bicentennial Song by John Dengate Cook went a-sailing, or so the record says He roared around New Zealand and he stopped at Botany Bay refrain Oh why did he do it , who oh who can tell There’s bugger all at La Perouse, Cronulla or Kurnell Cook stood on the quarterdeck, endeavouring to see He parked his little boat beside the oil refinery Cook saw some natives, all done up in paint And he tried to call the Kogarah police, to put in a complaint He went to the Sans Souci pub, to have a quiet beer But a fight broke out in the public bar, and he nearly lost an ear Well Cook weighed his anchor, and sailed across the foam ‘Cause he couldn’t stand the bloody row from Mascot aerodrome Thanks to my old mate, Jeff Corfield, for this one, which I recalled him singing in Perth in the early 70s. Jeff says : “….. John Dengate wrote it for the Cook bicentennial in 1970….. I learnt it from my old Maitland Bush Band mate, Bob Campbell ….. The tune, as I recall, was a version of the Darby Ram – the ‘ay winkle Darby’ one….. “ Does anyone know of an online recording??? R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Dec 20 - 05:39 AM Hey Sandra! My latest copy of "The List" is up to song #425 on Nov 7th - have I missed an update?! Going on that last listing, I'm gonna have to upset your Numbering, coz I have a few songs here that missed "The List"!!! 22Aug - The Cooma Cavaliers (Ulick O'Boyle) 04Oct - Dance Up the Sun (John Thompson) 04Oct - Down in the Goldmine (Anon / JB Geoghegan) 21Oct - Norway Yawl ( Bob McNeill) NZ 26Oct - The Miner (anon) 30Oct - Liverpool Echo aka Lawler's Balcony (Dave Oakes) 30Oct - Beneath the Southern Cross [1] (Bushwackers) - " " " " [2] (Malcolm Gordon NZ For both versions of "Beneath the Southern Cross", the lyrics are within the links - not ideal, I know - but sometimes that's the way it has to be, as I'm not inclined to type them out at this stage!!! :) Cheers, R-J PS With your recording system, just wondering if there is any way to have a List that one can Sort Alphabetically on the Titles??? |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Dec 20 - 05:08 AM |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Dec 20 - 02:47 AM Re Eureka : Just located Bill Peach's ABC-TV series on the subject : "Peach's Gold - Eureka", 1983 - but sadly there only seems to be 2 x clips of 2 mins each, but better than nothing, eh!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmE2Kn_RgzE and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr85FJ8QMik R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Dec 20 - 02:21 AM Crikey! Thanks for that JennieG - I'd clean forgotten it was Eureka time! I tried searching for Peter O'Shaughnessy [1923-2013] reciting Raffaello Carboni's experiences, but sadly most of Peter's work from "The Restless Years" is missing from online. (At least the music dramatisation was available for download from "Paul the Stockman's" blog, (referenced by Sandra a few posts back), and odd songs from the production, by Marian Henderson, are available on YT .....) Here is Raymond Crooke singing Charles Thatcher's "Where's Your Licence", detailing the kind of harassment that led to the Eureka Stockade : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9pyVnWrpBY I found these of Peter's, though : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y_z8vFigG8 "A Convict's Tour to Hell" by Frank - The Poet - MacNamara. (9+mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRbvs7yBT9I "Botany Bay" - 3 poem animations by Convicts by Jim Clark (sadly, very short ...) Here is Jim Clark "interviewing" (talking over?!) Peter O'Shaughnessy (42+mins) on his achievements : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9XZDsUg1fg Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Dec 20 - 02:09 AM song no. 481, an excellent song, Jennie |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 03 Dec 20 - 01:18 AM A childhood favourite of mine too, r-j! Chad makes his January pilgrimage here each year for the country music festival - but that won't be happening on the same scale next month. I have heard that there will be music in various pubs and clubs but no big concerts, as they draw too many people. As today is 3rd December, the anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion, it seems appropriate to have "Cross of the South". Cross of the South - words by Kenneth Cook, tune is 'Kelly, the boy from Killane'. 'Twas the month of December, the year fifty-four When the men of Eureka rebelled. And they swore that the flag they had made for themselves Ever proudly aloft would be held. The miners took arms in the stockade that day, The bold word passed from mouth to mouth 'We will stand by this flag and the stars that it bears, White stars of the Cross of the South'. The hot blood of the heroes ran fast in their veins, There was but one man they obeyed. The hero of heroes they chose from their ranks Peter Lalor their hero they made. Peter Lalor said, 'We must stand by our guns, Fear not the cannon's fierce mouth! For I see the soldiers are gathering now To tear down the Cross of the South'. Captain Thomas charged the Eureka Stockade, Three hundred troops by his side. Fire and steel met them there and they fell back again, But the first of the miners had died. The smoke from the battle had scarce cleared away When the soldiers came charging once more, The miners were killed as they stood 'round their flag Or fell from the wounds they bore. Bold Peter Lalor lay shot on the grund Where the soldiers had left him for dead, And the flag that he loved lay there by his side, The white stars all stained with red. Peter Lalor he rose on his knees in the dust, Wild words poured from his mouth: 'You can murder us all in black tyranny's name, But you can't kill the Cross of the South'. It is on John Thompson's "An Australian Folk Song a Day". |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 02 Dec 20 - 05:20 AM C’mon, you know it had to happen : The Sheik of Scrubby Creek Chad Morgan (Chadwick William Morgan) Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur All the Shelias think I'm handsome Their father's think I'm mad Their mother's think I'm a villain But I'm just a loveable lad I'm loved by the poor and the wealthy Loved by the good and the bad Loved by the fat and the skinny Because I'm a loveable lad Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Now I've been chased by fathers With shotguns of all kinds And you can tell where they have aimed By the mark that's left behind I don't know why they do it Cause I'm not really bad I just chase their daughters Because I'm a loveable lad Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur It's a dangerous game I'm playing You've gotta be quick to last When you're at the wrong end of a shotgun You run quick or cop the full blast You'll never see me linger Where there are sour old tarts And you can tell where I have been By the trail of broken hearts So parents do take warning And heed what I say Keep your daughters out of sight When I come round your way For the say I'm just like Casanova I drink I smoke I swear They say I'm the Sheik of Scrubby Creek But I don't care... Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur Rur A popular radio song of my childhood from the early 1950s : I recall my brother and I walking around singing the dog-howl refrain at top volume (as you do), and most likely annoying the hell out of our poor, long-suffering Mother!! Here is an edited early clip of this most famous “Aussie Hillbilly” song which was played at the Australian Country Music awards in 2010, before Chad's Lifetime Achievement Award presentation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewls4lc17hU Well, it has been said that Australia is unsurpassed in its passion for Novelty Songs!! Hmmmmm ….. However, Chad wasn’t a “one hit wonder” and has many other recordings to his name and a lifetime of touring the regional and outback country circuits. Interestingly, this much-loved entertainer has been having something of a Performance Renaissance – and headlining at big Folk and Country Festivals in recent (well, pre-Covid) years – making new generations of fans at 87 years old!!! In 2011, a documentary was made about Chad’s life, entitled “I’m Not Dead Yet” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpBcrIf9cLI But here he is dueting with John Williamson, in “Country Balladeer” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQci8daSVos And here with Shane Howard in 2016 in “The Ballad of Bill & Eva” (aka Kullillee Woman and Wakka Wakka Man) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWRs6pxp10E R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Dec 20 - 07:22 PM Ross Ryan was best known or remembered for this one: I AM PEGASUS (Ross Ryan) I am Pegasus, my name means horse And I can fly high with you But I've changed my course I am Michael, I am Jeffery and John And I don't want to leave you Unless you want me gone I am Genesis, I have no fear I make my plans to land for I plan to stay here I am Simon, I am Demetrius and John And I don't want to leave you Unless you want me gone I am flying, but let me down Oh I don't need the things That once kept you around It's not too late To know who I am I am Sagittarius Instrumental break I am flyin' but let me down Oh I don't need the things That once kept you around It's not too late Do you know who I am I am Pegasus, my name means horse And I can fly high with you now But I've changed my course I am Michael, I am Jeffery and John And I don't have to leave you I am Pegasus, my name means horse And I can fly high with you now But I've changed my course I am Michael, I am Jeffery I am Demetrius and John And I don't have to leave you Unless you want me gone Youtube clip An interesting piece about his performance at the Port Fairy Folk Festival in 1989: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Dec 20 - 06:52 PM My apologies, Sandra, for messing up your count. Thanks for posting the Tony Miles song. I was very fond of Ross Ryan recordings back in the day. I wonder what happened to him. POSTCARD FROM BERLIN (Ross Ryan) July winter night after the parting Drinking until dawn The wine makes you warm But your uniform now seems chilled I was your lover, your echo and brother But it always seemed strange How you used to change when your dictator’s name Came up in conversation Refrain And no one wins wars for love or for country And no one applauds lovers who die And though winter thaws and summer replaces The tears on the faces - I still cry La lye la lye Instrumental break Refrain Where are you now, did you finally crawl home After you had lost your fight Perhaps I could write you, but never invite you I’m sorry, but you changed all that But I’ll drink a toast to the beds and the hotels Ladies and gents we once knew And when I am through, I’ll send to you A postcard and sign it Berlin Refrain Live in the Barossa in 2007: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Nov 20 - 07:27 PM drat! I had just listed song 479, so now we are back to 478. I might play one of Art's albums ... Tennessee Stud is now playing sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Nov 20 - 06:01 PM My apologies for doubling up. I posted 'Race for the sun' in October. I should have checked. But, as Art Thieme was fond of saying, 'when your memory goes, forget it'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Nov 20 - 05:48 PM Scots emigrants to NZ: RACE FOR THE SUN (Bob McNeill) The western bays are all silent now The beaches we found Deserted now, the flowing tide Is the only sound Still I linger here and listen while These strange birds sing of oceans The nights are warm and the winters mild Not like on the island But I left my heart At a bend in the river Cold harbour behind us We took what we owned With the smell of the bark The spirit that lingers With what we could could carry In a race for the sun Sail on? You'll be safe now ?Nothing lasts forever? Won't be the first time we've tried Between the heads we wrestle her In a mercy tide The run between the Cabot shores Was ever as wide But these island boys are all strangers here With their dreams of ocean The sea that pounds the eastern shore Not like on the island But I left my heart At a bend in the river We cut down the sumacs Turned them into boats With the smell of the bark On our clothes as we boarded Is all I remember Of our race for the sun Sail on ... Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Nov 20 - 02:48 AM Bernard's very old website & there are only 10 songs & Bernard is long retired. but his songs live on! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Nov 20 - 02:35 AM apart from that? |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 30 Nov 20 - 02:00 AM um ... maybe more Bernard Bolan and Tony Miles and Eric Bogle??? R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Nov 20 - 01:58 AM I'm listening to Graham seal's Barbed wire ballads, Lament of the Eureka Women by Graham Seal W & m copyright Graham Seal 2008 The storming of the Eureka Stockade at Ballarat in 1854 was a bloodbath. They came like death at dawn; Bearing muskets through the fields. The soldiers came with eyes of flame, They killed with hearts of steel. They beat the bitter drum. Their swords and bayonets flashed. They tore our flag like a beggar's rag, Burned our dreams to ash. They fired our hearths and homes; Left them open to the skies. With hands of blood they took our loves: They would not meet our eyes. No, they could not bear our eyes. audio |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Nov 20 - 01:47 AM any other suggestions? |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 29 Nov 20 - 09:49 PM Thanks, Sandra! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Nov 20 - 08:45 PM Australian Through and Through, rritten by the Brisbane folkie and songwriter Tony Miles. Now I've never been a shearer, never seen a shearing shed And I don't suppose I'd recognise a sheep I've never been a drover bringing dusty cattle over or died of thirst beside a dried up creek I've never been a digger on a worked out worthless claim A rowdy rouse about or jackaroo Never cut a field of cane, never drove a bullock train But I'm bloody well Australian through and through, my oath I am! I'm bloody well Australian through and through I've never boiled me billy by a bloody billabbong There's better ways than that your days to spend No one humps their swags no more, what a flamin' bloody bore! When you can duck off in the Kingswood each weekend Now there's a mighty waggon! It's a ripper of a car Designed for our conditions, though it's true It's made by General Motors, but you'd hardly even notice 'Cause it's bloody well Australian through and through My oath it is! Yes it's bloody well Australian through and through I've never crossed the nullabor or trekked the Birdsville Track I can't tell a wallaby from kangaroo I know the Kookaburra 'cause its laugh is like no other But I've only seen Koalas in a zoo! 'Cause I've been o.s. you know (that's short for overseas!) And I've taught these poms and wogs a thing or two And it made me feel damn proud to stand out in the crowd Being bloody well Australian through and through My oath I did! Being bloody well Australian through and through 'Cause there's nothing overseas that we haven't got at home We're as cosmi - bloody - politan as them! With "Dallas" on T.V., the best of BBC And good old Reg Grundy on Channel Ten! We've go disco - bloody - fever from Toorak to Tennant Creek The Bee Gees and Olivia Newton too! Our stars we have our share of them, and although they sound American They're bloody well Australian through and through My oath they are! They're bloody well Australian through and through So let's sing no more of swaggies or Ned Kelly and his gang Let's sing a more sophisticated theme No longer are we hicks from the international sticks We're jet - setters on the inter - global scene So let us hold our heads up 'cause we've bloody well arrived And sing no more of tied - down kangaroos - sport! At last we've come of age, it's the universal rage Being bloody well Australian through and through My oath it is! Being bloody well Australian through and through. as sung by John Thompson (but that's not him in the pic!) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 29 Nov 20 - 08:23 PM 'I'm bloody well Australia through and through - my oath I am!' is another good one. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Nov 20 - 07:57 PM too bloody right! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Nov 20 - 07:33 PM COUNTRY'S BUGGERED (Andrew London) Bloody hippies, bloody Greens Bloody tofu, bloody beans bloody dreadlocks, bloody beards bloody cyclists, bloody weird back in my day, folks had more sense country’s buggered – no offence bloody Greenpeace saving snails or bloody useless fat lazy whales bloody yoghurt , non-bloody fat bloody couscous, what the bloody hell is that? back in my day, folks had more sense country’s buggered – no offence bloody townies, bloody queers bloody poncy bloody boutique beers bloody pubs banning bloody smokes bloody blokes allowed to go marrying bloody blokes bloody leftie, carry-on bloody whingeing bloody poms bloody Banksie’s, bloody gone bloody Kim dot bloody Com back in my day, folks had more sense country’s buggered – no offence Bloody twerking, bloody rap bloody backward baseball cap bloody youth, out there tagging walls bloody anti bloody smacking bloody laws back in my day, folks had more sense country’s buggered – no offence Bloody foreigners, bloody terrorists bloody slimy televangelists bloody chardonnay socialists bloody hairy, bloody goddamn feminists back in my day, folks had more sense country’s buggered – no offence Note with 2015 recording: 'A satirical look at enduring attitudes towards gays, immigrants, liberals, feminists and environmentalists still found in rural Aotearoa'. Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Nov 20 - 09:09 PM BANKS OF THE WAIKATO (Phil Garland) Hark the dogs are barking My love, I must away The men they are all waiting No longer can I stay For I am bound for camp, my love 'Tis many a mile to go To meet my fellow bushmen On the banks of the Waikato Sally, darling Sally, with me you cannot go You know the men have told us This always must be so Your waist is far too slender And your feet are far too small For you to walk the distance To the waterfall While I'm away and working I'll think of you with pride I'll dream of us together Lying side by side Your love will warm my heart, my dear Throughout the bitter cold That lingers in the winter On the banks of the Waikato And when the work is over To our homes we will return We'll kiss our wives and sweethearts We left behind to mourn I'll hold you in my arms again 'Til next I have to go And meet my fellow bushmen On the banks of the Waikato Phil Garland's rewrite of 'Banks of the Condamine' (posted above on 15 Oct). Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Nov 20 - 08:50 PM FAREWELL TO THE GOLD (P.Metsers/R.Emery) Pilbara desert, your gold it is waning It's weeks since the colour I've seen But it's no use complaining or lady luck blaming I'll pack up and make the break clean Chorus Farewell to the gold that never was found Farewell to the nuggets that somewhere abound For it's only when dreaming that I see you gleaming Down in the dark deep underground It's nearly two years since I left me old mother For riches and gold by the pound But Jimmy the prospector he was another For the plains around Roebourne was bound We searched at Mt Welcome to the north and the south Dry blowing with no water around But in the furnace-like heat we knew we were beat Not an ounce in six months had we found From Swan River to Cossack we sailed away We were five boring weeks on that boat We'd sold our belongings our fares for to pay There was gold in our sights and our hopes Well it's years now since Jimmy and I were out digging Roebourne gold dried up like the rest The hardship, the dying, those memories are gone I remember those years as the best Bob Emery's rewrite of Paul Metsers' 'Farewell to the Gold' for a WA context. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Nov 20 - 09:57 PM SHEARING AT CASTLEREAGH (Banjo Paterson) The bell is set a ringing and the engine gives a toot There's five and thirty shearers here are shearing for the loot So stir yourself, you penners up, and shove the sheep along The musterers are fetching them a hundred thousand strong And make your collie dog speak up - what would the buyers say In London if the wool was late this year at Castlereagh The man that rung the Tubbo shed is not the ringer here The stripling from the Cooma side can teach him how to shear. They trim away the ragged locks, and rip the cutter goes. And leaves a track of snowy fleece from brisket to the nose It's lovely how they peel it off with never stop nor stay They're racing for the ringers' place this year at Castlereagh The man that keeps the cutter sharp is growling in his cage He's always in a hurry, and he's always in a rage 'You clumsy-fisted mutton-heads, you'd make a fellow sick You pass yourself as shearers, you were born to swing a pick Another broken cutter here, that's two you've broke today It's awful how such crawlers come to shear at Castlereagh' The youngsters picking up the fleece enjoy the merry din They throw the classer up the fleece, he throws it to the bin The pressers standing by the rack are waiting for the wool. There's room just for a couple more, the press is nearly full Now jump upon the lever, lads, and heave and heave away Another bale of golden fleece is branded Castlereagh Another one from Paterson. I prefer the tune put to it by Gerry Hallom on his 'Travelling down the Castlereagh' album, but it is not available on the Net. Chloe and Jason use a faster traditional tune. Check it out at about the 16 min mark of this clip: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Nov 20 - 12:35 AM Merv Lilley was an early BMC member, as was Bill Berry. And Joe Flood, of course is Dorothy Hewett's son, & Merv's stepson. Bill Berry & other early BMC members Early Members Reunion 1986, Bill Scott, Frank Maher, Jack Wright, Jamie Carlin, Janet Wakefield, Alex Bowker, Rex Whalan, Barbara Gibbons, Alan Scott, Bill Berry. Barbara's son married Bill's daughter When I finish listening to Australian Folk festival Brisbane 1964 (Duke is singing Shearing in a Bar!) I'll put on with these arms = Songs & poems of the MUA, 2003, & listen to Bill Berry singing Birchgrove. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 25 Nov 20 - 12:25 AM For the folks who want more of the Aussie Warhorses, here’s a little diversion : THE SHEARER’S DREAM attrib. Lawson I dreamed I shore in a shearing shed and it was a dream of joy For every one of them rouseabouts was a girl dressed up as a boy Dressed up like a page in a pantomime, and the prettiest ever I seen They had flaxen hair, they had coal black hair, and every shade between, There was short plump girls, there was tall slim girls, the prettiest ever I seen They was four foot five, they was six feet high, and every shape between. The shed was cooled by electric fans that were over every shute The pens were of polished mahogany and everything else to suit The huts had springs to the mattresses and the tucker was simply grand And every night by the billabong we danced to a German band. Our pay was the wool on the jumbuck's back, and we shore ‘til they was blue The sheep were washed before they were shorn and the rams was perfumed too And we all of us wept when the shed cut out, in spite of the long hot days For every hour them girls waltzed in with whisky and beer on trays. There was three of them girls to every chap and as jealous as could be There was three of them girls to every chap and six of ‘em picked on me We was draughting them for the homeward track and shearing them off like steam When I woke with me head in the blazing sun - to find it a shearer's dream. This song was first published in Children of the Bush in 1902. It is usually attributed to Henry Lawson and appears in most collections of the poet, however when John Meredith collected a version from Charles Ayger in 1957, he claimed to have heard it at school when Lawson would have been about nineteen. The tune is from A.L. Lloyd, who based it on “The Girl I Left Behind.” from A.L.Loyd’s recording sleeve notes in 1960. Here is a variant by Gary Shearston from his 1965 recording : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V35GxUFAYAc R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Nov 20 - 06:13 PM Well said, R-J. I agree completely with both your opinion posts above. THE BIRCHGROVE (M.Lilley/B.Berry) The night fell dark on the quiet sea The Birchgrove Park rode restlessly A collier on the short run down Of nineteen men there were eight men who drowned A sudden lurch as she slid below The way that all the colliers go If home bound men had battened down There’d be eight good men who would not have drowned Oh Sydney waters are green and cold Take life from men with a freezing hold They say that men on the colliers drown When the cargo rolls – not battened down Oh beckoning lights of Sydney Town Still beckoning men as the ship goes down It is for the love of your winking lights That colliers drown on lonely nights Youtube clip The Fagans did a fine recording of this on their 'Turning Fine' album. They had this note: Eight seamen lost their lives when a collier called The Birchgrove sank off Sydney Heads in 1956. Merv Lilley's haunting poem was published in the anthology 'What About the People' and again in John Lahey's 'Great Australian Folk Songs' in 1965 with another of Bill Berry's wonderful settings. We learned it from Joe and Adele flood. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Nov 20 - 11:25 PM CONDAMINE BELLS Jack Sorensen first published Sydney Bulletin November 1939 By a forge near a hut on the Condamine River, A blacksmith laboured at his ancient trade; With his hammer swinging and his anvil ringing He fashioned bells from a crosscut blade. And while he toiled by the Condamine River He sang a song for a job well done, And the song and the clamour of his busy hammer Merged and mingled in a tempered tone. And his bells rang clear from the Condamine River To the Gulf, to the Leeuwin, over soil and sand; Desert eagles winging heard his stock bells ringing As a first voice singing in a songless land. The smith is lost to the Condamine River, Gone is the humpy where he used to dwell, But the song and the clamour of his busy hammer Ring on through the land in the Condamine bell. Love This!! A beautiful setting of Jack's poem by Chloe & Jason Roweth : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3L2ldYYeCQ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Nov 20 - 10:22 PM Thanks Sandra - yes, I do correspond on occasion with Paul the Stockman! But of course, from the PoV of this Mudcat thread, if there is a song one wants to hear and it's only on this web-blog, you do need to download a whole LP to hear it. But I for one am very grateful that Paul's Blog exists, as there is much info and many recordings that he has INDEED rescued. But I can see I'm gonna have to search my vinyl collection and do some posting to him, eh! :) Also, I do understand that in some cases, it concerns a folk performer's livelihood. If one can still generate sales from one's Back Catalogue - well and good - and the very best of luck to you! But many items are no longer available for sale and it's all too hard or not worth their time, for a Performer (or an ex-Performer), to try and reproduce old material. However, diehard Folkies can still be interested, or would be IF they knew about it. For many years, I was one of those diehards who, if they loved an Artist (or Author!), they then tried to buy every damned recording (or book) they'd ever done. I know Stewie too, has had a similar penchant at times in his past, LoL!! S'pose that at my stage of Life now, I'm moving more into that "Letting Go of Stuff" phase. i.e. share with the Younger Gens who still have the energy to do something with it - and to be honest, often with greater musical skill :) Ten to One that the Great Nephew Twice Removed who ends up with your Estate will chuck most of it to the nearest Op-Shop/ThriftShop anyway!!!! Of course, Music Business Corporations would never be convinced about this way of thinking, no matter if they never ever make another red cent from "their property" ...... coz "IT'S ALL MINE!!!" ..... Madness ..... Just my 2cents worth. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Nov 20 - 08:16 PM Australian Folk Music and Australian Folk Singers and Musicians - Paul the Stockman, Focusing on Australian folk music, Australian bush ballads and/or Australian folk musicians The focus of my blog is on Australian folk music and folk musicians to preserve such music in the public arena before it becomes lost. Much of the music I supply was ripped from LP and edited by me. I am happy to do the same for anyone holding such music. Please email me if you wish to contribute. I was born and raised in Queensland mainly on sheep and cattle stations but migrated to the cities as an adult. Everyone reckoned that I would make a good stockman when I grew up hence the nickname. When I was young my main music influences were the old time hillbillies, Tex Morton, Slim Dusty, Buddy Williams, the McKean Sisters etc mixed with the 1950s hit parade songs. I loved Presley, Everley Bros, Cliff Richards, etc. There's is still a lot I like about much of the music since then but my enduring passion since about 1960 has been folk music especially traditional folk songs fom anywhere. Those old songs have been tenderly crafted over decades and sometimes centuries and they usually have such a polished beauty if sung with any real understanding. ... As to the infrequency of postings, this is mostly caused by a scarcity of suitable material of sufficient quality. Good clean or cleanable material is very hard to come by nowadays. We have had some excellent contributors over the years for which I and presumably most of you are very thankful. Perhaps some of you are still holding onto gems that I could put up on the blog. HINT HINT. I do have a couple of other posts outstanding at the moment and I will have them up very soon. I am getting seriously old now and do have one serious health issue. No rush at the moment but is there anyone interested in looking after the blog, in a maintenance sense, somewhere along the line? Anyway, continue to enjoy the music. Regards to all Paul |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Nov 20 - 06:01 PM A PLEA (an opinion piece!) There are many other excellent Australian (and EnZed) songs I have, but it's getting harder to find an on-line recording of them (or especially (IMHO) a 'good' rendition!) As I have lamented before, there are SO MANY vinyl/cassette tape/CD recordings in the Folk-and-related genres, from the 1970s-1990s, that haven't been digitised and uploaded to the internet (and not only from Down Under!) There are a few worthy souls who do the hard yards of restoring old recordings and make them available for download, but so often, a removal order is slapped on them by copyright-owning corporations or performers, when realistically, this outlet would be the only chance of anyone ever hearing these songs again. Why be a Scrooge about your music if there's little chance for a new recording that (only possibly) would translate to sales??!! We are in danger of losing so much good stuff, once my (over 60) generation which still has a foot in that fertile folk past, has gone. Please reconsider this tightly-held "ownership" Thing; FOLK was always about Community and SHARING the Music with each other (which begets more music!).......... Rich-Joy :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Nov 20 - 05:17 PM Stewie posted Archie Roach’s “Took the Children Away” on October 14th. Another Anthem is an autobiographical song from his wife, the late – and also much-loved – Ruby Hunter. This is “Down City Streets” which Archie recorded on his debut “Charcoal Lane” CD in 1990. DOWN CITY STREETS Ruby Hunter Down city streets I would roam, I had no bed, I had no home Crawled out of bushes early morn, Used newspapers to keep me warm Then I'd have to score a drink, Start me out, help me to think. Down city streets I would roam, used my fingers as a comb In those days when I was young, drinking and fighting was no fun It was daily living for me, I had no choice, It was meant to be. Down city streets I would roam, I had no bed I had no home And there was nothing that I owned, used my fingers as a comb Now I'm a man, I'm not alone, I am married, I have children of my own Now I have something I call my own, These are my children, and this is my home. - I look around and understand, how street kids feel when they're put down – Down city streets I would roam, I had no bed I had no home And there was nothing that I owned, used my fingers as a comb Down city streets I would roam, I had no bed I had no home And there was nothing that I owned, used my fingers as a comb Down city streets. Down city streets. Down city streets….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RCcs6AOdT0 R-J [ My late Mum who died in 2014 at age 90, adored Archie & Ruby (along with Wurumpi’s charismatic George Rrurrambu!) ] |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Nov 20 - 07:50 AM Oh well, one more!! (might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb, eh) BLACK MAN’S RIGHTS No Fixed Address I am a Black, Black Man and I need to be recognised in this wretched world for we are getting brainwashed and the people forgetting about our rights so all you Black People you got to fight for your rights You got to - fight for your rights There’s a lot of things that are trying to stop you, and this is racism, and the cops, and the Government which is buggered but we have learnt within our soul, within our soul, and that is the land controls you - you don’t control it you don’t control it Fight for your rights Fight for your rights I am, a Black, Black Man and I need to be recognised in this wretched world for we are getting brainwashed and the people forgetting about our rights so, all you Black People, You got to fight for your rights You got to fight for your rights You got to fight for your rights You got to fight for your rights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRFh8G_zLtU Clip from: the classic Aboriginal ‘road movie’ “Wrong Side of the Road (1981) see above posts for more background info. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Nov 20 - 07:36 AM continued : GENOCIDE 1981, performed by US MOB Lyrics and music by Peter Butler and Wally McArther They promised us this, and they promised us that But all we ever get, is to stab you in the back. They tell us what to do, and they push us around And then they have the gall, to go and rip up the ground. When are they gonna learn, when will they stop? When are they gonna learn to stop this genocide? Like the children that are dyin. The white man just ain’t tryin He’s cheatin and he’s lyin, all the time. They don’t wanna understand, that they killed us for our land Just for the earth and sand, to put money in their greedy hands. When are they gonna learn, when will they stop? When are they gonna learn to stop this genocide? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsraq76Y8dE Us Mob “were an early Aboriginal reggae rock band from South Australia. The band was formed with the help of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music [CASM] in Adelaide. Us Mob appeared in the film “Wrong Side of the Road” with fellow CASM band, No Fixed Address.*** The recording of the soundtrack made the two bands the first contemporary aboriginal bands to be recorded. Along with No Fixed Address they were nominated for the 1981 AFI Award for Best Original Music for the music from the film. They relocated to Sydney and broke up after their equipment was destroyed by a fire. The band were the subject of an ABC Message Stick documentary in February 2000. Members : Ronnie Ansell – Bass / Pedro Butler - Guitar/vocals / Carroll Karpany – Guitar / Wally McArther – Drums” WIKIPEDIA ENTRY ***the classic 1981 Aboriginal ‘road movie’ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Nov 20 - 07:28 AM more Indigenous music from Oz : We Have Survived Written by Bart Willoughby (at age 18); performed by No Fixed Address WIKI : "We Have Survived" is considered to be an Aboriginal anthem and an "anthem of cultural persistence" You can't change the river of my soul Whoa-oh-oh You can't tell me too, what to do You can't break my bone by putting me down Whoa-oh-oh Or by taking the things that belong to me 'Cause, We have survived, the white man's world And the horror and the torment of it all We have survived, the white man's world And you know You can't change that. All the years has just past me by Whoa-oh-oh I've been hassled by the cops nearly all my life People try to keep me so blind Whoa-oh-oh But I can see what's going on, in my mind 'Cause, We have survived, the white man's world And the horror and the torment of it all We have survived, the white man's world And you know You can't change that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVI2CxvqtII (band clip from 1981 film “Wrong Side of the Road” – which is a classic - an Aboriginal ‘Road Movie’) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkK_3oGihIQ (clip is a great solo acoustic version by Bart Willoughby, year?) 1981 film members: Les Graham, lead guitar ; Chris Jones, guitar, vocals ; Veronica Rankine, saxophone, harmony vocals ; John John Miller, bass ; Bart Willoughby, drums, vocals, percussion, didgeridoo. No Fixed Address were extant 1978-1988. As with Bunna Lawrie’s Coloured Stone (see previous Mudcat posts), members came from the Koonibba Mission, west of Ceduna in SA. “They formed only four years after the Racial Discrimination Act passed Federal Parliament – making it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their race or descent – and less than two decades since the repeal of the 1911 ‘Aborigines Act‘, which enshrined in law the protection of free movement for Aboriginal Australian residents in South Australia.” https://citymag.indaily.com.au/culture/no-fixed-address-given-permanent-cbd-address/ “ …. while studying music at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in North Adelaide. They were mentored by a white musician, Graeme Isaac who encouraged them to move beyond country music, a popular genre of music adopted by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to explore rock and reggae. In a sense, the boys created a whole new music genre, ‘Australian reggae’ by using traditional reggae sounds fused with the Indigenous storytelling and punk, anarchist lyrics. They were the first Aboriginal band to receive mainstream exposure, [previously] there were no Aboriginal bands in the national music charts, on commercial radio or on national television. No Fixed Address paved the way for the iconic Aboriginal rock which began to emerge in the 1980s, including Yothu Yindi and the Warumpi Band….. They were the first Aboriginal band to tour internationally. Their music was a source of advocacy and activism … not just talented musicians with a cool sound. Their lyrics dramatically changed the Australian music landscape, where strong songs about human rights, Indigenous welfare, racism, oppression and Australia’s shameful history were broadcast on mainstream channels. This was just shy of a time when non-Indigenous Australians were unaware of the Stolen Generations or forced labor of Aboriginal children, and public schools were teaching students that Indigenous Australians will soon become extinct. NFA lyrics … opened conversations in the wider community about the struggles of Indigenous peoples and country-wide resistance. The 1981 film “Wrong Side of the Road” was also a creative response to the band being denied a major recording contract on account of them being ‘too radical’. This, along with consistent police interference at their music gigs and being denied hotel accommodation while on tour, showed the public how difficult it is for Aboriginal Australians to excel in mainstream creative industries and the ways that their opportunities have been limited. Making their Halls of Fame induction [in 2011 and 2016], an even more significant win for Aboriginal music, and Indigenous excellence. They truly have survived. https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2016/06/08/no-fixed-address-pioneers-aboriginal-music-inducted-sa-hall-fame R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Nov 20 - 09:22 PM Here is another song that I first heard on Ian White's 'Songs from a Busker's Bag'. He noted that he got it 'from Joy Durst in the days of the Victorian Bush Music Club'. It is an Australian version of a song that was first published in 'Plantation Melodies' in 1847. The song was part of the American blackface minstrel tradition. The book noted: 'Words by S.S. Steele, Esq. as sung by A.F. Winnemore and his band of Virginia Serenaders; Arranged for the Piano Forte by A. F. Winnemore'. GUM TREE CANOE I’ll sing you a ditty, a sweet little song It will just take a moment, it won’t keep you long I’ll sing of the days when our love was so new And we sailed down the Murray River, boys, in a gum tree canoe Chorus; We rowed o’er the waters so blue Like a feather we would float along In our gum tree canoe My hand on my banjo, my toe in my oar I work all the day and I sing as I go And at night time I turn to my Julia so true And we sail down the Murry River, boys, in a gum tree canoe I once left the river and went on the land To set myself up as a cocky so grand But the life didn’t suit me, it made my heart sore I went back to the Murray River, boys, and my Julia once more Ian's rendition was a beaut duet with Cathie O'Sullivan, but that is not available on the Net. However, you can hear it from Chloe and Jason Roweth here - it starts around 2 min mark. Youtube clip Original lyrics and a recording here: Click The singer who is best associated with the song these days: John Hartford --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 21 Nov 20 - 09:46 PM ACROSS THE LINE (Anon) I’ve traded with the Maoris Brazilians and Chinese I’ve courted half-caste beauties Beneath the kauri trees I’ve travelled along with a laugh and a song In the land where they call you mate Around the Horn and back again For that is the sailor’s fate Chorus: Across the line, the Gulf stream I’ve been in Table Bay Around the Horn and home again For that is the sailor’s way I’ve run aground in many a sound Without a pilot aboard Longboat lowered by lantern light Pushed off and gently oared Row-lock creaking, a thumping swell And a wind that would make you ache Who would sail the seven seas And share a sailor’s fate We’ve sailed to northward We’ve sailed away to east We’ve skinned our sail in the teeth of a gale And stood in the calmest seas Eastward 'round by Dusky Sound And Pegasus though the Strait Port Cooper, Ocean, Tom Kain’s Bay For that is a sailor’s fate Youtube clip Garland’s version, particularly in the second half of the third stanza, differs from the above which was first published in the ‘Canterbury Times’ in 1913. In the north, the Bay of Islands became busier and busier. Kororareka grew as the world’s southernmost port with whitewashed houses lining the shore. However, in the south, the sealing industry was dying, for the massive slaughter of seals as they came ashore to calve led to their rapid decrease in numbers. Sailors, moreover, were far less willing to seal. Tales of gangs left to die on the southernmost storm-swept islands spread rapidly. The seamen on the coastal trading vessels carried these stories with them as they sailed ‘eastward 'round by Dusky Sound and Pegasus through the Strait. Note in ‘Song of a Young Country’ p11. --Stewie. |
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Subject: ADD: OLD SYDNEY TOWN (Phyl Lobl) From: rich-joy Date: 21 Nov 20 - 02:45 AM OLD SYDNEY TOWN (Phyl Lobl) The tank steam* ran silent through shaded green banks, When first I saw Sydney I offered no thanks. And the pleasant bush scenery gave me no cheer, For the eyes of a convict are blinded by fear. Oh Old Sydney Town I once was a rover, But now I can see that you've fair won me over. From the Hero of Waterloo* up at the rocks, To Blackwattle Bay with its dirty old docks. I'll sing of your pleasures that satisfy me, Of your harbour, your pubs and your Circular Quay*. The stone and the sweat that they used for the Quay, Was culled from the earth and poor bastards like me. How I hated that stone from the Argyle Cut, And I wished it were my bones they'd hung at Pinchgut. They gave me a pardon and set me quite free, But the white cliffs of Dover no more will see me, For I'm working a ferry run, I'm doing fine, From Blues Point to Dawes Point* I'm straight down the line. Now Phillip he formed you for he chose the place, Macquarie came after and quite changed your face. But for prisoners of Old Mother England who slaved, To build up your city, no names are engraved*. * References The 'Tank Stream' was Sydney's earliest water supply. Hero Of Waterloo is a pub in the Rocks area of Sydney, the early area of settlement. Circular Quay was once called semi-circular Quay because it was semi-circular. I used to sing semi instead of your but abandoned the practice. Before there was a bridge there was a ferry. Phillip and Macquarie early Governors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJBirEyXLYs Sung by Qld’s long-time folk duo, Penny Davies & Roger Ilott. This is Phyl’s version : https://phyllobl.net/songs/broadmeadow-thistle-album/old-sydney-town/ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Nov 20 - 02:00 AM ASIO by John Dengate (words from My Shout, 1982) ASIO! where we photograph and file ‘em! ASIO! for political asylum ... I’m very seldom feted, I’m poorly educated I feel I’m underrated by the crown But I can tell subversion from sexual perversion, When I’m on excursion round your town. ALTERNATE CHORUS ASIO! where we photograph and file ‘em, ASIO! the political asylum. ASIO! from the arctic to the jungle ASIO! we invariably bungle. From Caringbah to Cairo, I’m ready with my biro, I fire like a pyromaniac I can tell by intuition, if you’re guilty of sedition, But I’m hampered in my mission by the brains I lack. ASIO! etc. You’re a radical rebelling! What’s your name and place of dwelling? (Could you help me with the spelling, I’m a wee bit pissed) I must be very canny, look in every nook and cranny, Why I’ve even got my granny on the suspect list. ASIO! etc. If you keep participating, in the nasty demonstrating, Or I catch you masturbating, you’ll be on my files. Yes! security is vital and to ascertain it’s tight I’ll Sit here prying day and night until I get the piles. ASIO! etc Away we go! (Never mind the trauma) It pays, you know, I'm an ASIO informer. Jane Scott singing ASIO & Dale talking about her & John's ASIO files! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 21 Nov 20 - 01:35 AM BLACK BOY Bunna Lawrie, 1984 A shy black boy, you came to the city To learn about life and how his people - (are / are living / lost their lives / lost heart / are st..... / ?***) He's very stubborn, he was just a child And now his life is mystified. Black boy, black boy Black boy, black boy The color of your skin is your pride & joy Black boy, black boy Black boy, black boy Your life is not destroyed. He didn't go to school coz they called him ‘Black Boy’ He hardly talked to the girls and boys Don't be a fool, just obey the rules Cause you'll just learn the truth. And one day you'll grow up to be a man To learn and live and understand Sticks and stones may break your bones But names will never hurt you. You'll be the one who's having fun So you just keep on learning on. Black boy, black boy Black boy, black boy The color of your skin is your pride & joy Black boy, black boy Black boy, black boy Your life is not destroyed. Bunna Lawrie’s group Coloured Stone – came from out of Koonibba Mission, west of Ceduna in SA. Bunna says this song is semi autobiographical. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v47WOQaZsI&t=45s *** Many before me have tried to decipher these words and there are many variations on the Net – and even on different versions sung by Bunna!! BtW, if you’re interested in music from Indigenous Australians, read this article from 2012 by iconic Australian singer-songwriter, Paul Kelly. The song/performer selection is not finite, of course, but it’s a great start : https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2012/october/1360803357/paul-kelly/desert-songs#mtr R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Nov 20 - 01:24 AM Song of Childhood by John Dengate (original tune) Where have the days of my childhood gone - Time had plundered the years. Stolen my gift of golden days; Left me with ashes and tears. Over the paddocks I've run ... Drugged with the summer cicadas' song; Drunk with freedom and sun. Take me back to a fibro house In a suburb carved from the bush. Give me an acre of grass to cut And a rusty mower to push. Give me a summery Saturday Just after the war was won, With Dad and my uncles drinking beer, Sprawled on the grass in the sun. They spoke with a curious proud elan; Their laughter was careless and free. Fresh from the battles against Japan They seemed immortal to me. But how can an innocent boy discern What's fallible, false or true? Their mortal steps are faltering now And mine are faltering too. Bring out the bat and the worn cork ball And we'll bowl at an old wooden case. She'll jump and turn on the asphalt road ... She'll come at a lively pace! But barefoot, careless, and undismayed We'll drive and hammer and glance ... Now the ball is lost in the tangled years - My hands couldn't hold the chance. Jason & Chloe Roweth video |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Nov 20 - 12:48 AM Terrorist Song by John Dengate ©John Dengate 2003 Tune: Knickerbocker Line As I was walking down the road, he suddenly appeared: A bloody turbaned Moslem with a big Bin Laden beard; I asked, "Are you a terrorist, is that your bloody lurk?" He said, "No, I'm a carpenter, I'm on my way to work." Chorus I watched him, tracked him, rang up A.S.I.O. I dobbed him into Alan Jones on talk-back radio. I may not be a beauty and I don't have any sense But, by God, I know my duty to the national defence! They're going to bomb the Harbour Bridge then quiet as a mouse, They'll sneak up with explosives and blow up the Opera House. They're going to blow up Murphy's pub. I've heard about the plot … I hope they get the pokies 'cause I'm losing quite a lot. There's terrorism everywhere; it makes a man afraid… I’m buying a machine gun and I'll build a barricade. You'll have to know the password if you come and visit me. Shoot first, ask questions later mate, that's my philosophy. My Aunty May's eccentric; "You’re paranoid," she said. She doesn't believe the terrorists are underneath the bed. She reckons it's "hysteria"… I don’t know what she meant … She said she’s far more frightened of the Federal Government. John Howard will protect us, he is very strong and brave; He's passing legislation that will make you all behave! You won't be facing Mecca on that silly bloody mat You'll all be Church of England, Abdul, cogitate on that! Final Chorus Watch them, track them… Notes Many tanks to John Dengate for permission to include this song in the Union Songs collection. Alan Jones is a "Shock Jock" on commercial radio and long time supporter of the Howard government. A.S.I.O is the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation about whom there are quite a number of songs Terrorist song by Chris Maltby @ BMC's Dengate memorial 2013 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Nov 20 - 12:20 AM after the recent Qld election, where Clive Palmer sent many millions against the labour govt & ran many candidates, but received very few votes, IKEA put an ad on their roof saying Geez, Clive ... $60 million & not a single seat. Should have come to IKEA - & advertising one of their chairs, for $27.99 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 20 Nov 20 - 11:52 PM And another from the 10th Man album, 1813 Miscarriage of Justice. (with a nod to "The Lights of Cobb & Co" by the sound of it) : BtW, this is how they describe their music on their website : "it's hard to ?c?ategorise?? - Let's call it protest punk or hard rock indie music for lack of a definition. With quieter lyrical interludes. Sometimes a touch of reggae or the blues, or a rolling shanty. It's all original and made in Bathurst. There are some things we feel strongly about: social injustice, especially for the original Australians and for our newest arrivals seeking our protection; the bulldozing of forests and shooting of wildlife; mining and climate change; political opportunism and the spun line; and shonky environmental consultants. Sometimes it just has to be put in a song of sorts, powered with high energy fury - or laid back irony and fun. Our music is strongly informed and influenced by politics, environment and social issues, history and colonisation - and is highly collaborative. 10th Man has been jamming in the dungeon every week for years now, where anyone is welcome to bring their instrument, a riff or a rhythm, and away we go." GALILEE Well the land-grab started here for them so many years ago When Mitchell opened up the plains they called it Jericho Now farms are not enough to spin the dollars for the kings So they’re going to dig for coal in Galilee Galilee Galilee Valley of great riches, come on and gather coal Galilee Galilee Saddle-up your horses, we’re going for the gold Well you’re going to need a railway from here to Abbott Point Don’t worry about the EIS, we’ll doctor a report Just point your hands in front of you directly to the sea And you’ll haul your stinking coal from Galilee Galilee Galilee Valley of great riches, come on and gather coal Galilee Galilee Saddle-up your horses, we’re going for black gold So saddle up the government, we’ll take them for a ride The Chinese and the Indians are waiting for their prize Now the Brigalow and Bimblebox will fade from memory As you haul your stinking coal from Galilee Galilee Galilee Valley of great riches, come on and gather coal Galilee Galilee Saddle-up your horses, we’re going for black gold We’ll dump the sludge into the reef, the fish’ll be just fine Its only sediment my friend, from Bowen bloody mines The climate it’ll be alright you wait and frickin’ see As we dig our fuckin’ holes in Galilee Galilee Galilee Valley of great riches, come on and gather coal Galilee Galilee Saddle-up your horses, we’re going for black gold Galilee Galilee Valley of great riches, come on and gather coal Galilee Galilee Saddle-up your horses, we’re going for black gold Hey! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOlrhZrEu2M "the galilee basin In 2013 the Queensland and Australian federal governments approved Waratah Coal’s massive coal mine and development, owned by billionaire and now-federal Member of Parliament, Clive Palmer. Some 40 mega-tonnes of coal pa bound for China will be transported on a yet-to-be-built 468km rail line up to Abbot Point, a development that will dredge and dump in the Great Barrier Reef. In the Galilee Basin, at least half of the 8,000 hectare remnant Bimblebox Nature Reserve will be destroyed for Palmer’s ‘China First’ mine – renamed the ‘Galilee Coal Project’. The Bimblebox is home to innumerable wildlife and plant species. The photos in the clip below are a selection of some of the birds and animals found in the Bimblebox woodland." Be sure to watch the clip re this, on their webpage. Meanwhile, the Court battles drag on and Australia loses more species and habitats daily and yet somehow, this particular creature survives everything and shores up his fortunes. Here is a recent profile : https://mine.nridigital.com/mine_australia_nov20/clive_palmer_profile R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 20 Nov 20 - 11:14 PM I've just come across this rather interesting 2014 album entitled "Miscarriage of Justice" from a group of 6 x Bathurst, NSW musicians called "10th Man" (website here : http://www.10thman.com.au ). I'll post a couple of tracks. SYDNEY TOWN I am the modern warrior, I fight the urban sprawl I am the lonely beggar sitting in the Pitt Street mall I am the western suburbs, jammed up with the bogan homes I am the hungry monster, built upon greed and sandstone And when the sun goes down, you’ll see the dark side of this town You’ll go down down down down Down down to Sydney town Down, to Sydney town. Rape and pillage, it’ll take your soul It’ll steal your innocence It will take it all, it’ll take it all (x2) It’ll take it all I am the Hawkesbury River, the ghosts at Callan Park A tattooed arm at Coogee spewed up from a tiger shark I am James Hardie Fibro, dioxins in the bay Shootin’ up at Cabramatta, having coffee in a [Bronte] Beach café And when the sun goes down, you’ll see the dark side of this town You’ll go down down down down Down down to Sydney town Down, to Sydney town Rape and pillage, it’ll take your soul It’ll steal your innocence It will take it all, it will take it all (x2) It will take it all I am the deals and handshakes, going down in Macquarie Street An outrage at Mount Rennie (or Mount Penny) I’m standing at the wharf, I’m on the beat I am your local Westfield, an old and groaning wharf Listen to the ghosts of the colony Listen to us, hear us talk And when the sun goes down, you’ll see the dark side of this town You’ll go down down down down Down down to Sydney town Down down down down Down, down to Sydney town Rape and pillage, it’ll take your soul It’ll steal your innocence It will take it all, it’ll take it all (x2) It will take it all Yeah it’ll take it all, and leave you with nothing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1XTOCCIACE R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Nov 20 - 10:14 PM Another one for young Les. A pox on their king and empire! This is more or less what the Bushwackers recorded. I don't know who wrote it - possibly Dobe Newton. LES DARCY Roll up ! roll up and see the show, you local blokes let's see you go A quid for a goer, two bob for a dud, it's a princely pay for sweat and blood Young Les was keen to have a go, 'now watch him Les - he'll hit you low' The tent-show boy never saw it coming, Maitland's pride was off and running Running down to Sydney town, running down to try Running down to make his name and listen to them cry Chorus All I can wish for tonight is to see Les Darcy fight. How they cheered him, they clapped him and they cheered him Every Saturday night So he hung around the stadium door, they let him in to sweep the floor He saw them spar, the best they'd got, he knew that he could beat the lot Three rounds to start and then a main, he never swept that floor again For he beat them all inside the bell, soon he heard the people yell Chorus They rolled up in regiments for every fight, they made Les Darcy king for a night But then he refused to kill in our name, the press they called him a national shame. He stowed away for the land of the free, he died alone across the sea In a flag-draped coffin they sent him home, he sat on our guilt like a champion's throne He was going down to Tennessee, he was going down to die, If we'd known that we would break your heart, you would have heard Australia cry Youtube clip The Australian Folk Songs site has an example of the attacks on Darcy printed in the 'Adelaide Mail' in 1917: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Nov 20 - 04:40 AM Gulgong Song, words John Dengate, tune trad used for Catalpa, Rosin the bow, written in the late 60s when the Bush Music Club visited Gulgong for the Gold Dust Festivals/Carnivals Sofala, Hill End and Tuena, their stories will always be told And none can deny Araluen her place in the story of gold … But written in nuggets at Pipe Clay, Home Rule and Canadian Lead, The glittering history of Gulgong is there for Australia to read. Loud were the shouts and the laughter when diggers with joy unrestrained Went paddling round in the gutters, picking up gold when it rained … And written in nuggets at Pipe Clay, Home Rule and Canadian Lead, The glittering history of Gulgong is there for Australia to read. Glinting in clay and in gravel, gleaming in quartz and in lode; Gold was the pillar of Gulgong – and Gardiner was king of the road … And written in nuggets at Pipe Clay, Home Rule and Canadian Lead, The glittering history of Gulgong is there for Australia to read. We’ll drink to the days of the diggings and then when our memories grow dim, We’ll take down the volumes of Lawson and share the last bottle with him … And written in nuggets at Pipe Clay, Home Rule and Canadian Lead, The glittering history of Gulgong is there for Australia to read. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Nov 20 - 02:44 AM Ballad of Les Darcy by John Dengate (tune - The Boys of Wexford) In Maitland Town, long years ago, and so begins my song, There toiled in a blacksmith's forge a sportsman young and strong; He'd hands and arms like tempered steel; Les Darcy was his name. He made the iron anvil peal and punched his way to fame. High-ranking Yankee middleweights with reputations tall Were fighting in Australian rings, defeating one ans all; But when they met the Maitland boy, with heads and hearts full sore, Much sadder and wiser men, they left Australia's shores. "Now Darcy you must go to war1" the militarists rages But Darcy's mother would not sign and he was underaged. So midst a storm of foul abuse, Les Darcy sailed away To earn his living with his fists in distant U.S.A But death awaited Darcy in th land beyond the sea. Of poison adn a broken heart he dies in Tennessee; He's buried now near Maitland in the land where he was born, And those who smeared Les DArcy's name; I sing their names to scorn. He'd hands and arms like tempered steel; Les Darcy was his name. He made the iron anvil peal and punched his way to fame. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Nov 20 - 08:41 PM Thanks, Sandra. THE BALLAD OF LES DARCY (Clem Parkinson) In the early 1900s in Maitland New South Wales The legend of Les Darcy first began While working as a blacksmith he became as tough as nails At sixteen worked as hard as any man His folks were mighty poor and they struggled to exist Young Darcy was the family’s sole support In time the prize ring beckoned to that young man’s mighty fist People came from miles when Darcy fought The magic of his gloves set the boxing world ablaze The crowd went wild with every victory But he didn’t fight for glory and he didn’t fight for fame But to keep his family free from poverty Europe plays with war and by nineteen seventeen Countless lives had perished in the mud There had to be more fodder for the hungry war machine Youth must be prepared to shed its blood But Darcy slipped away in defiance of the law To seek the title in the USA He rejected king and empire, he loved his family more But he little knew the price he’d have to pay Bewildered and alone in a strange and foreign land Hounded by a vicious press campaign He was branded as a slacker, from the prize ring he was banned And his health became affected by the strain In Memphis Tennessee at the age of twenty one Rejected and alone he passed away Now the people mourn the passing of this fine Australian son And we think of him with reverence today Another fine song that I first heard on Ian White's 'Songs From a Busker's Bag'. Wongawilli have recorded an excellent rendition: Youtube clip The Maitland Wonder --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Nov 20 - 03:02 AM 1964 Review of LAND WHERE THE CROW FLIES BACKWARDS From the Archives - Aboriginal songs in Singabout Journal of Australian Folk Song, 1956-1967 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Nov 20 - 09:23 PM THE LAND WHERE THE CROW FLIES BACKWARDS (Dougie Young) I was born in the scrub in a mia-mia On the river they call the Barcoo My parents left me when I was quite young To paddle my own canoe They took me ‘long to Yundama station With a stock whip they tanned my hide Threw me in the saddle of a bucking horse That’s how I learned to ride Chorus Yes, I’m tall, dark and lean, every place I’ve been The white man calls me Jack It’s not a crime, I’m not ashamed I was born with my skin so black When it comes to riding rough horses Or working cattle, I’ve mixed with the best In the land where the crow flies backwards And the pelican builds his nest I’ve knocked about a lot of places In this land called the great outback Many times I’ve drove a herd of cattle Along the Birdsville Track With the mosquitoes and flies comin’ at you And the sun beatin’ down so hot You might think it’s a hell of a place But to me it means a lot Chorus They laugh in my face, they say I’m a disgrace They say I’ve got no sense The white man took this country from me He’s been fightin’ for it ever since These governments and presidents they’re arguin’ Every day they’re tryin’ to start a brawl If they are going to start a nuclear war What’s gonna happen to us all So I’ll just linger on, when from this world I’m gone This will be my last request Bury me where the crow flies backwards And the pelican build his nest Chorus Above is my transcription from an EP that Dougie Young recorded in 1964. Young was the first indigenous Australian to record his own compositions. I first heard it on a LP by my friend, Ian White - 'Songs from a Busker's Bag'. Young reached a wider audience when this song was recorded by Gary Shearston. You tube clip Gary Shearston cover Dougie Young bio --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Nov 20 - 09:39 PM BLACK VELVET BAND (Anon) It was the time for leaving An emigrant I was bound To say farewell to my true love And dear old London town Chorus: Her eyes they shine like diamonds I took hold of her hand Her hair hung down her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band I knew not when I’d see her When I bade her adieu For I was bound for New Zealand To see my contract through I’m saving every penny And silver to be found I’ll latch on to every sovereign That reaches Auckland town And when I’m rich and proper And own a store in town I’ll send back home for my true love And then I’ll settle down Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Nov 20 - 09:22 PM A short and sweet one from the Kiwi songbook: LITTLE TOMMY PINKERTON (Anon) Little Tommy Pinkerton the fat boy Went to see his uncle Brown And when he was leaving his uncle gave him A brand new half-a-crown Tommy felt very thirsty He went to the very first shop Had six lemonade and a dozen ginger beer Then there came a great big pop More work for the undertaker Another little job for the tombstone maker At the local cemetery they were very very busy With a brand new grave for Tommy's fragments Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 15 Nov 20 - 09:54 PM THE GLASS ON THE BAR (Henry Lawson) Three bushmen one morning rode up to an inn And one of them called for the drinks with a grin They'd only returned from a trip to the north And, eager to greet them, the landlord came forth He absently poured out a glass of Three Star, And set down that drink with the rest on the bar "There, that is for Harry," he said, "and it's queer 'Tis the very same glass that he drank from last year His name's on the glass, you can read it like print He scratched it himself with an old bit of flint I remember his drink - it was always Three Star" And the landlord looked out through the door of the bar He looked at the horses, and counted but three "You were always together - where's Harry?" cried he Oh, sadly they looked at the glass as they said, "You may put it away, for our old mate is dead" But one, gazing out o'er the ridges afar, said "We owe him a shout - leave the glass on the bar" They thought of the faraway grave on the plain They thought of the comrade who came not again They lifted their glasses, and sadly they said: "We drink to the name of our mate who is dead" And the sunlight streamed in and a light like a star Seemed to glow in the depth of the glass on the bar And still in that shanty a tumbler is seen It stands by the clock, always polished and clean And often the strangers will read as they pass The name of a bushman engraved on the glass; And though on the shelf but a dozen there are That glass never stands with the rest on the bar I don't know the provenance of the tune. Recordings range from Tex Morton to Peter Bellamy. Youtube clip --Stewie |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 15 Nov 20 - 09:02 PM This one was a great favourite here in Darwin performed by Tony Suttor and Peter Bate. MOSS VALE TRAIN (A.Scott/T.Morton) Well, I'm standing on Campbelltown station Waitin' for the Moss Vale train When a bloke comes out with a microphone To say it's been cancelled again Well, he says it's not his problem That we can’t get our ride The train pulled in to Minto And committed suicide Well, he says he's ordered buses To take us on our way And he thinks we should be grateful That's what I heard him say. So we're lurching down the freeway Watching videos I hope we get to Moss Vale Before the shops all close There's a bloke on the seat here beside me He’s going for a job interview By the time we get to Picton His chances of employment are through And my wife waits for me in Bowral She'll be going off her brain Staring down the railway track And there won’t be any train So if you're standing on Campbelltown station Waiting for the Two-Thirty-One, And a clown comes out with a microphone To tell you the train won't run Spoken: You tell him it is HIS problem It's a problem for ALL of us, Tell him you want the train back You don't want his stupid bus Or you'll be lurching down the freeway Hoping to get there soon The money they spent on the freeway Would build a railway to the moon Alan Scott used Tex Morton's tune for 'Freight Train Yodel'. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 15 Nov 20 - 08:37 PM With a nod to 'Jock Stewart', a belter from the author of 'Poison Train'. SING US A SONG BOYS (Mike O’Rourke) Well come all decent people who suffer no shame You can let the blame lie where it will They have taken all from me except for my name And they’ve turned that from good into ill Chorus So sing us a song boys and we’ll be away It’s a long dry road we’re travelling today Let the bottle go round, take it easy and free No man is a stranger when he’s drinkin’ with me Now if you ask where I’m goin’, me errand’s me own It’s for me to say where to and when And drinkin’ might stop me from thinkin’ too long Where I live through my memories again Chorus And God knows what kind of a country we’ve made There were men raised it up on their backs And those fellows who handle the shears and the spade Are still out on the wallaby track Chorus And where is the flag of the diggers brigade Where are the riders out in the night And where is the wild dog who’s never afraid And who’ll never let go when he bites Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 14 Nov 20 - 08:24 PM I was trying to remember the title of this poignant song to post on Remembrance Day. I finally tracked it down - better late than never. Like many, I can't stand Ian McNamara as a radio presenter, but he is often given some beaut songs to air. LAST MAN FROM DUNOLLY (Mike Whittle) I’m the last man from Dunolly of our battalion at Fromelles General Haking gave the orders, And the troops were shot to hell All the mates that I signed up with I was with them as they fell My fifty ninth was cut to pieces And the sixtieth as well Well, the doc says I’ll recover While the nurse looks set to cry But I’m left wondering why of all us mates I’m the one who did not die Now I’ve just been told they’ll ship me home But the thing to understand Is that every mate that I grew up with Is lying dead in no-man’s-land So I’m writing you this letter And you’ll get it with the mail For I’ll be homeward bound you see When the Warilda next sets sail I’ll be home and I guess that I’ll be drinking on my own There were Douglas, Pat and Roger We’d find shortcuts through the scrub When we had a thirst worth quenching At the old Dunolly pub So, I’ll be home, and I’ll raise a glass To all these friends I’ve known Oh, I’m the last man from Dunolly Of us volunteers who went to war From the sports ground Where we all signed up, It seemed a cause worth fighting for And I’m the last man from Dunolly From the fifteenth brigade there at Fromelles That evening when the orders came So many diggers fell I was right by James Barnfather When he copped one in the chest Of my mates from ‘round Dunolly He may just have been the best I knelt down there beside him I spoke with him as he died Fifteenth brigade could not advance No matter what was tried So in retreat, back to our lines We trod through guts and blood From our mates and other diggers Blown to pieces in the mud. But I’ll be home, I’ll be home But I guess I'll be drinking on my own So I’m the last man from Dunolly Of our newly-formed brigade. There were no gains made at Fromelles Despite the price we paid Us diggers, we had just arrived In fact we’d barely got our kit When we were slaughtered our thousands Sent out to do our bit I’m the last man from Dunolly, Who saw Pompey Elliott’s tears Greet the remnant of his brigade When Command ignored his fears You know the wounded here They are strange to me I scarce know four or five Of my fifty ninth battalion Perhaps a hundred may survive But I’ll be home. I’ll be home I will raise a toast to all these mates I’ve known See I’m the last man from Dunolly Who saw action in Fromelles And lost all his mates on the battlefield But was with them when they fell Youtube clip Mike Whittle's note on the song: The last man from Dunolly: Dunolly is a typical Australian small town in the North West wheat growing region of Victoria. Early in World War I it was common practice to send the recruits from a single town or local region to a single platoon, and in a rural town there’s a limit to the number of men of service age. Monuments erected after the war record losses that were sometimes devastating to the area when a particular company had heavy casualties. 5,533 Australian and 1,547 British soldiers were sacrificed on the 19th and 20th of July 1916 at Fromelles in a pointless assault on a virtually impregnable position. The incompetence of the commanding officer, General Sir Richard Haking, was extreme even by the standards of the day. He had commanded two previous attacks on the same objective in 1915 both of which ended in disastrous failure with great loss of life. He justified his incompetence by remarking that the losses would “toughen up” the troops. His actions became a serious issue for the Australian government. Pompey Elliott --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Nov 20 - 08:29 PM Another song of the diggers. THE BLACK SWANS (Anon/N.Colquhoun) The restless shadows by me flit And day will soon be o'er As in the dying light I sit Outside my whare door Away across the east I see The black swans homeward come Through sunset skies that gleam on me A digger scraping gum Mid hills of grey and brown I live here in the scrub Full fifty miles from any town And ten from any pub Through winter's rain and summer's drought This life maybe suits some I grind a scanty living out Digging and scraping gum And if you want the way you've gone Hid from the friends you've lost As slow the years of life steal on And turn the hair to frost Then see across the eastern sky The black swans homeward come 'Neath sunset skies that gleam on my Hard scraping of gum Youtube clip The end of the earth is not far from here. With the growth of bush, it's getting darker year by year. The gum lumps are finding less - they are smaller and deeper down. It don't look like I'll be seeing a town ... If it were not for stealing shop samples, I would not be here, sitting at the door of a shack with a hole for a lum, scraping a hundred weight of gum up clean. A gum digger's letter about 1910. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Nov 20 - 07:58 PM SONG OF THE DIGGER (W.Satchell/N.Colquhoun) Chorus This is the song of the digger The song of the seeker of gum Sung in the kerosene twilight To the sound of the kerosene drum The hooking is done in the summer It's done in the winter as well The finer the weather the better For the scrub when it's wet gives you hell It's hard, bloody hard, is this scraping Which goes on for most of the night If you ever sat round just waiting You'd never get the bloody thing right O Mary, O Mary, sweet Mary Tell me how do your pink rosies grow I remember one morn in the dairy I beheld your black hair hung low Father was never a digger I learned of the trade myself A bottle is by me to swigger And the candle is up on the shelf Above is the full version as printed in 'Song of a Young Country'. The lyrics were attributed to William Satchell and the tune was reconstructed by Neil Colquhoun. Colquhoun noted that what the digger scraped was miscalled kauri gum for it was not gum but a true resin - a solidified turpentine. Kauri gum is formed when resin exudes from a crack in the bark of the kauri (Agathis australis) and hardens on exposure to air. Pieces of various sizes, some weighing a kilogram or more, collect in the axils of the branches and in the debris at the base of the tree. Maori and early Europeans found pieces of gum lying on the ground It was recognised overseas as a suitable resin for manufacture of a slow-drying varnish with a hard finish and in 1853, 829 tons of gum were exported, When all the kauri gum lying on top of the ground had been collected, Maoris and Europeans began to dig up the big lumps near the surface. Over 4,000 tons, averaging £40 a ton, went overseas in 1870. Spades were the first implements of the gum-diggers; then the spear and hook were devised. The "gum-spear" was a long steel rod attached to a spade handle and tapering to a sharp point. A pikau, or sack, for carrying gum, completed the "tools of trade" of the early gumdigger. In 1885 about 2,000 diggers were at work, mainly in areas north of Auckland, although the best gum came from the Coromandel Peninsula. The highest export for any year was reached in 1899, with 11,116 tons. By 1900, hundreds of "Dalmatians", immigrants from Croatia, were on the gumfields, where they camped together in groups. Joseph Smith and his family dug for gum near Dargaville, "...in a house of nikau palm with doors of sacking, and matresses of bush creeper. We spent the whole day hookin' gum and the evening scrapin' it, and singin'. But our singin' was not as hair-raisin' as that further down the track at the Dallie gumdiggers' camp". From NZ Folk Song site. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 12 Nov 20 - 06:48 PM JOHNNY WALKER’S SHOES (Pigram Brothers) Heading into town, by the fire sign, up ahead one mile Mum and naked child by the highway Flash four-wheel-drive, I only want a ride to the other side Don't try and hide behind your window tinting I bet your weekly wage could pay my ransom And free me from this sandfly infested castle And In the wake of those who've gone and left behind their blues How many furlongs can we step in Johnny Walker's shoes Blanket on the ground, lay your money down, they say you better watch out If you think you're winning On pension day, when the old and grey ask what the moondye say In the gambling den of Tai Ming ‘A little less of the con and a bit more fusion’ With the kintuk lost among the walking wounded And in the wake of those who've gone and left behind their blues How many furlongs can we step in Johnny Walker's shoes Youtube clip Chords --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 12 Nov 20 - 06:13 PM STIR THE WALLABY STEw (C.Poole/Trad) Poor dad, he got five years in jail as everybody knows And now he lives in Maitland jail, broad arrows on his clothes He branded old Brown's cleanskins. and he never left a tail So I'll relate the family's fate since dad got put in jail Chorus: So stir the wallaby stew, make soup of the kangaroo's tail I tell you things are pretty crook since dad got put in jail Our sheep all died a month ago, they all got flaming fluke, Our cow was boozed last Christmas by my big brother, Luke I sold the buggy on me own - the place is up for sale That won't be all that's up the spout when dad gets out of jail Our Bess got shook upon some bloke, he's gone, we don't know where He used to act around the place, but he ain't acted square And mother's got a shearer cove forever on her tail The family will have grown a bit when dad gets out of jail They let him out before his time to give us a surprise He looked around at all of us, and gently blessed our eyes He shook hands with the shearer cove, and said that things looked stale Then he left him here to shepherd us, and headed back to jail Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 12 Nov 20 - 05:55 PM Another one for NAIDOC week. BLACKFELLA WHITEFELLA (N.Murray & G.Rrurrambu) Blackfella, whitefella It doesn't matter what your colour As long as you a true fella As long as you a real fella All the people of different races With different lives in different places It doesn't matter what your name is We got to have lots of changes We need more brothers if we're to make it We need more sisters if we're to save it Are you the one who's gonna stand up and be counted? Are you the one who's gonna be there when we shout it? Are you the one who's always ready with a helping hand? Are you the one who understands this family plan? Blackfella, whitefella, yellafella, anyfella It doesn't matter what your colour As long as you a true fella All the people of different races With different lives in different places It doesn't matter which religion It's all the same when the ship is sinking We need more brothers if we're to make it We need more sisters if we're to save it Are you the one who's gonna stand up and be counted? Are you the one who's gonna be there when we shout it? Are you the one who's always ready with a helping hand? Are you the one who understands this family plan? Stand up, stand up and be counted Stand up, stand up and be counted Stand up, stand up and be counted Are you the one who's going to stand up and be counted Stand up, stand up and be counted Stand up, stand up and be counted Are you the one who's always ready with a helping hand? Are you the one who understands this family plan? Youtube clip Background info --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 11 Nov 20 - 07:04 PM DUG OUT IN THE TRUE (Anon) I am just a poor old shearer, I am stationed on the board, I've got my little handpiece in my hand Chorus But I'm happy as a clan In this land of ewes and lambs In my tick-bound, bug-bound dugout in the true Oh the place is strewn all round? With sheep wool and sheep dags ?Of rouseabouts there are so very few Chorus Oh the walls are made of iron And the windows made of bag ?And the doorways let the howling rousies through Chorus Oft times I wish I had a girl ?To sit upon my knee ?Relieve me of the pain that I am in Chorus That girl how I would love her? If she'd come and live with me ?In my tick-bound, bug-bound dugout in the true Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 11 Nov 20 - 06:43 PM I meant to post this on Remembrance Day yesterday but got caught up with the real world. This song was sung by Kiwi soldiers in North Africa in 1940. 'Dug-out in the True' is related to it. Both are related to the family of 'Little old log cabin', 'Little old sod shanty' etc. DUG-OUT (Anon) I'm just a greasy private in the infantry I am, I've a little dugout in Matruh, And the flies crawl all around me as I nestle down to sleep, In my flea-bound, bug-bound dugout in Matruh. Where the windows are of netting and the doors of four by two And the sandbags let the howling dust storm in I can hear that blinkin' Eytie as he circles round at night In my flea-bound,bombed-out dugout in Matruh. Where the floor is littered round with Bully and Meatloaf For marmalade and jam we never see. We're a happy little band in this bloody land of sand In my flea-bound bombed-out dug-out in Matruh. Now there's Messerschmidts and Stukas flying all around Hurricanes and Spitfires very few When the bombs and shells start flying That's where you'll find me lying In my flea bound, bombed out dugout in Matruh. Oh I wish I had a sheila to sit upon my knee, To relieve me of the misery that I'm in, For I'd woo her and caress her, if this her home she'd make In my flea-bound, bombed-out dug-out in Matruh This is from the NZ Folk Song site which has a page on the family of songs here: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 10 Nov 20 - 07:20 PM One for remembrance. KHE SANH (Don Walker) I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh And the soul was sold with my cigarettes to the black market man I've had the Vietnam cold turkey From the ocean to the Silver City And it's only other vets could understand About the long forgotten dockside guarantees How there were no V-day heroes in nineteen seventhy-three How we sailed into Sydney Harbor Saw an old friend but I couldn't kiss her She was lined, and I was home to the lucky land And she was like so many more from that time on Their lives were all so empty, till they found their chosen one And their legs were often open But their minds were always closed And their hearts were held in fast suburban chains And the legal pads were yellow, hours long, pay packets lean And the telex writers clattered where the gunships once had been Car parks make me jumpy And I never stopped the dreams Or the growing need for speed and Novocaine So I worked across the country from end to end Tried to find a place to settle down, where my mixed up life could mend Held a job on an oil-rig Flying choppers when I could Oh but the nightlife nearly drove me round the bend And I've travelled round the world from year to year And each one found me aimless, one more year the worse for wear And I've been back to South-East Asia But the answer sure ain't there But I'm drifting north, to check things out again, yes I am Well the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone And only seven flying hours, and I'll be landing in Hong Kong There ain't nothing like the kisses From a jaded Chinese princess I'm gonna hit some Hong Kong mattress all night long Well the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone And it's really got me worried I'm goin' nowhere and I'm in a hurry And the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone Well the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone And it's really got me worried I'm goin' nowhere and I'm in a hurry You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone Youtube --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 10 Nov 20 - 04:00 AM I was having a wee break. Then I came across this little number. Never heard it before so I obviously move in different circles to much of the population, haha!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMdbVHPmCW0 National Anthem of STRAYA (to the tune of 'Hey Ya') My country don't share no borders 'Cos of all the waters that surround our land Thank god for our resources 'Cos they are the sources of our wealthy land Don't try to find the capital Or fight the animals You're on your own Just drive from town to paradise And you'll see why we call Australia home Straya Straya Straya Straya You think you've got it Oh you think you've got it But have you got a rock where there is nothing at all We get together Oh we get together The weather's always better when there's cricket involved And we believe that mateship is forever We're all mates, we're all mates, we're all mates We're all mates, we're all mates And we're multicultural So why ya why ya Why ya why ya why ya Not living in Australia when you know we are so happy here Straya Straya Straya Straya Alright now fellas Yeah! Now what's cooler than a big cold beer? Ice cold! Shake it [x9] Shake it like a polaroid picture Shake it [x9] Shake it like a polaroid picture Straya Straya Straya Straya "Outkast's 'Hey Ya' reworked into the unofficial national anthem of 'Straya' (a.k.a Australia)...... Lyrics, vocals and video edit by Terry Mann. Original idea by Calvin Teoh." Hmmmmm ........ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Nov 20 - 08:11 PM ANDY’S GONE WITH CATTLE (H.Lawson/Trad) Our Andy's gone to battle now 'Gainst drought, the red marauder Our Andy's gone with cattle now Across the Queensland border He's left us in dejection now Our hearts with him are roving It's dull on this selection now Since Andy went a-droving Who now shall wear the cheerful face In times when things are slackest And who shall whistle round the place When fortune frowns her blackest Oh, who shall cheek the squatter now When he comes round us snarling His tongue is growing hotter now Since Andy crossed the Darling. The gates are out of order now In storms the ‘riders’ rattle For far across the border now Our Andy's gone with cattle Poor Aunty's looking thin and white And Uncle's cross with worry And poor old Blucher howls all night Since Andy left Macquarie Oh, may the showers in torrents fall And all the tanks run over And may the grass grow green and tall In pathways of the drover And may good angels send the rain On desert stretches sandy And when the summer comes again God grant 'twill bring us Andy Above is the full text of Lawson's poem. Most of the YT clips omit a couple of stanzas. The recording by one of my all-time favourite singers, Jean Redpath, is fairly close to the original. Redpath A couple of other clips: Wyndham-Read Herdman --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Nov 20 - 07:42 PM ONE MORE YEAR (Shane Nicholson) He was walking across the wire Holding a loaded gun Taking out every lightbulb One by one And she was building brand new walls To keep her safe and sound Sometimes a place to live Is just a place to hide One more year One more year Let's hold our breath And give it just One more year Well he was sparks and gasoline All fire and command The warmest comfort dies In the coldest hands And she was two steps from the edge But holding on somehow Even God himself couldn't blame her now One more year One more year Let's hold our breath And give it just One more year Now he's working on a plan Learning to make her smile Maybe a change of pace Or a change of style And she's walking across the wire Holding a loaded gun Hoping that what we feel Ain't what we've become One more year One more year Let's hold our breath And give it just One more year Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 09 Nov 20 - 03:55 AM thank you for your thank you, Stewie |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Nov 20 - 08:50 PM DRY RIVER BED (Pigram Brothers) When you’re drifting on the ocean And the sea is a perfect blue But those storm clouds on the horizon Are keeping you true to who are you Chorus So take me away ‘cross the spinifex plains Where the true mirage never ends And the smell of the rain is a long way away Lay me down on a dry river bed Don't have no white picket fence Don't have no green English lawn Just got heat waves dancing for me On the red dirt where I was born Chorus Feel the heart of my country Beating to them lonely blues Gotta get back there, gotta get back there Gotta get back there real soon Chorus Youtube clip Chords --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Nov 20 - 08:17 PM I WONDER WHO YOU’RE WAITING FOR (Mike McClellan) Sunday night, airport lounge Along about eight fifteen Tight black jeans and a white silk shirt Older than she seems Wide dark eyes and a slender face All alone she waits Tall and still, never moves until They open up the race As the passengers come through the door I wonder who you’re waiting’ for It’s not the man in the shorts and tan Not the girl with the stud and curls Not the boy with the broken heart It’s not the ageing matriarch It’s not the suit from Baltimore Not the girl in the pinafore Not the vagabond troubadour I wonder who you’re waitin’ for I wonder who you’re waitin’ for Long hair, dark as the Gucci bag Hangin’ by her side Old gold chain slung around her neck Diamonds in her eyes And I find myself wondering Just how much they’re worth I’m sure she knows love’s only token Sometimes cost the earth As the passengers come across the floor I wonder who you’re waitin’ for It’s not the boy in the faded jeans Not the girl with the magazines Not the woman with the weary face Staring into space Not the man with the Fin Review Not the girl with the blue tattoo Not the captain or the cabin crew I wonder who you’re waitin’ for I wonder who you’re waitin’ for It’s likely he’s tall, he might be dark He’ll be a wealthy man But I’ll never know, ‘cos he never shows She waits and waits and waits And waits and waits and waits It’s not the girl with the long blonde hair Not the man in the steel wheelchair Not the boy comin’ back from the war I wonder who you’re waitin’ for It’s not the girl with the champagne eyes Not the stud with the bedroom lies Not the boy from Ecuador I wonder who you’re waitin’ for I wonder who you’re waitin’ for Another good'un from Mike McClellan. Above is my transcription. I'm not sure of the word before 'token' in the 'I'm sure she knows ...' line. Youtube clip -- Stewie. I |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Nov 20 - 07:12 PM Sandra, many thanks for the list. You've done a splendid job. Onwards! GOOD LIGHT IN BROOME (Neil Murray) I was hangin' out in Sydney and I was goin' down I'd done too many parties and my money was runnin' out Then I met an old man who lived all alone He had two dogs for company, that's all he owned He was savin' his pension for a one-way fare Said when he had enough, he was gettin’ outta there I said, ‘really, what are you gonna do?’ He smiled and said, ‘there's good light in Broome’ I went out to western Queensland, working in the sheds Met a girl in Quilpie and we got wed Moved up to the Gulf, had our first born We were livin' in a caravan, I was workin' on the prawns I came home from a stormy sea She'd up and gone and left a note for me On it she wrote, ‘I’m sick of you’ That's when I felt there's good light in Broome Good light in Broome and I'll be there soon I know exactly what I'm a gonna do Sit on the beach, stare at the moon Haven't you heard - there's good light in Broome I headed down south, couldn't take the hint Saw a lot of pubs, I had a lot to drink I was runnin' pretty ragged, I didn't hardly eat I was thinkin' about her and what she did to me There was a road and a hairpin bend Then I woke up in a hospital bed ‘How do ya feel?’, said a voice in the gloom I gave the answer, ‘there's good light in Broome’ I went truckin' out of Melbourne, back and forth to Perth Didn't take long and it seemed like a curse My eyes were on the road, but my mind was somewhere else When I pulled in to a Nullarbor roadhouse The waitress came over and she's there lookin' at me She asked me how I was, I said, ‘a bit ordinary’ She said, ‘I thought that might be your tune’ I said. ‘don't tell me, there's good light in Broome’ Good light in Broome and I'll be there soon I know exactly what I'm a gonna do Sit on the beach, stare at the moon Haven't you heard - there's good light in Broome Well when I get to Cable Beach, I'll fall right out of the truck and into the sea With my clothes still on, I'll plunge under the waves And all the dirt will drain away And just like Bunjil, I'll get two dogs And every evenin' I'll walk them along On the edge of the country, take in the view Just like I heard, there's good light in Broome Good light in Broome and I'll be there soon I know exactly what I'm a gonna do Sit on the beach, stare at the moon Haven't you heard - there's good light in Broome Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Nov 20 - 07:05 AM 425 songs! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 07 Nov 20 - 09:45 PM Don Henderson's 'Rake and Rambling Man' reminded me of this other little classic of similar ilk. SONG AND DANCE MAN (Mike McClellan) I’m used to livin’ by myself Always on the road Makin’ light of other people’s woes I don’t need to take much more Than just a song or two And even a smile can lighten up the load Chorus I’m just a song and dance man Going from town to town Playing one night shows and country rodeos I’m just a song and dance man Livin’ on a smile I share your laughter everywhere I go I don’t care much for cities I ain’t seen one I’d call home The only dust they’ve got there is just plain dirt And no one takes you in Unless they want you off the streets I get the feeling some folks Fear a smile might hurt Chorus I gave up looking for answers A long, long time ago Life’s just taking chances, ask any dancer One foot wrong and it’s all undone I won’t ask much of your time Or that you recall my name Fame is just a momentary curse But if you recall a song or two That lingers when I’m gone Then I guess a song and dance man could do worse Chorus Original recording A later recording at 2015 National Folk Festival: Youtube clip Tommy Emmanuel supplied chords here: Chords --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 07 Nov 20 - 08:57 PM A LITTLE FURTHER NORTH (Graeme Connors) The sun sinks behind me in the west This is the time of day I love best Salt breezes murmur through the coconut palm As the colours change, they set a scene of tropic calm Seagulls heading back to land Over the mangroves and salt pans By a lazy creek with a six-pack and a fishing line Winning back some memories and losing track of time I head a little further north each year Leave the cities behind Out of sight, out of mind Up where my troubles can all disappear I head a little further north each year Feeling the night wrap around me Eases my mind in serenity Ocean waves are humming on the outer reef These balmy nights and sultry days are a welcome relief I head a little further north each year Leave the cities behind Out of sight, out of mind Up where my troubles can all disappear I head a little further north each year Taking my mind to an easier time Up where there's silence and the night sky is clear I head a little further north each year A little further north each year [repeated] Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 07 Nov 20 - 08:33 PM TREATY (Yothu Yindi/Kelly/Garrett) Well I heard it on the radio And I saw it on the television Back in 1988, all those talking politicians Words are easy, words are cheap Much cheaper than our priceless land But promises can disappear Just like writing in the sand Treaty yeah treaty now treaty yeah treaty now Nhima djatpangarri nhima walangwalang (You dance djatpangarri, that's better) Nhe djatpayatpa nhima gaya' nhe marrtjini yakarray (You're dancing, you improvise, you keep going, wow) Nhe djatpa nhe walang gumurrt jararrk gutjuk (You dance djatpangarri, that's good my dear paternal grandson) This land was never given up This land was never bought and sold The planting of the union jack Never changed our law at all Now two river run their course Separated for so long I'm dreaming of a brighter day When the waters will be one Treaty yeah, treaty now, treaty yeah, treaty now Nhima gayakaya nhe gaya' nhe (You improvise, you improvise) Nhe gaya' nhe marrtjini walangwalang nhe ya (You improvise, you keep going, you're better) Nhima djatpa nhe walang (You dance djatpangarri, that's good) Gumurr-djararrk yawirriny' (My dear young men) Nhe gaya' nhe marrtjini gaya' nhe marrtjini (You improvise, you keep improvising, you keep going) Gayakaya nhe gaya' nhe marrtjini walangwalang (Improvise, you improvise, you keep going, that's better) Nhima djatpa nhe walang (You dance djatpangarri, that's good) Gumurr-djararrk nhe yå, e i, e i, e i i i, i i i, i i i, i i (You dear things) Treaty ma' (Treaty now) Promises disappear - priceless land - destiny Well I heard it on the radio And I saw it on the television But promises can be broken Just like writing in the sand Treaty yeah treaty now treaty yeah treaty now Treaty yeah treaty now treaty yeah treaty now Treaty yeah treaty ma treaty yeah treaty ma Treaty yeah treaty ma treaty yeah treaty ma Today is the beginning of NAIDOC Week that was postponed from its normal July date because of Covid. The lyrics above are from an SBS page: SBS Youtube clip NAIDOC = National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Nov 20 - 09:41 PM DENIS O’REILLY (Traditional) When first I left old Ireland's shore the yarns that I was told Of how the folks in Australia could pick up lumps of gold How gold dust lay in all the streets and miner's rights were free Hurrah I told my loving friends that's just the place for me Chorus With my swag all on my shoulder, black billy in my hand I'll travel the bushes of Australia like a true born Irishman And then we came to Melbourne town and we all prepared to slip All bar the captain and the mate the crew abandoned ship And all the girls of Melbourne town they threw up their arms with joy Saying one unto the other, ‘Here comes the Irish boy’ And then we went into Geelong town and north-west to Ballarat Where some of us grew mighty thin and some grew sleek and fat Some tried their luck at Bendigo and some at Fiery Creek Well I made my fortune in a day and I blued it in a week Now it's many a year I have travelled round to each new field about And made and spent full many a pound till the alluvial petered out And now for any job of work I was prepared to try But now I've found this tucker track I'll stay here till I die There are several versions. The above is fairly close to the version recorded by the Bushwackers. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Nov 20 - 09:14 PM THE WATER LILY (H.Lawson/P.Herdman) A lonely young wife In her dreaming discerns A lily-decked pool With a border of ferns, And a beautiful child, With butterfly wings, Trips down to the edge of the water and sings: ‘Come, mamma! come! ‘Quick! follow me— ‘Step out on the leaves of the water-lily!’ And the lonely young wife, Her heart beating wild, Cries, ‘Wait till I come, ‘Till I reach you, my child!’ But the beautiful child With butterfly wings Steps out on the leaves of the lily and sings: ‘Come, mamma! come! ‘Quick! follow me! ‘And step on the leaves of the water-lily! And the wife in her dreaming Steps out on the stream, But the lily leaves sink And she wakes from her dream. Ah, the waking is sad, For the tears that it brings, And she knows ’tis her dead baby’s spirit that sings: ‘Come, mamma! come! ‘Quick! follow me! ‘Step out on the leaves of the water-lily!’ This became the title track of Priscilla Herdman's lovely album which included settings of several Lawson poems. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Nov 20 - 08:58 PM DIGGER’S FAREWELL (Anon/Colqhoun) Just as you say sir - I'm off once more The Palmer River, that's my way I landed here in sixty-four That's ten years' struggle along the Grey Ten long years since I landed here In a trackless land of wet and cold Some of our lives were pretty severe But who lacks hardship looking for gold? Latterly gold has been hard to find I've enough to carry - none to spend I'm going away and leaving behind Not one deserving the name of friend Now the gold was pretty near duffering out When Bill - that's me mate - he says to me There's gold on the Palmer beyond all doubt So here's for sailing out over the sea There’s the whistle - a drink before I start A step to the corner, I hear you say? My last on the coast - with all my heart A brandy straight and then I'm away Here's a long farewell to the old West Coast And a heart prepared for whatever I find ‘Success to the Palmer’ - is that your toast? Mine's - ‘Here's to the land I leave behind!’ The poem was published in ‘The Grey River Argus’, a newspaper on the west coast of NZ’s South Island in 1874. When gold workings petered out on the west coast, many diggers headed for the Palmer River in Australia. The ‘whistle’ was the boarding call. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 05 Nov 20 - 07:57 PM MY ISLAND HOME (Neil Murray) Six years I've been in the desert And every night I dream of the sea They say home is where you find it But will this place ever satisfy me For I come from the saltwater people We always lived by the sea Now I'm out here west of Alice Springs With a wife and a family And my island home My island home My island home is a waiting for me In the evenin' the dry wind blows from the hills and across the plain I close my eyes and I'm standin' in a boat on the sea again And I'm holding that long turtle spear And I feel I'm close now to where it must be And my island home is a waitin' for me For I come from the saltwater people We always lived by the sea Now I'm out here west of Alice Springs With a wife and a family And my island home My island home My island home is a waiting for meh In the evenin' the dry wind blows from the hills and across the plain I close my eyes and I'm standin', in a boat on the sea again And I'm holdin' that long turtle spear And I feel I'm close now, to where it must be And my island home is a waitin' for me My Island Home came to me on a bus one night in June 1985. I had been living in the deserts of Central Australia for some six years. I had spent a week with our singer, George, at his home at Galiwinku in Arnhem Land. We camped on a remote part of the island with his family and had been living like kings on bush tucker and seafood caught by ourselves. I had to leave and make trips to Melbourne and Sydney in mid-winter to promote the band. I suffered an exceptional longing to be back in a boat on a tropical sea. The words came to me. I had no notebook with me. I held on to the tune till I got to Sydney and pulled my guitar out of the luggage to find the chords. Neil Murray. Youtube clip George Burarrwanga Galiwinku --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 05 Nov 20 - 07:20 PM CATTLE GOING IN (D.Braitling/T.Egan) Cattle going in From mulga scrub and saltbush plain Cattle going in We mustered them in dry and rain Cattle going in We're yarding cattle from the west Swing wide the gates and draft the best Let down the rails and 'bush' the rest Cattle going in Cattle going in At break of day we loaded up Cattle going in Now road trains roll, the last is gone Cattle going in Red clouds rise, they seem to burn Behind the big wheels as they churn The ancient desert dust astern Of cattle going in Cattle going in With MTD on every hide Cattle going in There's open country every side Of cattle going in Two hundred miles or more to go Through hills and creeks where gumtrees grow No time to camp or take a blow With cattle going in Cattle going in The big trucks sway along the tracks With cattle going in The dust falls thick upon the backs Of cattle going in Motors turning sweet and right Southern Cross clear and bright And silent drivers ride the night With cattle going in Cattle going in The shades of old time drovers stare At cattle going in Their ghostly horses snort and glare At cattle going in Road trains roaring overland Their drivers couldn't understand The months it took that banished band With cattle going in MTD: on Northern Territory cattle stations, all registered brands must be of 3 letters one of which must be 'T' for 'Territory'. 'MTD' is the registered brand of Mt Doreen Station, 420 km north-west from Alice Springs. Doreen Braitling, who wrote the words of 'Cattle Going In', is the 'Doreen' after whom the station is named. Ted Egan composed the music. The singer in this YT clip is Nerys Evans, Ted's partner. Youtube clip Doreen Braitling --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Nov 20 - 06:07 PM C.Y.O’Connor, I Wish You Were Here Carmel Charlton, 2002 Water was scarce, people couldn’t go on Searching for gold in the blazing sun Goldfields life was at its worst Many died from typhoid, some died of thirst, C Y O’Connor delivered a plan To build a pipeline through rocks and sand Helena River would be the start Where water would flow to the goldfields heart. Ch. What would he say if he came back today that great engineer Having no doubt his plan would work, C Y O’Connor I wish you were here To see water pumped from Mundaring Weir. The longest pipe-line the world had seen In by gone days it was just a dream People said it couldn’t be done But O’Connor and his men proved them wrong, From Mundaring on through Southern Cross Reaching the reservoir at Mt Charlotte Days were long, rewards were few Some-how they would see it See it through. Ch. What would he say if he came back today that great engineer Having no doubt his plan would work, C Y O’Connor I wish you were here To see water pumped from Mundaring Weir. Came that memorable day in nineteen hundred and three When water, clear water flowed endlessly To O’Connor now we pay our due He made that goldfields dream Dream come true. What would he say if he came back today that great engineer Having no doubt his plan would work. A final note made it clear, saying “Put the wing walls to Helena Weir” A final note made it clear, saying “Put the wing walls to Helena Weir" I wish you were here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv_6NdScCGY : "C.Y. O'Connor, I Wish You Were Here" by Carmel Charlton (who runs a Perth folkclub). The "Kalgoorlie Pipeline" project (The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme) commenced in 1898 and was completed in January 1903, with the water being successfully pumped from Mundaring Weir in the Darling Ranges near Perth, to the Kalgoorlie/Coolgardie Goldfields, a distance of nearly 600kilometres. An important story in WA's history; an amazing feat of engineering - and not the only one, in both Australia and New Zealand from the Irishman, Charles Yelverton O'Connor. Pity he was driven to suicide (in March 1902) before he was proven unquestionably a hero. More info in Mudcat thread : /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=48647#4071699 Here is one story of the The Pipeline, : https://www.pipeliner.com.au/2016/03/16/water-pipeline-from-perth-to-kalgoorlie-1894-1903/ AND "While some sections of the pipeline have been replaced in increments over the decades, more than 300 km of the original pipeline is still in service today." : https://www.pipeliner.com.au/2020/03/01/golden-age-pipeline-set-to-be-replaced/ R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Nov 20 - 06:40 AM SOLID ROCK, SACRED GROUND. ( Puli Kunpungka ) © 1982 Shane Howard Pitjantjatjara Translation: © 2012 Trevor Adamson/Ruby James/Shane Howard/Jodi Martin Out here nothing changes Not in a hurry anyway You can feel the endlessness With the coming of the light of day Talking about a chosen place They want to sell it in the marketplace Just a minute now Ch. Standin’ on solid rock Standin’ on sacred ground Livin’ on borrowed time And the winds of change Keep blowin’ down the line ’Round about the dawn of time Dreaming all began Proud people came Livin’ in a promised land Runnin’ from a heart of darkness Searching for a heart of light This could be paradise CHORUS Standin’ on the shore one day Saw the white sails in the sun Wasn’t long before you felt the sting White man, white law, white gun Don’t tell me that it’s justified Cause somewhere, someone lied.....(Captain Cook lied) It’s hard enough just to survive Who’s that crying? Genocide But we’re getting stronger now, stronger now Puli kunpungka ngaranyi Manta miil-miilpa katu Nyuntu kurangka ngaranyi Walpa kampa kutjuparinyi Walpa pulkaringanyi Puli kunpungka ngaranyi Manta miil-miilpa katu Nyuntu wirungka ngaranyi Walpa kampa kutjuparinyi Walpa pulkaringanyi Standin’ on solid rock Standin’ on sacred ground Livin’ on borrowed time And the winds of change Are blowin’ down the line. https://www.facebook.com/goannafella/posts/d41d8cd9/10156094824594461/ (Shane H. correcting online lyrics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqxX9YDL0tk clip of Goanna fronted by a very youthful-looking Shane Howard(!) – Live at Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, 1983 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbAMtQQYcZ0 a 2016 version with Darlow and featuring Shane Howard. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Nov 20 - 05:49 AM YEA HO, LITTLE FISHY There's a song in my heart for the one I love best And her picture is tattooed all over my chest, Ch. Yea ho, little fishy, don't cry, don't cry, Yea ho, little fishy, don't cry, don't cry. There are fish in the sea, there is no doubt about it Just as good as the ones that have ever come out of it, Little fish, when he's caught, he fights like a bull whale As he threshes the water with his long narrow tail. The ship's under way and the weather is fine The captain's on the bridge hanging out other lines, The crew are asleep, and the ocean's at rest And I'm singing this song to the one I love best. J.S. Manifold, in The Penguin Australian Song Book (vol 1), writes: "A foc'sle song from the Queensland coast. A composite from versions printed in Singabout, Vol. 2, No. 4, and Vol. 3, No. 2 ...... The original sources were Dick Fizgerald of Charleville, and Jack Wright of Coogee." The Provenance of this song is discussed on these two Mudcat threads and other versions given : /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8689#54998 and /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=42677 The apparently Portuguese chune makes it a luvverly song to sing!! Here are Chloe & Jason Roweth at Sydney’s Humph Hall in 2010 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSo_GZ-HSiQ I’ve included this one coz the singers’ve got the right name, haha!!! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCWLCGJCSas “A Portuguese lullaby that was sung by Manuel(Spencer Tracy) in the 1937 Captain's Courageous movie that was based on a Gloucester fishing schooner tragedy. This is our adaption of the lullaby. Sung by Audi and Peter SOUZA” BtW, Fremantle in WA, has Portuguese fishermen in its history, along with many other European/Mediterranean peoples [https://fremantlestuff.info/fhs/fs/5/MaySally.html]; don’t know about their music though (anyone??)….. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 Nov 20 - 05:22 AM another of Kevin Baker's thoughtful songs ONE HAND’S THE BOSS'S by Kevin Baker Back in the Sixties I travelled through Queensland My wallet grew thin and I needed a job. I talked to some workers at a pub up in Noosa They said “Head on to Gladstone if you need a few bob". When l hitched there the next day the sparkies were striking, Two weeks they'd been out and the company stood firm. They were drinking their savings and wives were complaining And they knew they were beat if it went the full term. CHORUS - But you don't compromise, not when safety's the issue, A worker's no use if he's killed or he's maimed. Your loved ones may grieve but the company won't miss you; It's profits not workers they're out to maintain. You could see the strike drift as it limped through the third week, And Friday a vote took them back to the job And a sparkie I'd met let me borrow his hardhat So I'd pass on his pillion as one of their mob. The Aluminium plant now was nearing completion With work left with firms in a sub-contract role And security guards taking orders from Kaiser Were turning away those not on the payroll. I walked the site roads, got a job as a Lagger; Cutting asbestos patterns for the junctions of pipes. And the sun and the sandflies were no less than brutal As I sawed in a white cloud round a tin prototype. Overtime and allowances made the pay worth it Insulating sub-contract for the giant Kaiser Steel But the work force was shrinking as contracts completed And the power of the Unions they were bringing to heel. CHORUS Men came to depend on the work of each other And friendships were formed in the pub and crib-room. And everyone knew when the site claimed a victim That none of us were from such outcomes immune. And when the rains came and the crust of the lagging Oozed a white milk that caused many a slip The talk in the crib-room became agitated If you slipped on the high pipes you were on a death trip. Now Sandy and Joe they knew safety and Unions, They called us together and the feeling was plain. Some people spoke, others listened in silence And we voted to no longer work in the rain. And when the Boss came he kept talking of deadlines, How each overdue day was costing him dear. Some sympathised but nobody was budging; We'd all slipped enough to be guided by fear. The next day we found we had no Joe or Sandy They'd been barred from the barracks transferred from the site. The Company required them for new work in Brisbane Where everyone knew they'd be sacked on the quiet. And leaderless now we went over our options: No job was safe and our work prospects tight. And when the Boss came one by one the men drifted Out where the lagging bled a juice milky white. CHORUS Lars was a rigger, he was crazy with courage; He'd leap over gaps at a breathtaking height. That morning the greasy wet rigging propelled him Down to the ground in a tumbling flight. His death fall was broken on the back of a workmate But he'd bounced off the vats and the pipes as he fell And he screamed with the pain till the ambulance took him Away from his friends to his own private hell. That night I went round to the ward where they put him, He was stupid with drugs but still squirming with pain. He’d broken his back and his spleen had been ruptured And they doubted he'd ever go rigging again. One moment his ravaged face smiled recognition Then I lost him as agony called him away. The next week I left to return to the City And the friends I made there I've not seen to this day. CHORUS Many years later I read in the paper Of the killer Asbestos and the cancer it spawns. And I thought about Lars and I hoped I was different; That I'd left before I too was one of its pawns. I remembered the white dust that clogged up my nostrils, And working the high pipes with a Dutchman I'd known. He had said "When you work where your life is in danger Make one hand the Boss's but the other your own." CHORUS from his CD Riding the Wind. The Songs of Kevin Baker, Volume IV, 2004. & it has not been recorded. Thanks to Ralph for somehow getting the words from the jpg I sent him - via OCR I believe (she sez. uncertainly) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Nov 20 - 01:39 AM Queensland’s CLOUDSTREET, that fabulous duo of JOHN THOMPSON and NICOLE MURRAY, later joined by EMMA NIXON (making them a fabulous trio!), have had their YT presence updated of late – well worth checking out : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTn_MPIJ6h1Cin2-8TUf5Cg/playlists https://www.youtube.com/user/cloudstreetarts/videos ENJOY their singing; the harmonies, musicianship, compositions, love of the folk tradition, - and their great sense of fun and joy that overflows in their love of performing : sure hope you’ve been able to see them Live! Stewie posted “SCOTS of the RIVERINA” recently and so I’m adding a version by Cloudstreet : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ncVDPR3szI Here also, is a version of Andy M.Stewart’s “The Valley of Strathmore”, which I add in here, not coz it’s Aussie or Kiwi, but coz I love the song (and we have lots of Scots-heritage folk Down Under (come to think of it – I’m One, haha!!) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KivCmk1ZPP0 It’s live, but from just where, I don’t know…… [ I recall watching John sing this at the last pre-Covid Maleny Music Festival and there was barely a dry eye in the hall. Um ..… surely it wasn’t just me?!! ] R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Nov 20 - 12:07 AM KILLING FLOOR Michael Atkinson (Redgum 1975-87) Joe spoke no English, but he had a dream, And he saved up most of his pay To bring his wife and six kids from the Lebanon And settle down here to stay. You could feel the prison of his loneliness, ‘Cause he wouldn't see them for years, He kept brandy behind the compressed air tanks And gulped it when the coast was clear. Nick the Greek collected tropical fish, But he had to be a character too, So he smuggled in piranha just to break the law And fed them on kangaroo. Bob's pride was his handlebar moustache, And he said he still combed out sand. He pushed a tank through the Iraqi desert, So they made him the leading hand. And the summer night shifts were long and cool, Charlie chain-smoked cigars, Young David sweated in his speckled paint mask, As he gazed out at the stars. Crazy Charlie was a Yugoslav, His old straight-eight Chevvy could move, His ambition was live on a hippy commune When Dave told him about free love. Fred had been a farmer, a heavyweight champ, He had hands like a stump-jump plough, He could move the earth with the thrust of his arm, He was loading on paint line now. And the boys made a noise every Friday night In the bar of the Hilton Hotel, Downing pints and chewing the fat Till the 10 o'clock closing bell. It was only rumour 'til the foreman came And hiding his shame with a cough He said, "They're cutting back down to one shift now, We're gonna have to lay you off." Joe held his gaze, gulped his brandy, And spat it out at his feet, Bob stood bolt-still looking thunderstruck, Nick swore for an hour in Greek. But their anger was spent in a rush of fire And then smouldered out of mind, When they shook hands on that last grey day, Each was, in his way, resigned. And a few days later I saw old Joe, He looked like he'd aged ten years, Drunk on the tiles of the Stag Hotel, He couldn't hold back the tears. Fred had talked of his grueling heavyweight bouts, I remembered what he’d said: "There's no giving up on that killing floor, If you don't fight, you're dead." If you work with your hands for your livelihood, Someday you might have to choose, When the class war rages on the factory floor, If you don't fight, you lose. If you work with your hands for your livelihood, Someday you might have to choose, When the class war rages on the factory floor, If you don't fight, you lose. If you don't fight, you lose. If you don't fight, you lose. If you don't fight, you lose. Joe spoke no English, but he had a dream, And saved up most of his pay To bring his wife and six kids from the Lebanon And settle down here to stay. This song was on Redgum’s first 1978 album “If You Don’t Fight You Lose”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bL62Bx9zuE ”Nearly all of these characters were real. I worked with them over eight months on a production line on South Road. I thought I made up the last line which, on our first interstate tours, we were later gratified to see grafitti-ed on hoardings and stations. However, as some pedantic souls have pointed out, it was a subconscious Australian twist on Mao's `dare to struggle, dare to win'. – MA” Here is a version by Qld’s Cloudstreet : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uAYXro5Hdw&list=PL5gZs9Q8fBmcAynUQQBjs_Jla8QaHQu3H&index=92 R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 04 Nov 20 - 08:32 PM SCOTS OF THE RIVERINA (H.Lawson/A.Monsborough) The boy cleared out to the city from his home at harvest time They were Scots of the Riverina and to run from home was a crime The old man burned his letters, the first and last he burned And he scratched his name from the bible when the old wife’s back was turned A year went past and another - there were calls from the firing-line They heard the boy had enlisted, but the old man made no sign His name must never be mentioned on the farm by Gundagai They were Scots of the Riverina with ever the kirk hard by The boy came home on his final, and the township’s bonfire burned His mother’s arms were about him, but the old man’s back was turned The daughters begged for pardon till the old man raised his hand A Scot of the Riverina who was hard to understand. The boy was killed in Flanders where the best and bravest die. There were tears at the Graham homestead and grief in Gundagai But the old man ploughed at daybreak and the old man ploughed till the mirk There were furrows of pain in the orchard while his house-folk went to the kirk The hurricane lamp in the rafters dimly and dimly burned And the old man died at the table when the old wife’s back was turned Face down on his bare arms folded, he sank with his wild grey hair Outspread o’er the open bible and a name rewritten there Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 04 Nov 20 - 06:09 PM BLUE MURDER (Alistair Hulett) They said it’s easy money In a full page ad in the local rag Always nice and sunny Come on lad and pack your bag It’s off to West Australia Leave the old hometown behind Be a winner, not a failure There’s money to be made in the Wittenoom mine Chorus: Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder They took me to my quarters A stinking bed in an old tin shed Got my working orders With a lamp and tin hat on my head Chorus My girl she’s a cook and a cleaner. She works all day in the canteen hall Six days since I’ve seen her. Some don’t have no girl at all Chorus She sweeps the fine blue dust up Tips it into an old wool pack Never had a check-up If she did, she’d get the sack Chorus I feel my health is failing I work all day in the thick blue dust The kids play in the tailings The boss says work and work I must Chorus Youtube clip Wittenoom --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Nov 20 - 10:40 PM WIYATHUL (G.Yunupingu) Two scrub fowl crying out, looking for Guwalilna the calls like woman crying, looking for Murrurnawu the cries returning his mind to the jungles at Mutlwutjna oh place Guwalilna, Warradika, Yumayna, m.m Oh the old man cries, from the drink oh dad Kamba-Djunadjuna, home Mayan-naraka bright in his mind oh my two mums, beloved mums, hold Ruypu Milinditj oh my two mums, beloved mums, cry for the sacred spring Burarrapu oh the place Guwalilna, Warradika, Yumayna, m.m https://lyricstranslate.com/en/wiyathul-wiyathul.html Youtube clip Most Darwin gardeners hate them, but the orange-footed scrubfowl is family to the Gamatj people. Scrubfowl cry The late Gurrumul Yunupingu was a Northern Territory treasure. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Nov 20 - 09:57 PM BAPA (G.Yunupingu) Warwuyu ?arranha mulkana ?araku bapawu ?urununa gunipunharayu ya..a, bäpa marrkapmirri ?athina wilawilayurruna ?uru?una djarrawalyurruna liya-wayma Bekul?ura ya..a bäpa marrkapmirri m..m m..m m..m ?äthina Djotarra manda garray Dhuwandjika Daylulu ?uru?una djarrapalwuyu liya-wayma wä?a?ura Gunya?arri m..m m..m m..m ------------------------------ [english translation] Grief have taken hold of me for my father when the sun sets o..h, beloved father Crying and crying when the sun goes down my mind there at Bekulnura o..h, beloved father m..m m..m m..m Two Gumatj ladies crying ancestor boss ladies Dhuwandjika and Daylulu when the sun sets my mind there at the place Gunyanara (Bekulnura) m..m m..m m..m Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Nov 20 - 09:40 PM THOU SHALT NOT STEAL (Kev Carmody) In 1788 down Sydney Cove? The first boat people land And they said, 'Sorry boys our gain’s your loss We’re gonna steal your land And if you break our new British laws For sure you’re gonna hang Or work your life like our convicts With chains on your neck and hands' Chorus: And they taught us Oh oh black woman thou shalt not steal Oh oh black man thou shalt not steal We’re gonna civilise Your black barbaric lives And teach you how to kneel But your history couldn’t hide The genocide The hypocrisy to us was real ’Cause your Jesus said You’re supposed to give the oppressed A better deal We say to you, yes whiteman thou shalt not steal Oh ya our land you’d better heal Your science and technology, hey you can make a nuclear bomb Development has increased its size to three million megatons If you think that’s progress I suggest your reasoning is unsound You shoulda found out long ago You best keep it in the ground Chorus Me and Neil and Rednut Sittin’ underneath that Indooroopilly Bridge Watchin’ that blazin’ sun go down Behind the tall tree’d mountain ridge The land’s our heritage and spirit here The rightful culture’s black And we sittin’ here just wonderin’ When we gonna get the land back Chorus You talk of conservation Keep the forest pristine green Yet in two hundred years your materialism Has stripped the forests clean A racist’s a contradiction That’s understood by none Mostly their left hand holds a bible Their right hand holds a gun Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Nov 20 - 08:40 PM MONDAY'S EXPERTS (Weddings, Parties, Anything) Yeah yeah yeah Do you see what I mean Monday's experts Always know what's best Always tell you what you should've done Monday's experts Always know what's cooking How the game was lost and how it could've been won When Monday comes around Everyone's an expert in my town Monday's experts Yeah yeah yeah Monday's experts Yeah yeah Well I see them up the shops, I see them down the street And when I go up the pub, it's nearly everyone I meet They're saying I should've done this or I should've done that But by the time they're finished talking, well my beers are getting flat When Monday comes around Everyone's an expert in my town When Monday comes on by Everyone's an expert to this guy Well Tuesday, Wednesday, I don't mind Thursday, Friday talking blind Saturday, Sunday not so bad Monday comes, it drives me mad Monday's experts Talking in the tearoom In the workshop and the office, talking all around the place Monday's experts Hey they've always got the good oil Pity you can't put a bet on at the finish of a race When Monday comes around Everyone's an expert in my town When Monday comes on by Everyone's an expert to this guy When Monday comes along Everyone's an expert on my song Monday's experts Yeah yeah yeah Monday's experts You see what I mean Monday's experts Yeah yeah Monday's experts Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Nov 20 - 08:04 PM In a similar vein: YUPPIETOWN (Alistair Hulett) People who live round here they don't have that much They make do with things others wouldn't even touch People who live round here they work in the factory They don't have to choose they're ruled by necessity Chorus: And they better watch out New breed taking over Driving us out Givin' us the old once over They want to tear the place down And turn it into Yuppietown People who live round here remember how it used to be Natter to yer neighbour on the street or stop in for a cup of tea People who live round here they like to have a beer and all But since the old pub changed hands you can't get in in overalls People who live round here they're gonna have to move out west Funny how the powers that be always think they know what's best People who live round here they've got the place in such a state People who live round here pull down the price of real estate Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Nov 20 - 07:49 PM I just went thru Mark's song list on Union Songs for songs I recognised. You & Stewie would no doubt see other songs. It's a gold mine of songs. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Nov 20 - 07:04 PM Yay! Some good ones there, Sandra! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Nov 20 - 04:20 AM The Rodney © Dennis O'Keeffe 1992, tune After the Ball is Over Once a young rouseabout, boiled a billy of tea, He asked an old shearer, a story tell me please, I'll tell you a story, but you must tell no-one, Something my mates and I, in days gone by have done, Once there was a captain, of a river boat, With forty-five free labourers, on the Darling they did float, The year was 1894, the strikes had just begun, And shearers blood was being spilt, far worse than 91. Chorus After we burnt the Rodney, We danced on the river-bank, There we played an old tune, until the Rodney sank, Many a heart was happy, if you could only see, We had a blood great bonfire, The night we burnt the Rodney. We did not like this captain, of him we had no fear, To stations he'd been taking scabs, upon the river for years, We'll take his boat the men all yelled, we'll teach this Captain Dickson, So, wire stretched across the river, to the trees we started fixing. But the Captain heard of out little game, and tied up miles below, Through the mashes on the river-bank, running we did go, Then swimming through the water, the men all followed me, And in the darkness of the night, we climbed aboard the Rodney. The Captain could not believe his eyes, to see us standing there, With raddle painted faces, and mud smeared into our hair, The crew we did not harm at all, but let them row away, The scabs we left on an island, a small price they did have to pay. Then we soaked the decks with kerosene, from stem to stern, Then all us lads went ashore, and cheered as the Rodney burned, No-one recognised us, they knew not who to blame, So young man, you must tell no-one, Shear-Blade is my name. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Nov 20 - 03:55 AM When the coal blew away © Maurie Mulheron 1996 Do you know how heavy the winds blow here? His smile was rising from ear to ear The old miner sat back, he'd a story that day About the time on the coast when the coal blew away All the mines around Bulli and further away Were being worked each week for only two to three days Just enough to stop them from getting the dole While the mine-owners secretly stockpiled the coal Chorus The winds were so heavy on the coast that day The winds were so heavy that the coal blew away! So the miners formed a strong picket line To try and stop the coal from leaving the mine From Sydney they trucked in the scabs each day With police on guard to keep the miners at bay With scabs loading coal by the railway track The miners stepped forward, the mood blacker than black The sergeant stood between them with a gun and a sneer I'll shoot the first Commie who tries to interfere! Chorus The winds were so heavy on the coast that day The winds were so heavy that the coal blew away! A fifty ton load was sent on its way Scheduled for Sydney the very next day The miners withdrew, full of anger, despair No victory this time, no hope in the air The train slowed down just near Waterfall The guard heard laughter and this is what he saw From a wagon some miners jumped onto the track With shovels, grins and faces smeared black Chorus The winds were so heavy on the coast that day The winds were so heavy that the coal blew away! With his lantern he searched up and down the train No coal could be seen, he searched in vain And the headlines in the paper read the very next day The winds were so heavy, the coal blew away! Now as you listen to my story today You might think it strange that coal could blow away But the miners with their shovels in the wagon that night Swear it is true and I reckon they're right Chorus The winds were so heavy on the coast that day The winds were so heavy that the coal blew away! Notes Maurie Mulheron writes "Great true story about a union victory down here in the Illawarra that occurred in September 1938 at the Old Corn Beef Mine. The story is told in the song. After the scabs had loaded the coal, 8 miners stowed away on the train and spent the next couple of hours shovelling out the scab coal onto the track as the train headed north to Sydney. The next day, when the police investigated, the Miners Federation explained to them that they knew nothing about the missing coal. By way of explanation, the union suggested that it could have been the heavy winds that had blown the night before! The "Bulli Times" ran a headline: "THE COAL THAT BLEW AWAY". By the way, after the coal had been shovelled off the train by the 'stowaway' miners, the Detective-Sergeant raced down to Thirroul the next day to interview the miners. An astute fellow, he visited Arthur McDonald, one of the miners. "Don't insult my intelligence," said the policeman, "by trying to make me believe that the bloody wind on the South Coast blew all that coal away. We think you bastards did it." Thanks to Maurie Mulheron for permission to use this song. Maurie is the author of One Word We a play about the life of Pete Seeger |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Nov 20 - 03:51 AM Nursery Rhyme Nursery Rhyme, A poem by Frank Wilmot©1916 Tune by Chris Kempster©Chris Kempster 1950s One year, two year, three year, four, Comes a khaki gentleman knocking at the door. "Any little boys at home, send them out to me To train them and brain them in battles yet to be." When a little boy is born feed him, train him so. Put him in a cattle pen and wait for him to grow. When he's nice and plump and dear, and sensible and sweet, Throw him in the trenches for the great grey rats to eat. Toss him in the cannon's mouth, cannons fancy best Tender little boys' flesh that's easy to digest. Mother rears her family on two pounds ten a week. Teaches them to wash themselves, teaches them to speak. Rears them with a heart's love, rears them to be men. Grinds her fingers to the bone, and then... what then? But parents who must rear the boys the cannons love to slay, Also pay for cannons that blow other boys away. Parsons tell them that their sons have just been blown to bits. Patriotic parents must all laugh like fits. Rear the boys for honest men and send them out to die! Where's the coward father who would dare raise a cry? Any gentleman's aware folk rear their children for Blunderers and plunderers to mangle in a war! Five year, six year, seven year, eight. "Hurry up you little chaps, the captain's at the gate!" Notes In 1916 during the First World War a poet named Frank Wilmot (who wrote under the name Furnley Maurice) turned his revulsion at the conscription of young people into this poem. It was set to music in the mid 1950s by Chris Kempster, and when he sang it at a folk session thirty years later, this led to Miguel Heatwole writing an arrangement of it for the Solidarity Choir. That version is on the choir's CD "Ten Years Strong". |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Nov 20 - 03:41 AM how topical! Clive Palmer song Tune: Old Palmer Song Clive Palmer he says loudly 'ideas never die'. But I will show that statement is a mighty lie, For I can name a few ideas that now are lacking lives, And one of those I'm glad to say was the 'right to beating wives'. It blows the mind heigh-ho Clive Palmer's joined the show, And he has formed a voting band, so let the music play, And if he makes the Lodge,he will be hard to dodge, He's plain to see, even when he's a thousand miles away People once believed that this old world was flat But Aristotle came along and he put paid to that, Yes he put paid to that and Galileo came to show, That the earth went round the sun and his telescope proved so. Another dead idea was that those who had black skin, Were not as good as those who had a lack of mel-an-in. Mr N. Mandela he fought and won that fight. We know now that Ap-ar-thied, simply was not right. Ideas they will grow and they will fall and die, When all the people learn to think and don't believe a lie, Let no-one preach a lie for just like you and me, Ideas can languish and expire like leaves fall from a tree. Extra Expandable Verses So build your ship Titanic Clive although that has been done, And your Tyranosaurus Rex will not scare anyone, Why don't you use your money, it's something you don't lack, Build swimming pools for all the schools in the far Outback? If that's not to your taste and doesn't fit your plan, Then fund a scientific lab to aid the life of man, The life of a P.M. does not seem the place for you, Your idea about ideas soon could land you in the Poo. Yes Clive I think that you are far too good for that, You might be big and over weight and some might call you fat, But maybe there inside of you a heart of matching size, Could do so much,so much more, than you realize. Did you see the bright yellow poster after the Qld election this week - caption "Geez Clive $60 million and not a single seat, Should've come to Ikea". It's advertising a $27.95 chair from said store. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Nov 20 - 03:31 AM Bump me into Parliament Come listen all kind friends of mine I want to move a motion To make an Eldorado here I've got a bonza notion Chorus Bump me into parliament Bounce me any way at all Bang me into parliament On next election day Some very wealthy friends I know Declare I am most clever While some can talk for an hour or so Why I can talk for ever I know the Arbitration Act As a sailor knows his riggins So if you want a small advance I'll talk to Justice Higgins I've read my bible ten times through And Jesus justifies me The man who does not vote for me By Christ he crucifies me Oh yes I am a Labor man And believe in revolution The quickest way to bring it on Is talking constitution I think the worker and the boss Should keep their present stations So I will surely pass a bill 'Industrial Relations' So bump them into parliament Bounce them any way at all Bung them into parliament Don't let the Court decay Written by Bill Casey an Australian member of the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) who later became secretary of the Queensland Branch of the Seamens Union of Australia. The IWW or Wobblies played an important part in the development of trade unions in USA. The most famous Wobbly was organiser/songwriter Joe Hill who was framed on a murder charge and executed in Salt Lake City. His ashes were scattered in many cities throughout the world, including Sydney. Tune 'Yankee Doodle' |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Nov 20 - 02:16 AM The Basic Wage Dream © Don Henderson 1963 Sung by Bill Berry I dreamed a doctor told a judge from the Arbitration Court That he would only live to preside on one more case being fought. The judge whose conscience was ill at ease thought if this case will be my last, To hand down a fair decision might make up for his unjust past. The next case that was to come before this very worried sage, Was a request to raise by fifty-two bob the weekly basic wage. The old chap granted the raise in full and to assure his place in heaven, Made the payments retrospective to nineteen hundred and seven. On the first pay day after the trial I couldn't believe my luck, The paymaster brought my wages out on a fork lift truck, I dreamed we got paid on a Friday and on that lovely night, Mayne Nickless sent an armoured car to get me home all right. On the way we stopped at the R.S.L. and as I walked inside, A poker machine took a look at my pay and committed suicide. I turned around when I heard a man behind me softly speak, It was Dr. Coombs trying to borrow a quid to see him through the week. The alarm went off and I recalled as I was waking up, How people dream they saw the horse that won the Melbourne Cup, But they can't remember what number it was, well my dream was just the same For I can't for the very life of me think of that judge's name. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Nov 20 - 02:03 AM wot not songs from Geoff & Peter?? All For Me Job © Geoff Francis and Peter Hicks 2006 Our union's story is there to be seen, We've won many victories and we've suffered defeats, But as I turn through the pages and look back through time, There's one single question stands out in my mind - Today we may prosper, today we live free, But if it weren't for the union, where would we be? Chorus: It's our union, our union that defends our rights, But our union's as strong as our will is to fight, For the union is you and the union is me, So stand up and stand by our union. From it's humble beginnings our union has grown, So no working person need struggle alone. But no gain that's been made has been made without cost, And together we'll see that no gain's ever lost; Take a look at those countries where workers aren't free - If it weren't for the union, where would we be? It's our union, our union ... Would you choose to go back, working twelve hours a day, Would you choose to toil more and a pittance be paid? Will you stand in the union against the new right, Or do you think on your own you can withstand their might? The answer is written in our history, If it weren't for the union, where would we be? It's our union, our union ... They say we've got problems, and the unions they blame, Well, Franco and Pinochet they said the same. If our union they weaken, if our union they break, Then where's our defence from becoming enslaved? So would you choose bondage above liberty? And if it weren't for the union, where would we be? It's our union, our union ... It's our union, our union ... sound |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 02 Nov 20 - 10:27 PM GREEN BAN FUSILIERS by Denis Kevans ©1972 tune: McAlpine's Fusiliers Chorus Up Broadway to the MBA come the Green Ban Fusiliers. They stole the street with their marching feet, placards high above their ears. In Sydney town they would not lie down, they gave Martin's scabs some cheer, And it's up Broadway to the MBA come the Green Ban Fusiliers. Half-smart thieves with their Gucci sleeves and car parks on the brain Told the usual lie: 'The trees've got to die' - the fig trees in Sydney's domain, And some said, 'Joe, we orta let 'em go. It's only bloody timber to be cleared, Ah, but listen to the trees as they whisper to the breeze and the Green Ban Fusiliers. Bulldozer blades made a lightning raid, coming in with a great big rush, Moving in for the kill up at Hunter's hill, at beautiful Kelly's Bush, But the local women lay down in the bulldozer's way, to the bucking and the shuddering of the gears, When their hands were raised the ones they praised were the Green Ban Fusiliers. They made a stand for our sunny land at the Rocks and Woolloomooloo. On the chimney tops they waltzed with the cops to save a bit of Sydney for you, And the finance fleas who made refugees of families who had been pioneers Finished on their arse, and they did their brass with the Green Ban Fusiliers. Through the years and through my tears I can see 'em marching again, From the dizzy heights and the concrete sites in sunshine and in rain, That patch of green's gettin' a lovely old sheen, no matter how many flow the years, And it's up Broadway to the MBA come the Green Ban Fusiliers. Lyrics and notes from Mark Gregory’s EXcellent website : http://unionsong.com/u041.html "Many thanks to Denis Kevans for permission to publish this song. Denis, known as Australia's Poet Lorrikeet, worked in Sydney as a labourer and member of the NSW BLF when he wrote this song. In the 1970's the NSW Builders Labourers Federation joined with residents' action groups and took on major corporations to save heritage buildings, bushland, and low-rent inner-city housing from developers' bulldozers. The MBA in the song is the Master Builders Association." Obit for the late Jack Mundey in the online ARCHITECTUREAU ezine : https://architectureau.com/articles/green-bans-hero-jack-mundey-dies/ IMHO, if only we’d had more men of his strength of character and ethics (and Joe Owens and Bob Pringle too), in every city in Oz, there’d be more ‘history’, trees, public open space, beautiful old buildings, and social responsibility, still extant (yes, I’m looking at you, Perth) ….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-sj50MyQOA Chloe & Jason Roweth sing this important tale. Back to Werk for me, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Nov 20 - 08:45 PM More than 20 years ago, Bob Bolton posted this sentimental poem set to music by John Lahey. HERBERT HOOVER'S LOVE SONG (H.Hoover/J.Lahey) Do you ever dream, my sweetheart, of a twilight long ago Of a park in old Kalgoorlie, where the bougainvilleas grow Where the moonbeams on the pathways trace a shimmering brocade And the overhanging peppers form a lovers'promenade? Where in soft cascades of cadence from a garden close at hand Came the murmurous, mellow music of a sweet, orchestral band Years have flown since then, my sweetheart, fleet as orchard blooms in May But the hour that fills my dreaming, was it only yesterday? Stood we two a space in silence, while the summer sun slipped down And the grey dove dusk, with drooping pinions, wrapt the mining town Then you raised your tender glances darkly, dreamily to mine And my pulses clashed like symbols in a rhapsody divine And the pent-up fires of longing loosed their prison's weak control And in wild, hot words came rushing from my burning soul Wild hot words that spoke of passion, hitherto but half expressed And I clasped you close, my sweetheart, kissed you, strained you to my breast While the starlight-spangled heavens rolled around us where we stood And a tide of bliss kept surging through the current of our blood And I spent my soul in kisses, crushed upon your scarlet mouth Oh! My red-lipped, sunbrowned sweetheart, dark-eyed daughter of the south It was well that fate should part us, it was well my path should lead Back to slopes of high endeavour, aye, and was it well, indeed You have wed some southern squatter, learned long since his every whim Soothed his sorrows, borne his troubles, sung your sweetest songs for him I have fought my fight and triumphed, on the map I've writ my name But I prize one hour of loving, more than fifty years of fame It was but a summer madness that possessed us, men will hold And the yellow moon bewitched me with its wizardry of gold Let them say it, dear, but oft-times in the dusk I close my eyes And in dreams drift back to where the stars rain splendour from the skies To a park in far Kalgoorlie, where the golden wattles grow Where you kissed me in the twilight of a summer long ago And I clasp you close, my sweetheart, while each throbbing pulse is thrilled By a low and mournful music that shall never more be stilled Note from p10 'Great Australian Folk Songs, John Lahey, Hill of Content Publishing Co, Melbourne, 1965. These remarkable verses are attributed to the late Herbert Hoover, President of the United States between 1929 and 1932. Hoover first came to the West Australian goldfields as a 23-year-old mining engineer in 1897, and he lived in Australia off and on for the next ten years. The goldfields historian, the late Arthur Reid, who knew Hoover, preserved the verses in his book 'Those Were the Days'. He said Hoover wrote them to a Kalgoorlie barmaid, years after he returned to the United States. Several West Australians sing different tunes, but their words are substantially the same. The tune here is my own adaptation. Youtube clip The American election looms. As a Republican, I wonder what Hoover would have thought of Trump. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 02 Nov 20 - 08:42 PM EUABALONG BALL Oh, who hasn't heard of Euabalong Ball Where the lads of the Lachlan, the great and the small Come bent on diversion from far and from near To cast off their troubles for just once a year Like stringy old wethers, the shearers in force All rushed to the bar as a matter of course While waltzing his cliner, the manager cursed 'Cause someone had caught him a jab with his spurs There were sheilas in plenty, some two or three score Some two-tooths, some weaners, some maybe some more With their fleeces all dipped and so fluffy and clean The finest young shearlings that ever was seen The boundary-riders was friskin' about But the well-sinkers seemed to be feelin' the drought If the water was scarce, well, the whisky was there And what they couldn't drink, boys, they rubbed in their hair There was music and dancin' and goin' the pace Some went at a canter, some went at a race There was buckin' and glidin' and rootin' and slidin' And to vary the gait, some couples collidin' Oh, Euabalong Ball was a wonderful sight Rams among the two-tooths the whole flamin' night And many young girls will regret to recall The polkas they danced at Euabalong Ball. "Euabalong is on the Lachlan River some forty miles west of Condobolin, and the song was still around in those parts when I worked there in the early 1930s. A more genteel version than ours, called The Wooyeo Ball, was printed in Rob Webster’s The First Fifty Years of Temora (Temora, NSW, 1950), but the song belongs to the West, not the South. Webster puts the date of his version as 1888. In the course of more than thirty years singing the song, I’m sure I’ve tinkered around a lot with the tune. - A. L. Lloyd" I was after the version by Australia’s “The Wild Colonials” bushband (which originated with Declan Affley c.1969), with Jacko Kevins singing lead, but I have lamented their YT dirth before in this thread. [So far I have only come across one offering : “Canine Catastrophe” (aka The Dog’s Festival) : maybe that one should be posted???] BtW, I note that I incorrectly referred to them in my September 12th post as “The Wild Colonial Boys” but that is the Canadian band. The Aussie ones were “The Wild Colonials”. Anyhoo, despite the lyrics and notes above being taken from A.L.Lloyd’s recording on “The Great Aust’n Legend” LP, here is a version by The Cobbers : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeFihol-TbE R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Nov 20 - 07:38 PM EULOGY (FOR A BLACK PERSON) (Kev Carmody) Lay me down in the sacred ground Keep me from the cold Keep me in the deep warm earth Where the stars can see my soul Take me where them trees stand tall By the waters in the river bend Let me face the rising sun Commend my spirit to the wind Make no monuments or mortal crowns Or speak my name again when you lay me down Lay me where the forest blooms In the land that’s seen no plough Where the fragrance on the western wind Is carried from every springtime flower Give me peace and give me rest Lay me down on the mountain crest Bury me softly without a sound Let the scrub grow back across that mound Make no monuments or mortal crowns Or speak my name again when you lay me down Bury me quick and bury me deep Without no coffin or shrouded sheet Wrap me in the Mother Earth So I can nurture the land’s rebirth Give me joy and give me song Carry the struggle wide and long Do not grieve and do not weep Mortal memories are all we keep make no monuments or mortal crowns Or speak my name again when you lay me down Let the winter dew fall on that grave Let me see the night sky blaze See the moon in the winter’s wane Knifing through that cosmic maze Give me water, give me fire Don’t give me monuments of stone Give me rainbows in the sky Give me back my land in which to lie Make no monuments or mortal crowns Or speak my name again when you lay me down Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Nov 20 - 07:20 PM CULLER'S LAMENT (Black Matai) (P.Cape/D.Toms) What are you singing, black matai, black matai There's snow on the tops and the fire's burning down What are you singing, east wind in the matai Your love's left the station, she's gone to the town What are you chattering, tall mountain birches The wind's in the west and the rain's pelting down The flash floods are coming, I've got to keep moving Your love's left the station, she's gone to the town What are you whispering, wind in the snowgrass Combing the tussocks and smoothing them down My love's hair was golden, like snowgrass in summer Your love's left the station, she's gone to the town Winds in the open tops what are you calling There's deer in the valley, a thousand feet down You cry on the cols and you shout on the ridges My love's left the station, she's gone to the town The stink of the deerskins, the screech of the keas The eighty pound pack that keeps dragging me down I'll get out of the mountains and back to the sheep yards But my love's left the station, she's gone to the town Youtube clip Note: Deer cullers hunt deer in the bush and mountains to reduce their numbers and thereby the damage they do to the environment. Nowadays, hunting is often done by helicopter, but cullers used to live lonely lives - in the wilderness for weeks at a time, getting supplies through high country stations and returning to town only after months of drying and packing skins. Deer were introduced for sport, but in the 1930s high country farmers and forest workers realised that the deer were a threat to farming and the land itself. They competed with sheep for grazing and destroyed bush and high country cover, leading to soil erosion. The deer culler was a 'good keen man', the phrase coming from a newspaper advertisement for cullers. They came from all backgrounds and were renowned for their humour and independence. From 'An Ordinary Joker:The life and songs of Peter Cape' p106. Matai - (black pine) a major forest tree reaching 30m with a tall straight trunk. Kea - native parrot, the world's only alpine parrot. 'the weight of the rifle' is often sung in place of 'the screech of the keas' Col - a mountain pass or saddle 80 pound pack - the approx 40kg pack that carried essentials for the culler: food, clothes, ammunition, billy and plate. Snowgrass - hardy alpine grass which grows in tussocks or clumps. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 02 Nov 20 - 08:10 AM THE THINGS WE DARE NOT TELL Henry Lawson (1901) The fields are fair in autumn yet, and the sun's still shining there, But we bow our heads and we brood and fret, because of the masks we wear; Or we nod and smile the social while, and we say we're doing well, But we break our hearts, oh, we break our hearts! for the things we must not tell. There's the old love wronged ere the new was won, there's the light of long ago; There's the cruel lie that we suffer for, and the public must not know. So we go through life with a ghastly mask, and we're doing fairly well, While they break our hearts, oh, they kill our hearts! do the things we must not tell. We see but pride in a selfish breast, while a heart is breaking there; Oh, the world would be such a kindly world if all men's hearts lay bare! We live and share the living lie, we are doing very well, While they eat our hearts as the years go by, do the things we dare not tell. We bow us down to a dusty shrine, or a temple in the East, Or we stand and drink to the world-old creed, with the coffins at the feast; We fight it down, and we live it down, or we bear it bravely well, But the best men die of a broken heart for the things they cannot tell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjAfqf8pysg A setting by the late Noel Watson, sung by Blue Mountains musician, Christine Wheeler and friends, from her 2013 CD of Lawson songs “Rain in the Mountains”, A very different and topical interpretation by musician, Katherine Buckell, residing in NY, but born in Victoria : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUbYjXuAgD4 R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 02 Nov 20 - 06:57 AM A SONG FOR GRACE by Ted Egan I was a girl of thirteen when my 3 brothers went to the war Martin and Robert and Jack, and as I wave from the door I thought who in the world could have brothers as handsome as they Three Australian Light Horsemen : I see their proud figures today, Our parents were Irish with no love for England at all But their sons were Australians and each bravely answered the call In their turned-up slouch hats, and their feathers and leggings and spurs The Empire, as much as my mother, knew these sons were hers, And at the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them, Lest we forget. The mailman brought cards from Colombo and then from Port Said Here's a photo of Jack in Egypt, his first camel ride And look at young Bobby, in London, here crossing The Strand And Martin writes 'mum and dad, life in the army is grand', The same mailman brought us the news about our darling Jack Regret to inform you your son John will never come back He died of his wounds at Gallipoli, so brave was he He’s awarded the Military Medal, posthumously, And at the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them, Lest we forget. The telegram came, my mother collapsed, and I had The terrible task of breaking the news to my dad With our old draught horse, Punch, my father was ploughing the land I ran to the paddock, the telegram clutched in my hand, The Irishman read it, said thank you, now leave me alone Go on back to the house, help your mother, she's there on her own He called, 'Stand up Punch, we have to get on with this job' But I saw his slumped shoulders, and I heard his heart rending sob, And at the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them, Lest we forget. Well Robert was gassed and he always had pains in his head And Martin was shell-shocked and he’d’ve been better off dead And I, I’m just an old lady who watched them all go But I am the one you should ask about war, for I know, That all of these years have gone by and I know that we’ve met Yes, I will remember them : I can’t forget, And at the going down of the sun and in the morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ycH8wwFJs Ted Egan wrote this song for his mother, Grace; sung here by his wife, Nerys Evans. No further comment is necessary. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 02 Nov 20 - 03:34 AM Yay! So good to hear Skippy again and "The Bottle Run"!! Sadly, I don't think I've got his "NT Road" LP anymore :( and now for something completely different : THE PLAINS OF EMU (John McGarvie, 1829 - aka The Exile of Erin) I. O ! farewell my country--my kindred--my lover ; Each morning and evening is sacred to you, While I toil the long day without shelter or cover, And fell the tall gums the black-butted and blue. Full often I think of and talk of thee, Erin-- Thy eath-covered mountains are fresh in my view, Thy glens, lakes and rivers, Loch-Con and Kilkerran, While chained to the soil on the Plains of Emu. II. The iron-bark, wattle and gum-trees extending Their shades under which rests the shy kangaroo, May be felled by the bless'd who have hope o'er them bending, To cheer their rude toil tho' far exiled from you. But, alas! without hope, peace, or honour to grace me, Each feeling was crushed in the bud as it grew, Whilst "never" is stamped on the chains that embrace me, And endless my thrall on the Plains of Emu. III. Hard hard was my fate far from thee to be driven, Unstained, unconvicted, as sure was my due; I loved to dispense of the freedom of Heaven, But force gained the day and I suffer for you. For this hand never broke what by promise was plighted, Deep treason this tongue to my country ne'er knew, No base-earned coin in my coffer e'er lighted, Yet enchained I remain on the Plains of Emu. IV. Dear mother thy love from my bosom shall never, Depart, but shall flourish untainted and true ; Nor grieve that the base in their malice should ever Upbraid thee, and none to give malice her due. Spare, spare her the tear and no charge lay upon her, And weep not my Norah her griefs to renew, But cherish her age till night closes on her, And think of the swain who still thinks but of you. V. But your names shall still live though like writing in water ; When confined to the notes of the tame cockatoo, Each wattle scrub echo repeats to the other Your names and each breeze hears me sighing anew. For dumb be my tongue, may my heart cease her motion, If the Isle I forget where my first breath I drew ! Each affection is warmed with sincerest devotion, For the tie is unbroken on the Plains of Emu. Anambaba, May, 1829. Lyrics taken from Mark Gregory’s excellent “Folkstream” site : http://folkstream.com/071.html Raymond Crooke writes on his YT channel : “Though it's often thought of as a traditional Australian convict ballad, this song, also known as "The Plains of Emu", was written by John McGarvie, who wrote under the nom de plume "M." It was first published in "The Sydney Gazette", 26th May, 1829. The tune is traditional and is generally known as "Savourneen Deelish." Emu Plains was a prison farm 35 miles from Sydney for convicts transported to Australia, established with the purpose of growing food to feed the increasing population of Sydney I first heard this sung by English-Australian folksinger, Brian Mooney, on the classic album "Moreton Bay and Other Songs, Mainly of Convict Origin" (1963), which he made with Martyn Wyndham-Read and David Lumsden…..” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6cIy4LKWaE I was only familiar with ALEX HOOD’s rendition, but this is an interesting version by Sydney’s renowned all-rounder JEANNIE LEWIS. more about her here : https://peoplepill.com/people/jeannie-lewis/ OK, back to werk now! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Nov 20 - 08:38 PM NULLABOR SONG (Kasey Chambers) When the fire burns out here It's brighter than the city lights Warmer than a heart of gold And dingoes howl just to break the silence The sun comes up just to break the cold Last night I woke With the stars looking back at me Swallowing the sky I felt no anger, I felt no shame I felt no reason to cry If I'm not here in the morning I'll cry a river of tears And I'll learn to live in a new town But my heart is staying here When it's quiet out here A hundred miles away You can hear the train on the line The whistle blows just to break the silence I wave just to break the time I close my eyes I think of runnin' water I think of runnin' away But the fire's burnt to ashes And it's darker than before But I can see as clear as day If I'm not here in the morning I'll cry a river of tears And t I'll learn to live in a new town But my heart is staying here Yes, I'll learn to live in a new town But my heart is staying here Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Nov 20 - 07:37 PM THE BOTTLE RUN (Barry Skipsey) Sweating on the bloody board waiting for the bell And the cocky's bending down, giving me hell The wheels are spinning down the line Seems everyone's the gun And this we call the bottle run Chorus: The bottle run, well I smell it through the bottle This shearer is waiting for his beer Hang up your dungarees and drag that stubby clear We'll wash the pain away with a quiet beer Wethers in the first run, finally cut them out Breaking combs and cutters, I made them pay Kick that bastard down the chute, he's not worth the time He's not worth the sixty cents I earn Chorus Roustie fetch the lambing boards and change the locks and pieces Cheeky lad, you'll get my boot I hear you drop that broom once more, you'll have the team upon you And with black balls you won't look so cute Chorus I've smoked my share of rollies, I've cursed and sweated all day I swear I'll give this bloody game away But until I win the lottery or make it with the nags You'll find me hear on board amongst the dags Chorus I travelled up from Melbourne town looking for a pen I'm working Queensland sheds once again Yes, I'm working for the Grazcos man until the setting sun And waiting for that bottle run Chorus Another little bottler from Barry Skipsey of Alice Springs. This was first recorded for his 'NT Road' LP. Barry noted: I was once told by a shearer that he considered the last two hours of his day to be called the bottle run. Why? Because he reckoned he could smell the beer through the bottle. Youtube clip Wongawilli did a fine cover: Wongwilli Grazcos --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Nov 20 - 06:40 PM WHILE THE BILLY BOILS (D.M.Wright/P.Garland The speargrass crackles under the billy and overhead is the winter sun There’s snow on the hills, there’s frost in the gully, that reminds me of things that I’ve seen and done Of blokes that I knew, and mates that I’ve worked with, and the sprees that we had in the days gone by And a mist comes up from my heart to my eyelids, I feel fair sick and I wonder why There is coves and coves! Some I liked partic’lar, and some I would sooner I never knowed But a bloke can’t choose the chaps that he’s thrown with in the harvest paddock or here in the road There was chaps from the other side that I shore with that I’d like to have taken along for mates But we said, ‘So long!’ and we laughed and parted for good and all at the station gates I mind the time when the snow was drifting and Billy and me was out for the night We lay in the lee of a rock, and waited, hungry and cold, for the morning light Then he went one way and I the other – we’d been like brothers for half a year He said: ‘I’ll see you again in town, mate, and we’ll blow the froth off a pint of beer’ He went to a job on the plain he knowed of and I went poisoning out at the back And I missed him somehow – for all my looking I never could knock across his track The same with Harry, the bloke I worked with, the time I was over upon the coast He went for a fly-round over to Sydney, to stay for a fortnight – a month at most He never came back, and he never wrote me – I wonder how blokes like him forget We had been where no one had been before us, we had starved for days in the cold and wet We had sunk a hundred holes that was duffers, till at last we came on a fairish patch An’ we worked in rags in the dead of winter while the ice-bars hung from the frozen thatch Yes, them was two, and I can’t help mind them – good mates as ever a joker had But there’s plenty more as I’d like to be with, for half of the blokes on the road is bad It sets me a-thinking, the world seems wider, for all we fancy it’s middling small When a chap like me makes friends in plenty and they slip away and he loses them all The speargrass crackles under the billy and overhead is the winter sun There’s snow on the hills, there’s frost in the gully and, oh, the things that I’ve seen and done The blokes that I’ve knowed and the mates that I’ve worked with, and the sprees that we had in the days gone by But I somehow fancy we’ll all be pen-mates on the day when they call the roll of the sky Another poem by NZ's 'outback laureate', David McKee Wright. Above is the complete poem. In this YT clip, Phil Garland amends and shortens the poem: Youtube clip Wright moved to Australia in 1910 and wrote for 'The Bulletin' and other publications. David McKee Wright --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 01 Nov 20 - 03:49 AM VAN DIEMEN’S LAND Stan Hugill's (one of many variants) Ye rambling boys of Liverpool, I'll have ye to beware, 'Tis when ye go a-hunting wid yer dog, yer gun, yer snare, Watch out for the game-keepers, keep your dog at your command Just think on all them hardships, goin' to Van Diemen's Land. We had two Irish lads on board, Mickey Murphy an' Paddy Malone, And they were both the stoutest friends that ever a man could own. But the gamekeeper he'd caught them, and from ol' England's strand They were seven years transported for to plough Van Diemen's Land. We had on board a lady fair, Bridget Reilly wuz her name, An' she wuz sent from Liverpool for a-playin' of the game. Our captain fell in love wid her and he married her out of hand, And she gave us all good usage, boys, goin' to Van Diemen's Land. The moment that we landed there, upon that fatal shore, The planters they inspected us, some fifty score or more, Then they marched us off like hosses, an' they sold us out of hand, They yoked us to the plough, me boys, for to plough Van Diemen's Land. As I lay in me bunk one night, a dreamin' all alone, I dreamt I wuz in Liverpool, 'way back in Marybone, Wid me own true love beside me, an' a jug o' ale in me hand Then awoke so broken-hearted, lyin' on Van Diemen's Land. Lyrics taken from the Mainly Norfolk site. This Antipodean penal colony, just one of many overseas dumping grounds for the British Govt, was renamed from Abel Tasman’s “Van Diemen’s Land” to Tasmania in 1856, along with gaining “responsible self govt” and eventually became Australia’s island state at Federation, in 1901. Transportation was abolished in 1852, but Port Arthur was open until 1877. Sung here by the late Marian Henderson : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EDwD_kGrYw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfHU_Nbe1rQ Here’s one by Alex Hood (includes old pics) This one’s a Scouse recitation, with rather disturbing visuals!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTLcJdSQzZw Van Diemen’s Land has become a popular songwriting and film-making subject and other songs of this title were found by Australia’s Russell Morris, U2’s The Edge, and Aussie blues guitar legend Jeff Lang. I’m sure there’s more. Cheers, R-J I think that's it from me for a few days; Werk is shrieking!! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 31 Oct 20 - 10:39 PM Another whimsical offering from Peter Cape. The Monde Marie was a folksinging coffee bar in Wellington run by Mary Seddon who died in July 2000. MONDE MARIE (Peter Cape) The gramophone's playing lieder The radio's blaring jazz There's a brass band outside with its valves open wide In a hell of a razzamatazz In the flat below there's a cello Above there's a whole symphony So I'm off for the night Of the music I like Down at the Monde Marie You can blow 'til there's cracks in your cornet You can boomph your bassoon 'til it bursts You can saw your Strad 'til the catgut goes bad And your manuscript moulders to dust But don't think I'm a sucker for silence There's no scrap of the Trappist in me Far better than quiet for me is a diet Of song a la Monde Marie So keep your violas di Gamba Your clavichords, rebecks and lutes Likewise your saxophones, bongos and slide-trombones Flageolets, fipples and flutes What I want is the sound of Segovia An Ives or a Clauson-to-be And to hear them my choice is the guitars and voices I find at the Monde Marie Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 31 Oct 20 - 10:10 PM I DON'T WANT TO BE A KIWI (Peter Cape) I don't really want to be a Kiwi I'd much, much rather be a Pom So you sheilas and you jokers and you drovers and you soakers Can go back to the bush where you belong No, I don't really want to be a Kiwi And I think great-grandmama went quite astray When she took a southern trip on the Wakefield's sailing ship And got married to a miner on the Grey It's nasty, coarse and rough to be a Kiwi And I cannot stand the language that they speak And to hear that voice declaiming all those 'tarts' and 'bints' and 'flamings' Almost puts me off my - er - tucker for a week No, I won't, won't, will not be a Kiwi (Who really wants to be a flightless bird?) The lion, and unicorn too, were symbols I was born to But this flightless avian is quite absurd No, I may not, cannot, must not be a Kiwi But I know my sense of loneliness is keen When I see a map and say, there, twelve thousand miles away Is the Home to which I've never, ever, been Tune: 'I don't want to join the army' --Stewie |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 31 Oct 20 - 09:52 PM Here's another good'un from Kevin Johnson - a song for his youngest son. SCOTTY (Kevin Johnson) With wide eyes you wonder why you understand some And you don't understand all the rest Well, little boy, your daddy's been living a while And I really don't know much myself I'll teach you the whys and the wherefores And the ways of this world I have known But life is a journey of different directions And sometimes we travel alone And Scotty Life can be rough Life can be tough Life can be kind Scotty, life can be fun Life can be one wonderful time So live with the good times And learn from the bad And laugh at the fun times you've had Look for the reasons to carry you through And Scotty That's all you can do And you wonder why some days are fun days and Sundays And some days may not be the same Well blue skies are many and grey skies are few So we do what we can in the rain The whys and the wherefores are there for a reason And sometimes we don't understand But life is a journey that's leading us somewhere And we get there the best way we can And Scotty life can be rough Life can be tough Life can go wrong Scotty, life can be fun Life can just come rolling along So live with the good times And learn from the bad And laugh at the fun times you've had Look for the reasons to carry you through And Scotty That's all you can do Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 31 Oct 20 - 07:59 AM Funny you should wonder that, Sandra! I have been going through from the start to see songs that may be missing a recording clip (and yes, there are some!) and then researching them - but what a long job that is promising to be!!! :(( 14-15 Sept a reference to Graham Seal's audio/lyrics website 24-25 Sept a reference to Daniel Kelly's audio/lyrics website 28 Sept links to heaps of WA songs, but esp "The Georgette" but mostly 04 Oct Dance Up the Sun (John Thompson) is missing 04 Oct Down in the Goldmine (anon) is missing + only about 12-13 songs since Old No. 377 and up to today = 31 Oct So, not much! (you're doing a splendid job, Sandra!) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Oct 20 - 06:40 AM no worries - I forgot to put it on the list (oops!) I was busy posting info about Joe Daly, so we still (only) have 383 songs sandra (wondering if she has missed any other songs) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 31 Oct 20 - 06:21 AM Apologies Stew, you had posted CONDAMINE on the 15th and I repeated it 15 days later!! R-J :(( Good on yer for the Kevin Johnson classic - I had been wondering about it!! As I had also been wondering about Doug Ashdown's "Winter in America" (co-written with Jimmy Stewart)??? That duo were also responsible for "Antique Annie's Magic Lantern Show", so beautifully done by the late Marian Henderson. Doug was an Adelaide boy, I believe ..... R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Oct 20 - 11:07 PM Can someone explain why unwanted question marks appear when posting some lyrics. It happened again with 'Bayley Street' lyrics above. Annoying! --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Oct 20 - 10:51 PM I reckon this one deserves a place in any Oz songbook. Here in the Top End, it has been trotted out in many a boozy folkie session - just shows our advanced years! ROCK AND ROLL (I GAVE YOU ALL THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE) (Kevin Johnson) I can still remember when I bought my first guitar Remember just how good the feeling was, put it proudly in my car And my family listened fifty times to my two-song repertoire And I told my mum her only son was gonna be a star Bought all the Beatles records, sounded just like Paul Bought all the old Chuck Berrys, 78s and all And I sat by my record player, playin’ every note they played And I watched them all on TV, makin' every move they made Rock and roll, I gave you all the best years of my life All the dreamy sunny Sundays, all the moonlit summer nights I was so busy in the back room writin’ love songs to you While you were changin’ your direction and you never even knew That I was always just one step behind you '66 seemed like the year I was really goin’ somewhere We were living in San Francisco, with flowers in our hair Singing songs of kindness so the world would understand That the guys and me were something more than just another band And then ’69 in LA, came around so soon We were really making headway and writing lots of tunes And we must have played the wildest stuff we had ever played The way the crowds cried out for us, we thought we had it made Rock and roll, I gave you all the best years of my life All the crazy lazy young days, all the magic moonlit nights I was so busy on the road singin’ love songs to you While you were changin’ your direction, and you never even knew That I was always, just one step behind you ’71 in Soho, when I saw Suzanne I was trying to go it solo, with someone else’s band And she came up to me later and I took her by the hand And I told her all my troubles and she seemed to understand And she followed me through London, through a hundred hotel rooms Through a hundred record companies who didn’t like my tunes And she followed me when, finally, I sold my old guitar And she tried to help me understand, I’d never be a star Rock and roll, I gave you all the best years of my life All the dreamy sunny Sundays, all the moonlit summer nights And though I never knew the magic of makin’ it with you I thank the Lord for giving me the little bit I knew And I will always be one step behind you Rock and roll, I gave you all the best years of my life Singing out my love songs in the brightly flashing lights And though I never knew the magic of makin’ it with you I thank the Lord for giving me the little bit I knew Youtube clip It was a quick song for me because I've spent months on one line. It just came to me one day as I was driving home, feeling all this frustration of two years without making a record. So I decided to write a song not about giving someone the best years of my life, but to write about the pursuit of success, which I thought related to a lot of people around the world, not just in music but anything. Kevin Johnson March 2002. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Oct 20 - 09:43 PM Piper on the Hilltop - John Warner 1989 Lyrics from "Who was There" John was moved by the unexpected sound of bagpipes being played near the Spence shops in Belconnen near Canberra. The moment was climaxed by a dramatic summer thunderstorm rising over the Brindabella Range, an outcrop of the Snowy Mountains. A 'pibroch' is a traditional bagpipe air serving as a call to battle or a lament . It's a hot December evening And there's herald of a change In the mighty clouds that roll across The Brindabella Range. There's a piper on the hilltop By the supermarket square, And his pibroch falls like sunset clouds Above the city air. The chattering of kids at play, The sullen roar of cars The thunder of a jet plane's flight Above the rising stars. I sit beside my window And I listen to the town And an aching air, an old lament, Like mist comes drifting down. Then Spence gives way to Glencoe, Bonny Charlie's at Dunbar, And the 'Flowers of the Forest,' They all are gone awa' A breeze disturbs the silent leaves, Rolling thunder brings the change With the pibroch for Belconnen Town By the Brindabella Range |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Oct 20 - 09:36 PM BAYLEY STREET (J.Sorensen/R.Montgomery) Oh men have come and men have gone ?Since Bayley's star gleamed bright ?And new lights shine where old lights shone ?In Bayley street tonight And did you see those grand old men ?Bright-eyed, though bowed and grey? Returning to the fields again? Like ghosts of yesterday The human tide swept swiftly west? Then slowly ebbed again? And some fulfilled their golden quest? While some found loss and pain And some returned to whence they came ? With wealth and tales to tell? And some found graves that bear no name? And some still with us dwell My father often told a tale ?While young eyes glistened bright ?Of golden days at Bonnie Vale? And Bayley street by night For he was of the eastern side ?He felt the urge to roam? Long wait ‘They’ by the Lachlan side ?He made the west his home Now forty years have passed away (Twelve thousand suns have set) And from that roaring yesterday The echoes linger yet Yes, men have come and men have gone Since Bayley's star gleamed bright And new lights shine where old lamps shone In Bayley street tonight Another Sorensen poem set to music by Roger Montgomery. It relates to Bayley Street in Coolgardie and the gold rush. Recorded on Dingo's Breakfast 'Jack Sorensen: Weaver of Dreams'. Strangely, Dingo's Breakfast CD has it titled 'The ghosts of Bayley Street' which is another Sorensen poem. Read it here: Ghosts of Bayley Street Arthur Wellesley Bayley discovered the gold field around which Coolgardie grew. Bayley --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Oct 20 - 05:52 AM If no-one has Martin's (S)crap Book or Bucket of Air, I might have to locate my copies in the BMC library. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 30 Oct 20 - 05:37 AM Stewie previously posted a Dave Oakes song : “Beneath Uluru” : Dave writes Good Stuff! Lawler’s Balcony was on a self-built Troppo*** home in Darwin’s “Coconut Grove” and this balcony saw much merriment and music-making in the ‘80s :) LIVERPOOL ECHO (aka Lawler’s Balcony) Dave Oakes I was sitting on Lawler’s balcony, I looked at him and he looked at me He said “It’s been a long time since I watched that River Mersey flow” Yeah, we were just a couple of kids when the Beatles had all those hits And Liverpool echoed to the sound of brand new Rock and Roll. Ch. And Lawler laughs – oh, you know how Lawler laughs It’s infectious – makes you wanna laugh along And Lawler cries, tears well up in his eyes Worrying about the world that’s Lawler’s job. Sitting on Lawler’s balcony, as the sun sets over the Timor Sea He said “I’m glad I came here, this Australia’s so very much alive” Yeah, it beats walkin’ in the rain - we’ll never be the same again Missing the last bus and having to walk all the way along Queens Drive. Lawler laughs – oh, you know how Lawler laughs It’s infectious – makes you wanna laugh along Lawler cries, tears well up in his eyes Worrying about the world that’s Lawler’s job. Chilly winds and icy seas spray the Wallasey Ferry The tractor tyres on the landing stage bounce and bounce and sway The rain, in grey and scattered sheets, illuminates the street lamps And it all seems so romantic when it’s oh, so far away. Sitting on Lawler’s balcony, in the early morning - ‘bout half past three Drinking home brew, reminiscing all our yesterdays. “Why should I worry?” Lawler sighs - and looks up at those Southern skies “This is Darwin – Paradise! – I got Frangipanni breeze!” (Ahhhhh…) Lawler laughs – oh, you know how Lawler laughs It’s infectious – you just have to laugh along Lawler cries, tears well up in his eyes Worrying about the world that’s Lawler’s job. Here is a clip of Dave Oakes' (of Alice Springs but ex Liverpool, UK) heart-felt observations, sung by local Maleny (and ex-Liverpool) troubadour, Tommy Leonard : https://www.tommyleonard.com/lawlersbalcony.mp3 I feel it is a most beautiful song ..... (but then I would :) ***Here is a link to views of the Top End Troppo house that Paul (ex Liverpool, UK) built in the 1980s, with views over the mangroves to the sea : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bueF-1abr_s&t=2s Vale, Lawls (1946-2014) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Oct 20 - 05:27 AM I've been worried that we don't have any of Martin Pearson's excellent songs! So I went looking & found one, posted by our very own Gerry Date: 06 May 18 - 06:09 AM OK, I've transcribed Martin Pearson's song. There are a few places where he breaks the song to make jokes, I haven't transcribed those bits. No guarantees that I got everything right. The Pope Song by Martin Pearson (tune - I Will Survive) Once I was the Pope I was sanctified Kept thinking I could never live without God by my side But I spent oh so many nights just thinking how I'd get along And I grew strong, and I knew Nietzsche had been wrong So now He's back. God is not dead I just woke up to find this big old Jewish voice inside my head I said why had you forsaken us? Was it some kind of test? He said today's the eighth day and I've had a lovely rest So join my church, do as I say With the Catholics you can break a dozen sins in half a day There's masturbation, contraception, which will help the Church with breeding Sloth and lust and greed and anger and of course the big one, speeding Once the Church was strong categorically We made our home in Rome when no one bothered Italy Now I spend my precious time making laws for you to keep Don't forget I'm the shepherd, you're supposed to be the sheep And now you're back, just when you please It's such a casual communion you think wafers grow on trees I should have made you take a vow, I should have made you sign a form With my laws on contraception it was me who got you born So now just go, get off my faith Just turn around now, you're not welcome any place I tried to teach you God's new laws, tried to teach you them with zeal It might have been much quicker to train the Papal seal And now I'm back from being shot I look as lively as I've ever done which doesn't say a lot But I showed those doubting Thomases who thought I could be hurt I'm the world's best male role model in a full-length satin skirt But I'm still back to steal the show I'm not the pooped out little Pontiff that your granny used to know I can kiss the dirt all over 'cause my touring roster's full I can make a saint a fortnight, I can talk the Papal Bull I am a rock, I will survive As long as I can hum a hymn I know I'm still alive I may not be the best Pope but at least I'm not the worst And I know that in comparison to Pope John Paul the First I will survive. Martin Pearson & John Thompson sing The Pope Song |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 30 Oct 20 - 05:04 AM Garwan Dala (Words By Eve Fesl, Music By Tommy Leonard - July 2006) Garwan Dala, garwan Goong Garwan Dala, garwan Goong Garwan Dala, garwan Goong Ngam gardi Dala, ngam gardi Goong, Ngam gardi Dala, ngam gardi Goong, Garwan Dala, garwan Goong. Mama Bala, Dala, Goong, Mama Bala, Dala, Goong, Garwan Dala, garwan Goong. Garwan Dala, garwan Goong Ngam gardi Dala, ngam gardi Goong, Mama Bala, Dala, Goong, Garwan Dala, garwan Goong Garwan Dala, garwan Goong Garwan Dala, garwan Goong "Garwan Dala" means Respect for the lungfish, in Gubbi Gubbi language. "Garwan Goong" means Respect for fresh water. "Ngam gardi Dala" means Always been here, lungfish "Ngam gardi Goong" means Always been here, fresh water "Mama Bala" is the name of the Mary River. It means "Twice as Big", which is what happens to the river at flood time. This song can be heard here : https://www.tommyleonard.com/htmfiles/lyrics/dala.htm Tommy Leonard is a long-time local of Maleny, Qld (ex Liverpool, UK) and a well-known singer-songwriter and troubador. Eve Fesl is an indigenous woman who now lives in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 30 Oct 20 - 04:22 AM WHEN THE RAIN TUMBLES DOWN IN JULY Slim Dusty (David Kirkpatrick) Let me wander north to the homestead, Way out further on there to roam, By a gully in flood, let me linger, When the summery sunshine has flown. Where the logs tangle up on the creek beds, And clouds fill the old northern sky, And the cattle move back from the lowlands, When the rain tumbles down in July. The settlers with sad hearts are watching, The rise of the stream from the dawn, Their best crops are always in flood reach, If it rises much more they'll be gone. The cattle string out along the fences, The wind from the south races by, And the limbs from the old gums are fallen, When the rain tumbles down in July. The sleeping gums on the hillside, Awaken to herds strayin' by, Here on the flats where the fences have vanished, As the storm clouds gather on high. The wheels of the wagons stop turning, The stock horse is turned out to stray, The old station dogs are a-dozin', On the husks in the barn through the day. The drover draws rein by the river, And it's years since he's seen it so high, Yes and that's just a story of homeward, When the rain tumbles down in July. Here is a clip of Slim’s daughter, Anne Kirkpatrick, singing his song at her father's Tribute Concert : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EICe11W5tos OK, Country AND Christian music posted all in one day!! Back to Folk :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Oct 20 - 03:31 AM speaking of Joe Daly as we were - he was an early contributor to the Bush Music Club's Singabout. His first appearance was in 1961, by which time he had written 40 songs. Singabout 4(3), Sept 1961 - page 6 Singabout 4(3), Sept 1961 - page 7 obit 2005 He met Slim Dusty in 1965 RareCollections: NAIDOC 2012 Another instalment of RareCollections, the podcast in which Jordie and David Kilby take a look at rare, collectible and unusual Australian music. This episode features the following tracks and the voices of Slim Dusty, Joe Daly, Ted Egan and Rim D.Paul. Slim Dusty - Trumby - Columbia - 1966 Trumby was not an actual person but rather a composite character. Joe Daly spent his life working outback. He was also a talented songwriter who penned more than 50 songs for Slim Dusty alone. The first one he passed on to Slim was this comment on literacy among the indigenous stockmen he knew and worked alongside. Joe Daly on discogs Joe Daly interviewed by Rob Willis |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 30 Oct 20 - 03:09 AM BANKS OF THE CONDAMINE trad Hark, hark, the dogs are barking, I can no longer stay The boys have all gone shearing , I heard the publican say And I must be off in the morning love before the sun do shine To meet the Roma shearers on the banks of the Condamine. Oh Willie dearest Willie don't leave me here to mourn Dont make me curse and rue the day that ever I was born For parting with you Willie is like parting with my life So stay and be a selector love and I will be your wife. Oh Nancy dearest Nancy you know that I must go The squatters are expecting me their shearing for to do And when I'm on the board my love I'll think of you with pride And my shears they will go freely when I'm on the whipping side. Oh I'll cut off my yellow hair and go along with you I'll dress myself in men's attire and be a shearer too I'll cook and count your tally love whilst ringer-o you shine And I'll wash your greasy moleskins on the banks of the Condamine. Oh Nancy dearest Nancy you know you cannot go The boss has given his orders no woman may do so And your delicate constitution isn't equal unto mine To eat the ramstag mutton on the banks of the Condamine. But when the shearing's over I'll make of you my wife I'll get a boundary riding job and settle down for life And when the days' work's done my love and the evening it is fine I'll tell of them sandy cobblers on the banks of the Condamine. Lyric set taken from Mark Gregory’s EXcellent website : http://folkstream.com/005.html He notes : “First published as 'The Banks of the Riverine' in the Queenslander in 1894 This version from the singing of A.L.Lloyd. Folklorist Dr Edgar Waters writes (Australian Tradition Oct 1966) : "The Banks of the Condamine seems to have been one of the most widely distributed bush songs. In recent years it has been reported from singers in northern Victoria and the Northern Territory, and a number of different versions have been recorded in New South Wales and in Queensland. Sometimes the man is going off to a horse-breaking camp rather than a shearing shed. In Victoria, and at least in southern New South Wales, it seems to have been known as 'The Banks of the Riverine', and perhaps this was the original form. The words of 'The Banks of the Condamine' were made over from 'The Banks of the Nile', a British Ballad of the beginning of the nineteenth century." The version by early Oz folkie, Lionel Long, was a great favourite on Perth’s ABC radio in the 60s, but here are two others : James Fagan & Nancy Kerr : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-_BrMmGIgM Rendition by the group, Southern Cross, about which I know nothing (anyone??): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29flhN1MUfI&t=75s Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 30 Oct 20 - 02:51 AM Beneath the Southern Cross BUSHWACKERS from 30th Anniversary recording (c.2004) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB9gX309YPw Lyrics are here : https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/The-Bushwackers/Beneath-the-Southern-Cross When I was searching for a non-Bushwackers version to listen to, of the Louis McManus song “Beneath the Southern Cross” (anyone?), YT threw up this interesting Kiwi number of the same title. It incorporates Maori singing and bagpipes with contemporary Presbyterian songwriting and singing by Malcolm Gordon!! So in case you t’other siders think Down Under is populated completely by heathens and unbelievers, this is for you!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2A8MzzT8Qc Intrigued by his voice, I then found some other songs by Malcolm (who is based in Dunedin, Sth Island, NZ) : “Hey Stranger” spotlighting the scourge of Family Violence (“Hey Stranger, Hey Neighbour, you don’t need wings to be my angel”) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJjOjsiuY5U And the celtic sounds of “St Magnus, Earl of Orkney Isles” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Acp2KYDTPj4&list=PLsF6D_aH3P9nBPYfRRO-mKODtNVDi1tG5&index=16 More here : https://malcolmgordon.bandcamp.com/album/the-cobblers-grandson Okay, that’s enuff of that for today! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 29 Oct 20 - 11:32 PM Now, I know this might not be quite “PC” these days, but as a good Aussie babyboomer sheila, I’ve always had a sneaky fondness for this song (reckon it having a good chune to sing and harmonise with, helps heaps!!) Written by Cairns cane farmer and local troubadour (and pig hunter), Jack Crossland, c.1953? and set to the US trad tune of “On Top of Old Smokey” (which song I have always hated – go figure ……) THE PIG-CATCHER’S LOVE SONG (aka CAIRNS BITTER BEER) Oh marry me, darling, I love you sincere, I love you the way I love Cairns Bitter Beer. Chorus: Oh Cairns Bitter Beer, love. Oh Cairns Bitter Beer, I love you the way I love Cairns Bitter Beer. I have an old humpy, a camp oven or two, A rifle and pig-dogs; now I only want you. You’ll never go hungry as long as you live, With sweet-bucks and mangoes and slabs of wild pig. I’ll always be faithful, and reasonably true, I may love other women but I’ll mostly love you. I’ll often get drunken, and sometimes tell lies, But I often will tell you how blue are your eyes. Oh, marry me, darling, I never will fail, There are worse blokes than me, love, but they’re mostly in gaol. I recall my late Beloved going pig hunting with a local catcher and his 2 big dogs in the littoral rainforest next to our home in Darwin. Unlike my bloke, the hunter and his dogs were barefoot, but they soon left him behind! So much for Paul’s regular training runs with the Hash House Harriers (or perhaps the ever-flowing after-run beer must share the blame?? :) Here is a clip of Jason & Chloe Roweth live at Humph Hall in Sydney : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nP_nL-PBuw R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 29 Oct 20 - 09:16 PM This poem was a huge favourite in class of my Grade 6 – 7 in the early 60s. We wept buckets internally, whilst a few tears were allowed escape to run down sweaty cheeks (well, dry summer temps of 100* were not unusual in Perth in those days). A setting by renowned folkie, Martyn Wyndham-Read : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DA1ysiidUk A setting by country legend, Slim Dusty : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTFMynKlhH4 But, I’m afraid I find neither of those chunes very satisfying!! Does anyone know of alternatives?? The Ballad of the Drover Across the stoney ridges, Across the lonely plain, Young Harry Dale, the drover, Comes riding home again. And well his stock horse bears him; And light of heart is he ; And stoutly his old pack horse Is trotting by his knee. Up Queensland way with cattle He travell'd regions vast ; And many months have vanish'd Since home has known him. last. He hums a.song of some one He hopes to marry soon ; And hobble-chains and campware Keep jingling to the tune. Beyond the sunny dado Against the lower skies, And yon blue line of ranges The distant station lies. And thitherward the drover Jogs through the hazy noon, With hobble-chains and campware All jingling to a tune. An hour has fill'd the heavens With clouds all inky black ; At times the lightning trickles Around the drover's track ; But Harry pushes onward ; His horses' strength he tries, In hopes to reach the river Before the flood shall rise. The thunder from the heavens Goes rolling o'er the plains ; And down on thirsty pastures In torrents dash the rains. And ev'ry gorge and gully Sends forth its little flood; Till the river runs a "banker," All stain'd with yellow mud. Now Harry.speaks to "Rover," Who hardship little recks, And to his sturdy horses, And strokes their shaggy necks; "We've conquer'd greater rivers When floods were at their height ; Nor will this gutter stop us From reaching home to-night !" The thunder growls a warning ; The ghastly lightnings gleam; As the drover turns his horses, To swim the fatal stream. But, oh! the flood runs stronger Than e'er it ran before ; The saddle horse is failing, And only half-way o'er ! When flashes next the lightning, The flood's gray breast is blank ; And a cattle dog and pack horse Are struggling up the bank. But on the bank to northward, Or on the southern shore, The stock horse with his rider Will struggle out no more. The faithful dog a moment Sits panting on the bank, And then swims through the current To where his master sank. And round and round in circle, He fights with failing strength, Till borne down by the waters, The old dog sinks at length. Across the flooded lowlands And slopes of sodden loam The pack horse struggles onward, To take dumb tidings home. And mudstain'd, wet, and weary, Thro' ranges dark goes he, With hobble-chains and tinware, All sounding eerily. * * * * * * The floods are in the ocean ; The stream is clear again ; And now a verdant carpet Is etretch'd across the plain. But some one's eyes are sadden' d ; And some one's heart still bleeds In sorrow for the drover Who sleeps among the reeds. Henry Lawson. Sydney; 1889. Published Mon 7th Oct, 1889 in Sydney’s “The Evening News”: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/117027640 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmj9IHeVZ68&list=PLkynhFef6n07fEkek82LCbR4Epsyn7NJW&index=10&t=0s a narration (by person unknown), of Lawson’s “The Union Buries Its Dead” of the burial of an unknown drover who was drowned, but described elsewhere as evidence of Lawson’s Nihlism. Whatever. Just hope that the memory of young ‘Harry Dale, the Drover’ (and his faithful dog, Rover), received better treatment in his home district!! (that last verse rarely gets recited/sung). Another slight thread post creep, but Paul Hemphill’s “The Drover’s Dog and other stories” can be found here : https://howlinginfinite.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/3-the-drovers-dog.pdf ENJOY (but shed a tear or two!) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Oct 20 - 09:03 PM This song by Slim Dusty (David Kirkpatrick) would have to be considered folk in Australia's north, particularly the Northern Territory where it was hammered on every juke box. Back in the day, Slim was king of the outback. Despite its condescending tone and the horrendous line 'His skin was black but his heart was white and that's what mattered most', the Aborigines loved 'Trumby'. I recall a concert at a Gold Rush Folk festival in Tennant Creek. It was held in the CWA hall which had windows opening on to the main street. Aborigines passing by were yelling into the windows, 'Sing Trumby!' TRUMBY (D.Kirkpatrick/J.Daly) Trumby was a ringer A good one too at that He could rake and ride a twister Throw a rope and fancy plait He could count a line of saddle Track a man lost in the night Trumby was a good boy but he couldn't read or write Trumby was dependable He never took to beer The boss admired him so much One day made him overseer It never went to Trumby's head He didn't boast or skite Trumby was a good boy but he couldn't read or write. The drought was on the country The grass in short supply The tanks were getting lower and the water holes near dry Cattle started dying And relief was not in sight To estimate the losses Trumby couldn't read or write. He rode around the station pulling cattle from the bogs To save them being torn apart by eagles,crows and dogs He saw a notice on a tree It wasn't there last night Trumby tried to understand but he couldn't read or write. On bended knee down in the mud Trumby had a drink Swung the reins and to his horse said, ‘We go home I think Tell 'im boss about the sign, 'im read 'im good alright One day boss's missus teach 'im Trumby read and write’ Well concern was felt for Trumby He hadn't used his bed Next day beside that muddy hole, they found the ringer dead And a piece of tin tied to a tree then caught the boss's eye He read the words of 'Poison Here' And signed by Dogger Fry Now the stock had never used that hole along that stony creek And Trumby's bag was empty It had frayed and sprung a leak The dogs were there in hundreds And the dogger in his plight Told the boss he never knew poor Trumby couldn't read or write Now Trumby was a ringer As solid as a post His skin was black but his heart was white and that's what mattered most Sometimes I think how sad it is in this world with all its might That a man like Trumby met his death because he couldn't read or write. Couldn't read or write Couldn't read or write Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Oct 20 - 08:29 PM SONG OF THE INLAND RAIN (J.Sorensen/R.Montgomery) There's a rain that falls when the sheep are dead Away on the wide nor’-western plains When storm clouds gather overhead, And the west is red e'er the daylight wanes Rain on the inland ranges Rain on the parching plains All day long the grey rain falls On a land where it seldom rains Over the wilting wilderness Where drought's grim curse has lain Long overdue, God's blessing falls In the swirl of the inland rain When the hills rise blue in the haze of noon And the heat waves dance o'er the stony plain When red at night hangs the nor'-west moon When men despair, comes inland rain Rain on the ironstone ridges Cool life-giving rain Day and night it patters down Till the rivers run again Sweet is the drowsy cadence To those whose hopes seemed vain That steady drone on the station roof The song of the inland rain Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Oct 20 - 09:59 PM OUT BACK (H.Lawson/P.Roeterdink) The old year went, and the new returned, in the withering weeks of drought The cheque was spent that the shearer earned, and the sheds were all cut out The publican's words were short and few, and the publican's looks were black And the time had come, as the shearer knew, to carry his swag out back. For time means tucker, and tramp you must where the scrubs and plains are wide With seldom a track that a man can trust, or a mountain peak to guide All day long in the dust and heat when summer is on the track With stinted stomachs and blistered feet, they carry their swags out back He tramped away from the shanty there when the days were long and hot With never a soul to know or care if he died on the track or not The poor of the city have friends in woe, no matter how much they lack But only God and the swagmen know how a poor man fares out back He begged his way on the parched Paroo and the Warrego tracks once more And lived like a dog, as the swagmen do, till the western stations shore But men were many, and sheds were full, for work in the town was slack The traveller never got hands in wool, though he tramped for a year out back. In stifling noons when his back was wrung by its load, and the air seemed dead And the water warmed in the bag that hung to his aching arm like lead Or in times of flood, when plains were seas, and the scrubs were cold and black He ploughed in mud to his trembling knees, and paid for his sins out back He blamed himself in the year ‘Too Late' -- in the heaviest hours of life -- 'Twas little he dreamed that a shearing mate had care of his home and wife There are times when wrongs from your kindred come and treacherous tongues attack When a man is better away from home, and dead to the world out back And dirty and careless and old he wore, as his lamp of hope grew dim He tramped for years till the swag he bore seemed part of himself to him As a bullock drags in the sandy ruts, he followed the dreary track With never a thought but to reach the huts when the sun went down out back It chanced one day, when the north wind blew in his face like a furnace breath He left the track for a tank he knew -- 'twas a shortcut to his death For the bed of the tank was hard and dry, and crossed with many a crack And, oh, it's a terrible thing to die of thirst in the scrub out back A drover came, but the fringe of law was eastward many a mile He never reported the thing he saw, for it was not worth his while The tanks are full and the grass is high in the mulga off the track Where the bleaching bones of a white man lie by his mouldering swag out back For time means tucker, and tramp they must where the plains and scrubs are wide With seldom a track that a man can trust, or a mountain peak to guide All day long in the flies and heat the men of the outside track With stinted stomachs and blistered feet must carry their swags out back Phil Roeterdink of Loaded Dog put a tune to this Lawson poem. Above is the complete poem. The Dog used the second stanza as a chorus and omitted several stanzas. Listen on this page: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Oct 20 - 09:20 PM The Armistice was signed at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, to end The Great War, 1914-18 (ostensibly, "the war to end all wars"). Despite this agreement, shelling continued from both sides until nightfall. In Australia, this commemorative day is now more commonly known as Remembrance Day : remembering all the fallen in all the conflicts in which Australia has taken part, and red poppies are worn by many as a personal symbol. Noel dedicates this song to an injured ex-soldier friend, from Australia's more recent conflicts, who was treated shabbily by the 'Powers that Be'. Armistice Day by Noel Gardner, 2006 Silence tolls an hour ‘fore midday on the second last month of the year Images flash on the eleventh day, as memories disappear Now medals hang proudly and tributes flow as politicians push their line Another year, less truth said, another war to justify. Defend your country the posters read, in the name of national pride But they don’t defend our soldiers of war, as disease eats them inside Lying on his back in his hospital bed, he recalls in tales of pain Denials, whitewash, cover-ups, protect the government’s shame. Ch. May we remember, lest we forget? But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet, May we remember, lest we forget? But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet. High in the sky, a target is selected from dots on the face of a screen But the pilot never sees or hears from his cockpit the blood soaked tears and screams Out in the field an innocent child, falls prey to clusters of time Inhumanity, ideology, combines with greed and science. Hide the coffins, distort statistics, don’t let anyone see Rape for profit, kill for oil, in the name of liberty Hollow words laced with fear fuel the government ‘guise And in the in the name of deceit, spin and business, another soldier dies. Ch. But the killings go on in the name of religion In the hills and the deserts yet. Silence tolls an hour ‘fore midday on the second last month of the year…… Here is a clip of Noel Gardner & Alex Bridge singing "Armistice Day" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpvMc5PPw3c R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Oct 20 - 08:44 PM RATTLIN' BONES (K.Chambers/S.Nicholson) Smoke don't rise, fuel don't burn Sun don't shine no more Late one night, sorrow come round Scratching at my door But I cut my hands and break my back Dragging this bag of stones Till they bury me down beneath the ground With the dust and rattlin' bones Left my home and left my love Caught on a rusty nail Devil rose up heavy with gold My soul's not for sale Then a holy man in a house of God He offered me a book of prayer But when I left my home and I left my love Left my faith back there Smoke don't rise, fuel don't burn Sun don't shine no more Late one night, sorrow come round Scratching at my door But I cut my hands and break my back Dragging this bag of stones Till they bury me down beneath the ground With the dust and rattlin' bones Shut my eyes and hang my head Darkness makes no sound Climb it up, bottom there Earth's on the way back down When a sadness falls on the morning bird Wonder what the day will bring But I shut my eyes and hang my head At least that bird can sing Smoke don't rise, fuel don't burn Sun don't shine no more Late one night, sorrow come round Scratching at my door But I cut my hands and break my back Dragging this bag of stones Till they bury me down beneath the ground With the dust and rattlin' bones Till they bury me down beneath the ground With the dust and rattlin' bones The title track of their delightful and best album. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Oct 20 - 08:12 PM THE BROKEN THINGS (Shane Nicholson) Just like that old toy train No longer bright shining red Just like that rusted chain Sitting on a tyre by the shed All these things can make me smile So I'd like to keep you around for a while 'Cos babe I love all the broken things And you're a broken thing Just like that busted chair That no one ever tried to mend Just like that creaking stair Wants to let you know it's hurting again Everything that falls apart Will find a home in my heart 'Cos babe I love all the broken things And you're a broken thing Just like that old toy train Just like that creaking stair Just like that rusted chain Just like that lonely busted chair All these things can make me smile So I'd like to keep you around for a while 'Cos babe I love all the broken things Everything that falls apart Will find a home in my heart 'Cos babe I love all the broken things And you're a broken thing Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 28 Oct 20 - 02:55 AM no, Jennie I don't remember learning Bell-birds at school, but as I know the words (some of the words) I must have "learnt"/"studied" it there! My GreatAunt & Grandmother lived at West Gosford, close to Henry Kendall Cottage & we used to hear bellbirds in the area! sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Oct 20 - 11:15 PM KEEPING SO THIN (J.S.Neilson/C.O'Sullivan & C.Pearce) The red cow will come, it is even With frost in the air The white blood she gives for the little one Keeping so fair The father will say at the sundown How white is her skin He looks for the smile of the little one Keeping so thin The red cow is out on the rushes The old swans near by They see all the turns in the weather The scowl in the sky The land is all buckshot and sorrow It cries like a prayer. The rubble it writes in the cutting grass Famine is there. The young lad has toppled the sheoak The red cow comes in She eats of the leaves for the little one Keeping so thin The lean year it is for the honey When half the trees fail But the red cow is good to the little one Keeping so pale The father has fears at the sundown What grave night can bear To the little one having no mother And seeming so fair The young girl who watches at nightfall Old dreams will obey Of dim time – the fairies – the moonlight The lifting away Another lovely Neilson poem to which Cathie O'Sullivan and Cleis Pearce put a tune. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Oct 20 - 10:26 PM BLOOD RED ROSES (Anon) Come all you sealers and listen to me A lovely song I'll sing to thee It was in eighteen hundred and three Come down you blood red roses, come down That we set sail for the southern sea Oh you pinks and posies Come down you blood red roses, come down Our captain has set us down And he has sailed for Sydney town And he has left us with some grub Come down you blood red roses, come down Just one split pea in a ten pound tub Oh you pinks and posies Come down you blood red roses, come down A bull seal he is bigger than a mouse But a sealer's lot is lower than a louse And now we're all covered over with fur Come down you blood red roses, come down We've grown us tails like Lucifer Oh you pinks and posies Come down you blood red roses, come down An when our captain he returns to hell Come down you blood red roses, come down Why we will treat him here for a spell Come down you blood red roses, come down 'Blood Red Roses' is a work song, a halyard chanty. When we string the different chanty-man cries together, they tell a story - a woeful one, but hardly exaggerated, for most sealing gangs that worked the southern bays and islands suffered from lack of food, exposure to wind and cold or to being completely forgotten. In 1813, one boat took five men off the Solanders. Two of them had been there since 1808. They had made their own clothing and shelters of sealskin and had eaten nothing but seal meat. The yankee whale ship, 'Enterprise', rescued three men from the Snares in 1817. These men had been set down in 1810 with but one quart of rice, a half-bushel of potatoes and an iron pot. 'Song of a Young Country' p12. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 27 Oct 20 - 09:10 PM A thought has popped into my mind, as they do from time to time. Henry Kendall's poem "Bell-birds" has been sung - I think by Kate Delaney? - to the tune of 'The spinning wheel' ("Mary, the moonlight to shine is beginning....." That would make a nice addition to the list. Hands up if you remember having "Bell-birds" in your poetry list at school. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Oct 20 - 08:49 PM THERE IS ANGUISH IN KNOWING (D.Hewett/C.O’Sullivan) There is anguish in knowing that I cannot reach you This kiss can break no barrier of bone I know no ease of language that might teach you In that last place where we stand alone Only in bitter struggle do we grow wise Knowing no quarter, and no compromise There is anguish in knowing that I cannot break you Beyond this wall of flesh you stand intact Ah! with what fingernails of hate I’ll rake you Till love has ground its teeth on sour fact Eyes, mouth and hands made blind, compassionate Beyond the sting of love, the burr of hate There is anguish in knowing we can never meet In this small room where we are most alone And yet the grass against the root grows sweet And yet the flesh tastes sweeter at the bone Four walls of love and sunlight on the floor And the Judas kiss that closes the last door Cathie O'Sullivan put a tune to this dark little poem by Dorothy Hewett. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Oct 20 - 11:26 PM I've just come across Ron Fairburn & am looking for the appropriate mondegreen thread to publish research by one of my friends. found it! & posted the story His lockdown projects include sorting thru 60+ years of songs, tunes, tapes, other media, & other stuff & he noted something odd in the lyrics of one of Slim Dusty's greatest hits, a song that EVERYONE says was written by Slim. Well, it was written by Ron Fairburn & the original words make sense. There are lots of lyric sites crediting Slim, probably more than those crediting Ron! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Oct 20 - 10:13 PM THE MINER (Anon) The miner he goes and changes his clothes And then makes his way to the shaft For each man well knows he's going below To put in his eight hours of graft Chorus With his calico cap and his old flannel shirt His pants with the strap 'round the knee His boots watertight and his candle alight His crib and his billy of tea The platman to the driver will knock four and one The ropes to the windlass will strain As one shift comes up, another goes down And mining commences again He works hard for his pay at six bob a day He toils for his missus and kids He gets what's left over and thinks he's in clover To cut off his 'baccy from quids And thus he goes on, week in and week out To toil for his life's daily bread He's off to the mine, hail, rain or shine That his dear ones at home may be fed Digging holes in the ground where there's gold to be found But most times where gold it is not A man's like a rabbit with this digging habit And, like one, he ought to be shot Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Oct 20 - 09:26 PM THE TEAMS (H.Lawson/C.O’Sullivan) A cloud of dust on the long white road And the teams go creeping on Inch by inch with the weary load And by the power of the green-hide goad The distant goal is won With eyes half-shut to the blinding dust And necks to the yoke bent low The beasts are pulling as bullocks must And the shining tyres might almost rust While the spokes are turning slow With face half-hid 'neath a broad-brimmed hat That shades from the heat's white waves And shouldered whip with its green-hide plait The driver plods with a gait like that Of his weary, patient slaves He wipes his brow, for the day is hot And spits to the left with spite He shouts at Bally and flicks at Scot And raises dust from the back of Spot And spits to the dusty right He'll sometimes pause as a thing of form In front of a settler's door And ask for a drink, and remark `It's warm’ Or say `There's signs of a thunderstorm' But he seldom utters more For rains are heavy on roads like these And fronting his lonely home For days together the settler sees The wagon bogged down to the axle trees Or ploughing the sodden loam And then when the roads are at their worst The bushman's children hear The cruel blows of the whips reversed While bullocks pull as their hearts would burst And bellow with pain and fear And thus with glimpses of home and rest Are the long, long journeys done And thus -- 'tis a thankless task at best — Is distance fought in the mighty west And the lonely battles won Cathie O'Sullivan put a tune to this Lawson poem. Youtube clip Loaded Dog also recorded it on 'Hair of the Dog': Listen --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Oct 20 - 08:49 PM REMEMBER PORT MELBOURNE (Rob Fairbairn) Remember Port Melbourne on Saturday night At the pub that they call Molly Bloom's Remember the sailors, the drunks and the fights And the band at the end of the room And do you remember the first time we met You soon had me under your spell It was one of those moments I'll never forget Oh yes, I remember it well Chorus: They sang 'Waltzing Matilda', they played 'The Wild Rover' Pat Reilly and Molly Malone they were there The band kept singing it over and over Oh don't you remember, my dear Old Gentleman Jim had his place by the bar A silver-topped cane in his hand Big Eddie he borrowed the singer's guitar And he strummed out 'The Black Velvet Band' We were lost in the music, swept up by the sound We knew all the words to the songs When the man on the banjo sang 'Rain Tumbles Down' The whole of the bar sang along I met you at Molly's on Saturday night I was nervous and shy, you were young So I went to the bar and I bought us a pint And the alcohol loosened our tongues We spoke of the present, we honoured the past The words began flowing like wine We savoured each moment like it was the last While the band played along all the time Last Chorus: The sang 'Waltzing Matilda', the played 'The Wild Rover' Ned Kelly and Henry and Banjo were there The band kept on singing it over and over Oh don't you remember, my dear From Loaded Dog 'A Coastline Facing West'. I just found a web page where Loaded Dog songs can be heard. Listen here: Remember Port Melbourne --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Oct 20 - 08:03 PM THE SANDY MARANOA (A.W.Davis/Trad) The night is dark and stormy and the sky is clouded o'er Our horses we will mount and ride away To watch the squatters' cattle through the darkness of the night And we'll keep them on the camp till break of day Chorus For we're going going going to Gunnedah so far And we'll soon be into sunny New South Wales We shall bid farewell to Queensland with its swampy coolibah Happy drovers from the sandy Maranoa When the fires are burning bright through the darkness of the night And the cattle camping quiet well I'm sure That I wish for two o'clock when I call the other watch This is droving from the sandy Maranoa Our beds made on the ground, we are sleeping all so sound When we're wakened by the distant thunder's roar And the lightning's vivid flash followed by an awful crash It's rough on drovers from the sandy Maranoa We are up at break of day and we're all soon on the way For we always have to go ten miles or more It don't do to loaf about or the squatter will come out He's strict on drovers from the sandy Maranoa We shall soon be on the Moonie and we'll cross the Barwon too Then we'll be out upon the rolling plains once more We'll shout hurrah for old Queensland with its swampy coolibah And the cattle that come off the Maranoa From p130 ‘Old Bush Songs’. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Oct 20 - 11:52 PM That's a goodly number, Sandra. I don't have anything on phones or iPads. I have LPs, CDs and books. I must admit that my Oz and NZ collection is much smaller than my old-timey, blues, American folk, Americana etc collection but it's okay. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Oct 20 - 11:38 PM surely you must be coming to the end of yous songbook, Stewie, it must be bigger than an old fashioned Sydney Telephone book - inches thick! or is it all in a little phone or iPad? now we are 363! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Oct 20 - 09:16 PM THE OLD BULLOCK DRAY (Traditional) Oh! the shearing is all over and the wool is coming down And I mean to get a wife, boys, when I go up to town Everything that has two legs represents itself to view From the little paddy-melon to the bucking kangaroo Chorus: So, it's roll up your blankets and let's make a push I'll take you up the country and I'll show you the bush I'll be bound you won't get such a chance another day So come on and take possession of my old bullock dray I've saved up a good cheque I mean to buy a team And when I get a missus, boys, I will be all serene For, in calling at the depot they say there's no delay To get an off-sider for the old bullock dray Oh, we'll live like fighting cocks, for good living I'm your man We'll have leather-jacks, johnny cakes and fritters in the pan And if you'd like some fish, I'll catch you some soon, For we'll bob for barramundies round the banks of a lagoon. Oh, yes, of beef and damper I'll take care we'll have enough, We'll boil in the bucket such a whopper of a duff And our friends will dance, in the honour of the day To the music of the bells of the old bullock dray Oh, we'll have plenty girls, yes, you must mind that There'll be flash little Maggie, and Buck-jumping Pat There'll be Stringy-Bark Joe, and Greenhide Mike Yes, my colonials, just as many as you like Now we'll stop all immigration, we won't need it any more We'll be having young colonials, twins by the score And I wonder what the devil Jack Robertson would say If he saw us promenading round the old bullock dray There are numerous versions of this song. This one was collected from Stan Wakefield and posted to Mudcat back in the day by Bob Bolton. Ron Edwards published a 10-stanza version in his massive tome. Edwards noted that the tune is basically ’Turkey in the straw’. I like this leisurely rendition by Mucky Duck albeit it omits the last 2 stanzas of the above version. It could well have accommodated an extra verse instead of the la-la-la stuff. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Oct 20 - 08:31 PM ONE LITTLE STAR (Eric Bogle) When I need to feel you near me I stand in this quiet place Where the silver light of countless stars Falling on my face Though they all shine so brightly Somehow it comforts me to know That some that burn the brightest Died an eternity ago But your light still shines It's one small star to guide me And it helps me to hold back the dark Your light's still shining in my heart I'm learning how to live without you And I never thought I could And even how to smile again I never thought I would And I cherish your heart's memories Cause they bring you back to life Some caress me gently And some cut me like a knife But your light still shines It's one small star to guide me And it helps me to hold back the dark Your light's still shining in my heart Can your soul be out there somewhere Beyond the infinity of time I guess you've found some answers now I'll have to wait for mine When my light joins with yours one day We'll shine through time and space And one day fall in a distant age Upon some stranger's face But your light still shines It's one small star to guide me And it helps me to hold back the dark Your light's still shining in my heart Your light's still shining in my heart Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Oct 20 - 08:08 PM THE GOOD OLD CONCERTINA (H.Lawson/M.Wyndham-Read) 'Twas merry when the hut was full Of jolly girls and fellows We danced and sang until we burst The concertina's bellows From distant Darling to the sea From the Downs to Riverina Has e'er a gum in all the west Not heard the concertina 'Twas peaceful round the campfire blaze The long white branches o'er us We'd play the tunes of bygone days To some good old bush chorus Old Erin's harp may sweeter be The Scottish pipes blow keener But sing an old bush song for me To the good old concertina 'Twas cosy by the hut-fire bright When the pint pot passed between us We drowned the voice of the stormy night With the good old concertina Though trouble drifts along the years, And the pangs of care grow keener My heart is gladdened when it hears That good old concertina Youtube clip The tune following the poem in the YT clip is ‘Echuca Waltz’ from the playing of Harry Schaefer of Forbes collected by Rob Willis. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Oct 20 - 10:49 PM THE ROAD TO NULLAGINE (Grieg/Abbott) I am with a survey party in the place that God forgot And for White Australia it's the daddy of the lot There ain't a drop of water anywhere along the line There ain't no shady places on the road to Nullagine Chorus: I've tasted life in No Man's Land, I've fed the flies outback I've tramped with empty tucker bags on Lawson's lonely track I've toiled in northern Queensland where I thought the sun could shine But no mistake, this takes the cake, the road to Nullagine With a jigger on my shoulder and a waterbag in hand I'm tramping' through the spinifex and ploughing up the sand I'm sopping wet with honest sweat and salty as the brine I'm boiled and baked and roasted on the road to Nullagine When I wake up in the mornings, a swarm of hungry flies Are trying to bore out holes in the corners of my eyes I'm prickly heat from head to foot, this old frame of mine Has had the dengue fever on the road to Nullagine It's headaches, toothaches, bung eyes in a sling Barcoo rot and God knows what - I can't eat anything I'm all wrapped up in bandages, tied up with bits of twine I'm like a walking leper on the road to Nullagine One day I drank some water, 'twas from a scalding well And very shortly after I felt inclined to yell A burning hot sensation ran up and down my spine I thought I was a gonner on the road to Nullagine It's hermit crab and cock-eyed bobs, tinned dog and kangaroo A change of diet once a month, boiled mutton or a stew If we crave for pig or poultry when we're sitting down to dine We thank the Lord for all we've got on the road to Nullagine One night I went to Marble Bar, 'twas shortly after dark And all the mongs for miles around came at me with a bark I had a drop of amber, a shilling every time There ain't no pots for sixpence on the road to Nullagine It's public bars and fat cigars and let your sugar scoot And decorate your wardrobe with a white pearl-button shirt If you wear the good old dungarees and hobnails number nine They class you as a nigger on the road to Nullagine I've seen some queerish places I thought God had forgot Out in the never-never where we used to call it hot But this little bit o' country when old sol comes out to shine Is the nearest place to hell on earth, this road to Nullagine Another cracker from Roger Montgomery's 'Pilbara Connection'. The tune is given at pp140-141 of that collection. It was composed by Ted Grieg of Nullagine who could neither read nor write. He died about 1948. It was supplied to Montgomery by Tony Moriaty of Port Hedland. Evidently, it has also been published in Bill Scott's 'Penguin Book of Australian Humorous Verse'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Oct 20 - 10:00 PM THE FLASH STOCKMAN (Anon) I'm a stockman to me trade and they call me Ugly Dave I'm old and grey and only got one eye In the yard I'm good, of course, but just put me on a horse I'll go where lots of young 'uns daren't try I've led 'em through the gidgee over country rough and ridgy I'll loose them in the very worst of scrub I can ride both rough and easy, with a brumby I'm a daisy And a rightdown bobby-dazzler in a pub Just watch me use the whip, I can give the dawdlers gyp I can make the flamin' echoes roar and ring With a branding-iron, well, I'm a perfect flamin' swell In fact I'm duke of every blasted thing To watch me skin a sheep, it's so perfect you could weep I can act the silvertail as if my blood was blue You could strike me pink or dead, if I stood upon me head I'd be just as good as any other two I've a notion in me pate that it's luck, it isn't fate That I'm so far above the common run So, in everything I do, you could cut me square in two For I'm much two flamin' good to be in one Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Oct 20 - 09:45 PM THE BUSHRANGERS (Edward Harrington) Four horseman rode out from the heart of the range Four horseman with aspects forbidding and strange They were booted and spurred, they were armed to the teeth And they frowned as they looked at the valley beneath As forward they rode through the rocks and the fern Ned Kelly, Dan Kelly, Steve Hart and Joe Byrne. Ned Kelly drew rein and he shaded his eyes 'The town's at our mercy! See yonder it lies! To hell with the troopers!' - he shook his clenched fist 'We will shoot them like dogs if they dare to resist!' And all of them nodded, grim-visaged and stern Ned Kelly, Dan Kelly, Steve Hart and Joe Byrne Through the gullies and creeks they rode silently down They stuck-up the station and raided the town They opened the safe and they looted the bank They laughed and were merry, they ate and they drank Then off to the ranges they went with their gold Oh! never were bandits more reckless and bold But time brings its punishment, time travels fast And the outlaws were trapped in Glenrowan at last Where three of them died in the smoke and the flame And Ned Kelly came back - to the last he was game But the Law shot him down (he was fated to hang) And that was the end of the bushranging gang Whatever their faults and whatever their crimes Their deeds lend romance to those faraway times They have gone from the gullies they haunted of old And nobody knows where they buried their gold To the ranges they loved they will never return Ned Kelly, Dan Kelly, Steve Hart and Joe Byrne But at times when I pass through that sleepy old town Where the far-distant peaks of Strathbogie look down I think of the days when those grim ranges rang To the galloping hooves of the bushranging gang. Though the years bring oblivion, time brings a change The ghosts of the Kellys still ride from the range Youtube clip Edward Harrington --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Oct 20 - 09:28 PM RACE FOR THE SUN (Bob McNeill) The western bays are all silent now The beaches we found Deserted now, the flowing tide Is the only sound Still I linger here and listen while These strange birds sing of oceans The nights are warm and the winters mild Not like on the island But I left my heart At a bend in the river Cold harbour behind us We took what we owned With the smell of the bark The spirit that lingers With what we could could carry In a race for the sun Sail on? You'll be safe now? Nothing lasts forever? Won't be the first time we've tried Between the heads we wrestle her In a mercy tide The run between the Cabot shores Was ever as wide But these island boys are all strangers here With their dreams of ocean The sea that pounds the eastern shore Not like on the island But I left my heart At a bend in the river We cut down the sumacs Turned them into boats With the smell of the bark On our clothes as we boarded Is all I remember Of our race for the sun Sail on? You'll be safe now? Nothing lasts forever? Won't be the first time we've tried Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 23 Oct 20 - 10:56 PM THE SONG OF AUTUMN (A.L.Gordon/E.Elgar) Where shall we go for our garlands glad At the falling of the year When the burnt-up banks are yellow and sad When the boughs are yellow and sere? Where are the old ones that once we had And where are the new ones near? What shall we do for our garlands glad At the falling of the year? Child! can I tell where the garlands go? Can I say where the lost leaves veer On the brown-burnt banks, when the wild winds blow When they drift through the dead-wood drear? Girl! When the garlands of next year glow You may gather again, my dear— But I go where the last year’s lost leaves go At the falling of the year Elgar put music to this lovely poem by Adam Lindsay Gordon. The poem reminds me of one of my favourite poems by G.M Hopkins - 'Spring and Fall' to which Natalie Merchant has put a tune. Youtube clip Adam Lindsay Gordon --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 23 Oct 20 - 10:11 PM THE COACHMAN'S YARN (E.J.Brady/G.Jenkin) This is a tale that the coachman told. As he flicked the flies from Marigold And flattered and fondled Pharaoh. The sun swung low in the western skies: Out on a plain, just over a rise, Stood Nimitybell, on Monaro; Cold as charity, cold as hell. Bleak, bare, barren Nimmitybell - Nimitybell on Monaro. "Now this 'ere 'appended in' eighty-three, The coldest winter ever we see; Strewth, it was cold, as cold as could be, Out 'ere on Monaro; It froze the blankets, it froze the fleas, It froze the sap in the blinkin' trees, It made a grindstone out of cheese, Right 'ere in Monaro "Freezin' an' snowin'- ask the old hands; They seen, they knows, an' they understands, The ploughs was froze and the cattle brands, Down 'ere in Monaro. It froze our fingers and froze our toes I seen a passenger's breath so froze Icicles 'ung from 'is bloomin' nose Long as the tail on Pharaoh! I ketched a curlew down by the creek; His feet was froze to his blessed beak 'E stayed like that for over a week - That's cold on Monaro. Why, even the air got froze that tight You'd 'ear the awfullest sounds at night, When things was put to a fire or light, Out 'ere on Monaro. "For the sounds was froze. At Haydon's Bog A cove 'e cross-cut a big back-log, An' carted 'er 'ome ('e wants a jog - Stiddy, go stiddy there, Pharaoh!) As soon as his log begins to thaw They 'ears the sound of the cross-cut saw A-thawin'out. Yes, his name was Law. Old hands, them Laws, on Monaro. "The second week of this'ere cold snap I'm drivin' the coach. A Sydney chap, 'E strikes this part o' the bloomin' map, A new hand 'ere on Monaro. 'Is name or game I never heard tell, But' e gets off at Nimmitybell Blowin' like Bluey, freezin' like 'ell At Nimitybell on Monaro. "The drinks was froze, o' course, in the bar; They breaks a bottle of old Three Star, An' the barman sez, 'Now, there y'are, You can't beat that for Monaro!' The stranger bloke, 'e was tall an' thin, Sez,'strike me blue, but I think you win; We'll 'ave another an' I'll turn in - It's blitherin' cold on Monaro. 'E borrowed a book an' went to bed To read awhile, so the missus said, By the candle-light. 'E must ha' read (These nights is long on Monaro) Past closin' time, Then 'e starts an' blows The candle out but the wick 'ad froze! Leastways, thats what folks round 'ere suppose, Old hands as lived on Monaro. "So bein' tired, an' a stranger, new To these mountain ways. they think he threw 'Is coat on the wick, an' maybe too, Any old clothes 'e'd to spare. Oh, This ain't no fairy, an' don't you fret! Next day came warmer an' set in wet There's some out 'ere as can mind it yet, The real old 'ands on Monaro. "The wick must ha' thawed. The fire began At breakfast time. The neighbours all ran To save the pub ... an' forgot the man (Stiddy, go stiddy there, mare-oh). The pub was burned to the blanky ground-, 'Is buttons was all they ever found. The blinkin' cow 'e owed me a pound - From Cooma his blinkin' fare, oh! "That ain't no fairy, not what I've told; I'm gettin' shaky an' growin' old, An' I hope I never again see cold, Like that down 'ere on Monaro! " … He drives his horses, he drives them well, And this is the tale he loves to tell Nearing the town of Nimitybell, Nimitybell on Monaro. Above is the full text of this classic example of the 'tall tale' as printed in Stewart & Keesing 'Australian Bush Ballads' pp301-303. It was first published in 'The Bulletin' in April 1922. Jenkin's tune may be found at pp85-86 of 'Great Australian Balladists'. Jenkin shortens the ballad by omitting stanzas 3, 4 and 5. Nimmitybell is one of the ways the name of the town of Nimmitabel has been spelt. Nimmitabel NSW --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 23 Oct 20 - 09:04 PM Thanks for the Manifold link. Together with a few other Darwin folkies, I spent a wonderful afternoon in a pub with the great man back when the world was young. Graham Jenkin also put a tune to this beaut ballad: THE WAYS ARE WIDE (E.J.Brady/G.Jenkin) Two women watched on a windy pier (Three turns and a line to pass) And one was the drunken skipper’s dear And one was a sailor’s lass The full o’ flood and the fall o’ tide There’s little to guide between But ways are wide where the seas divide Wi’ places to bide between Chorus: The sun rose red, but the night fell grey ?Cheer’ly men, her load-line’s low? Who drinks tomorrow may thirst today ? Cheer’ly men, still cheerily ho They trailed her out from the rowdy pier They turned her nose to the sea They lent their lungs to a burly cheer And speeded her merrily Her skipper rolled to his bunk dead-tight Her mate in the scuppers lay With a starboard red and a green port light To gladden them on their way Chorus They lit their lamps on the lonely pier As the twilight brought the rain And the skipper’s dear laughed long and clear But the other laughed in pain For woman is woman and man is man And the flesh it pricketh sore He carries his burden as best he can She carries her load and more Chorus Two women turned from the windy pier One hurried her home to weep But the skipper’s dear she was married next year To a bank account — and sheep The ship that sailed as the ship went down (Three turns and a rope to pass) Is posted ‘Lost’ and the grass goes brown On the grave o’ the sailor’s lass Final chorus: The dank ooze silts where the deep hulks lie ? Cheer’ly men, her load-line’s low ?For men may drown and women will die ?Cheer’ly men, still cheerily ho Tune: pp87-90 'The Great Australian Balladists'. Edwin James Brady --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Oct 20 - 02:22 AM oops, Stewie, I searched my list, but didn't screenshot the search (blush) Stringybakr Creek is now no.351 & Poor Ned is now followed by the attribution (Manifold, Redgum, Lucas ??????) speaking of John manifold, a recent article from the BMC blog From the Archives - Correspondence between West Sydney Singers & John Manifold |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Oct 20 - 10:20 PM BLACK SHEEP (W.Ogilvie/G.Jenkin) They shepherd the black sheep down to the ships Society's banned and cursed And the boys look back as the old land dips Some with a reckless laugh on their lips And some with a prayer reversed Chorus: And it's goodbye England, farewell love Maybe it's just as well When a man falls short of his heaven above That he drops to the uttermost hell Now the anchor lifts and the sails are set Now God to your help, black sheep For the gay world laughs, 'They will soon forget' But fired with the embers of old regret The brand of the world bites deep Chorus They turn the black sheep over the side To land on a stranger's shore To drift with the cities' human tide Or wander away where the rovers ride And the flagless legions war Chorus They bury the black sheep out in the bush And they bury them none too deep By the cattle camp or the last gold rush And the grass grows over them deep and lush And the bush winds sing them to sleep Final chorus: And it's goodbye sorrow, farewell strife Maybe it's just as well When a man goes down in the battle of life Then he shortens his road to hell Graham Jenkin put a tune to this Ogilvie poem - pp56-57 'Great Australian Balladists'. Note by Jenkin: Black sheep were young Britons who had disgraced themselves in one way or another, and who were sent as far away as possible in order that they may not bring further disgrace on the family. Australia, being at the opposite end of the world to Britain, was an ideal dumping ground, just as it had been for convicts before them. The black sheep, unlike most of the convicts, came from the wealthy classes and were referred to as 'remittance men' because many of them received a regular remittance from their families as payment for staying here. Although Ogilvie was a migrant, he was not a black sheep. Harry Morant was, and so was Adam Lindsay Gordon. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Oct 20 - 07:53 PM LONG RUN (John Schumann) You look out your window at the cold grey dawn It's seven o'clock on a Monday morning Pour a cup of coffee, better make it a strong one Weather man on the radio says It's going to rain and it's going to blow But i'll be all right, it'll be all right, it'll be all right in the long run Australia marched out of Vietnam Out on the streets against Uncle Sam, We won the fight, it was a long one Uranium demo the other day One of my mates got dragged away As they slammed the door I heard her say It'll be all right in the long run Italian bloke who works with me We swap laughs and company And he slapped me on the back Said, ’You're wrong, son This isn't the land I was told it would be It's not so equal and not so free But i'll be all right, it'll be all right, it'll be all right in the long run’ From the shadow of history a convict screams The shearers curse, the people dream We've taken some right turns They've been the wrong ones Troop ships leave and the headlines blaze Australia remembers happier days And the faith lives on within the haze It'll be all right in the long run So you sit in your camp and you stare at the fire The doubts drop away as the hopes get higher And you sing to yourself It'll be all right, it'll be all right in the long run And the sun gives ground to a long cold night You screw your courage for another fight But you know in your heart That it’ll be all right, it'll be all right, it'll be all right in the long run And the sun streams in with power and might And you look at your kids in a different light And you know in your heart as you kiss them goodnight It'll be all right in the long run Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Oct 20 - 07:31 PM POOR NED Chorus: Poor Ned, you're better off dead At least you'll get some peace of mind You're out on the track They're right on your back Boy, they're 'gonna hang you high Eighteen hundred and seventy eight Was the year I remember so well They put my father in an early grave Slung my mother in gaol Now I don't know what's right or wrong But they hung Christ on nails Six kids at home and two still on the breast They wouldn't even give her bail Chorua You know I wrote a letter 'Bout Stringybark Creek So they would understand That I might be a bushranger But I'm not a murdering man I didn't want to shoot Kennedy Or that copper Lonnigan He alone could have saved his life By throwing down his gun Chorus You know they took Ned Kelly And they hung him in the Melbourne gaol He fought so very bravely Dressed in iron mail And no man single-handed Can hope to break the bars It's a thousand like Ned Kelly Who'll hoist the flag of stars Chorus Those are the lyrics for Redgum's version which is probably the best-known one in Oz. Redgum For a full discussion of the provenance of this song check out this Mudcat thread, particularly the contributions by Bob Bolton: Click The Lucas/Fotheringay rendition: Fotheringay --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Oct 20 - 06:59 PM STRINGYBARK CREEK (Anon) A sergeant and three constables set out from Mansfield town Near the end of last October for to hunt the Kellys down They started for the Wombat Hills and thought it quite a lark When they camped upon the borders of a creek called Stringybark They had grub and ammunition there to last them many a week, And next morning two of them rode out, all to explore the creek, Leaving Mclntyre behind them at the camp to cook the grub And Lonergan to sweep the floor and boss the washing-tub. It was shortly after breakfast Mac thought he heard a noise So gun in hand he sallied out to try and find the cause, But he never saw the Kellys planted safe behind a log So he sauntered back to smoke and yarn and wire into the prog. But Ned Kelly and his comrades thought they'd like a nearer look, For being short of grub they wished to interview the cook; And of firearms and cartridges they found they had too few, So they longed to grab the pistols and ammunition too. Both the troopers at a stump alone they were well pleased to see Watching as the billies boiled to make their pints of tea; There they joked and chatted gaily never thinking of alarms Till they Heard the fearful cry behind, "Bail up, throw up your arms!" The traps they started wildly and Mac then firmly stood While Lonergan made tracks to try and gain the wood, Reaching round for his revolver, but before he touched the stock Ned Kelly pulled the trigger, fired, and dropped him like a rock. Then after searching McIntyre all through the camp they went- And cleared the guns and cartridges and pistols from the tent, But brave Kelly muttered sadly as he loaded up his gun, "Oh, what a ... pity that the ... tried to run." 'Twas later in the afternoon the sergeant and his mate Came riding blithely through the bush to meet a cruel fate. "The Kellys have the drop on you!" cried McIntyre aloud, But the troopers took it as a joke and sat their horses proud. Then trooper Scanlan made a move his rifle to unsling, But to his heart a bullet sped and death was in the sting; Then Kennedy leapt from his mount and ran for cover near, And fought, a game man to the last, for all that life held dear. The sergeant's horse raced from the camp alike from friend and foe, And McIntyre, his life at stake, sprang to the saddle-bow And galloped far into the night, a haunted, harassed soul, Then like a hunted bandicoot hid in a wombat hole. At dawn of day he hastened forth and made for Mansfield town To break the news that made men vow to shoot the bandits down, So from that hour the Kelly gang was hunted far and wide, Like outlawed dingoes of the wild until the day they died. Above is the full ballad as printed at pp41-42 of Times House edition of Stewart & Keesing's 'Australian Bush Ballads'. Most renditions are shortened and amended. Here is one by Gary Shearston: Youtube clip Another song about Stringybark Creek from John Munro's 'The Kelly Collection': Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 22 Oct 20 - 06:05 PM Sandra, you have doubled up on 'Miner's washing'. R-J posted it in September - No 110 on your list. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 22 Oct 20 - 12:44 AM MINER'S WASHIN' © John Warner 10/08/92 I came from Durham in '99, Married a laddie from the Coal Creek mine, The finest lad that a girl could ever know, Till he brought me his washin' from the pit below. Scrubbing the miner's clothes, Scrubbing the miner's clothes, All piled up in a ghastly stack, Heavy as lead, and smelly and black, And oh the pain in my aching back, Scrubbing the miner's clothes. Now your Korumburra miner is a grimy sort of bloke, So I drop in his duds for an all night soak. I'll take me a soap and I'll grate it like a cheese, And chuck it in a bucket with his grubby dungarees. I get me up before the peep o' light My copper for to fill and my fire for to light, I'll serve Tom his crib while the copper's on the boil, Then gird up my muscles for a day's hard toil. It's drag 'em from the copper to the rinsing tub, Pound 'em with the dolly and scrub, scrub, scrub, Pour away the mucky water, do it all again, Heave 'em through the wringer and pray it doesn't rain. Beyond Kardella, the sky's looking fine, Basket up the washing to the old clothes line, I'll bet when it's hung out and I've heaved up the prop, The rain'll come a pourin' and the wind will drop. Now all you maidens who to marriage do incline, Never wed a laddie from the Coal Creek mine, A squatter might be surly, a merchant might be mean, A banker might be boring, but they're easier to clean. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 22 Oct 20 - 12:38 AM DRUNKS' EXPRESS © John Warner 6/04/93 I'll tell you all of the roaring day, In Korumburra town on a Friday. From Jeetho out to Jumbunna way Folks came in for to spend their pay In Korumburra town on a Friday. The lads knocked off at the mining site, To shop and gossip, drink and fight From four o'clock till around midnight, In Korumburra town on a Friday. And it's 'Oh my darlin' Clementine', As the Drunks' Express lurches up the line, Taking the lads back to Outtrim Mine From Korumburra town on a Friday. Now you could see it from the train ... The miner's friend, the council's bane, The sly grog shanty run by Kane ... Now Old Kane was a cunning coot, His whiskey source still in dispute, And girls were there of strange repute ... At one of the pubs where the miners meet ... Comes the sound of voices raised in heat, And a body hurled out onto the street ... The body lies there, out for ten, It looks like young Joe Kane again, You shouldn't argue with mining men ... Eleven o'clock and they close the bars ... The drunks are singing to the moon and stars As they pack them into the railway cars ... Tomorrow they'll wake up sore and sick, To work off with the shovel and pick, The aches they've earned and the wounds they lick ... The case is heard at ten o'clock ... Now hear the courtroom gavel knock, For young Joe Kane standing in the dock ... Says Judge, 'A ten bob fine I think, Or thirty days in the local clink, For the things you did when worse for drink ... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 22 Oct 20 - 12:33 AM WILLIAM CONQUEST TURLAND another excellent song from John Warner (1995) William Turland was a magnificent character who made his place in the history of Lambing Flat by pick and shovel: the first to pave the streets in front of his business, to plant shade-trees on the street, a baker, blacksmith, farrier, horsecoper and hotel owner, with a subtle touch at the sly grog still. The impression we gained of Hannah was of an equal and powerful influence. This story, from early in their lives, was told to John by Pat Emmett who was particularly moved by it. The town of Lambing Flat is now known as Young. The tune is a version of the Scarborough Settler's Laments. I'm William Conquest Turland, and when I was young and bold, I left old Market Harborough to mine Australian gold. I saw the rebel banner hoist, the fight at Ballarat, And I loved and married Hannah in the town of Lambing Flat. I forged the picks, I shoed the hacks, I laboured in the heat, My Hannah bore two children, we thought our joy complete, Then gold was found at Grenfell, the Lachlan side nor'west, And so, like fools drawn to a snare, we followed with the rest. But fever took the children, their skins were clammy wet. It turned like iron in the heart to hear them moan and fret. We washed them, cooled them, prayed for them, and ached to hear their cries; At length a sullen silence fell and the bitter drone of flies. I dug two graves beside the creek where old Dick's bridge now stands, And I can still feel Hannah's grasp a-trembling in my hands, The road ahead holds children, home and labour, land and friend, But I held Hannah, sobbing hard, where one road found its end. So let the Lachlan keep its gold or others make their pile. We'll go no further down this track, but tend their graves the while, For earth can yield no fairer prize, however rich the lode Than the wealth we gave back to the soil along the Grenfell road. mudcatter Daniel Kelly singing William Conquest Turland |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 21 Oct 20 - 11:24 PM Bugger, I did it again today and yesterday - I cleared web data after banking and forgot to log in again. Most of the 'Guest' posts to this thread are from yours truly. I will attempt to do better. Another fine song from Bob McNeill with Kenny Rich, a Scot from Orkney who also made NZ home. The duo performed and recorded as Ben the Hoose. Their focus was mainly on Scottish traditional dance music. A note on the sleeve of their album 'a little cascade': The people here are Scots. They stopped here on their way to heaven, thinking they had arrived.Mark Twain in NZ 1895. NORWAY YAWL (Bob McNeill) There were men that my father knew Worked oars as well as a plough Strong men who came home like the waves on the shore But these old men are all gone now The Norway yawls lie tattered and broken On the earth where these old men now lie They have earned their sleep but I would keep hold Of the life that with them has died Chorus: And there are no men left in Derry None in Donegal There are no men left on Islay Build me a Norway yawl They fished the grounds off Ardara Took the herring from off Tory Isle But the old men have all gone now And we can't believe our time Chorus We have not the life of the fisherman And our hardships are nothing besides Our hands are not battered and frozen Upon oars opposing the tide Chorus Ran the yawls from St John's to Port Ellen Rathlin, Port Stewart and Glengad Tory and Derry and Moville between The lines that are part of our past Chorus Youtube clip Note by Ben the Hoose: The Norway yawls were open fishing boats built on the north coast of Ireland and inshore Scottish islands. The boats vanished from the water in the 1950s but are often seen on the coast, used as sheep shelters and the like. Donal MacPolin described the men who crewed them as 'the last waves on the seashore'. Additional info: In the case of the Norway yawl, these boats were entirely open and double-ended, that is sharp at both stem and stern. Dimensions for this type varied slightly, but they usually had a keel length of 18-20 feet with a beam of 5.5-6 feet. (McCaughan, 1982, 178) The yawls were primarily used for line fishing and rowed with four oars but often set a lug or sprit sail. (Joe McClean, oral evidence) Norway yawls were regarded as safe, service-able boats and could be easily hauled out of the water by two men. (Malcolm Collins, oral evidence) As the name suggests these boats were imported direct from Norway but were modified in Ireland by the addition of one or two 'strakes'. (McCaughan, 1982, 176) Commentators have suggested that by the 1840's these boats were in some areas coming to the end of their working lives. The explanation was believed to lie in the decline of the timber trade with Norway brought on by raising duties on Baltic timber. (Davis, 1979, 46) This effected the shipment of Norway yawls as they were brought in with the timber cargoes. From here --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 21 Oct 20 - 09:48 PM CLAIR (W.Evans/Trad) The diggings are silent, the miners have gone Far away, far away, far away, who knows where But I cling to the silence where once the sun shone On my dear love, my true love, my own love, my Clair It’s wicked for women whose menfolk seek gold Far away, far away, far away in the wild In the scorch of the summer and winter’s sharp cold With my family, my dear wife, and my only child Our shanty was sacking on a mulga wood frame Far away, far away, far away city lights But my Clair made it homely and she never complained Of the hardships, discomfort and darkness and frights My little one faded, my Clair also died Far away, far away, far away without aid For my gold fever killed them, I sat and I cried For their pardon, with sorrow, for long I have paid Now the diggings are silent, I stay here alone Far away, far away, far away with my Clair And the gold that I glean gilds the roughly hewn stone For my whole life, my Clair, and my dear child lie there Recitation of poem by Wendy Evans with instrumental backing: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 21 Oct 20 - 08:44 PM A PROUDER MAN THAN YOU (Henry Lawson) If you fancy that your people came of better stock than mine If you hint of higher breeding by a word or by a sign If you're proud because of fortune or the clever things you do Then I'll play no second fiddle: I'm a prouder man than you If you think that your profession has the more gentility And that you are condescending to be seen along with me If you notice that I'm shabby while your clothes are spruce and new You have only got to hint it: I'm a prouder man than you If you have a swell companion when you see me on the street And you think that I'm too common for your toney friend to meet So that I, in passing closely, fail to come within your view Then be blind to me for ever: I'm a prouder man than you If your character be blameless, if your outward past be clean While 'tis known my antecedents are not what they should have been Do not risk contamination, save your name whatever you do `Birds o' feather fly together': I'm a prouder bird than you Keep your patronage for others, gold and station cannot hide Friendship that can laugh at fortune, friendship that can conquer pride Offer this as to an equal -- let me see that you are true And my wall of pride is shattered: I am not so proud as you Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 21 Oct 20 - 08:19 PM Sandra, R-J sent me a copy of your list. Many thanks. Here is a link to Schumann's rendition of 'Second class wait here'. John Schumann & Vagabonds --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Oct 20 - 05:22 AM Bluey Brink from Mark Gregory's Australian Folk Songs There once was a shearer by name Bluey Brink A devil for work and a terror for drink He could shear a full hundred each day without fear And drink without winking four gallons of beer Now Jimmy the barman who served out the drink He hated the sight of this here Bluey Brink Who stayed much too late and who came much too soon At morning, at evening, at night and at noon One day as Jimmy was cleaning the bar With sulphuric acid he kept in a jar Along comes this shearer a bawling with thirst Saying whatever you've got Jim just give me the first Now it aint in the history, you wont find it in print But that shearer drunk acid with never a wink Saying that's the stuff Jimmy why strike me stone dead This'll make me the ringer of Stephenson's shed All through that long day as he served up the beer Poor Jimmy was sick with his trouble and fear Too anxious to argue too worried to fight He saw that poor shearer a corpse in his fright But early next morning when he opened the door Well there was that shearer a yelling for more With his eyebrows all singed and his whiskers deranged And holes in hide hide like a dog with the mange. Says Jimmy and how did you find the new stuff? Says Bluey it's fine but I've not had enough It gives me great courage to shear and to fight But why does that stuff set me whiskers alight? I thought I knew grog, but I must have been wrong The stuff that you gave me was proper and strong It set me to coughing and you know I'm no liar But every damn cough set me whiskers on fire video by 4 Bush Music Club members led by Doug (who was born in America in case you noticed his accent!) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Oct 20 - 05:09 AM Henry Lawson - On The Night Train Have you seen the bush by moonlight, from the train, go running by? Blackened log and stump and sapling, ghostly trees all dead and dry; Here a patch of glassy water; there a glimpse of mystic sky? Have you heard the still voice calling — yet so warm, and yet so cold: “I’m the Mother-Bush that bore you! Come to me when you are old” Did you see the Bush below you sweeping darkly to the Range, All unchanged and all unchanging, yet so very old and strange! While you thought in softened anger of the things that did estrange? Did you hear the Bush a-calling, when your heart was young and bold: “I’m the Mother-Bush that nursed you; come to me when you are old" In the cutting or the tunnel, out of sight of stock or shed, Did you hear the grey Bush calling from the pine-ridge overhead: “You have seen the seas and cities — all is cold to you, or dead — All seems done and all seems told, but the grey-light turns to gold! I’m the Mother-Bush that loves you — come to me now you are old” Henry's last poem my favourite version On the night train, download here from Chloe & Jason's website support live music! Slim Dusty's version on youtube |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Oct 20 - 04:50 AM SECOND CLASS WAIT HERE by Henry Lawson, 1899 (tune Tony Miles, 1981 as sung by Margaret Walters on "For the Future and the Past") On suburban railway stations - you may see them as you pass There are signboards on the platforms saying, 'Wait here second class'; And to me the whirr and thunder and the cluck of running gear Seem to be for ever saying, saying 'Second class wait here' Chorus - Wait here second class, second class wait here Seem to be for ever saying, saying 'Second class wait here And the second class were waiting in the days of serf and prince, And the second class are waiting - they've been waiting ever since. There are gardens in the background, and the line is bare and drear, Yet they wait beneath a signboard, sneering 'Second class wait here' I have waited oft in winter, in the mornings dark and damp, When the asphalt platform glistened underneath the lonely lamp. Ghastly on the brick-faced cutting 'Sellum's Soap' and 'Blower's Beer; Ghastly on enamelled signboards with their 'Second class wait here' And the others seemed like burglars, slouched and muffled to the throats, Standing round apart and silent in their shoddy overcoats, And the wind among the wires, and the poplars bleak and bare, Seemed to be for ever snarling, snarling 'Second class wait there' Out beyond the further suburb, 'neath a chimney stack alone, Lay the works of Grinder Brothers, with a platform of their own; And I waited there and suffered, waited there for many a year, Slaved beneath a phantom signboard, telling our class to wait here. Ah! a man must feel revengeful for a boyhood such as mine. God! I hate the very houses near the workshop by the line; And the smell of railway stations, and the roar of running gear, And the scornful-seeming signboards, saying 'Second class wait here' There's a train with Death for driver, which is ever going past, And there are no class compartments, and we all must go at last To the long white jasper platform with an Eden in the rear; And there won't be any signboards, saying 'Second class wait here' |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Oct 20 - 04:41 AM Poor Dim Sally is no. 342, & I'll send you the list. Australia's greatest song AS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED in The Bacchus Marsh Express Sat 15th December, 1891 - note the last line was bowdlerised, so please sing the proper word in the famous version!! THE BARE BELLED EWE by C.C. of Eynesbury, Nov. 20, (tune - Ring the bell, Watchman) Oh, down at the catching pen an old shearer stands, Grasping his shears in his long bony hands ; Fixed is his gaze on a bare belled ewe, Saying " If I can only get her, won't I make the ringer go." Click goes his shears; click, click, click. Wide are the blows, and his hand is moving quick, The ringer looks round, for he lost it by a blow, And he curses that old shearer with the bare belled ewe. At the end of the board, in a cane bottomed chair, The boss remains seated with his eyes everywhere ; He marks well each fleece as it comes to the screen, And he watches where it comes from if not taken off clean. The "colonial experience" is there of course. With his silver buckled leggings, he's just off his horse ; With the air of a connoiseur he walks up the floor ; And he whistles that sweet melody, "I am a perfect cure." "So master new chum, you may now begin, Muster number seven paddock, bring the sheep all in ; Leave none behind you, whatever you do, And then we'll say you'r fit to be a Jackeroo." The tar boy is there, awaiting all demands, With his black tarry stick, in his black tarry hands. He sees an old ewe, with a cut upon the back, He hears what he supposes is--" Tar here, Jack." "Tar on the back, Jack; Tar, boy, tar." Tar from the middle to both ends of the board. Jack jumps around, for he has no time to sleep, And tars the shearer's backs as well as the sheep. So now the shearing's over, each man has got his cheque, The hut is as dull as the dullest old wreck ; Where was many a noise and bustle only a few hours before, Now you can hear it plainly if a pin fall on the floor. The shearers now are scattered many miles and far ; Some in other sheds perhaps, singing out for "tar." Down at the bar, there the old shearer stands, Grasping his glass in his long bony hands. Saying "Come on, landlord, come on, come ! I'm shouting for all hands, what's yours--mine's a rum ;" He chucks down his cheque, which is collared in a crack, And the landlord with a pen writes no mercy on the back ! His eyes they were fixed on a green painted keg, Saying " I will lower your contents, before I move a peg." His eyes are on the keg, and are now lowering fast ; He works hard, he dies hard, and goes to heaven at last. C. C. Eynesbury, Nov. 20, 1891. As performed on ABC Landline by Jason & Chloe Roweth in 2014 after Mark Gregory discovered the original on TROVE. Jason reported that after the filming the shearers suggested Mr Folksinger join them shearing, thinking he was just a city folksinger, but he has worked in a shearing shed & done a little (tiny) bit of shearing. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 20 Oct 20 - 11:25 PM I can recommend, Stewie, a good Pommy show I just watched last night on YT (don't recall it being on Oz TV), based on a 1920s true story, called "Dandelion Dead" in 2 Eps over less than 4 hours, but starring the always EXcellent Michael Kitchen & Sarah Miles!!! People are still, to this day, debating whether the main man was guilty or not ...... I will return to song posts on this thread, but I seem to have found a few more urgent things to do! But I wonder whether Joe could be persuaded to amend the thread title to include reference to New Zealand??? And if the excellent Sandra in Sydney could be persuaded to update the Song Listing??!! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 20 Oct 20 - 10:40 PM My apologies, the video linked in my previous post is not the Mike Harding to whom I was referring. I was referring to the pommy Mike Harding. I'm losing it. I think I'll go downstairs into the air-conditioning with my dog and watch a pommy police drama dvd. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 20 Oct 20 - 10:30 PM Seems like I'm on my Pat. Never mind - onwards. Another cracker from the wonderful Kath Tait. POOR DIM SALLY (Kath Tait) Poor dim Sally from old Vim valley She was taken in by the Moonies Her friends said they would rather be dead Than sucked in by a bunch of loonies Her mother cried and her father nearly died To see their Sally being hypnotised And listening to strange philosophical lies And giving all her money to the guru While dancing to the tune of the Reverend Moon Sally was benevolent and breezy But it made her sad to see her mum and her dad Being hypnotised by the TV And giving all their money to the politicians Who wasted it all on their greedy ambitions And Sally was obsessed by her dubious position Enlisting more disciples for the guru Poor dim Sally from old Vim valley She went knocking on doors Explaining her views and proclaiming the news And naming the Moonies' laws When she came upon a mysterious charmer Who appeared at the door in his pink pajama And talked her into following the Dalai Lama And that's how she was rescued from the Moonies Sally took a ferry to a monastery Where upon she shaved her head. Her mother cried and her father said , 'Why Is our Sally so easily led?' The deprogrammers came to unravel her brain But their threats and bribes were all in vain, And her poor mother she did proclaim Why can't we all just be nice Presbyterians Now poor dim Sally from old Vim valley Was told to spend eleven days fasting But her need for food was so basic and crude And she really wasn't very good at lasting When they found her hiding behind a tree With a marmite sandwich and a cup of tea She said,’I wouldn't be a failure spiritually If I was the leader of my very own religion’ So she became the guru of her own fringe sect She got all of the money and all of the respect And she made her disciples swear an oath To eat their way to spiritual growth Have another sausage roll, have another cream bun She said sitting there on her big fat bum They said, ‘We’ll all be saved from being eternally glum In Sally's own original religion’ Kath’s note: Having been involved in a disreputable fringe sect when I was much younger, I decided to read a few sociological studies on the phenomenon. I discovered that they are all much the same, they all involve some sort of guru/con-artist and they all end up committing some kind of abuse involving sex or money. I have learnt the hard way that you have to be your own guru. Vim is a bathroom cleaning powder. The phrase Vim valley is a common New Zealand term describing a squeaky clean suburb where people behave a bit like they do in household appliance advertisements. Mike Harding covered the song. I always fondly remember Mike's visit to Darwin on his Australian tour back in the day. At his gun turret concert, he said that visiting Darwin was like living in someone's sweaty sock. A fair comment - the humidity here at the moment is horrendous. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Oct 20 - 09:37 PM I don't know where those ?s came from. Anyhow, the lyrics are there. A song about the possible inspiration for Miss Havisham: THE BALLAD OF ELIZA EMILY DONNITHORNE (J.Armstrong) She stands at the window watching the carriages Approaching the house in the spring of the year She smiles at the people hurrying everywhere Lovely Eliza’s wedding draws near In the fine mansion in King St in Newtown Beautiful ladies, some haughty, some gay With horses and carriages, the cream of old Sydney Town Lovely Eliza gets married today Over the fireplace, a portrait in oils Old Judge Donnithorne looks kindly down Sees his young daughter, the flower of Sydney Town Looking lovelier than ever in her wedding gown But something is wrong - the smiles are fading The hours are passing, the people must go Eliza still stands and she looks from her window Waiting in tears for the man she loves so The table is set still, the places are counted But gone are the people so laughing and gay The gifts are unopened and tired of waiting The beautiful wedding cake crumbles away The old house is closed now, the windows are shuttered Nobody leaves and nobody comes near Eliza grows old now but still in her wedding dress She faithfully waits for her love to appear Thirty years pass now - the waiting is over Six fine black horses await at the door The beautiful carriage is decked in black ribbons Lovely Eliza will wait here no more She’s seeking a new world to search for her lover If she will find him nobody can tell She’s a young girl again, happy and carefree Eliza Emily Donnithorne farewell Youtube clip Eliza Emily Donnithorne --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Oct 20 - 09:18 PM I OWE YOU (Paul Metsers) Have you still got those pages? From friends of days gone by Their words, in paper cages ?Came winging through the sky? Or did you make some bargain? That one day you would rue ?Like the hasty note the gambler wrote The loser’s I.O.U. It seems the days are speeding The time it strips the bone? The snow it falls beside the wall And follows winter’s moan And through the crystal window The ever-changing hue? The years decline, the debt is mine How will I pay my due I.O.U. for mystery ?I.O.U. for colour ?I.O.U. for children? Born in love and labour And I.O.U. for letting go When parting needs must sever And I.O.U. for holding on I.O.U. forever They say no one’s an island That each on some depends But lonely hearts and silence Make such bitter friends For to have your own true lover Is to live in fortune’s glow But try as you may, you’ll never pay Your lover what you owe I.O.U. for mystery ?I.O.U. for colour? I.O.U. for children ?Born in love and labour And I.O.U. for letting go When parting needs must sever And I.O.U. for holding on I.O.U. forever Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Oct 20 - 08:20 PM Another fine Kiwi singer/songwriter with a song about an incident on Norfolk Island in the 1840s. EMILY BAY (Andrew London) Johnny was a wild one, got sent down Seven years hard in Sydney Town Tura-lura-lura-luralie-ayElizabeth cried on the dock, says he, ‘You’re a good girl, Lizzie, don’t you wait for me’ Tura-lura-lura-luralie-ay Johnny was a thief, he was quicker than some Got caught with a bottle of the captain’s rum And the blood runs down to the sand on Emily Bay And the blood runs down to the sand on Emily Bay Judge said, ‘I can turn a hard man around You can do your time out in Kingston Town’ Tura-lura-lura-luralie-ay Johnny said, ‘ Well you can cut a chain for me But I’ll curse your eyes till the day that I’m free Tura-lura-lura-luralie-ay Johnny took a hundred till the blood ran black And the chaplain said, ‘That’s a dead man’s back’ And the blood runs down to the sand on Emily Bay And the blood runs down to the sand on Emily Bay Jackie said, ‘Now brother come along with me Gonna kill me a copper been a-worryin’ me’ Tura-lura-lura-luralie-ay Johnny said, ‘Well Jack I been a thinkin’ just the same’ And they got three more before the soldiers came Tura-lura-lura-luralie-ay The commandant said, ‘You’re gonna hang this morn And England’s sorry that you ever been born And the blood runs down to the sand on Emily Bay And the blood runs down to the sand on Emily Bay Johnny was a wild one, got sent down He never did a year in Kingston Town Tura-lura-lura-luralie-ay Elizabeth cried on the day she read He was thrown in a hole, not a prayer was said Tura-lura-lura-luralie-ay And on the Murderers’ Mound, you can hear his plea: ‘You’re a good girl, Lizzie, don’t you wait for me’ And the blood runs down to the sand on Emily Bay And the blood runs down to the sand on Emily Bay Youtube clip Bob McNeill does a lovely cover of the song with Gillian Boucher on fiddle: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Oct 20 - 07:43 PM R-J, thanks for the correction. I don't have the album. I would have sworn it was Lloyd singing. It must be deliberate on Shearston's part. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 19 Oct 20 - 02:39 AM Stew, I have to disagree with the label of A.L.Lloyd singing "The Murrumbidgee Shearer" that you linked to - it is definitely Gary Shearston in his folk-sheep-shearing-Lloyd style of singing, as on that whole LP of "The Springtime It Brings on the Shearing"!! I still have my LP and absolutely loved it years ago :) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Oct 20 - 08:43 PM THE MARYBOROUGH MINER Come all you sons of liberty and listen to my song I'll tell you my observations and it won't take very long I've fossicked around this continent, five hundred miles or more And many's the time I might have starved but for the cheek I bore I've been on all the diggings, boys, from famous Ballarat I've long-tommed on the Lachlan, and I've fossicked Lambing Flat So you can understand, my boys, just from my little rhyme I'm a Maryborough miner and I'm one of the good old time I came to the Fitzroy River, all with my Bendigo rig I had a shovel, a pick and a pan, and for a licence I begged But the assay man called me a loafer, said for work I'd no desire And so to do him justice, boys, I set his office on fire Oh yes, my jolly jokers, I've done it on the cross Although I carry my bluey now, I've sweated many a horse I've helped to rob the escort of many an ounce of gold And the traps have trailed upon my tail more times than I've ever told Oh yes, the traps have trailed me and been frightened out of their stripes They never could have caught me for, they feared my cure for gripes And well they knew I carried it, for they had often seen it Glistening in my flipper, chaps, my patent pill machine I'm one of the men who cradled on the reef at Tarrangower Anxiety and misery my grim companions there I puddled the clay at Bendigo and I chanced my arm at Kew And I wound up my avocation with ten years on Cockatoo. A.L. Lloyd collected this mining version of 'The Murrumbidgee Shearer' from Bob Bell in Condobolin in 1934. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Oct 20 - 08:17 PM THE MURRUMBIDGEE SHEARER Come all you jolly natives and I'll relate to you Some of my observations adventures too a few I've travelled about the country for miles full many a score And oft-times would have hungered but for the cheek I bore I've coasted on the Barwon low down the Darling too I've been on the Murrumbidgee and out on the Paroo I've been on all the diggings boys from famous Ballarat I've loafed upon the Lachlan and fossicked Lambing Flat I went up to a squatter and asked him for a feed But the knowledge of my hunger was swallowed by his greed He said I was a loafer and for work had no desire And so to do him justice I set his shed on fire Oh yes I've touched the shepherd's hut of sugar, tea, and flour And a tender bit of mutton I always could devour I went up to a station and there I got a job Plunged in the store and hooked it with a very tidy lob Oh, yes my jolly dandies I've done it on the cross Although I carry bluey now I've sweated many a horse I've helped to ease the escort of many's the ounce of gold The traps have often chased me more times than can be told Oh yes the traps have chased me and been frightened of their stripes They never could have caught me they feared my cure for gripes And well they knew I carried it which they had often seen A-glistening in my flipper chaps a patent pill machine I've been hunted like a panther into my mountain lair Anxiety and misery my grim companions there I've planted in the scrub my boys and fed on kangaroo And wound up my avocations by ten years on Cockatoo So you can understand my boys just from this little rhyme I'm a Murrumbidgee shearer and one of the good old time From Paterson's 'Old Bush Songs'. This video supposedly has the singing of Gary Shearston, but actually it is Bert Lloyd: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Oct 20 - 07:28 PM TUAPECKA GOLD (Phil Garland) 'Twas in the year of sixty-two as near as I can guess When I left my dear old hometown in trouble and distress My family didn't want me I was left out in the cold Until I started searching for the Tuapeka gold The day I left Dunedin I could not help but cry For not one single person came to bid myself goodbye So I set off on my journey and soon I did behold The hills that were covered with the Tuapeka gold When some six months later I came back to my home town Carrying the fortune that I'd taken from the ground Strange to say my old friends turned out to say hello But I knew all they were after was my Tuapeka gold. The other day while walking I met young Maggie Brown Who once took all my money while I was sleeping sound Says she, 'Come to my bedside, we'll be lovers as of old' But says I, You don't love me but my Tuapeka gold' So come all you bold young fellows and attend to my advice And don't trust man nor woman 'til you've looked them over twice I've travelled for experience and many a time been sold Ah-ha, but this time they won't get me nor my Tuapeka gold See also 'Bright Fine Gold' posted above on 30 September. Gabriel Read discovered a large deposit of alluvial gold along the Tuapecka River in Otago in May 1861. Within a week of his reporting the find to authorities in Dunedin, a city of tents appeared along the banks of the Tuapecka. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 18 Oct 20 - 05:39 AM OLD PALMER SONG (Traditional) Above/below. From Wikipedia; Ten Thousand Miles Away is a sea shanty whose writing and composition are attributed to Joseph B. Geoghegan. In his Shanties from the Seven Seas Hugill says that this was originally a shore ballad sung by street singers in Ireland in the early nineteenth century. Later it became a popular music hall number. The Scottish Student's Song Book gives the author as "J. B. Geoghegan". This is Joseph Bryan Geoghegan (c. 1816 – 1889) who was manager of the Star and Museum Music Hall in Bolton, Lancashire. The song is numbered 1778 in the Roud Folk Song Index and it has been passed from singer to singer as a traditional shanty. The figure of "ten thousand miles" could well refer to the distance between England and Australia, and the separation of the lovers arises because the singer's lover has been transported. So blow the winds, Heigh-ho; A roving I will go, I'll stay no more on England's shore, So let the music play! I'll start by the morning train, To cross the raging main, For I'm on the move to my own true love, Ten thousand miles away. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Oct 20 - 11:22 PM OLD PALMER SONG (Traditional) The wind is fair and free, my boys, the wind is fair and free The steamer's course is north, my boys, and the Palmer we will see The Palmer we will see, my boys, and Cooktown's muddy shore Where I've been told there's lots of gold, I'll stay down south no more Chorus So, blow ye winds, heigho A-digging I will go I'll stay no more down south, my boys So let the music play In spite of what I'm told I'm off in search of gold I'll make a push for that new rush A thousand miles away They say the blacks are troublesom and spear both horse and man The rivers are all wide and deep, no bridges them do span No bridges them do span, my boys, and so you'll have to swim But never fear the yarns you hear, and gold you're sure to win So let us make a move, my boys, for that new promised land And do the best we can, my boys, to lend a helping hand To lend a helping hand, my boys, where the soil is rich and new In spite of the blacks and unknown tracks, we'll show what we can do The song may be found at the 28 minute mark of the video of the Rafferty Band album. It's great to hear the voice of the late Chris Buch leading the song. The Palmer is about 160 km from Cooktown in north Queensland. Youtube --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Oct 20 - 10:43 PM LEATHERMAN (Anon) I'm a stockman and my work is droving cattle With my whip and dog, I set them at a rattle Droving down the dusty road I'm the roughest kind o' bloke you'll ever know Chorus: Jog along, jog along, jog along, leatherman In the wind and in the rain, driving cattle for the can At night I just sleep underneath a tree There's no feather mattress poster-bed for me Ridin' 'till I'm saddle worn I'm the roughest kind o' bloke 'twas ever born In the early morning when the sun is up I roll up me swag and whistle to me pup Go in Darkie, bite their tails Go back them up along the dusty trail Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Oct 20 - 10:27 PM WIND IN THE TUSSOCK (Phil Garland) Chorus: There's snow on the hills and frost in the gullies Where winters are keen and the air tastes like wine My heart feels the pull of the wind in the tussock Calling me back to the mountains again The scent of the speargrass is drawing my heart in As I long again for the High Country air The wind in the tussock is calling me homewards To the valleys and ridges that I love so dear There's a fragrance in the tussock fire as it's burning Wisps of smoke curling up to the sky The dew in the dawning of a clear spring morning As the sun warms the tops all white skiffed with snow There's pleasure in working the snow crested mountains In boiling a billy and watching stars fall To be lost in a world remote from the city With the mist far below like a great rolling sea When the old man nor-wester blows hot down the valley Reminds me of a girl that I knew long ago Her hair was as fair as the snowgrass in summer Breaking my heart when she drifted away There are dreams in the twilight of long autumn evenings When the embers of memory still flicker and fade The tussock reflecting the deep golden sunset Gently caressed by the evening breeze Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Oct 20 - 10:03 PM ACROSS THE WESTERN SUBURBS (Denis Kevans & Seamus Gill) Tune: traditional 'All for Me Grog' Oh, me name it is Fred I'm Sydney born and bred And the inner-city used to be me home, boys But it's caused me heart to grieve For I've had to take me leave Now across the western suburbs I must wander Chorus: Under concrete and glass Sydney's disappearing fast It's all gone for profit and for plunder Though we really want to stay They keep driving us away Now across the western suburbs we must wande Now where is me house, Me little terrace house It's all gone for profit and for plunder For the wreckers of the town Just came up and knocked it down; Now across the Western Suburbs we must wander Before I even knew it We were shifted to Mount Druitt And the planners never gave me any say, boys Now it really makes me weep I am just at home to sleep For it takes me hours to get to work each day, boys What's happened to the pub Our little local pub Where we used to have a drink when we were dry, boys Now we can't get in the door For there's carpets on the floor And you won't be served a beer without a tie, boys Now I'm living in a box In the west suburban blocks And the place is nearly driving me to tears, boys Poorly planned and badly built And it's mortgaged to the hilt But they say it will be mine in forty years, boys Now before the city's wrecked Those developers must be decked For it's plain to see they do not give a bugger Or we soon will see the day If those bandits have their way We will all be driven out past Wagga Wagga Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Oct 20 - 09:43 PM MARY CALLED HIM MISTER (H.Lawson/J.Armstrong) They’d parted just a year ago - she’d thought he’d ne’er come back She stammered, blushed, held out her hand and called him 'Mister Mack' How could he know that all the while she longed to murmur, 'John'? He called her 'Miss le Brook' and asked how she was getting on They’d parted just a year before; they’d loved each other well But he’d been down to Sydney since and come back such a swell They longed to meet in fond embrace, they hungered for a kiss, But Mary called him 'Mister' and the idiot called her 'Miss' He paused, and leaned against the door - a stupid chap was he And when she asked if he’d come in and have a cup of tea He looked to left, he looked to right, and then he glanced behind And slowly doffed his cabbage-tree and said he didn’t mind She made a shy apology because the meat was tough Then asked if he was quite quite sure the tea was sweet enough He stirred his tea and sipped it twice, and answered 'plenty quite' And cut himself a slice of beef and said that it was 'right' She glanced at him at times and coughed an awkward little cough He stared at anything but her and said 'I must be off' That evening he went riding north - a sad and lonely ride She locked herself inside her room and sat her down and cried They’d parted but a year before; they’d loved each other well But she was such a country girl and he’d grown such a swell They longed to meet in fond embrace, they hungered for a kiss But Mary called him 'Mister' and the idiot called her 'Miss' Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Oct 20 - 09:26 PM R-J, lyrics and music for 'Daisy Bates' were composed by Chris Armstrong of the Cobbers. I don't have any other songs specifically about Daisy Bates. NED KELLY'S FAREWELL TO GRETA Farewell to home in Greta, to my sister Kate farewell It grieves my heart to leave you, but here I must not dwell They placed a price upon my head, my hands are stained with gore And I must roam the forest wild within the Australian shore But if they cross my chequered path, for all I hold on earth I'll give them cause to rue the day their mothers gave them birth I'll shoot them down like carrion crows that roam our country wide And leave their bodies bleaching upon some woodland side Oh, Edward, dearest brother, surely you would not go So rashly to encounter with such a mighty foe Now don’t you know that Sydney and Melbourne are combined And for your apprehension Ned, there are warrants duly signed To eastward lies great Bogong, towering to the sky From east to west and then you’ll find that Gippsland’s lying by You know the country well dear Ned, go take your comrades there And profit by your knowledge of the wombat and the bear And let no childish quarrels cause trouble in the gang Bear up with one another, Ned, and guard my brother Dan See, yonder ride four troopers. One kiss before we part Now haste and join your comrades, Dan, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 17 Oct 20 - 05:49 AM Daisy Bates as sung by Cobbers Bush Band; composed by ?? Oh Daisy, if they’d only heard the things you had to say How differently we might have read the history of your day But what was one white woman’s word against the whole white nation Alone you could not stem the tide of our civilisation. Our bureaucratic government could never understand The beauty of the culture of the people of this land Simplicity was far beyond the white man’s complex mind And to the beauty of your love he was completely blind. He couldn’t see that in his own uneducated way The aborigine might have some worthwhile things to say The time had come for him to get a decent education That he became a token white was our main obligation. So why waste time in listening to you who lived with them Your whole eccentric lifestyle was a reason to condemn A woman of the wilderness who shunned society To live beneath the desert sun with aborigines. But, even so, for fifty years you fought against the odds While ignorant white leaders played their game of being gods And if you eased the suffering of one among their race Your life has served to counteract a part of our disgrace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-o-4N0JIgc I had meant to post this a few weeks back! I thought there’d be more info about Kabbarli (Daisy Bates) online. The 60minute documentary promised on YT turned out to be a 3+ minute clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7_EkDSJ84A Maybe Stewie has some other songs too?? R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Oct 20 - 10:28 PM A softer side of the breaker: WHEN STOCK GO BY (Harry Morant) Tom rode a bonny dark bay nag He wore a battered cabbage-tree And as I filled our water-bag He came and asked a drink from me The cattle passed our hometead gate Beside our well I watched them pass While dad was in a fearful state About his water and his grass Tom said that drink was just like wine He said my eyes were soft and brown He said there were no eyes like mine From Dandaloo to Sydney Town I watched him with a trembling lip Yet little thought I then that he Who asked a drink from me that trip Would next trip ask my dad for me Tom's droving days long since are done The wet tear oft has dimmed my eye For days when I was woo’d and won Come back to me when stock go by Brad Tate put a tune to this little poem: Youtube clip Graham Jenkin also put a tune to it. It can be found at page 74 of his 'Great Australian Balladists'. Both Jenkin and Davies & Ilott omit the second stanza. The final stanza suggests unhappiness in the marriage. At one stage, Breaker Morant was briefly married to Daisy Bates. My mate Colin Smiley from Perth compiled a themed concert relating to the Morant/Bates relationship which was presented at a Top Half Folk Festival and repeated in Perth. There is some info on this interesting relationship here: Breaker and Bates --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Oct 20 - 09:28 PM THE BRIGALOW BRIGADE (Harry Morant) There’s a band of decent fellows On a cattle run outback You’ll hear the timber smashing If you follow in their track Their ways are rough and hearty And they call a spade a spade And a pretty rapid party Are the Brigalow Brigade They are mostly short of sugar And their pockets if turned out Would scarcely yield the needful For a decent four-man shout But they’ll scramble through a tight place Or a big fence unafraid And their hearts are in the right place In the Brigalow Brigade They’ve painted Parkes vermilion They’ve coloured Orange blue They broken lots of top-rails ‘Twixt the sea and Dandaloo They like their grog and palings Just as stiff as they are made These are two little failings Of the Brigalow Brigade The Brigalow Brigade are Fastidious in their taste In the matter of a maiden And the inches of her waist She must be sweet and tender And her eyes a decent shade Then her Ma can safely send her To the Brigalow Brigade But women, grog and horses With polo in between Are mighty potent forces In keeping purses lean But the spurs are never rusty Though they seldom need their aid For the cuddles ain’t too dusty In the Brigalow Brigade Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) is a wattle occurring in inland areas of NSW and Queensland. The Brigalow Brigade refers to stockmen and drovers who worked in remote areas. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Oct 20 - 08:54 PM WEST BY NORTH AGAIN (Harry Morant) We've drunk our wine, we've kissed our girls and funds are sinking low The horses must be thinking it's a fair thing now to go Sling the swags on Condamine and strap the billies fast And stuff a bottle in the bags and let's be off at last What matter if the creeks are up - the cash, alas, runs down A very sure and certain sign we're long enough in town Old Bobby rides the boko and you'd better take the bay Quart Pot will do to carry me the stage we go today No grass this side the border fence and all the mulga's dead The horses for a day or two will have to spiel ahead Man never yet from Queensland brought a bullock or a hack But lost condition on that God-abandoned border track When once we're through the rabbit-proof - it's certain since the rain There's whips o' grass and water so it's west by north again There's feed on Tyson's country - we can spell the mokes a week Where Billy Stevens last year trapped his brumbies on Bough Creek The Paroo may be quickly crossed - the Eulo Common's bare And, anyhow, it isn't wise, old man, to dally there Alack-a-day, far wiser men than you and I succumb To woman's wiles, and potency of Queensland wayside rum Then over sand and spinifex and o'er the ridge and plain The nags are fresh - besides, they know we’re north by west again The brand upon old Darkie's thigh is that upon the hide Of bullocks we must muster on the Diamantina side We'll light our campfires where we may and yarn beside their blaze The jingling hobble-chains shall make a music through the days And while the tuckerbags are right, and we've a stick of weed A swagman shall be welcome to a pipe-full and a feed So, fill your pipe and, ere we mount, we'll drink another nip Here's how that west by north again may prove a lucky trip Then back again - I trust you'll find your best girl's merry face Or, if she jilts you, may you get a better in her place Repeat stanza 1 Youtube clip Harry 'Breaker' Morant --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 15 Oct 20 - 08:27 PM As sung by Trevor Lucas: ON THE BANKS OF THE CONDAMINE Oh hark! The dogs are barking now, I can no longer stay The men have all gone mustering and it is nearly day And I must be off in the morning, love, before the sun does shine To meet the Sydney shearers on the banks of the Condamine Oh Willie, dearest Willie, oh let me go with you I'll cut off all of my auburn fringe and I'll be a shearer too And I'll help you count your tally, love, while ringer-o you shine And I'll wash your greasy moleskins on the banks of the Condamine Oh Nancy, dearest Nancy, you know you cannot go The boss has given his orders, love, no woman shall do so And your delicate constitution isn't equal unto mine To stand that constant tigering on the banks of the Condamine Oh Willie, dearest Willie, then stay at home with me We'll take up a selection, love, and a farmer's wife I'll be And I'll help you husk the corn, my love, and I'll cook your meals so fine You'll forget that ram-stag mutton on the banks of the Condamine Oh Nancy, dearest Nancy, you know I cannot stay The men have all gone mustering, I heard the publican say So here's a goodbye kiss, my love, to homeward I'll incline When we've shorn the last of the jumbucks on the banks of the Condamine Youtube clip Note from Mark Gregory's Australian Folk Songs site: Folklorist Dr Edgar Waters writes (Australian Tradition Oct 1966) : "The Banks of the Condamine seems to have been one of the most widely distributed bush songs. In recent years it has been reported from singers in northern Victoria and the Northern Territory, and a number of different versions have been recorded in New South Wales and in Queensland. Sometimes the man is going off to a horse-breaking camp rather than a shearing shed. In Victoria, and at least in southern New South Wales, it seems to have been known as 'The Banks of the Riverine', and perhaps this was the original form. The words of 'The Banks of the Condamine' were made over from 'The Banks of the Nile', a British Ballad of the beginning of the nineteenth century." --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 15 Oct 20 - 07:42 PM BUNDABERG RUM (Bill Scott) God made the sugar cane grow where it's hot And teetotal abstainers to grow where it's not Let the sin bosun warn of perdition to come We'll drink it and chance it, so bring on the rum Chorus: Bundaberg rum, and it's overproof rum Will tan your inside and grow hair on your bum Let the blue ribbon beat on his empty old drum Or his waterlogged belly, but we'll stick to our rum We're men who drink it, oh yes, men indeed Of the bushranging hairy-necked olden time breed We shave with our axes, we dress in old rags We feed on old boots and we sleep on old bags Chorus Dull care flies away when our voices resound And the grass shrivels up when we spit on the ground When we finally die and are buried in clay Our bodies are pickled and never decay Chorus On the Morning of Judgment, when the skies are rolled back We'll stroll from our graves up the long golden track And our voices will echo throughout kingdom come As we toast the archangels in Bundaberg rum Chorus Source: Graham Jenkin 'Great Australian Balladists' p130. Youtube clip Bill Scott --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 15 Oct 20 - 07:17 PM This song is a favourite with Alice Springs folkies. OLD BAMBOO CHAIR (Alan Hughes) He sits on his porch in his old bamboo chair, his old eyes straining to see The smoke curling up from a campfire so clear as the sun rose on men making tea He could see the first rays strike the wattle in bloom, he could smell the sweet tang of the trees Don’t pity this tired old man who is blind for he surely sees more than we see Chorus: For he’s been around, he’s walked to the gulf, he’s driven a steer or two From Barcaldine down to Narromine, he’s seen a lot it’s true He’s a bushy, a drover, a man of the land, a poet and a sage Now he sits on his porch in his old bamboo chair for his eyes have died of old age Now pity is not what this old man needs, he needs time for memories to flow He can still hear the cracks of the whips in the hills, the snorting of cattle in snow And the old blue dog running with joy at the heels of the pony he’s had for so long And young Sandy Duggin edging the herd, crooning the cattle a song Chorus His mind wandered back to those days long gone by and the mates that he knew e’er so well To the stock camps and shearing sheds out to the west on the plains where the summers are hell To the high country streams with their tinkling sweet wine and mountain ash grow straight and tall His mind drew him back to a vision sublime, but his eyes would not heed the call Chorus Now far, far away from the outer Barcoo in a township down by the sea This weary old man sits alone on his porch and dreams of black billy tea And he dreams of returning to those rolling plains where the myall and sheoak still stand And his heart swells with pride as he recalls his life in that wide and wonderful land Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Oct 20 - 09:20 AM thanks, henryp I've found 3 items in the Meredith collection about the Byrnes siblings, Tom Byrnes, Mary Byrnes and Alf Fuller interviewed by John Meredith & Mary Byrnes interviewed by John Meredith & Mary Byrnes & others interviewed by John Meredith - this one includes The Dandenong sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST,henryp Date: 15 Oct 20 - 07:34 AM Andy Irvine sang The Dandenong on his 2013 CD with Rens van der Zalm, Parachilna. In his chorus he changed the phrases “I dream of” to “I long for”. He noted: The Dandenong, a song that Australian folk singer Kate Burke found in the archives of the National Library of Australia. Collected in 1954 by John Meredith from a Mrs Mary Byrnes, an old lady of Irish descent, the song tells the story of the loss of the Dandenong and most of its passengers during a voyage from Melbourne to Newcastle, NSW in 1876. From Mainly Norfolk |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 14 Oct 20 - 09:44 PM A song from 'Pilbara Connection' relating to an even darker side of the horrendous ill-treatment of Aboriginal people. Editor's note: Early Western Australian history tells us of slave trading. Aboriginal women out collecting mai (food) were captured by the two Shay Brothers and sold to fishermen at the port of Broome. THE SHAY BROTHERS (Laughton/Lambert) Here's another lubra, Bill Just push her down the back Our cart is full of native girls And who cares if they're black We've earned some gold this side of Broome Then brought it to the port Let's hope this load brings fifty pounds And none of us gets caught It's stinking hot around these hills Those bucks might miss these here I'd hate to cop a boomerang Or stop an Abo spear The horses sweat too much, I guess Some camels may be best We'd better get those women there And we can stop and rest The sun sinks low in bed of gold There's thirty miles to sea I hoped to be in town 'fore dark ... those blacks are after me You use the gun and kill a few If someone starts to fight By looks of faces on our dray They'd have our guts by night Another mile, another turn I need another drink The water's low - don't give them much I'm glad they're black, not pink Yeah! Perfect pearls inside that bay Are paid to me with price I'll hand this mob to China Joe And keep the one that's nice We've made the grade - a sun-up sale There's some they train to dive If we go out again next week Can we get back alive? Now shove 'em up ... the stubborn ...cuss! She bit me on me 'and I'll use the whip - it keeps them right To make them understand Another week - it's time to go Bought camels from a Jap I hired a man who's seen some tribe That's camped along our gap Hold on, Bill - we're ambushed here So there's no turning back I dunno why these blasted blacks Decided to attack! Written by V.J. Laughton of South Hedland. Source: pp148-150 'Pilbara Connection' compiled by Roger Montgomery. I couldn't find anything specifically about the Shay Brothers on the Net, but there is plenty of info about black birding and the pearling industry. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 14 Oct 20 - 08:19 PM TOOK THE CHILDREN AWAY (Archie Roach) This story's right, this story's true I would not tell lies to you Like the promises they did not keep And how they fenced us in like sheep Said to us come take our hand Sent us off to mission land. Taught us to read, to write and pray Then they took the children away Took the children away The children away Snatched from their mother's breast Said this is for the best Took them away The welfare and the policeman Said you've got to understand We'll give them what you can't give Teach them how to really live Teach them how to live they said Humiliated them instead Taught them that and taught them this And others taught them prejudice You took the children away The children away Breaking their mother’s heart Tearing us all apart Took them away One dark day on Framingham Came and didn't give a damn My mother cried go get their dad He came running, fighting mad Mother's tears were falling down Dad shaped up and stood his ground He said 'You touch my kids and you fight me' And they took us from our family Took us away They took us away Snatched from our mother's breast Said this was for the best Took us away Told us what to do and say Told us all the white man's ways Then they split us up again And gave us gifts to ease the pain Sent us off to foster homes As we grew up we felt alone Cause we were acting white Yet feeling black One sweet day all the children came back The children came back The children came back Back where their hearts grow strong Back where they all belong The children came back Said the children came back The children came back Back where they understand Back to their mother's land The children come back Back to their mother Back to their father Back to their sister Back to their brother Back to their people Back to their land All the children came back The children came back The children came back Yes I came back Youtube clip The Story --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Oct 20 - 01:57 AM typos noted on my list of 320 songs! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 14 Oct 20 - 12:13 AM I just noticed another ridiculous typo. In the last line of 'Mile Seven' the word should be 'lonely' not 'money'. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Oct 20 - 09:19 PM Apologies, in the penultimate line of the first stanza, the word should be 'tinnie' - a can of beer. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Oct 20 - 09:15 PM THE MAYOR OF PARABURDOO (J.Wain/R.Montgomery) I would have to blame the missus For the reason I got caught 'Cos we wintered up in England Through a raffle she had bought We had seen most of the places And were ready to shoot through But I was tonguing for a tinnier Like we have in Paraburdoo So I'm standing in a London pub When this joke stands by me And I can tell by his expression That he'd like some company When ya drinking in strange places Ya sometimes shoot a line or two So I hits him with a beauty 'I'm the mayor of Paraburdoo' He sounded posh and proper When he said, 'By jove, that's nice' So I thinks, the mug's a pommy Won't know wheat from bloody rice I'll dish him up some bull-o He wouldn't have a bloody clue 'I'm a cocky and my station's On the plains of Paraburdoo' I thought that that would rock him But he asked me, 'Stock or sheep?' 'Naw, I'm keeping bloody goannas And we milk them once a week Ya must have heard of goanna oil And about the good they do Keeping white ants out of jumbo jets That land in Paraburdoo' No, he said, he hadn't heard it As he handed me a drink So I tells him, 'Not to worry It was scarcer than you think Soon we'll start the season shearing I've forty thousand jack-a-roo Grazing out upon the alpine slopes Just above from Paraburdoo' 'Forty thousand, why that's amazing But I find it hard to guess Will you use the wide combs and cutters With a cradle and a press?' 'Naw, shearing jack-o's them are different For their legs are only two Which makes the crutching harder In the sheds at Parabadoo' Then I thought I'd better lay off Try and think of some grand thing To praise this flamin' ice-block They call the Mother Land I says, 'Ya beer is bloody lousy For you get a bonza brew Drinking H.I. Export Lager When it's made in Paraburdoo' 'Oh', he said, 'I'm not a pommy And I hope I've not misled But I come from bally Melbourne Where the woolly bunyip's bred Like you, I'm just a farmer Growing something I find nice Easter eggs on my selection Down south from Mount Tom Price Words: S.J. (Jack) Wain, Paraburdoo, WA. Tune: Roger Montgomery. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Oct 20 - 08:44 PM There is some interesting stuff in Roger Montgomery's fascinating 'Pilbara Connection' compilation. He included a song by my good mate, Alex Green, who spent several years in Darwin before moving to Queensland after Cyclone Tracy. 'Mile Seven' was written when he was working for a mining company in the Pilbara. The tune may be found at p138 of 'Pilbara Connection'. MILE SEVEN (Alex Green) The sun comes o'er the red rock hills To the east of Dampier town It breathes its fire upon the earth It turns the dust red-brown It breathes its fire upon the men who work upon the track It burns their minds and it burns their souls It turns their bodies black Into this hell of flies and sweat For money men are driven To work upon the railroad track At a place they call Mile Seven To earn their pay, to buy their drinks To earn a young gin's smile Down in the camp they share their bunks Just like a prison cell In the pubs, they drink and talk Of girls they once knew well They drink and talk of girls they knew Until their hearts are sore Then back into the empty room And close the money door Repeat stanza 1 --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 13 Oct 20 - 05:44 AM I must have missed him when he came through on the Great Northern Line....... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Oct 20 - 04:49 AM ps. we now have 318 songs. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Oct 20 - 04:48 AM Hughie by Duke Tritton Halfway through the shearing and the weather was very dry, But the clouds were gathering, and lowdown in the sky; Just as we were having a smoke, a shower came over the plain, And we heard from the shearing shed the rouseabouts roaring refrain: Chorus: Send it down a little bit harder, dear old Hughie do! Send it down a little bit harder and we'll love you; Send it down for a week or two, All the rousies will stick like glue, Just a little bit harder - dear old Hughie do! It is known as the rouseabouts prayer, it's been sung in every shed, For when the sheep are too wet to shear the rousies get board and bed, And their pay goes on if it's wet or dry, and they haven't a worry or care, So they lay in their bunk and sleep or read, and sing the rouseabouts' prayer: CHORUS Ten points of rain and the shearers vote on whether it's wet or dry, And if they all decide to shear, you will hear the rouseabouts sigh, 'Spare me days', you will hear them say, 'There's frogs in the blanky wool”, And they stare over the counting pens and sing, for their hearts are full: CHORUS When the rain is tumbling down the shearers grumble and curse, And the boss goes round with a hungry look, for it hits him in the purse; So he prowls about the shed all day like a bull in a stockyard ring, And grinds his teeth in futile rage when he hears the rouseabout sing: CHORUS |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Oct 20 - 04:32 AM Great Northern Line collected from Duke Tritton by John Meredith My love he is a teamster, a handsome man is he, Red shirt, white moleskin trousers, and hat of cabbage-tree; He drives a team of bullocks, and whether it's wet or fine You will hear his whip a-cracking on the Great Northern Line. Chorus: Watch him, pipe him, twig him how he goes, With his little team of bullocks, he cuts no dirty shows; He's one of the flash young carriers that on the road do shine, With his little team of bullocks on the Great Northern Line. And when he swings the greenhide whip he raises skin and hair; His bullocks all have shrivelled horns, for, Lordy, can he swear! ut I will always love him, this splendid man of mine, With his little team of bullocks on the Great Northern Line. When he bogged at Mundowie and the bullocks took the yoke, y strained with bellies on the ground until the bar-chain broke. e fixed it up with wire and brought wool from Bundamine With his little team of bullocks on the Great Northern Line. When he comes into Tamworth you will hear the ladies sigh, And parents guard their daughters, for he has a roving eye; But he signals with his bullock-whip as he comes through the pine, With his little team of bullocks on the Great Northern Line. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 11 Oct 20 - 09:38 PM LOVE'S REQUEST (Traditional) Thy form it is airy and slight, love Its graces are free from restraint Thy hair sheds a halo of light, love Round features like those of a saint Oh, to bathe in the light of thine eyes What destiny sweeter could be But visions of doubt will arise, love Could you make me a damper for tea? Thy mouth is a fountain of song, love Whence melody flows like a stream To list to thee all the day long, love Would be pleasure too sweet for a dream But my courage to ask for thee fails, love To accept my hand, oh would you stoop And again, if I brought you the tails, love Would you make me some kangaroo soup? And so then I bid thee farewell, love And my claims to another I yield But you will not grieve, I can tell, love There are others than me in the field You can sing, you can play, you can dance, love But your feelings I don't mean to hurt Your charms you would greatly enhance, love Could you make me a Crimean shirt? As printed at p226 of Ron Edwards 'The Big Book of Australian Folk Song'. Ron's note: 'Love's Request' is a gently ironical song, based on the form of the popular love song of the day, but with a sting in its tail. It is from 'The Native Companion Songster 1889' and is to the tune of 'We have lived and loved together' by Nicolo. Crimean shirts, mentioned in the last line, were introduced into Australia during the period of the gold rushes and, together with cabbage tree hats, became the mark of the bushman of the period. Martyn Wyndham-read recorded it and penned a new penultimate stanza: Oh to be with you out in the day, love With pride I’d take hold of your hand And at night with the stars shining brightly We would dance to a shearers’ bush band But I wonder at times if your heart, love Would take me to be your good mate And again, if I asked you right now, love Would you wash all the dishes and plates? Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 11 Oct 20 - 08:53 PM Wongawilli's reworking of a Lawson - a good'un: SONG OF THE BULLOCK DRIVER (Henry Lawson) Far back in the days when the blacks used to ramble In long single file 'neath the evergreen tree The wool teams in season came down from Coonamble And journeyed for weeks on their way to the sea With mates who have gone to the great Never-Never And mates whom I've not seen for many a day I camped on the banks of the Cudgegong River And yarned at the fire by the old bullock-dray We rose with the dawn, were it ever so chilly When yokes and tarpaulins were covered with frost And toasted the bacon and boiled the black billy Where high on the campfire the branches were tossed On flats where the air was suggestive of 'possums And homesteads and fences were hinting of change We saw the faint glimmer of appletree blossoms And far in the distance the blue of the range And here in the rain, there was small use in flogging The poor, tortured bullocks that tugged at the load When down to the axles the wagons were bogging And traffic was making a marsh of the road Then slowly we crawled by the trees that kept tally Of miles that were passed on the long journey down. We saw the wild beauty of Capertee Valley As slowly we rounded the base of the Crown Twas hard on the beasts on the terrible pinches Where two teams of bullocks were yoked to a load And tugging and slipping, and moving by inches Halfway to the summit they clung to the road And then, when the last of the pinches was bested (You'll surely not say that a glass was a sin?) The bullocks lay down 'neath the gum trees and rested The bullockies steered for the bar of the inn And, oh! but the best-paying load that I carried Was one to the run where my sweetheart was nurse We courted awhile, and agreed to get married And couple our futures for better or worse And as my old feet grew too weary to drag on The miles of rough metal they met by the way My eldest grew up and I gave him the wagon He's plodding along by the bullocks today Youtube clip Poem --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 11 Oct 20 - 01:52 AM 314 songs! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 10 Oct 20 - 10:18 PM BEDS ARE BURNING (P.Garrett et alia) Out where the river broke The bloodwood and the desert oak Holden wrecks and boiling diesels Steam in forty five degrees The time has come To say fair's fair To pay the rent To pay our share The time has come A fact's a fact It belongs to them Let's give it back How can we dance when our earth is turning How do we sleep while our beds are burning How can we dance when our earth is turning How do we sleep while our beds are burning The time has come To say fair's fair To pay the rent, now To pay our share Four wheels scare the cockatoos From Kintore East to Yuendemu The western desert lives and breathes In forty five degrees The time has come To say fair's fair To pay the rent To pay our share The time has come A fact's a fact It belongs to them Let's give it back How can we dance when our earth is turning How do we sleep while our beds are burning How can we dance when our earth is turning How do we sleep while our beds are burning The time has come To say fair's fair To pay the rent, now To pay our share The time has come A fact's a fact It belongs to them We're gonna give it back How can we dance when our earth is turning How do we sleep while our beds are burning Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 10 Oct 20 - 10:03 PM THEY THOUGHT I WAS ASLEEP (Paul Kelly & The Stormwater Boys) We were driving back from the country one night Mum and dad up the front and the rest of us snug and tight My kid brother grizzled for a little minute 'Til my big sister told him he'd better quit it or die It had been a long day in the countryside Playing with the cousins on my mother's side The sound of the radio closed our eyes, drifting across the seat And then I fell asleep Well, I don’t know what woke me up Maybe a country song or a big truck passing by But I could hear mama and papa talking Papa said something, then mama began to cry No more words then, just soft sobs and my head began to throb I just lay there playing dog, breathing slow and deep They thought I was asleep They thought I was asleep It seemed like forever ’til the sobbing stopped Then they talked a little, but just too soft to hear Daddy kept looking at the side of her face One hand on the wheel and one hand stroking her hair The headlights shining from the other way Showed tears on the cheeks of daddy’s face I prayed for Jesus to send his grace And all our souls to keep Back then I believed They thought I was asleep The night was dark and deep How I wishedI was asleep Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 10 Oct 20 - 09:31 PM AROUND THE BOREE LOG (John O’Brien) Oh stick me in the old caboose this night of wind and rain And let the doves of fancy loose to bill and coo again I want to feel the pulse of love that warmed the blood like wine I want to see the smile above this kind old land of mine So come you by your parted ways that wind the wide world through And make a ring around the blaze the way we used to do The fountain on the sooted crane will sing the old, old song Of common joys in homely vein forgotten, ah, too long The years have turned the rusted key, and time is on the jog? Yet spend another night with me around the boree log Now someone driving through the rain will happen in I bet So fill the fountain up again and leave the table set For this was ours with pride to say - and all the world defy No stranger ever turned away, no neighbour passed us by Bedad, he'll have to stay the night, the rain is going to pour So make the rattling windows tight and close the kitchen door And bring the old lopsided chair, the tattered cushion too We'll make the stranger happy there, the way we used to do The years have turned the rusted key, and time is on the jog?Y Yet spend another night with me around the boree log He'll fill his pipe and good and well and all aglow within We'll hear the news he has to tell, the yarns he has to spin Yarns, yes, and super yarns, forsooth, to set the eyes agog And freeze the blood of trusting youth around the boree log Then stir it up and make it burn, the poker’s next to you Come let us poke it all in turn, the way we used to do There's many a memory bright and fair will tingle at a name But leave unstirred the embers there we cannot fan to flame For years have turned the rusted key and time is on the jog ?Still, spend the fleeting night with me around the boree log Youtube clip John O'Brien was pseudonym for Patrick Hartigan who was a Catholic priest. My mother, a devout Catholic, used to read his poetry to me. By the time I was in my teens, she correctly pointed out that I had 'no more religion in me than the cat'. However, I maintain a great fondness for the poems in the collection 'Around the Boree Log'. Australian Dictionary of Biography --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 10 Oct 20 - 08:20 PM The Westgate Bridge Disaster A song by Ken Mansell ©Ken Mansell Oh time is a power that is precious and golden That's needed so much by a working class bloke. It's ours in the cradle then sold, seized and stolen. If you're caught off your guard it is snuffed at a stroke. Oh time is our own when we wake in the morning, When stomachs are empty we clock on each day. And high on the scaffold you are given no warning; If a pylon comes crashing it will take you away. There are men with more time than they know what to do with; Who decided one day that a bridge we would build. We rushed the job through to save costs on its finance; The structure it split and cost thirty five killed. It's safe in the boardroom when wind a bridge seizes. When you hear the bolts snapping you can't strike for more pay. They can hire more and fire more, start again when it pleases, But the man who builds bridges, he is crushed in the clay. The concreted decks bore down hard on the girders; The foremen were blind when we looked down with fear. While experts debate, who will punish these murderers? 'It's tragic; some say, 'for our two engineers', For each one that forgets us there'll be two who remember That profit, the culprit, in its greed was revealed. Though many will stand by me, now I'm only an ember, The lips of the judges have a price, and are sealed. You can speed through the Westgate, AItona and Newport, Past widows and children whose memories can't fade, And use it for business or use it for pleasure, Spare a thought for the men from whose flesh it was made. Don't wait for the inquest or coroner's verdict; Don't send for the priest to place me below; But tell all my mates, if there's any still breathin' To fight for the day when our time is our own. Listen to this song here : https://unionsong.com/u317.html The tune being based on the (trad Scots?) song "The Blantyre Explosion" “Notes : Many thanks to Ken Mansell for permission to add this songs to the Union Songs collection. This song details the tragic events of the 15th October 1970 when a steel span on the west bank of the Yarra River in Melbourne collapsed and 35 workers were killed. Visit the West Gate Bridge Memorial Committee web site at http://www.westgatebridge.org/ “ All data has been taken from Mark Gregory’s excellent “Union Songs” website, with thanks. I was reminded of it because of this article on today’s ABC news website regarding the 15th Oct,1970 bridge collapse : West Gate Bridge disaster still haunts the men who were there, 50 years on : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-11/west-gate-bridge-collapse-haunts-survivors-50-years-on/12739324 R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 10 Oct 20 - 05:54 AM another favourite - From the Lambing to the Wool (Judy Small) My father was a cocky as his father was before him And I married me a cocky nearly fifty years ago And I've lived here on this station and I've seen the seasons changing From the drought round to the flooding, from the lambing to the wool And there've been times when I've wondered If it all was worth the doing And there've been times when I've thought This was the finest place there is For though the life here's never easy And the hours are long and heavy I'm quite contented nowadays To have joined my life to his Together through the thirties while others' lives were broken We worked from dawn to twilight to hold on to what was ours And at night we'd sit exhausted and I'd stroke his dusty forehead With him too tired to talk to me and me too tired to care CHORUS Then the children came unbidden bringing laughter to the homestead And I thanked the Lord my sons were young, too young for battle then And I counted myself lucky to lose no-one close to family Though the neighbours lost their only son, sold up and moved to town CHORUS And the children have grown and left me for careers in town and city And I'm proud of them but sadly for none chose station life And now I smile to hear them talking of the hard slog in the office For when I think of working hard I see a cocky and his wife CHORUS |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 10 Oct 20 - 05:52 AM a song I love - even tho I'm a very atypical Australian. I can't swim, hate summer heat, glare & humidity & never go to The Beach (I do like looking at beaches & oceans etc, & taking photos of them, tho - I also hate seeing places spoiled by over-development) CHARLESWORTH BAY by Judy Small I have heard the songs about the coal mines stripping mountainsides of beauty Heard the songs of whales to make a marble statue weep And I have wept to see the ice run crimson For the sake of human fashion Heard the forests groaning as the axes cut them deep But it never touched me deeper than the tears upon my face And it never lasted than a day Until that summer when I went back home to visit friends and family And I saw what they have done to Charlesworth Bay. Now it's not the kind of place that ad-men want to glorify in posters Not the kind of place to set a greenies heart alight And I can't say that it filled my dreams or even held a special memory But when I look back on my life It's in my line of sight And the cry left my lips that day came not from conscience thinking I had no chance to think of what to say It was a grief so pure and deep that I cannot tell where it came from When I saw what they had done to Charlesworth Bay. Now I have spent my holidays in hotels at the seaside I have stood on sun-drenched balconies and breathed the salt sea mist But not again shall I lie by some pool or stroll some private shoreline Without wandering whose Charlesworth Bay was this? So now when I hear songs of coalmines or of forests gone forever Or of city buildings sacrificed to feed the millionaires I see again the giant shadow cast where once the marsh and swamp were Feel again the rising anger and the bitter sting of tears For I have never felt so frightened for the future as that morning When I saw what they had done to Charlesworth Bay Oh just look at what they've done to Charlesworth Bay |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 10 Oct 20 - 05:35 AM no Judy Small - wot kind of session is this??? Mothers, Daughters, Wives Chorus (after every other verse): The first time it was fathers, the last time it was sons, And in between your husbands marched away with drums and guns. And you never stopped to question, you just went on with your lives, For all they’d taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives. You can only just remember the tears your mother shed; As she sat and read their papers, through the lists and lists of dead. And the gold frames held the photographs that mothers kissed each night, And the doorframes held the shocked and silent strangers from the fight. And twenty-one years later, with children of your own, The trumpets sounded once again and the soldier boys were gone. And you drove their trucks and made their guns and tended to their wounds, And at night you kissed the photographs and prayed for safe returns. And after it was over, you had to learn again To just be wives and mothers when you’d done the work of men, So you worked to help the needy and you never trod on toes And the photos on the pianos they struck a happy family pose. Then your daughters grew to women and your little boys to men, And you prayed that you were dreaming when the call-up came again. But you proudly smiled and held your tears as they bravely waved goodbye And the photos on the mantelpiece, they always made you cry. And now you’re getting older and with times the photos fade And in widowhood you're sitting, and reflect on the parade, Of the passing of your memories as your daughters change their lives, Seeing more to their existence than just mothers, daughters, wives. Final chorus: The first time it was fathers, the last time it was sons, And in between your husbands marched away with drums and guns. And you never stopped to question, you just went on with your lives, For all they’d taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives, And you believed them. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Oct 20 - 08:56 PM THE WAKAMARINA (C.Thatcher/N.Colquhoun) On the banks of the Wakamarina a walk Out from Nelson about thirty miles A splendid gold yield’s been discovered, a field Where dozens are making their piles Well they work with a pan in the river-bed sand And in many a crevice I’m told With knives they can dig out the nuggets so big A nice easy way to get gold Chorus I am waiting for fresh information and yes If the gold is all there you will see I’m off to the golden location I guess It’s the Wakamarina for me It’s affecting just pretty well all of the city Provisions have gone up in price And servants and tradesmen have started to fade To the diggings, all scorning advice Milkmen give customers warning and most Are leaving their usual walks And off to the Wakamarina the cart And old Dobbin are walking the chalks The crews all desert from the ships and I’ve heard That the skipper on board vainly grieves To help to discharge the ship’s cargo it’s hard But he’s got to turn up in shirt-sleeves Blacksmiths and bakers get cheeky when they Get to think of the new golden ground And butchers are talking of raising by fourpence Pleuro to a shilling a pound The rush will soon clear out Otago I hear how For passengers ships advertise Each steamer will bring up a cargo of dinkum Victorian diggers – no flies They are the men that can drop on the metal And when from Dunedin they come They’ll all get the gold from the river I’m told There’ll be nothing left for a new chum As printed in ‘Song of a Young Country’. Colquhoun shortened and made minor alterations to Thatcher’s original text. He also supplied a tune. Thatcher intended it to be sung to ‘Twig of the Shannon'. Youtube clip Colquhoun’s note: They sang their songs while panning for nuggets along the river banks … From where many of these songs came, we’ll never know except that they are ‘folk’ - examples of the parody-process that takes hold of anonymous verse. But some are clearly introduced by the ‘pop star’ of the day – the goldfields entertainer. Most famous of these was Charles Thatcher who sang his own topical song to Irish ballad-tunes. 'Song of a Young Country' p31. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Oct 20 - 08:06 PM WHERE'S YOUR LICENCE (Charles Thatcher - Tune 'The Cavalier') The morning was fine, The sun brightly did shine The diggers were working away When the inspector of traps Said now my fine chaps We'll go licence hunting today Some went this way, some that Some to Bendigo Flat And a lot to the White Hills did tramp Whilst others did bear Up towards Golden Square And the rest of them kept round the camp Each turned his eye To the holes close by Expecting on some down to drop But not one could they nail For they'd give 'em leg bail Diggers aren't often caught on the hop The little word 'Joe' That most of you know Is a signal the traps are quite near Made them all cut their sticks And they hooked it like bricks I believe you, my boys, no fear Now a tall, ugly trap He espied a young chap Up the gully a-cutting like fun So he quickly gave chase But 'twas a hard race For mind you, the digger could run Down the hole he did pop While the bobby up top Says - 'just come up', shaking his staff 'Young man of the crown. If yer wants me come down For I'm not to be caught with such chaff' Of course you'd have thought The sly fox he'd have caught By lugging him out of the hole But this crusher no fear Quite scorned the idea Of burrowing the earth like a mole But wiser by half He put by his staff And as onward he went sung he 'When a cove's down a drive Whether dead or alive He may stay there till doomsday for me' Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Oct 20 - 07:33 PM LOOK OUT BELOW (Charles Thatcher – Tune ‘The Pirate King’) A young man left his native shore For trade was bad at home To seek his fortune in this land He crossed the briny foam And when he came to Ballarat It put him in a glow, To hear the sound of the windlasses And the cry, ‘Look out below’ Wherever he turned his wandering eyes Great wealth he did behold And peace and plenty hand in hand By the magic power of gold Quoth he, ‘As I am young and strong To the diggings I will go For I like the sound of the windlasses And the cry, "Look out below"’ Amongst the rest he took his chance And his luck at first was vile But still he resolved to persevere And at length he made his pile So says he, ‘I'll take my passage And home again I'll go And say farewell to the windlasses And the cry, “Look out below”’ Arrived in London once again His gold he freely spent And into every gaiety And dissipation went But pleasure, if prolonged too much Oft causes pain you know And he missed the sound of the windlasses And the cry, ‘Look out below’ And thus he reasoned with himself ‘Oh why did I return? For a digger's independent life I now begin to yearn’ Here, purse-proud lords the poor oppress, But there it is not so Give me the sound of the windlasses And the cry, ‘Look out below’ So he started for this land once again With a charming little wife. And he finds there's nothing comes up to A jolly digger's life Ask him if he'll go back one day He'll quickly answer, ‘No’ for he loves the sound of the windlasses And the cry, "Look out below’ Some great images in this video: Youtube clip Information on Thatcher: Australian Dictionary of Biography NZ Dictionary of Biography Robert Hoskins 'Goldfield Balladeer' Collins 1977. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 07 Oct 20 - 10:13 PM THE BALLINA WHALERS (Harry Robertson) In ‘56 I sailed on board a ship called Byron One She carried trawler men on deck and a harpoon whaling gun With a tractor for a whale winch, our ship an old Fairmile Twin diesels turned the screws around and we whaled the Aussie style Chorus Heigh ho ye trawler men come on, forget the snapper and the prawn And it’s out of Ballina we’ll sail a-fishing for the humpback whale So keep a sharp lookout me lads, for the whale is on the run And we’ll chase him into Byron Bay and kill him with our gun The harpoon and the line fly true, bedding deep into the whale But she split the timbers of our ship with a flurry of her tail Chorus Our rigging struts were snapped in two, we reeled beneath the blow But the gunner fired a killer shot and the humpback sank below Chorus Now make her tail fast to the bow, we’ve got no time for bed For four and twenty hours each day we kept that factory fed The flensing men upon the land, some had been jackaroos But they skinned the blubber off them whales like they’d skinned the kangaroos Chorus One hundred whales, then fifty more, to the factory we did send Till a message said, ‘Knock off me lads' - the season’s at an end Back into Ballina we sailed, tied up and stowed the gear Then all hands headed for the pub and we filled ourselves with beer As recorded by Danny Spooner - 'The Great Leviathan' CD. Danny's note: Another of Harry Robertson's songs sings the praise of the adaptable Aussie worker. The men who manned the old ex-naval Fairmile to hunt humpback whales out of Byron Bay were trawler men used to fishing and prawning with nets. Now with a tractor mounted on the deck for a whale winch and a harpoon gut mounted forward, they went whale hunting Aussie Style. Danny's recording is not on the Net, but Nic Jones recorded it as 'The Humpback Whale' on his 'Penguin Eggs' LP. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 07 Oct 20 - 09:21 PM BOB MAHONEY AND HIS CREW (Trad) While outward bound far o’er the deep Slung in me hammock I fell asleep I had a dream which I thought was true Concerning Mahoney and his boat’s crew With a crew of seamen he sailed away To hunt the black whale in Recherche Bay Off yon green Island, not far from here There we lost Mahoney and his boat’s gear There’s Captain Kennedy of Hobart town There’s Captain Reynolds of high renown There’s Captain Robertson and many, many more They’ve long been cruising Macquarie’s shore They cruised east and they cruised west Round the sou’west cape where they thought best No tide nor tale could they see or hear Concerning Mahoney or his boat’s gear In Recherche Bay where the black whale blow The tale of Mahoney they all do know They say he’s gone like many, many more He left his home to return no more As we draw nearer to Hobart’s shore I saw a fair maid in deep deplore She was sobbing, sighing, saying ‘Pity me I’ve lost my brother poor Bob Mahoney She wrung her hands and she tore her hair Like a maid distracted in deep despair ‘I’ve lost my brother no more to see I’ve lost my brother poor Bob Mahoney And now my burden it brings me pain For long-lost Mahoney I’ve searched in vain A thousand pounds I would give to you To see Bob Mahoney and his boat’s crew As recorded in Alan Musgrave ’Songs They Used To Sing’. A Danny Spooner recording, ‘The Loss of Mahoney’, can be found in ’The Great Leviathan’ and ’Song Lines’: Youtube clip The song came from the singing of Jack Davies. You can hear him here: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 07 Oct 20 - 08:16 PM THE WATERWITCH (Trad) A neat little packet from Hobart set sail To cruise the wide oceans for the monster sperm whale To cruise to the wide oceans where the stormy winds blow Bound away in the Waterwitch to the west'ard we'll go Chorus Bound away, bound away, where the stormy winds blow Bound away in the Waterwitch to the west'ard we'll go Oh ‘twas early one morning just as the sun rose The man from her mast head cries out, 'There she blows' ‘Where away' cries our skipper and springing aloft ‘Three points off yer lee bow and scarce three miles off' Chorus We sailed off the west wind and came up a pace The whale boats was lowered and set for the chase Get yer lines in the boats see yer box line is clear And lower her down boys and after him steer Chorus We fought him alongside, the harpoon thrust in In just over an hour, he rolled out his fin The whale was cut in boys, tried out and stowed down He's worth more to us, boys, than five hundred pound Chorus When the ship she gets full boys to Hobart we'll steer Where there's plenty of pretty girls and plenty good beer We'll spend our money freely with the girls on the shore And when it's all gone go a-whaling for more Chorus As recorded in Danny Spooner 'The Great Leviathan' Danny's note: From the singing of a Mr Jack Davies of Hobart, this is similar to The Coast of Peru and New Zealand Whales. It recalls the days when Tasmanian whalers hunted the Southern Right Whale from the Derwent across the Tasman sea. I got the words originally from Lloyd Robson, who with Norm O'Connor, recorded Mr Davies in the early 1960s. Also recorded in Alan Musgrave 'Songs They Used To Sing' Youtube clip You can hear Jack Davies sing it on Mark Gregory's site: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 07 Oct 20 - 06:09 AM Ask her from me to CHANNEL John!! :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Oct 20 - 05:42 AM Dale does a bit of song writing |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 07 Oct 20 - 05:38 AM Thank you for that post, Sandra - they are indeed GEMS!!! (and so many of us were waiting for Joh to be deposed before migrating to QLD - and now there are SO many newcomers who really don't know why he was so bad, and probably don't particularly care :( R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Oct 20 - 03:38 AM congratulations, Stewie Cunnamulla is no. 300! & it can only be followed by 2 more of John's great songs that were going to end the show about the centenary of John Meredith's birth at the 2020 National - cancelled due to covid! penultimate song - Queensland Medley aka Farewell to Joh. ultimate song - The Melbourne Medley The relevance of singing J.D’s Farewell and Adieu was that Merro enjoyed J.D’s protest songs and anti-Joh with strong criticism, but No swearing, songs. He especially liked the use of traditional ‘Farewell’ songs including ‘Farewell and adieu to you Brisbane Ladies’ It is a fine example of parody and Ralph and I felt it had a great chorus to sing as the penultimate song. (Ralph Pride joined BMC in the early 60s, around the same time John & Dale joined.) Queensland Medley - Farewell to Joh. Tune: Brisbane Ladies - Augathella Station Farewell and adieu to the Premier of Queensland Farewell and adieu and goodbye to Sir Joh You useless old bastard, too long you have lasted Now your mates have decided that you have to go. Chorus - You ranted and roared at the reds and the greenies, You ranted and roared at the black and the white; You postured and strutted, just like Mussolini ... Now your mates have betrayed you and that serves you right. You pineapple vandal, they've snuffed out your candle, Get back to your peanuts, you senile old sod; Take Flo and her pumpkins, you great pair of bumpkins, You can start playing lawn bowls and stop playing God. Chorus You Lutheran pastor cum paw paw disaster You Darling Downs despot, you Kingaroy clown Get back to your tractor, you seventh rate actor You pious, hypocritical, adjective noun. Stick that up your jumper, you old Bible-thumper, You second-rate Hitler, you goose-stepping goose; The poisonous old cane toad's in gone-down-the-drain mode, Like a dribble of Bundaberg sugar cane juice. Chorus Tune changes to It's a Long Way to Tipperary It's a long way to Cunnamulla, it's a long way to go. It's a long way to Cunnamulla on the River Warrago. I know there's been a gerrymander and I know it isn't fair. But I have to rely on Cunnamulla, they vote for me there. After some devastating serves to Joh B-J, John had just about run out of ‘Dengate expletives’ but ‘adjective noun’, with the innuendo of too terrible to say it, always gets a laugh. (email from Dale, 15/04/20) to be followed by The Melbourne Medley 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. CHORUS |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 07 Oct 20 - 03:36 AM Sure, the days of Joh & Flo are over and the infamous Brown Paper Bag gone with them ....... or has it??? However, years later, we are still saddled with their mate in the form of Australia’s 11th richest billionaire, who is some kind of Loki, causing expensive and heart-breaking chaos everywhere - and who “coincidentally” was Joh’s big supporter and backer, particularly in his push to become Prime Minister. (Perish the Thought, indeed!) WHERE then, are the songs about this character and his questionable deeds????? Surely Master Dengate should be sending them to Dale, from Beyond, in the form of automatic writing perhaps???!!! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 07 Oct 20 - 02:28 AM A member of my ukulele group (currently in recession due to the plague) once suggested doing "It's a long way to Tipperary"......I couldn't. I kept singing John's words for 'Cunnamulla'. We never did do 'Tipperary'. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 07 Oct 20 - 01:35 AM This one was a great favourite back in the Joh and Flo days. As posted by Tony in Darwin a good few years ago. CUNNAMULLA (John Dengate) [Tune: It's a Long Way to Tipperary] First verse and chorus: It's a long way to Cunnamulla, it's a long way to go, It's a long way to Cunnamulla on the River Warrego. I know there's been a gerrymander and I know it isn't fair, But I have to rely on Cunnamulla; they vote for me there. Mr. Bjelke Petersen is a genius, it's true. Mr. Bjelke Petersen makes five votes equal two. He divides up the whole electorate, subtracts Aunt Edna's twins, And he multiplies the rural fraction and that's how he wins. Chorus [Tune: Pack up Your Troubles] Here is your ticket to the Senate, Flo, That's guile, guile, guile. Pack up your pumpkin scones and portmanteau; goose-step round the pile. Tell the mob in Canberra, I waltzed you down the aisle, So here is your nepotistic ticket, Flo, seig Heil! Heil! Heil! [Tune: It's a Long Way to Tipperary] Chorus Old Caligula the Roman, so the history text books say, Put his horse into the Senate where it always voted "neigh". But a horse is still considered useful on the River Warrego, So! The ancient Romans got an old grey mare and Queensland got Flo. Chorus Why not go to sunny Queensland, why not venture forth? Why not join the Country Party in that lovely land up north? Ignore the electorate in Brisbane; to hell with Moreton Bay; As long as you win in Cunnamulla, you'll be O.K. Chorus From "My Shout: Songs and Poems by John Dengate" pub. Bush Music Club, Sydney, Easter, 1982. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 07 Oct 20 - 01:03 AM THE AMITY MEN Composer? (presumed to be one/some of the Albany Shanytmen, in WA) Ch. A town they made those Amity Men, A town that set them free A town they made those Amity Men, A town called Albany. 1. From New Bruswick, Canada, borne in the icy breeze A block and square-rigged sailing brig, she steered fine weatherly With top forebones? of Hackmatack, she crossed the Atlantic seas Ploughing through the ocean troughs, she’s bound for Albany. 2. From Scotland to Tasmania, a new world there to see The Roaring Forties, blazing sun, she steered fine weatherly Then off to West Australia, set off the old barque(-ee)? In Eighteen Hundred and Twenty Six, sailed into Albany. 3. Major Lockyer’s convict crew, with McCabe, Dinneen, Magee ???……………………craftsmen, she steered fine weatherly For five days they unloaded her, salt pork, cut tacks, split peas Timber, rifles, tools, and tents, they founded Albany. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qql0bTPmWjY The Amity Men (The Albany Shantymen) Thanks to Stewie for helping discern some of those lyrics - and any Old Salts’ further suggestions are very welcome! Plus, does anyone know the composer/s?? The Amity is the (relatively small) vessel which in 1826, brought Major Edmund Lockyer (with crew and naval party, 19 soldiers of the 39th Foot, 23 convicts (11 each English & Irish, + 1 Yank), storekeeper, gardener, 2 overseers, 3 women, 2 kids, animals, building materials, and stores) from the Colony of New South Wales to establish a British presence on the West Coast, thus greatly reducing the chance of a feared claim by the French. There is a replica ship on the foreshore in Albany (in the SW corner of WA), built in the mid 1970s to mark Albany’s 150th anniversary. Incidentally, The Amity also featured strongly in the Moreton Bay area’s convict history, on the East Coast (and the land now known as Qld, was only formerly excised from NSW in 1859 – quite late in the scheme of things!) Now this may not be the most brilliant song going, but I must confess that my interest in it is because my GGGrandfather, William Thacker, a Londoner, was amongst this initial trusted Convict crew of 23 to sail with the Amity from Sydney (landing in Dec 1826) and he gained his freedom at King George Sound / Frederickstown (later known as Albany), and in Dec 1830, headed up to the Swan River Colony (newly founded, June 1829) via the Nimrod, eventually taking up land in Upper Swan. There he met and married young Eliza Cook, a Peel Estater, who had arrived May 1830 on the ill-fated Rockingham. So the family regard him as one of West Aussie’s earliest (if not THE earliest!) settlers (esp as he stayed in WA when many new arrivees balked at the place and promptly shot-through to the Eastern States). However, I fear the Landed Gentry still do not approve of such a low-class wretch (Crikey! He was only an opportunistic thief!!), being accorded any high civil and historical status, LoL!! (sniff) Cheers, R-J (doffing cap and tugging forelock :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 06 Oct 20 - 11:54 PM EXcellent, JennieG - don't stop there!! R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 06 Oct 20 - 10:48 PM As (sort of) promised. Dying Treasurer John Dengate Tune: Dying Stockman A Federal Treasurer lay dying, His budget supporting his head. The cabinet stood plausibly lying As he raised on his elbow and said - Wrap me up in my jiggery-pokery, Wrap me round in my legerdemain. Bury me deep in the rhetoric Right next to the monetary drain. There's booze in the cut-glass decanter, Place the tumblers all in a row And toast more and more unemployment - May the total continue to grow. Wrap me up in my jiggery-pokery, Wrap me round in my legerdemain. Bury me deep in the rhetoric Right next to the monetary drain. Cut down the consumer price index Put wages and salaries on ice. Lock up one or two union leaders To help me attain paradise. Wrap me up in my jiggery-pokery, Wrap me round in my legerdemain. Bury me deep in the rhetoric Right next to the monetary drain. Oh, had I the flight of a bronze-wing Instead of a blind silver-tail I'd fly in the face of all reason And I'd write my last Budget in Braille. Wrap me up in my jiggery-pokery, Wrap me round in my legerdemain. Bury me deep in the rhetoric Right next to the monetary drain. Alternate last verse: Oh, had I the flight of an emu, I'd desperately run round and round, And try to soar into the sunset And never get up off the ground. The last verse is a doozy, considering that emus don't fly. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Oct 20 - 10:27 PM RERENGA’S WOOL (B.Paterson (attributed)/m.Anon) ’Twas down at Wellington A noble Maori came A Rangatira of the best Rerenga was his name He stalked into the bank they call The Great Financial Hell And told the Chief Financial Fiend The tribe had wool to sell The bold bank manager looked grave The price of wool was high He said, ‘We’ll lend you what you need We’re not disposed to buy You ship the wool to England, Chief You’ll find it’s good advice And meanwhile you can draw from us The local market price’ Rerenga thanked him courteously And said he wished to state In all th Rotoiti tribe His mana would be great Wedged into a cargo ship Full up from stem to bow A mighty clip of wool went Home Form Rotoiti-au It was the bold bank manager Who made the heavy cheque Rerenga cashed it thoughtfully Then clasped him round the neck ‘To show my gratitude’, he said As he pouched the pelf ‘I’ll haha for you, generous sir In honour of yourself’ He haka’d most effectively Then with an airy grace Pressed noses with the manager And vanished into space And when the wool return came back Aha what sighs and groans For every bale of Maori wool Was loaded up with stones As recorded by Tommy and Margaret Wood on 'Song of a Young Country' LP. Youtube clip It is attibuted to Banjo Paterson. The full poem as printed in 'Saltbush Bill JP, And Other Verses': Click Note in 'Song of a Young Country': Since the 1840s, first the Company's agents, then the government's agents, had been buying land from the Maori for resale to the settlers. Land ownership was complicated and anyone who presented himself as a great Chief with sole selling rights to a block of land was welcomed with open arms - his claims not too closely investigated and an advance quickly given to help prevent a change of mind ... Anybody could be chief, and sell his enemy's land from under him. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Oct 20 - 09:38 PM MURDERERS ROCK (N.Colquhoun) Murderer’s Rock stands on the track And watches all that passes Victorian miners, hard old-timers And wash-a-bit move-along asses For the Dunstan, just as the Tuapek did That gave us all gold fever Has little that’s left of payable dirt And we are bound to leave her (x2) Let your ears flap as they hears A tale that’ll certain displease you About four wild colonial men Begetting their gold at leisure Dick Burgess, Kelly and Phillip Levy That now stand trial in the dock They butchered poor Mathieu and his friends For their gold at Murderers Rock (2) The four had planned their evil work When Mathieu spoke up louder And told the company in the bar Hard savings - no man prouder They travelled ahead to wait and rob And not one was fair fighter If a single robber has stood with fists My story could have been brighter (x2) Hang down your head, Dick Burgess ’Twill make no difference further You know you’ll hang from the gallows tree And pay for your terrible murder For Kelly too I haven’t much time Though for Levy I am warmer The jury has to make up its mind On the evidence of an informer (x2) Murderer’s Rock stands on the track And watches all that passes Victorian miners, hard old-timers And wash-a-bit move-along asses My story’s ended, I am done And all take warning from it Don’t take another man’s life for gold Or the gallows you’ll hang upon it (x2) This beaut rendition by Tamburlaine makes up for the doggerel verse: Youtube clip Full details of the incident may be found here: Click —Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Oct 20 - 09:04 PM NEWELL HIGHWAY (J.Warner/G.Parry) Awake before the dawn, within the spires of range Where magpies ornate melodies Engrave the chilly morning breeze Beneath the towering stone Beneath the towering stone On nights of silver moon, too rich to waste on sleep In silence make your way to seek The choirs of frogs in swamp and creek That sing beneath the stars That sing beneath the stars Out on the Western Plain beside the roaring road Where trucks snarl by without a care Are billabongs with ibis there And wedge-tail eagles soar And wedge-tail eagles soar All you that love the earth and make her ways your choice Cry out against the noise of trade Demand that silence should be made So that all may hear her voice Her ancient, matchless voice Recorded on Danny Spooner 'Emerging Tradition'. Danny noted: John Warner penned this piece in 1985, after a visit to the Warrumbungle Mountains in inland New South Wales. A committed conservationist, John borrowed the tune of the well-loved Anglican hymn 'Dear Lord and Father of Mankind' (G.H.H. Parry) to remind us how ‘progress’ has encroached upon and damaged some of our most precious assets and continues to do so. --Stewie. Recording by Kerr, Fagan, Harbron. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Oct 20 - 08:42 PM THE FORBES FLOOD Another great disaster has come upon this land Out where the Lachlan River flows on its way so grand Was in the month of August and the town was bright and gay And the folks out on the lachlan they were happy all the day And then the skies grew cloudy and the rain came fallen down All day the mighty torrents came falling to the ground The streams throughout the country kept swelling day by day Until the angry Lachlan, it was roaring on its way And then there came a warning , the levees cannot stand A brave important struggle to save their native land But still the raging water kept pounding at the shores Until it broke the levee banks and into Forbes it poured How many homes were flooded and brave men knelt to pray As all that they had cherished was madly swept away The world will gladly help them to pay the awful cost But no-one can ever give them back the treasures they have lost We can't explain the reason these great disasters come But we all must remember to say "Thy will be done" And though the good may suffer for other people's sins There is a crown awaiting where eternal life begins. As recorded on Alan Musgrave 'Songs They Used to Sing: A Panorama of Australian Folksong'. Traditional singer, Ebb Wren, made a few minor changes to Carson Robison's 'The Mississippi Flood'. Full details, including Robison's original text, may been found on this 20-year-old Mudcat thread: Click Since then, a video of Ebb Wren has been posted to YT. Go to circa 1 minute mark. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Oct 20 - 08:39 PM I'm on my way out, but Ive just gathered my Dengate books & will check Leyne's website - The John Dengate Collection A library of John Dengate words, music, videos, photos and memories - when I get back - assuming you haven't checked the Lyrics & Poems page & posted stuff yourselves! ps. we now have 292 songs, I've sent you a copy of the list, Jennie |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 06 Oct 20 - 07:37 PM Indeed! JennieG - and we haven't had near enough here from John, have we??! Go for it! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 06 Oct 20 - 07:11 PM Today would be a good day for John Dengate's 'Dying Treasurer' song......if I have time later. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 06 Oct 20 - 04:43 AM A song not often heard, but a goodun nonetheless. On the Road with Liddy William Miller, 1934 I'm on the road with Liddy with five hundred head of fats. We string' em on the stony ground and wheel 'em on the flats, And when the evenin' stars come out, with laughter and with song, We round the cattle up, and camp by some quiet billabong. Our cook's a ball of muscles when he's rustling up a feed, And Bob Delany's home and dried when steadying the lead, And if the cattle run at night, there's one chap out in front Striking matches on the bullock's horns, a chap named Georgie Hunt. And when we get to Wyndham, there's Tom Cole with his whip To steer the lead across the hill and put 'em on the ship. And when the mob is all on board, we'll have some blasted fun, We'll get Jack Roberts with his car to take us for a run. We'll try and dig Bob Cooper up, then to that bag of tricks, The pub that's kept by Teddy Clark they call the Double-Six. We'll sing again them drovin' songs we sang along the track, Have a show on the screen for an hour or two, then off again out-back. Sung here by A.L. Lloyd : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_PN6XMFQXw He notes on the afore-mentioned LP “The Great Australian Legend : “They used to say that the heart of Australian nation was the nomad tribe - the teamsters, shearers, drovers—always on the move across the continent. Men with plenty of resourcefulness and few responsibilities. At the head of the nomad tribe were the drovers, the overlanders, who shifted herds and flocks across the plains to distant stations or sale-yards. With the spread of railways, the need for the long drives diminished, but they haven't quite disappeared yet. The old forms of bush life have lasted best in the remote country of the Northern Territories and the northern part of West Australia. Mateship is a basic necessity in such empty country; a free and easy hospitability makes up for a life that is otherwise monotonous, repetitious, terribly short of event. Slowness, a certain melancholy, and eager snatch at chance for diversion characterises the existence of the cattlemen of the far outback, even today. The relatively recent North-west drover's song, On the Road with Liddy, shows it all. This unusual lyric was made, presumably in the 1920s, by a Northern Territory cattle-hand named William Miller. Tommy Liddy was a well-known drover and horseman of the time. The narrative concerns a cattle-drive to the north-west Australian port of Wyndham. I've not seen this one in print.” All that info was pulled from the excellent Mainly Norfolk website: https://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/ontheroadwithliddy.html The info following is from the also excellent Folkstream.com website by Mark Gregory : See also the original published version from the Darwin Newspaper the Northern Standard The Droving Days in this collection From the singing of A.L.Lloyd. Printed in Australian Tradition , Oct 1971 Wyndham - port town in northern WA / Lloyd describes Liddy as a well known drover of the area and Liddy's is also known as a bottle tree near Cockatoo Bore, the other side of Kununurra / Fats - road bullocks / Tom Cole - contract musterer and station manager who settled in Wyndham in 1924 / Georgie Hunt - drover on the VRD, Victoria River Downs in the Northern Territory / Teddy Clark's wife ran a pub called the Six Mile in about 1923 / Filmshows were put on at the meatworks in Wyndham in those days. My previous hearing of this song was an a cappella group harmony version, but just by whom, has now been lost to me! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 06 Oct 20 - 03:02 AM Just came across Greg Windred on YT. He's from Armidale, NSW and likes a wide range of music and styles. Have a listen to his powerful "BLOOD ON THE WATTLE", set to a great slideshow : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crNVyuRtZFM Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 06 Oct 20 - 02:54 AM HARD TACK trad I'm a shearer, yes, I am, and I’ve shorn both sheep and lamb From the Wimmera to the Darling Downs and back And I've run a shed or two when the fleece was tough as glue But I'll tell you where I struck the ’ardest tack. I was down round Yenda way, killin' time from day to day Till the big sheds started movin' further out When I met a bloke by chance that I summed up at a glance As a cocky from a vineyard round about. Now it seems he picked me too—well, it wasn't hard to do 'Cause I had me tongs a-hangin' at me hip “Well, I got a mob,” he said, “just about two hundred head And I'd give a ten pound note to get the clip.” I says, “Right, I'll take the stand”, it meant gettin’ in me hand And by nine o’clock we'd rounded up the mob In a shed sunk in the ground with wine-casks all around And that was where I started on me job. I goes easy for a bit whilst me hand was gettin’ fit And by dinner time I'd done about a score With the cockie pickin' up, and handin' me a cup Of pinkie after every sheep I shore. Well, he had to go away about the seventh day After showin’ me the kind of casks to use Then I'd do the pickin' up, and manipulate the cup Strollin' round them wine-casks just to pick and choose. Then I'd stagger to the pen, grab a sheep and start again With a sound between an 'iccup and a sob And sometimes I'd fall asleep with me arms around a sheep Worn and weary from me over-arduous job. And so six weeks went by, till one day, with a sigh I shoved the dear old cobbler through the door I gathered in the cocky's pay, and staggered on me way From the hardest flamin' shed I'd ever shorn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaisYXk0tsE&list=PLETVuiXKS2qBiKClqcaTxb5V5juZC7tdf&index=13 sung here by Declan Affley on LP “The Day the Pub Burned Down” Notes by A.L.Lloyd are taken from LP “The Great Australian Legend” : “Already in the nineteenth.century, in South Australia and Victoria, vineyards were being planted, mostly by German settlers. And notably in the period between the World wars, with the establishment of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, the orchard and vineyard districts of New South Wales began to spread and encroach on regions that formerly had been devoted to sheep. To their astonishment, shearers found themselves drinking wine instead of their famed staple beverage, beer. The culture collision between vineyard and sheep land, wine and beer, is well expressed in the Hard Tack song.” tongs: hand shears / pickin’ up: picking up and baling the fleeces as they are shorn / pinkie: wine / cobbler: last sheep to be shorn https://www.topicrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/TSDL203.pdf Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 05 Oct 20 - 10:42 PM ODE TO STREAM (Mic Travers) Well I’m cuttin’ all my ties and I’ve sung all my goodbyes There’s no tellin’ when I might return For I’ve heard it in the streams and I’m out to catch my dreams There’s a light within my soul that does burn Chorus Yes, pack your bags, girl, be my friend on the road Together we will find again the good times that we know’d And our love emerge unscathed from the baptism of waves It’s written in the sands, in the lines upon our hands It will be so From life’s impossible defeats to her euphoric craigie peaks I’ve staggered over many the ragged mile From this material mirage, I leap for the universe at large Blind and trusting as a new-born child Chorus And now I close my eyes and dream of that gentle flowing stream And the words of wisdom it must whisper still I drink deeply from its banks and I offer up my thanks Oh will I return again, I probably will Chorus Now it’s time to press upon the road, sing a song to light our load Let the hook and fire rekindle our soul But there’s every chance we’ll weather if we can but stick together Whatever tempest mother nature throws Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 05 Oct 20 - 10:23 PM SOON MAY THE WELLERMAN COME (Anon) There was a ship that put to sea The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea The winds blew up, her bow dipped down Oh blow me bully boys blow Chorus Soon may the Wellerman come And bring us sugar and tea and rum One day when the tonguin’ is done We’ll take our leave and go She had not been two weeks from shore When down on her a wright whale bore The captain called all hands and swore He’d take that whale in tow Before the boat had hit the water The whale’s tail came up and caught her All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her When she dived down below No line was cut, no whale was freed The captain’s mind was not of greed But he belonged to the wheelman’s creed She took the ship in tow For forty days or even more The line went slack, then tight once more All boats were lost - there were only four But still the whale did go As far as I’ve heard, the fight’s still on The line’s not cut and the whale’s not gone The Wellerman makes his regular call To encourage the captain, crew and all Shore-whalers, unlike whalers on ships, could not return to their native lands. Even if there were a ship, they couldn’t afford the passage for they saw no money. Whaling companies, such as Wellers of Sydney, sent agents across the Tasman to collect the bone and oil and to pay the men in sugar and rum. When the companies ceased to operate, the men began to work on their own - whaling, some fishing, a little farming.’Song of a Young Country’ p10. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 05 Oct 20 - 01:19 AM Sandra posted a couple of Greg Hastings songs above, and I remembered this one : NULLARBORING PLAIN Written while driving across the Nullarbor in a Diatsu 500cc Handy Van CHORUS Curse the blessed highway that's been going on for miles Across the Nullaboring Plain the lonesome traveler drives Counting cans and gum trees there isn't much to choose But the skeletons of burnt out cars and flattend kangaroos. You've loaded up your roof racks, supplies aare stacked and stored You take along your best cassettes to stop from getting bored. Maybe you've a friend or two in your car or your can or your truck But by the time you get to Eucla mate you won't give a ..... damn. CHORUS You start off waving at the cars you meet along the track And then you give up hoping you ever will wave back You get so flaming bored that to stop yourself from sleep You start waving at the cows, the birds, the signposts and the sheep. CHORUS If by chance you break down with a station miles away There'll be no need to panic as on your knees you pray You'll never be very lonely no matter how hard you tries Cos you've always got the company of sixty million flies. CHORUS If you like your fauna as you're driving on your way There's very little of it if you're driving in the day You may just catch the odd roo or rabbit in the rough But they're usually quite motionless and absolutely stuffed. CHORUS Then at night they jump you and they'll give you quite a scare You'll even see them moving when they're never there Still you've got those insects, whose guts just must be seen And you've got the time to watch it as it spreads across the screen. CHORUS There's roadtrains to the left of you, roadtrains to the right Things can get quite hairy when you're driving in the night They look like giant Christmas trees as they cut off every bend But you'll wind up like a fairy with one stuffed right up your end. CHORUS And when at last you get there be it Perth or Sydney town A sense of great achievement no doubt you will have found You may be tired and sweaty, your back all stiff and sore But at least you've got your sticker says you've crossed the Nullarbor. CHORUS Copyright Greg Hastings © 1982 Sample excerpt : https://www.greghastings.com/files/Greg%20Hastings%20-%20Wandering%20Man%20-%2015%20-%20Nullaboring%20Plain.mp3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T845HV-1yP0&feature=youtu.be Greg at Roleystone Performer’s Night, 2011 In 2020, it is a roughly 3935 kilometre (or 2445 mile) journey, on Highway 1, taking maybe 41 hours with shared driving. Apparently. Most West Aussie Baby Boomers would have done the overland trip along the old Eyre Highway (and many of us, more than once) in the ‘bulldust’ days, long before all the roads were sealed and vehicles were air conditioned. Where you had to carry jerry cans of spare fuel and water – just in case. The roads were mostly long, hot, dry, dusty tracks (until it rained, when it was slippery mud) - covered in potholes (if large and hit at speed there goes your front end), teeth-rattling corrugations, and limestone outcrops to shred the tyres of the tired and unwary, with mostly only the occasional truck-cum-roadtrain for fleeting company (or sometimes a Speleo Expedition of cavers, as the land is littered with huge underground cave systems and sinkholes). And the road just went on for Bloody Miles and Miles!! Great fun. The only relief was stopping at the bore water tanks where you could sluice off the grime with hot - very salty – undrinkable water. I recall my Aunt and Uncle, then resident in Tasmania, visiting their Perth families in the mid 1950s - with 3 kids under 5, in a small sedan car. And they did it again a few years later, with an extra child! West Aussies (and Returned Soldiers), sure were built tough!! I’ve now a mind to revisit some of the books written about the early post-WWII journeys undertaken (like by Ion Idriess), and about the famous Redex trials that started in 1953 (with drivers like “Gelignite Jack” Murray and Jack Brabbham), and films of which excited everyone so much at the local flicks! https://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/redex_trials_the_legend Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 04 Oct 20 - 10:28 PM R-J, this should be of interest to you since your beloved made instruments for hydrographers in Darwin. THE WAYWARD HYDROGRAPHER (Mic Travers) Well come listen all my merry friends, I’ll tell to you this yarn It is of a young apprentice who was living up in Darwin Water was his trade and his indentures had been signed That was his undoing as sure as you’re a friend of mine Da da li li etc Well despite his youthful countenance and credit where it’s due Our youth had had experience and he’d seen a few things too He’d travelled round about the place, a few trips beneath his belt But he’d never been down south in spring when snow begins to melt Refrain He set off one morn from Darwin and the weather it was fine It was mid-to-late September and most morns are then you’ll find He travelled south by east, stopping briefly here and there But he never stopped for good till he breathed cool mountain air Refrain Well at this point in my story, it is fair I tell to you The few things he had with him that he thought would see him through He had a guage, a rod, a rain guage, a book of useful facts An inner tube, a swag and a few things in a pack Refrain Well he’d been camped up there a few weeks, taking guagings of the stream Looking for some correlation, some new insight he might glean When he saw it in his readings and confirmed it with his eyes That within the space of hours, the mountain stream began to rise Refrain Well at first he thought nought of it, still he made some little note For it may have proved of interest to some academic bloke But as the stream became a torrent, interest gave way to alarm And he scampered over rocks, still with his rod under his arm Refrain Now without the hint of panic, our old mate knew what to do He reached straight for his old inner tube and into it he blew And blew with all his might, barely stopping for a spell He had thing damn near inflated ‘fore into the stream he fell Refrain And so quick were his reflexes, he had time before he went To grab his book of useful facts and to take one last measurement He rode the old tube like a pro, steering with his guage and rod Thumbing the index of his book for flashing floods and acts of god Refrain Mic spent some time in Darwin with his young family before heading to Brisbane - a fine performer and song writer. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Oct 20 - 04:14 AM THE PROSECUTION (Don Henderson) Young, free and white, woke up this morning Looked out the window and he saw In the east a new day was dawning A day that had never been before And he wonders, could it be That, in some way, mightn't he Be as singularly unique as this new day? Or was it simply true There are 'Them' and 'They' and 'You' And to 'Them' you are just another 'They'? Ch. And his hopes of acquittal are sinking For the charges on which he'll appear Are 'suspicion of unauthorised thinking' And 'possession of a dangerous idea'. The family is all seated round the table The children eat their meal and ask for more Mother says she's done the best she's able Father swears and, leaving, slams the door He is poor and some are not His two hands are all he's got His two hands built the world and hold it high Could he build a new world where Working men all have a share? He wonders if he's brave enough to try. And his hopes of acquittal are sinking For the charges on which he'll appear Are 'suspicion of unauthorised thinking' And 'possession of a dangerous idea'. Saturday night and the camp is getting jumpy As white men after 'velvet' offer port Jackie sits there in his scrap heap humpy And thinks 'If this is life, thank God it's short' On the wind faint voices came Called him by his tribal name And asked him what of his Dreaming, his people's land? Then, rising from the dirt, he threw down the mission shirt And, proud again, put on the red headband. And his hopes of acquittal are sinking For the charges on which he'll appear Are 'suspicion of unauthorised thinking' And 'possession of a dangerous idea'. The court has been rehearsed in preparation The executioner is well prepared All services will join the operation Leave is cancelled, no expense is spared Knowing what it was he said, Nothing's safe till he is dead He said: "Every man's his own man in the end!" He said: "Slaves are black and white, The divided will unite" He said: "Every man's his own man in the end!" And his hopes of acquittal are sinking For the charges on which he'll appear Are 'suspicion of unauthorised thinking' And 'possession of a dangerous idea'. And his hopes of acquittal are sinking For the charges on which he'll appear Are 'suspicion of unauthorised thinking' And 'possession of a dangerous idea'... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHjheDR-J_4 as sung by Tommy Leonard, c.2010 - in the now very sadly defunct UpFront Club in Maleny, Qld Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Oct 20 - 03:30 AM Thanks Sandra - knew you'd come through with the goods!! R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Oct 20 - 03:24 AM days ago Rich-Joy referred to My Old Black Billy - a song I vaguely remember my father singing I think this song (once presumed traditional) was written by Edward Harrington and was featured in the famous “Reedy River” Aussie musical of 1953. One source has a Roy Jeffries writing the chune, but I have others that state Edith Harrhy – I dunno, but Catter, Sandra-in-Sydney, will no doubt have all The Gen. As I said in all my decades in Libraries - I know all the answers as long as you ask the right question, of course, occasionally my reply was - Wrong question!, but not for this one. this article was one of many treasure in BMC archives How the "anonymous folk song" My Old Black Billy came to be in Reedy River page from the first Sydney Reedy River songbook with the answer - Ron Jeffries sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Oct 20 - 03:24 AM DOWN IN THE GOLDMINE Words: Unknown / Tune: Joseph Bryan Geoghegan Researched and arranged: John Thompson Coolgardie folk remember well, the torrent from the sky Westralia's tunnels took the flood, men were forced to fly It chilled the blood to have to hear the wailing whistle blow As miner Vareschetti lay, a thousand feet below. CH. It's down in the goldmine, underneath the ground Floods are apt to fill the mine, men are apt to drown Dare the dark and the dreary water, send a diver down Deep down in the gold mine, underneath the ground. They heard a hammer down below and ran to break the news To dare the gloomy catacomb, they sent for diver Hughes It's half a hope or sudden death, no are you game to go Where miner Vareschetti lies, a thousand feet below. Fremantle found the diving gear, a train began to roar The engine got the right of way, a hundred miles or more It hit the track at 65 and it set the night aglow Where miner Vareschetti lay, a thousand feet below. A million gallons rose above the captive in the cave Then diver Hughes, he brought him up and he left an empty grave And life can keep a lamp alight if we are game to go Where miner Vareschetti lay, a thousand feet below. Cloudy John says : “A song I found in a folio entitled, Moondyne Joe and Other Sandgroper Ballads. It is a parody of a music hall song, Down in the Coal Mine. This link is to the story which I first read about the rescue of this Italian miner from a flooded goldmine in the desert in 1907 : https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-great-survival-20060506-gdnhry.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 Enquiries around the folk scene in Australia have not revealed the songwriter's name. Any advice would be appreciated.” This recording taken from CLOUDSTREET’s album, “The Circus of Desires” : http://ozfolksongaday.blogspot.com/search?q=Down+in+the+Goldmine Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Oct 20 - 03:07 AM Dance Up The Sun (John Thompson) Dance up the sun on a fine May morning, Dance up the sun to call in the Spring, Dance away the dark while the new day's dawning, All is new when we dance and we sing. Ch. And the bells will ring when the morris men come, As we call in the Spring and we dance up the sun. The bells will ring when the morris men come, As we call in the Spring and we dance up the sun. Gather in the dark, recall the Winter Celebrate the tales that the old ones bring The music rises with the first light's gleaming, The dawn will break and the bells will ring. Form the lines and turn together Hear the clash of the staff as we shout and we sing, The tunes all sound to the tattercoat's flying, We call up the light as the day comes in. Ancient ways with the season's turning, The passing years see the dance go on We sing the past as we dance to the future We celebrate the year with the dawn of the sun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtiKW32aVAE CLOUDSTREET from “Dance Up the Sun” CD. Nic (Nicole Murray, one half (and now one third) of the renowned Cloudstreet, with John Thompson) dances with SE Qld’s Belswagger Morris side and they are usually all to be found on the 1st May, Dancing Up the Sun on top of Brisbane’s Mt Coo-tha. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Oct 20 - 01:10 AM My finger slipped to the "submit" button before I had finished! Just wanted to explain re Paul's song above : "We're All Boat People", that the Liberal/Country parties have done their darnedest over the years to make the average Aussie believe that anyone arriving by sea, (particularly those "Refugees" - quelle horreur!) are illegal and undeserving and should quite properly be held in detention forever and a day. But this thread is "above the line" so I'll say no more!! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Oct 20 - 12:54 AM We're All Boat People" (~ a gentle history lesson / social commentary for Australians ~) by Paul Lawler The rain on the Ark went pitter-pat There’s one more river to cross Noah got stuck on Ararat There’s one more river to cross Chorus We’re all boat people We’re all boat people together We’re all boat people There’s one more river to cross Way back in 1493 Columbus hit the West Indies Magellan in 1521 Circumnavigation ( sir - cum - navvy - gay - shy - on ) Sir Francis Drake - new lands to find Floated away on the Golden Hind Tasman was Abel company He had a mania for the sea 1770 ropes belayed Anchored Cook in Botany Bay alternative ending, depending upon your audience!! The **Liberal Government’s full o’pricks Take them o’er the River Styx **of course this refers to the political Liberal Party down in Oz!! Paul Lawler, 2002 He based his chune on "One More River to Cross" (NO, not the gospel number!!) This here is the closest I have found to that which he sang (as I have no recording :( and strangely, very few sing this particular melody (but it's also the one I recall from my childhood) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0dk-cv1Cy8 Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 04 Oct 20 - 12:25 AM Albany Emigrants Trad, arr. Ferguson & Roche We sailed from Cork on a windy day, with a dark and a cloudy sky Our friends were standing on the quay, the women stood and cried But we were young and out for fun and the riches we could find So lift your glass and drink a toast to the girls we’ll leave behind. Ch. Oh Paddy dear, drink up your beer, we're leaving in the morn Aboard the ship, the Alice Grey - for West Australia, Round the Horn. Our brother Jack was a sailor man, with the Black Ball Line He jumped his ship in Albany and now he's doing fine And the letter that he wrote to us said “come out and join me here” So we're off to Albany in the morn without a doubt or fear. Jack has a farm near Albany with livestock by the score He says the trees near touch the sky, King Karri, so we're told And sailing ships arrive each day with diggers off for gold And a hundred whales are plainly seen to frolic in the Sound. And now we're under way me boys, the ship's bell loudly sounds The quay is now well out of sight and we are seaward bound And as we round Passage West the good ship gives full sail And a parting glass to Erin's Isle from the swaying ship-deck rail. Another top little number from The Settlers 1979 LP for West Aussie’s sesquicentennial celebrations. Here is their rendering :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3OgLRa4YdY “West Australia, Round the Horn” here refers to the southern most tip of WA - Cape Leeuwin - which has something of a reputation and was known to early sailors as the “Cape Horn of Australia”. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Oct 20 - 10:49 PM GOORIANAWA (Duke Tritton) I’ve been many years a shearer and fancied I could shear, I’ve shorn for Rouse of Guntawang and always missed the spear I’ve shorn for Nicholas Bayleyand I declare to you That on his pure merinos I could always struggle through. Chorus But oh my, I never saw before The way we had to knuckle down at Goorianawa I’ve been shearing down the Bogan as far as Dandaloo For good old Reid of Tabratong I’ve often cut a few Haddon Rig and Quambone and even Wingadee I could close my shears at six o’clock with a quiet century Chorus I’ve been shearing on the Goulburn side and down at Douglas Park Where every day ‘twas ‘Wool Away!’ and Toby did his work I’ve shorn for General Stewart whose tomb is on The Mount And the sprees I’ve had with Scrammy Jack are more than I could count Chorus I’ve shorn for Bob McMaster down on the Rockedgiel Creek And I could always dish him up with thirty score a week I’ve shore at Terramungamine, and on the Talbraga And I ran McDermott for the cobbler when we shore at Buckingbar Chorus I’ve been shearing at Eugowra – I’ll not forget the name Where Gardiner robbed the escort which from the Lachlan came I’ve shorn for Bob Fitzgerald down at the Dabee Rocks, McPhillamy of Charlton and Mister Henry Cox Chorus But that was in the good old days – you might have heard them say How Skillycorn from Bathurst rode to Sydney in a day Now I'm broken-mouthed and my shearing's at an end And though they call me Whalebone, I was never known to bend But spare me flamin’ days, I never saw before The way we had to knuckle down at Goorianawa As recorded by Martyn Wyndham-Read on ‘Beneath a Southern Sky’. Martyn’s note: I obtained the text from the John Meredith book on Duke called ‘Duke of the Outback’. As Meredith says in his book ‘Duke’s notes on the song almost constitute an outback social history’. My attraction to it is two-fold. I did a tour with Duke Tritton in the early 1960s along with other singers and it was truly an experience to have been in the company of this man. Also, in the second verse, it mentions Haddon Rig. The sheep and cattle station I worked on, Emu Springs in South Australia, was a subsidiary of Haddon Rig. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Oct 20 - 10:44 PM LEAVING MY HOMELAND by Noel Gardner I’ve ridden all that outback and walked those dusty roads I’ve seen my aspirations disappear My father pushed the mulga like his father did before My family worked this land for sixty years. Drought flood and fire on the sunburnt ravished block We thought we could tame this last frontier But foreclosure and nature it takes its toll my friend A generations fold of mother’s tears. Ch. I am leaving my homeland, I am waving goodbye I am holding onto memories, as that gate disappears from my eye Another day another hope another clear blue sky Another round of ravished stock to feed A prayer a thought nostalgia, is etched upon my lines Of ten years of faded hopes and dreams. Chorus This naked land was taken, possession was the law King and country immigrant pioneers But there are still laws of nature out on those western plains As overstocked pastures disappear. Chorus Noel Gardner copyright (Corrugated Music) I can’t find this country-folk number to hear online, unfortunately (and it’s good to sing along with!), though the 1994 CD “Justicce & Pride” is still for sale. (some other compositions by Noel and friends are available to listen to, though…….) https://www.noelgardner.com/pages/justice.html Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Oct 20 - 10:07 PM FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS, I’VE BEEN A FOLKIE By Bob Townshend For nearly sixty years, I’ve been a Folkie Festivals and concerts, sat through plenty In this country’s clubs and pubs, I’ve shed tears and coughed up blood The things some people smoke Make me queasy. I found an old guitar when I was twenty I’d learned to play three chords when I was thirty D and A and G, They were good enough for me Didn’t practise anymore They were easy. In 1974, I went to Darwin Heard there was a very active folk scene I didn’t stay too long, When I woke the house was gone And my guitar blown away It was breezy. To the National in North Queensland, made my own way My guitar is buried by Kuranda’s railway The train driver was a mate, Let me ride on the footplate My guitar slid to its fate The floor was greasy. Young people of today despise The Folkie With our Fal-de-Lal –de-La’s, they think we’re crazy But their swearing and hip-hop, And their bland suburban rock Won’t last two hundred years Because it’s sleazy. For nearly 60 years, I’ve been a Folkie Sung so much my voice is getting croaky But I strum my old guitar, And dream that I’m a star My song is nearly over now Now I’m easy. This song’s really over now Now I’m wheezy ..... Yes, it’s really over now, Now I’m wheezy ..... “Yorkie Bob” was last heard of living in the chilly Stanthorpe region near Qld’s border with NSW. He says this was written with apologies to Eric Bogle, but that “It was all Roger’s fault” (i.e. Roger Holmes aka Catter “Hrothgar”!) Eric’s poignant song “Now I’m Easy” was, I thought, posted at the beginning of this thread, but maybe not??? Anyway, here is a version by Scots-Canadian singer, Jim Brannigan, for your chune : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey0MiB4RNCs Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Oct 20 - 09:59 PM OUR JACK (Anon) Our Jack's come out of jail today To Pentridge he has been For many a day he's been away His face we ne'er have seen MacMannamy arrested Jack And with a gentle jerk Pounced down upon our old friend Jack With jemmy hard at work Chorus (after each verse): Our Jack's come home today Our Jack's come home today Quite wan and pale from out of jail Our Jack's come home today Our Jack came out of jail today And ain’t his Polly glad She had to pawn the things he'd shook And found that she’d been had The price she got it weren't enough To keep her for a day But all is past, she's right at last Our Jack's come home today When Jack came out of quad today We had a glorious spree And did a tour of Melbourne pubs As jovial as could be With wine and beer and brandy punch We started out ad lib When Jack proposed a partnership To crack another crib With jemmies and with skeleton keys Of cribs we went in search But seeing Dave O'Donnell there We left Jack in the lurch Undaunted Jack he set to work Another crib to crack O'Donnell like a ton of bricks Came down to lumber Jack Final chorus Our Jack's gone back today Our Jack's gone back today White wan and pale back into gaol Our Jack's gone back today Recorded on Danny Spooner 'Bold Brave Boys' It was collected by Joy Durst and Ron Edwards in August 1956 from a Mr R. Ure of Gembrook, Victoria. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Oct 20 - 09:33 PM TOMORROW, I’m Going Down to Sydney By Chris Buch Tomorrow, I’m going down to Sydney In the morning, they’ll see me city-bound Tomorrow, I’m going down to Sydney In the hope, that you’ll still be around. You used to lie beside me in the morning Your eyes still closed, your hair all tumbling down Then one day, without a word of warning You packed your bags, and headed for the town. I still have, your picture and your letters When I read them now, they cause a bit of pain You won’t find anyone, to love you better And I ask you, won’t you try me once again. I know you wanted, what I couldn’t give you Fancy clothes and shiny silver rings But the love I have inside of me to give you Is worth more, than all those fancy things. Tomorrow, I’m going down to Sydney In the morning, they’ll see me city bound Tomorrow, I’m going down to Sydney In the hope, that you’ll still be around. Tomorrow, I’m going down to Sydney………. I haven’t found this online, but one day I may come across a recording of Chris, or even Paul Lawler, singing it at the Gun Turret in Darwin ..... The late Chris Buch (born London 1936 – died Brisbane 2016), founder of the Mt Isa Folk Club, The Rafferty Band (aka Rafferty’s Rules) and others (e.g. Rantan, in Brisbane), author of “Johnny Stewart, Drover” (posted Aug 20th by Stewie), “Australia Two” and others, trad jazz lover/player, also wrote his biography Hello Sunshine (A Blitz Kid’s Journey to the Sunshine State) in 2011. Cheers, R-J Haha! Just found it on YT under “The Rafferty Band” – their only LP, from 1984 – GO TO 34:00 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5RnWcAVuCo |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Oct 20 - 09:37 AM The Wallaby Track One morning I rolled up the few things I'd got And I strapped to my saddle my quart and pint pot And I told the boss, I said I'd soon be back I was off for a trip on the wallaby track, Oh the morning was fine, though it blew rather cold And the sun was just topping the mountains with gold And my favourite old dingo travelling close to the back And he knew we were off on the wallaby track. Ch. With me tooraleye, ooraleye, tooraleye ooral, With me tooraleye, ooraleye, tooraleye -aye. We'd a fair way to go to an old camping place So we're rattling along at a pretty good pace Where friends we would meet when provisions were slack And they all live close by to the wallaby track, Oh well we hadn't gone very far I suppose When we met with the girl who said, "G'day Joe" I said, "You're mistaken, my name it is Jack" "And I'm off for a trip on the wallaby track". She said, "Get off your horse and rest yourself now" "Did you see on your travels me old Poland cow?" "You remember the one that we used to call Black" "I'm afraid she has gone on the wallaby track", So I got off my horse and I patted my dog And we both sat together on the stringybark log And I made up the fire and I ratted the pack And we both had a meal on the wallaby track. So we sat in the shade of the stringy bark tree As fine a young girl as you ever did see She asks where I'm going; when will I be back And why am I off on the wallaby track, So I told her then I was looking for a wife And would she take on a partner for life And like a sensible girl, well, she said "It's a whack" That was the end of my trip on the wallaby track. A favourite as sung by '80s Top Enders "Tropical Ear", but in the absence of their rendition online, here is John Thompson's somewhat different version : http://ozfolksongaday.blogspot.com/2012/01/wallaby-track.html Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Oct 20 - 09:11 AM LIFE IS CHANGE by Paul Lawler A caterpillar chews along a new leaf A bird lands on a twig just nearby And the game of life is played among the branches Blessed with fruit we lose a butterfly. Ch. Life is change, Life is change, The only permanent thing about Life is change. Life is change, Change, is Life, The only permanent thing about Life is change. A seed lies dormant on the forest litter It seems, that only chance surrounds its fate But, before this seed can take up water It may need a fire to germinate. Chorus Springtime melts the icecap on the mountains Rushing waters, form an ox-bow way downstream And maybe in a thousand years or later Where waters meet an island will be seen. Chorus Middle 8 No one reads the same book We all colour words we say Sometimes we read in black and white what’s Meant in shades of grey Meant in shades of grey Sunbeams chase the rainbows o’er the green hills Lightning strikes and flashes all around Clouds descend and block out the horizon Paradise is lost, but also found. Chorus Paul wrote this song in 2004, adapting Coope, Boyes and Simpson’s “Thurnscoe Rain” - which is a Ray Hearne composition where the melody is based upon Colohan’s classic “Galway Bay” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MksRyIKjSLg It was only performed once, by Work in Progress, just after writing, and is partly recorded here : GO TO 02:18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCxx1-vrJfY&t=321s Apologies for the rendition, but, the whole performance in this venue was just not a comfortable gig, and it shows ………………… :( Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Oct 20 - 07:30 AM MY OLD BLACK BILLY I've humped my bluey in all the states With my old black billy the best of mates, For years I've camped and toiled and tramped Over roads that are rough and hilly, With my highly sensible, indispensable, Old Black Billy Ch. My old black billy, my old black billy whether the wind is warm or chilly I always find when shadows fall My old black billy's the best mate of all. I've carried my swag on the parched Paroo Where water is scarce and the houses few, On many a track on the great outback Where the heat would drive you silly, I've carried my sensible, indispensable, Old Black Billy. When my tramping days are o'er And I drop my swag at the Golden Door, Saint Peter will stare when he sees me there Then he'll say, "Poor wandering Willie, Come in with your sensible, indispensable, Old Black Billy." Like with a lot of songs, I can’t find my preferred version that’s in my memory, but here is one from “Me 'n Me Mates” who seem to be a trio of blokes from South Australia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atuHbdlfcaU I think this song (once presumed traditional) was written by Edward Harrington and was featured in the famous “Reedy River” Aussie musical of 1953. One source has a Roy Jeffries writing the chune, but I have others that state Edith Harrhy – I dunno, but Catter, Sandra-in-Sydney, will no doubt have all The Gen. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Oct 20 - 06:33 AM HERE’S TO THE SINGER ~ Jeff Corfield, c.1997 There’s songs that are written and songs that are played To keep the cash registers ringing, But give me a song that the people have made A song that’s been made for the singing, There’s songs about work and there’s songs about play There’s songs about struggle and glory Ah give me a song where the folk have their say A song that can tell us a story. Ch. So here’s to the singers and here’s to the songs That down through the decades come ringing, May the gift of your tunes WITH the people belong And long may the people keep singing Be you Paddy from Ireland or Joe from Geelong Be you Russian or French or Swahili The people have long put their lives into song With a passion delivered so freely For a song is a wild bird, a song is a dove That soars in the heavens before us With the laughter, the freedom, the joy and the love Of humanity woven in chorus. CHORUS In times when this world’s full of trouble and pain And freedoms long fought for are waning Just remember those struggles that led to the gains And the songs that recall the campaigning For a song on its own cannot right all that’s wrong One singer, the storm cannot weather But the people united will always be strong Whether working or singing together. CHORUS So sing us a song about hauling a rope Sing of a sloop that’s still sailing Sing us a song, full of life, full of hope Pete : long may your banjo keep frailing Sing of one people, the whole world around And the joys of those freedom bells ringing May the songs that you taught us forever resound And long may the people keep singing. CHORUS x 2 A note to me from Jeff says : "I wrote it originally in honour of Pete Seeger’s 80th birthday, in May 1999, after we had visited him following our week on The Clearwater back in 1997. So, in one sense it’s a bit specific (2nd verse reference to Swahili is a Seeger in-joke and also last verse reference to The Clearwater), though I also wrote it as a celebration of all the songs and singers we love. Like many of my efforts it’s a bit sentimental and clichéd, and the tune “adapted” from a hotch-potch of traditional songs (esp “All the Good Times”!), but the chorus is robust and folks seem to like it. What it really needs is to grow, change and adapt, in true folk style, to become more generic, so I pass it on to you with that in mind." Jeff Corfield 03.05.1999 Jeff is a singer / songwriter / collector / musician / researcher / writer / scientist / proud family man - and more! - now of Townsville, Qld, but originally from Sydney - Perth - Kununurra - Darwin, too! Sorry, I can't find the song on-line; the tape is here somewhere though ....... :) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 03 Oct 20 - 06:15 AM MALENY WASHING LINE by Paul Lawler, 1999 I love the cool, south easterly breeze Green rolling hills, and lots of trees, I would go out, I’ve washed my hair But alas I have, not a thing to wear. It’s one more day, on Maleny’s Washing Line. The finest silks, I wore with class Now lie in tatters on the grass, My towels that fresh, from soap and sud Are lying now, in pools of mud. It’s one more day, on Maleny’s Washing Line. Last night it blew, such a heavy gale My undies now, are in Conondale, I thought I’d seen, it all by far Till I spied a cow, in a D cup bra. It’s one more day, on Maleny’s Washing Line. My clothes were white, in the washing machine Now on the line, they turn to green, I think I’ll burn, them in the fi-yer And invest in, tumble dryer. It’s one more day, on Maleny’s ... Washing ... Line. Paul wrote this to Cyril Tawney's "Grey Funnel Line", sung here in harmony by June Tabor & Maddy Prior (Silly Sisters) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHOokpi9hUw We never ceased to be amazed that, after moving from the hot and lush Tropics in flat, coastal Darwin, NT, to the cooler Sub-Tropics of the inland, forested, hills and dales of Maleny, Qld, we were beset by both mould and cobwebs (plus leeches and ticks and funnel web spiders), like never before - and rain that often lasted days without letup!!! ....... Pretty but. Cheers, R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Oct 20 - 11:13 PM THE OLD AUSTRALIAN WAYS (Paterson/Hallom) The London lights are far abeam Behind a bank of cloud Along the shore the gaslights gleam The gale is piping loud And down the Channel, groping blind We drive her through the haze Towards the land we left behind The good old land of `never mind' And old Australian ways The city folk go to and fro Behind a prison's bars They never feel the breezes blow They never see the stars And all our roads are new and strange As through our blood there runs The wanderer’s love of change That drove us westward of the range And westward of the suns Our fathers came of roving stock That could not fixed abide So we have followed field and flock Since e'er we learnt to ride By mining camp and shearing shed In days of heat and drought We followed where our fortunes led With fortune always on ahead And always farther out So cast the weary pen aside And let the papers rest We must saddle up and ride Towards the blue hill's breast We must travel far and fast Across their rugged maze To find the spring of youth at last And call back from the buried past The old Australian ways. And if it be that you would know Where Clancy used to ride You must saddle up and go Beyond the Queensland side Beyond the reach of rule or law You ride the long day through In nature's homestead filled with awe You then might see what Clancy saw And know what Clancy knew Hallom's adaptation of another Paterson poem. Youtube clip Poem --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Oct 20 - 10:53 PM THE LIGHTS OF COBB AND CO (Lawson/Hallom) Fire lighted, on the table a meal for sleepy men A lantern in the stable, a jingle now and then The mail coach looming darkly by light of moon and star The growl of sleepy voices, a candle in the bar A stumble in the passage of folk with wits abroad A swear word from the driver, the shout of ‘All aboard!’ ‘Git-up! ‘Hold fast there!’ and down the range we go One hundred miles will see tonight the lights of Cobb and Co Chorus Past the haunted halway houses where the convicts laid the stones The scrub yards and the bark huts where the shearers made their homes Through stringybark and blue gum and box and pine we go One hundred miles will see tonight the lights of Cobb and Co Past old coaching towns already decaying for their sins Uncounted halfway houses and scores of ten-mile inns The riders from the stations by the lonely granite peaks The black-boys for the shepherds by sheep and cattle creeks The roaring camps of Gulgong, and many a digger’s rest The diggers on the Lachlan, the huts out farthest west Some twenty thousand exiles who sailed for weal or woe The bravest hearts of twenty lands will watch for Cobb and Co Chorus The morning star has vanished now, the frost and fog are gone It’s one of those grand mornings which but on mountains dawn A flask of friendly whisky and each other’s hopes we share And throw our top-coats open wide and take the mountain air The roads are rare to travel and life seems all complete The grind of wheels on gravel, the trot of horses’ feet The trot, trot, trot and canter as down the spur we go The green sweeps to horizons blue that call for Cobb and Co Chorus We take a bright girl actress through the western dust and damps To bear the home-world message and sing for miners’ camps To stir our hearts and break them, wild hearts that hope and ache And when she thinks again of these, her own must surely break Five miles this side the goldfield, a loud, triumphant shout Five hundred cheering miners have snatched the horses out With an ‘Auld Lang Syne’ in chorus through roaring camps they go That cheer for her, and cheer for home, and cheer for Cobb and Co Chorus Swift scramble up the hillside where teams climb inch by inch Pausing bird-like on the summit, then breakneck down the pinch By the clear, ridge-country rivers and hills where tracks run high Where waits the lonely horseman cut clear against the sky Across the swollen river a flash beyond the ford Ride hard to warn the driver, he’s drunk or mad, good lord It’s on the bank and westward with a broad and cheerful glow New camps extend across the plains the routes of Cobb and Co Chorus Hallom made the Lawson poem into a fine song, including the creation of a chorus from scattered lines. Youtube clip Poem |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Oct 20 - 10:37 PM KNOCKED UP (Lawson/Wyndham-Read) I'm lyin' on this barren ground that's baked and cracked with drought And don’t know if my legs or back or heart is most wore out I've got no spirit left to raise and ease my achin' brow I'm too knocked up to light a fire and boil the billy now A long dry stretch of thirty miles I've tramped this broiling day All for the off-chance of a job a hundred miles away There's twenty hungry beggars wild for any work this year And maybe fifty at the sheds while I am lying here The sinews in my legs seem drawn, red hot and that's the truth I seem to weigh a ton, and ache like one tremendous tooth I'm stung between my shoulder blades, my blessed back seems broke I'm too knocked up to eat a bite, I’m too knocked up to smoke The blessed rains are coming too, there's oceans in the sky And I suppose I should get up and rig that blasted fly The heat is bad, the food is bad, the flies a crimson curse Mosquitoes damned, the water’s bad, but rheumatism's worse I don’t know why poor blokes like me will cling so hard to breath Though Shakespeare says it is a thing we fear after death And though eternity be cursed by God's almighty curse Whatever that same somethin' is I swear it can't be worse Martyn Wyndham-Read's adaptation of the Lawson poem. He has omitted several stanzas. Youtube clip Full poem: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Oct 20 - 10:12 PM TAUMARUNUI (Peter Cape) I’m an ordinary joke, growin’ old before me time ‘Cause me heart’s in Taumarunui on the Main Trunk line Taumarunui, Taumarunui Taumarunui on the Main Trunk line You can get to Taumarunui going north or going south And you end up their at midnight and there’s cinders in your mouth You got cinders in your whiskers and a cinder in your eye So you hop off for refreshments, for a cuppa tea and pie Taumarunui, Taumarunui Taumarunui on the Main Trunk line There's a sheila in Refreshments and she's pouring cups'a tea And me heart jumps like a rabbit when she pours a cup for me She's got hair a flamin' yeller and a mouth a flamin' red And I'll love that flamin' sheila till I'm up and gone and dead In Taumarunui, Taumarunui Taumarunui on the Main Trunk line You can get a job in Wellington or get a job up north But you can't in Taumarunui though you try for all you're worth If I want to see this shiela, then I've got to take a train Get ten minutes for Refresments then they cart me off again From Taumarunui, Taumarunui Taumarunui on the Main Trunk line Well they took me on as fireman on the Limited Express And I thought that she'd be jake but now she's all a flamin' mess That shiela wouldn't take to me - I thought she'd be a gift She's gone and changed her duty hours and works the daylight shift From Taumarunui, Taumarunui Taumarunui on the Main Trunk line I’m an ordinary joke, growin’ old before me time ‘Cause me heart’s in Taumarunui on the Main Trunk line For info on this song: Click Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Oct 20 - 10:01 PM SHE’LL BE RIGHT (Peter Cape) When you're huntin' in the mountains And your dogs put up a chase And this porker's comin' at you And he doesn't like your face And you're runnin' and he's runnin' And he's crowdin' on the pace Don't worry mate, she'll be right She'll be right, mate, she'll be right Don't worry mate, she'll be right You can get your feed of pork When he slows down to a walk So don't worry mate, she'll be right When you're loggin' on the saddle And you're drivin' down the bluff With a thousand feet of timber Bouncin' right behind your chuff And the clutch has started slippin' And the brakes are worse than rough Don't worry mate, she'll be right She'll be right, mate, she'll be right Don't worry mate, she'll be right If you give all you can give her She'll just fly into the river So don't worry mate, she'll be right When you've walked out on the missus And you've gone to watch the race And you took her shopping money And you didn't get a place And you're comin' home flat stoney And she sees it in your face Don’t worry mate, she’ll be right She'll be right, mate, she'll be right Don't worry mate, she'll be right You can save a lot of trouble If you say you won the double So don't worry mate, she'll be right When you've had yer copper goin' And you've boiled a ton of hops And you've brewed your brew And bottled 'er and hammered on the tops And your missus keeps on askin' Where you left your footy socks Don't worry mate, she'll be right She'll be right, mate, she'll be right Don't worry mate, she'll be right Shove a shot o' metho in And you'll swear you're drinkin' gin So don't worry mate, she'll be right When they've finished off yer forwards And yer backs are wearin' thin And the second spell's half over And you've forty points to win And this hulkin' wing-three-quarter's Got his teeth stuck in your shin Don't worry mate, she'll be right She'll be right, mate, she'll be right Don't worry mate, she'll be right You won't worry who's the loser When you meet them down at the boozer So don't worry mate, she'll be right Peter Cape was a Kiwi treasure. His 'Stable Lad' is posted above. 'She'll be right' was a great favourite. For a variety of additions since this 1955 original: Click Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 01 Oct 20 - 02:54 AM SOMETIME LOVING By Gary Shearston I don't want your sometime lovin' That falls like summer's rain Coz I've slept through two long winters And love's been where my head has lain. When you’ve travelled with the North wind Blowing on your window pane When you’ve found the warmth she brings you Come and find me once again. And when you've wandered through the snowfall Through the pines on which she's lain When you've seen the way she holds them Come and hold me once again. And when you've heard a river laughing As she bends the rocks and sand Seen her wave crossing an ocean Come and take me by the hand. And when you've seen a hungry grassland Reach out to kiss the rain When you've seen how strong her kiss is Come and kiss me once again. And when the earth has turned her season And her love has brought the grain If you find that love inside you Come and live with me again. The late Gary Shearston’s 1967 rendition : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb4nd5lryAU A long-time favourite and possessed of a timeless beauty, I feel. Apparently when Peter, Paul & Mary sang it in concert in Australia, they introduced it as “the most beautiful song that has ever been written” …… Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Sep 20 - 11:56 PM HOW GILBERT DIED (Paterson/Roweth) There's never a stone at the sleeper's head There's never a fence beside And the wandering stock on the grave may tread Unnoticed and undenied But the smallest child on the Watershed Can tell you how Gilbert died For he rode at dusk with his comrade Dunn To the hut at the Stockman's Ford In the waning light of the sinking sun They peered with a fierce accord They were outlaws both and on each man's head Was a thousand pounds reward They had taken toll of the country round And the troopers came behind With a black who tracked like a human hound In the scrub and the ranges blind He could run the trail where a white man's eye No sign of track could find He had hunted them out of the One Tree Hill And over the Old Man Plain But they wheeled their tracks with a wild beast's skill And they made for the range again Then away to the hut where their grandsire dwelt They rode with a loosened rein And their grandsire gave them a greeting bold "Come in and rest in peace No safer place does the country hold With the night pursuit must cease And we'll drink success to the roving boys And to hell with the black police." But they went to death when they entered there In the hut at the Stockman's Ford For their grandsire's words were as false as fair They were doomed to the hangman's cord He had sold them both to the black police For the sake of the big reward In the depth of night, there are forms that glide As stealthily as serpents creep And around the hut where the outlaws hide They plant in the shadows deep And they wait till the first faint flush of dawn Shall waken their prey from sleep. But Gilbert wakes while the night is dark A restless sleeper aye He has heard the sound of a sheep dog's bark, And his horse's warning neigh And he says to his mate, "There are hawks abroad And it's time that we went away." Their rifles stood at the stretcher head Their bridles lay to hand They wakened the old man out of his bed When they heard the sharp command "In the name of the Queen ,lay down your arms, Now, Dunn and Gilbert, stand!" Then Gilbert reached for his rifle true That close at hand he kept He pointed straight at the voice and drew But never a flash out-leapt For the water ran from the rifle breech It was drenched while the outlaws slept Then he dropped the piece with a bitter oath And he turned to his comrade Dunn "We are sold," he said, "we are dead men both Still, there may be a chance for one I'll stop and I'll fight with the pistol here You take to your heels and run." So Dunn crept out on his hands and knees In the dim, half-dawning light And he made his way to a patch of trees And was lost in the black of night And the trackers hunted his tracks all day But they never could trace his flight But Gilbert walked from the open door In a confident style and rash He heard at his side the rifles roar And he heard the bullets crash But he laughed as he lifted his pistol hand, And he fired at the rifle flash Then out of the shadows the troopers aimed At his voice and the pistol sound With rifle flashes the darkness flamed He staggered and spun around And they riddled his body with rifle balls As it lay on the blood-soaked ground. There's never a stone at the sleeper's head There's never a fence beside And the wandering stock on the grave may tread Unnoticed and undenied But the smallest child on the Watershed Can tell you how Gilbert died Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Sep 20 - 11:27 PM Gordon Bok recorded a couple of Kiwi songs on his 'In The Kind Land' CD. The text of this one differs from the version printed in 'Song of a Young Country' and also the version recorded by Phil Garland but, as they say here in the Territory, good but. BRIGHT FINE GOLD (Anon/music reconstructed by N.Colquhoun) Spend it in the winter Or die in the cold One apecker, Tuapecka Bright fine gold Bright fine gold, bright fine gold One apecka, Tuapecka Bright fine gold Two little children lying in bed Both of them hungry, lord They can't raise up their heads Bright fine gold, bright fine gold One apecka, Tuapecka Bright fine gold Some are sons of fortune And my man came to see But the riches of the river Are not for such as he Bright fine gold, bright fine gold One apecka, Tuapecka Bright fine gold I'm weary of Otago Weary of the snow Let my man strike it rich And then we'll go Bright fine gold, bright fine gold One apecka, Tuapecka Bright fine gold Repeat stanza 1 and chorus Gordon's note: Because of the NZ gold rush in the 1860s, the Tuapecka River in Otago Province became the richest place in New Zealand. The results were the same as other gold rushes, mostly misery and poverty. I think that Phil Lobl taught it to me when she came to Maine many years ago. Bok Garland --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Sep 20 - 10:35 PM NEW LIFE, NEW LOVE (Lawson/Wyndham-Read) The breezes blow on the river below the fleecy clouds float by And I mark how the dark green gum trees match The bright blue dome of the sky The grass is green where rains have been And the earth is bare and brown I see the things that I used to see In the days ere my heart was down I've seen the light in the long dark night Brighter than stars or moon I've lost the fear of the winter drear the sadness of afternoon Here let us stand while I hold your hand With the light on your golden hair And I feel the things that I used to feel In the days ere my heart was dead The storms are by and my lips are dry The old wrong rankles yet Sweetheart or wife, I must take new life From your red lips warm and wet So let it be, you may cling to me There is nothing on earth to dread For I'll be the man that I used to be In the days ere my heart was dead Youtube clip This was also recorded on 'All Around Down Under', an album by Martyn and Danny Spooner. Liner note: Henry Lawson wrote the poem in 1903 and Martyn put the tune to it. Australia's best known balladist for 20 years, in middle age, Lawson was drinking heavily and living a hand-to-mouth existence. He had a love and a marriage behind him at this stage when he was taken in hand by Mrs Isobel Byers and penned this in a tone of promise. R-J, I believe you've nailed 'lattes' and 'chai' but there's something else after 'tofu'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Sep 20 - 09:16 PM WHERE SILENCE REIGNS (Woods/Wyndham-Read) Out back where silence reigns on the great grey western plains The sunlit plains of Clancy's where it hardly ever rains Where the traveller's always thirsty and the water never near The creaking of the saddle is the only sound you hear Where the quart pot doesn't rattle, the stirrup doesn't clink And the emu stalks in freedom and it's far too hot to think Where the tracks are dry and dusty, the air is seldom clear The creaking of the saddle is the only sound you hear Where the fences reach to sundown and are mostly made of wire And the sun goes down each evening like a glowing ball of fire Where the water-bag is empty and the tucker dry and drear The creaking of the saddle is the only sound you hear In shades of gidgee bushes lies a great red kangaroo Asleep in the noonday sunshine while a doleful-looking crow With a voiceless gape salutes us as we come and disappear The creaking of the saddle is the only sound you hear In sultry shades of silence bounded by a shimmering sky Make a man feel very lonely, very small and very dry I would cry in desolation but I cannot shed a tear The creaking of the saddle is the only sound you hear Another poem by Walter Woods that Wyndham-Read clipped and adapted. The full poem may be found at page 207 of Stewart and Keesing's 'Australian Bush Ballads'. The full text of the previously posted 'I don't go shearing now' may be found at page 245 - it is indeed a saga that stretches over 3 pages. Woods was an interesting character - a journalist and politician. Read about him here: Click Where silence reigns --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 30 Sep 20 - 08:18 PM THE GIFT OF YEARS (Eric Bogle) Well, old friend, here I am I told you I'd be back And as usual, mate, I'm bloody late It's seventy-five years down the track For the last time, here I stand In this familiar foreign land Back with the mates I left behind Fixed forever in their time And of all the ghosts of all the boys That haunt this lonely place Only one of them wears your cheeky grin And your Queensland joker's face And as I drown in old and bloody dreams Of helpless young men's dying screams I feel your hand give my arm a shake And your voice say, "Steady, mate!" And the country that you died for, mate You would not know it now And the future that we dreamed of, mate Got all twisted up somehow. The peace that we were fighting for The end to stupid senseless war So it couldn't happen to our kids Well, old mate, it did! And thank you for the gift of years And the flame that brightly burns For the time you bought and the lessons taught So often wasted and unlearned "Lest we forget," cries the multitude As if I ever, ever could So forgive an old man's tears And thank you for the years Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 30 Sep 20 - 08:08 PM Stewie, Perhaps that Tofu line is something to do with Lattes and Chai - his gravelly voice sure is hard to understand!! Cheers, R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Sep 20 - 11:34 PM I forgot to login again. I'll have to cease clearing my website data during the day. Anyhow, it gives me a chance to correct an error in my 'Freo Girls' transcription. In the 'dads' stanza, it should read 'they're' not 'there'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 29 Sep 20 - 11:26 PM JennieG, fair point - a name would work. I'm not much of a Williamson fan either, but I like a handful of his songs. He was a featured guest at a Top Half Festival in Alice Springs a few years ago. He no attempt to mix with other performers and punters or join in any sessions. Sod him! --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Sep 20 - 10:32 PM R-J, I just remembered that, courtesy of Colin Smiley, I have a CD of the Lost Quays - 'Live at the Whalers' Tunnel'. The concert was recorded in the Whalers' Tunnel as part of Fremantle's Heritage Festival in 2016. The tunnel was excavated by convicts shortly after the first whale was taken in the area in 1837, and not long after the founding of the colony. The concert consisted almost entirely of shanty warhorses. However, they did adapt 'Bound for South Australia' for a Fremantle flavour. FREO GIRLS (Lost Quays) Freo girls ain’t got no combs Heave away, haul away They combs their hair with cod fish bones And we’re bound for Australia Heave away me bully, bully boys Heave away, haul away You gotta make a noise And we’re bound for Australia Well Freo lads ain’t got no frills They drink their beer with cod fish gills Well Freo kids ain’t got no sleds They slide downhill on cod fish heads Well Freo mums don’t bake no pies It’s tofu king with toasted chives Well Freo dads don’t brew no stout There down at Clancy’s hanging about Well Freo Dogs ain’t got no bite If their bark don’t scare, the Sharks just might Well Freo cats ain’t go no tails They lost them all to the south-west gales The Freo doctor’s got no pills She blows from the west our sails to fill Heave away, haul away … Above is my transcription. I couldn't make out the 'tofu' line - can someone correct it? For non-Aussies, the Dogs and Sharks are Fremantle football teams. Clancy's is a popular Fremantle pub and the Fremantle doctor is a cooling afternoon sea breeze. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Sep 20 - 10:07 PM JOG ALONG TILL SHEARING The truth is in my song so clear Without a word of gammon The swagmen travel all the year Waiting for the lambin' Now when this dirty work is done To the nearest shanty steerin’ They meet a friend, their money spend Then jog along till shearing. Chorus Home sweet home That is what they left it for Their home sweet home Now when the shearing season comes They hear the price that's going New arrivals meet old chums And then they start their blowin’ They say that they can shear each day Their hundred pretty handy But eighty sheep is bloody hard When the wool is close and sandy When the sheds are all cut out They get their bit of paper To the nearest pub they run They cut a dashing caper They call for liquor plenty They're happy when they're drinkin’ But where to go when the money's spent It's little they are thinking. Sick and sore next morning They are when they awaken To have a drink of course they must To keep their nerves from shakin' They call for one and then for two In a way that's rather funny Till the landlord says, ‘Now this won't do You blokes have got no money’ They're sleeping on verandahs They're lounging on the sofas Then to finish off their spree They're ordered off as loafers They've got no friends, their money's spent And at their disappearing They give three cheers for the river bend And jog along till shearing. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 29 Sep 20 - 09:55 PM Perhaps 'woman' in the song actually has a name which could be used? Certainly better than 'darling', 'darl', 'sugar', 'honey', etc. Actually, I must admit to not being much of a Williamson fan. I know his songs are popular, he has sold a squillion gold records and stuff like that, but there are other writers I prefer - probably sacriligeous to say given that we live in Tamworth, but there you go. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Sep 20 - 09:40 PM Gerry Hallom put a tune to Banjo Paterson's 'By the grey gulf water'. He made multiple changes to make it more accessible as a song. A good'un. BY THE GREY GULF WATER (Paterson/Hallom) Far to the north there lies a land A wonderful land where the winds blow over And none may guess or understand The charm it holds for the restless rover A wild grey land, a land half made Where nature craves a share of slaughter Many indeed are the nameless graves Where victims sleep by the grey gulf water Slowly, slowly those grey streams glide, Drifting along with languid motion Lapping the reed on either side Wending their way to the northern ocean And the strength of a man is a young child’s strength In the face of that mighty plain and river And the life of a man is a moment’s length To the life of a stream that runs forever And so it comes they take no part In life’s small cares - each hardy rover Rides ahead like Bonaparte The plains around and the blue skies over Way up above a brown lark sings The songs the strange wild land has taught her Full of joy her sweet song rings I wish I were back by the grey gulf water Way up above a brown lark sings The songs the strange wild land has taught her Full of joy her sweet song rings I wish I were back by the grey gulf water Youtube clip The original poem as published in 'The Bulletin': Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Sep 20 - 07:43 PM JennieG, I know what you mean about 'woman' in the Williamson song. I can sympathise with your experience with an insensitive sod. However, given the song's structure, what other term could he have used? You wouldn't want the American 'babe' or 'baby' - 'darling', 'wife', 'love', 'dear' et alia wouldn't really work either. Back on 15 September (it seems so long ago), I noted that Phil Gray of Loaded Dog opposed the insertion of a Wendy Evans chorus about shearers in Sorensen's 'Glenburgh Wool' which is about the transportation of wool not shearing. Phil has recently recorded the song sans the inappropriate chorus and with his own tune. He recorded it in the shearer' kitchen at Glenbugh Station. His note for the clip: This is a set of verse by Jack Sorensen - I put my tune on it. In early September Yvonne, myself and our trusty Border Collie Cobber, did a 'mini tour' up through the Gascoyne and Murchison regions of Western Australia. I played at Gascoyne Junction, Glenburgh Station and Murchison Settlement. One of the pleasures of my life was to record this in the Shearers' Kitchen at Glenburgh Station, where Jack Sorensen spent time shearing, and to tread where he trod and probably ate 80 years ago. In Jack's words .......'and from those roaring yesterdays the echoes linger yet'..... Youtube clip The text of all of Sorensen's poems may be found here: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 29 Sep 20 - 05:30 PM One of my favourites, Sandra! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Sep 20 - 11:31 AM A very popular song at sessions, it was the winner of the Parody mug at the inaugural John & Dale Dengate Parody Competition at Illawarra Folk Festival in 2014, a very appropriate winner as John had loved it. Dale giving Cathy the box it came in. PRECIOUS GIFT (The Tony Abbott Song) by Cathy Rytmeister, February 2010 When I was a young girl, pure and whole I lived the clean life of a virgin I had no idea that my precious gift Was important to some politicians. So when I turned 18 and the boy up the road Said hey, how about it? I didn't say "no". But dear Tony Abbott, if only I'd known I'd have waited at least one more fortnight. For I was now bereft of true value By choosing a life full of sin My precious gift gone, just a memory in song All I've left is the box it came in. And well I remember relief on those days That my blood stained the sheets and the blankets I took many risks but was mostly OK I look back and for that I'm most thankful. But I wonder, if only I'd kept meself nice, Wore lippy and heels and played sugar and spice – I'd have landed a man who'd have treated me right – Someone just like that hypocrite Tony. For I was now bereft of true value By choosing a life full of sin My precious gift gone, just a memory in song All I've left is the box it came in. I grew older and wiser and carried a pack- et of three, just in case I got lucky And I did pretty well, despite no advice From Abbott or Andrews or Tuckey. Johnny Turk he was ready, he'd primed himself well, But that wasn't enough, I had Tommy as well And Paddy, and Jock, and Pierre and Manuel I had a right multicultural party. With my precious gift thoroughly squandered I still somehow managed with men I swore and I drank and I danced and I skanked While the band played Wild Rover Again. Now I've settled down, with a rather good bloke, Who with second-hand gifts seems delighted. And I've a daughter myself, of that age when you might Give advice, about life to enlighten. I've told her to give what she wishes and when To respect herself and be respected by men And above all before she is settled and wed To make sure she gets plenty of practice. For a woman is more than a hymen She has much more to offer the world And if Abbott can't see all that we wish to be He can keep his advice to himself. For I've filled my life with true value By choosing to live it in sin My precious gift gone, just a memory in song But I've still got the box it came in! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Sep 20 - 11:07 AM we now have 258 songs. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 29 Sep 20 - 09:20 AM NOT MANY FISH By Bernard Bolan From Mortlake to Mosman for thirty-five years, In a twenty-six footer I’ve sailed. It paid for me grub and a couple of beers, But not now since the fishing has failed. There used to be Blackfish there used to be Bream, And there used to be Jewies to tame. But now there’s old beer cans and polythene bags, And things too repulsive to name. Ch. But the sun is still shining and the sky is still blue, You can still taste the salt on the spray. Me lines are all baited and me net’s over too, But there’s not many fish in the harbour today. Once the catches you’d get nearly made your boat sink, And the three of you filling the barge. But now all you get is terrible stink, With typhoid at no extra charge. What you need is a craft that can sail the high seas, Where the Herring and King Fishes play. All you bring up in the Harbour is dead dogs and cats, Not to mention that Mrs MacRae. So go for a sail with your Sally and Sue, Take Roger and Rufous as well. Remember to throw (chuck) your muck over the side, Then complain of the hideous smell. Well a fisherman’s known for not getting upset, When he sails through the wind and the rain. But a man can but think when he’s sailing through this, What a pity you can’t pull the chain. Here is Bernard Bolan singing : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqRfyPekBEo (NB apparently Sydney Harbour is much cleaner, these days!) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 29 Sep 20 - 02:22 AM TENTERFIELD SADDLER By Peter Allen The late George Woolnough worked on High Street and lived on Manners 52 years he sat on his veranda and made his saddles And if you had questions about sheep or flowers or dogs You just ask the saddler, he lived without sin; they're building a library for him. Ch. Time is a traveller, Tenterfield Saddler, turn your head Ride again Jackaroo, think I see kangaroo up ahead The son of George Woolnough went off and got married and had a war baby But something was wrong and it's easier to drink than go crazy And if there were questions about why the end was so sad Well George had no answers about why a son, ever has need of a gun Time is a traveller, Tenterfield Saddler, turn your head Ride again Jackaroo, think I see kangaroo up ahead The grandson of George has been all around the world and lives no special place Changed his last name and he married a girl with an interesting face He'd almost forgotten them both because in the life that he leads There's nowhere for George and his library, or the son with his gun, to belong - except in this song Time is a traveller, Tenterfield Saddler, turn your head Ride again Jackaroo, think I see kangaroo up ahead Time is a meddler, Tenterfield Saddler, make your bed Fly away cockatoo, down on the ground emu up ahead Time is a tale teller,Tenterfield Saddler, turn your head ………………… The late Peter Allen (singer/songwriter/dancer and all-round entertainer), was married for a while to Liza Minelli (“the girl with an interesting face”!). My Sister and B-in-Law do a lovely harmony version of this, but it’s not on-line yet. Many recordings available are overloaded by loud, intrusive instrumentation. So I have chosen this lovely version by Rick Price. Hope you enjoy this song; I never seem to tire of it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtM4a3bheIU Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 29 Sep 20 - 01:27 AM LoL JennieG! I know what you mean though. An ex often called me "Missus" but that didn't really worry me. But "Woman" is somehow "different"...... :) Stew, thanks so much to you and Phil for Alan Mann's comp. Paul-the-Stockman digitised the LP and offered it up on his Blog of 11 May 2015, but mentions the lack of liner notes. Have to get WA's super-sleuth Becky back onto it!! : http://australianfolk.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-08-10T21:00:00%2B10:00&max-results=10&start=40&by-date=false Plus, I was wondering if you have any of Phil's comps that could be featured on this thread??? Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 29 Sep 20 - 12:29 AM Geez, Stewie.......You have started the fingernails-on-a-blackboard thing, for me. I can't stand that Cootamundra wattle song. A long-ago bloke used to call me "woman"; I hated it then, and I still hate it now. But that's all right. The world would be a dull place indeed if we all sang the same songs. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Sep 20 - 12:06 AM COOTAMUNDRA WATTLE (John Williamson) Don't go lookin' through that old camphor box woman You know those old things only make you cry When you dream upon that little bunny rug It makes you think that life has passed you by There are days when you wish the world would stop woman But then you know some wounds would never heal But when I browse the early pages of the children It's then I know exactly how you feel. (Chorus) Hey it's July and the winter sun is shining And the cootamundra wattle is my friend For all at once my childhood never left me 'Cause wattle blossoms bring it back again It's Sunday and you should stop the worry woman Come out here and sit down in the sun Can't you hear the magpies in the distance Don't you feel the new day has begun Can't you hear the bees making honey woman In the spotted gums where the bellbirds ring You might grow old and bitter cause you missed it You know some people never hear such things Chorus Don't buy the daily papers any more woman Read all about what's going on in hell They don't care to tell the world of kindness Good news never made a paper sell There's all the colours of the rainbow in the garden woman And symphonies of music in the sky Heaven's all around us if you're looking But how can you see it if you cry Chorus This lovely song always reminds me of the late Chris Pemberton who would trot it out from time to time at the gun turret. Chris was a very fine singer and he had Mississippi John Hurt's guitar style down to a T. Here is a live rendition from John Williamson. I can relate to the background sound - we often have lorikeets carrying-on in our garden. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Sep 20 - 11:27 PM A BUSHMAN CAN'T SURVIVE (John Williamson) A city girl is happy with her friends and family life Appreciates a wine with him at night She tries to find the sparkle, she searches but it's gone With lots of love she hopes he'll be alright Her man has gone all quiet, he's not at ease He doesn't feel at home, he's hard to please He gets itchy feet, he's tired of noises in the street He needs to walk for hours through the trees CHORUS No a bushman can't survive on city lights Opera, rock and roll and height of heights His moon shines on the silver brigalow Shimmers down the inland river flow Out there where the yellow belly bites He's working with his hands today on a building site He can smell the cypress on the floor It takes him to a sandy ridge out amongst the pines No shearin’, no ploughin' anymore His kelpie dog is tired and fast asleep Sick of searchin' gardens for the sheep His master doesn't whistle tunes, he's not in the mood His love for open spaces runs too deep Chorus He tries to please his woman, the lady of his life He's standing at a party with a plate She finds him on the balcony staring at the moon An old familiar face he can relate His moon shines on the silver brigalow Shimmers down the inand river Out there where the yellow belly bites My friend, Scott Balfour, made a moving recording of this on his 'Mother Land' CD. He said the song had particular poignancy for him because it encapsulates the spirit of his friend Bill Hayes of Deep Well Station - the consummate bushman - who died tragically in a mustering accident. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Sep 20 - 10:44 PM R-J, Phil excelled himself - lyrics arrived an hour after my request. Great song. THE TIMBERCUTTERS SONG (Alan Mann) In the timber tall and green along the line You can hear the magpies call and the crickets sing These sounds the steel will join as the bush saws scrape and whine You’ll hear the echoes as our axes ring The teamster all too soon he moves on in And the logs we cleared to the line he moves away Eight horses four-be-two and the two-wheel wooden whim And that axle groans at least six times a day (Chorus) Keep those logs rolling boys, down to the mill me boys Keep those logs a-rolling down And we'll push the cross cuts through just to show what we can do And we’ll pave all the streets of London Town Well the mill train sweats and strains most all the day Down the twenty mile of track that feeds the mill Stoker keeps the firebox full with the off-cuts from the day So later on she’ll make the three-mile hill And at the mill first tails grip and bark the logs And then roll them to the benchman standing by And he’ll slip the mill saw through ne'er care she slips or bogs And it's then you’ll see the chips and sawdust fly Chorus And the planks to the world we’ll ship away When the weather’s fine, they'll go the Hamelin side When the nor-wester comes on in, then it’s round by Flinders Bay On that rolling surf you’ll see the good ships ride Spare a thought for those chaps who're workin' hard Next time you walk the streets of London Town In the forest, at the mill, on the line or in the yard Just keeping those logs a-rolling down Chorus |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Sep 20 - 09:18 PM NOVEMBER (Junior - Adelaide band) There’s no colour like blood, there’s no feeling like sun on your skin There’s no place like home after all the things we’ve seen One more for the road, one more you can carry me home Pour me another, I don’t want to be alone There’s nobody like you and there sure ain’t nobody like me Not a single soul can know what we feel or see When you wake at dawn, love the light you see ‘Cos if you see the light, there’s a chance for you and me Jacarandas in November All the colours I’ll remember Lined up down your street in springtime When the air tastes sweet Jacarandas in November, I’ll remember Oh, I - I’ll remember you The eleventh hour, last stand, you went down We had our plans just like every man You and me and Desie in Sydney when we’re free We made it there in nineteen fifty-three Jacarandas in November All the colours I’ll remember Lined up down your street in springtime When the air tastes sweet Jacarandas in November, I’ll remember Oh, I - I’ll remember you And your slouch hat and your photographs Only me you left behind I’ll never forget you, you’re forever young In my mind, forever young Jacarandas in November All the colours I’ll remember Lined up down your street in springtime When the air tastes sweet Jacarandas in November, I’ll remember Oh, I - I’ll remember you There’s no colour like blood, there’s no feeling like sun on your skin I reckon 'November' is a ripper little song, but I'm probably prejudiced because I was born and raised in Adelaide before moving to Darwin. It is from folk rock group Junior's 'Fibro Majestic' CD. You can listen to the CD on Spotify. The above is my transcription from YT video. I don't know which member or members of the band wrote the song. It's a beaut video of jacarandas. Youtube clip Junior bio --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Sep 20 - 08:56 PM R-J, great posts. I was unaware of the Georgette rescue story. 'Bridal Train' and the Waifs' early albums are great favourites of my wife. I recently recovered my 'West Australian Bush Bands' LP from its long-borrowed status. Alas, there is no insert or sleeve notes. However, Phil Beck has the lyrics for 'Timbercutters Song' and will send them to me. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Sep 20 - 09:54 AM THE TIMBERCUTTERS SONG W,A, Bush Orchestra at long last, here is the song link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jw_7_7wjEc The chords are online, but not the lyrics. (and I no longer have the energy! My little truckle bed is calling me :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Sep 20 - 09:48 AM (What Will We Do With) Maud Butler by John Thompson Maud Butler had a brother in the army And so she made her way to Sydney town At 17 she knew her mind She wouldn't just be left behind And so Maud tried to join the army Chorus: Oh, what will we do with Maud Butler? She dresses as a soldier and she wants to go to war She jumped a ship to cross the foam Better than any stay-at-home The prettiest little soldier-boy the Army ever saw. A lovely farmer's daughter from old Kurri Kurri town When she tried to sign on as a nurse they turned the poor girl down. So she bought herself some soldier's gear Cut her hair and wiped her tears And she climbed up a rope to board a transport Three days in a life-raft with not a bite to eat Til bold as brass she walked the decks, the sailor-boys to meet An officer saw her walking about Her boots were wrong, they found her out. Poor Maud was put ashore in dear old Melbourne Only two months later, Maud was back on board again Another attempt to see the front, in the company of men “I'll do my bit to help the war” She told them when she was back on shore "I just want to be a soldier" This young girl's an example to all of those who shirk Where other's would have given up, Maud Butler went to work A lesser girl would have had enough But Maud was made of sterner stuff So raise a cheer and sing of Miss Maud Butler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wtxja9EX0A Notes by John Thompson : Mark Cryle was kind enough to tell me about the amazing Maud Butler, a seventeen-year-old girl who was so keen to help the war effort in 1915, that she bought up a uniform one piece at a time and then stowed away on a troop ship. Twice! Her amazing story is well worth telling. There are some especially good links online to original news stories about her exploits: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/129568967? and for her persistent offending: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/109949097? Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Sep 20 - 09:00 AM BRIDAL TRAIN The Waifs A telegram arrived today, It’s time to catch the Monterey Cause the man I wed he waits for me, and a daughter that he's yet to see. The U.S. Navy beamed its message, we'll deliver brides on a one-way passage It made big news across the nation, the bridal train leaves from Perth station. All the girls around Australia, married to a yankee sailor Your fare is paid across the sea, to the home of the brave and the land of the free, From west to east the young girls came, all aboard the Bridal Train It was a farewell crossing over land, she's gone to meet her sailor man. No time for sad goodbyes, she held her mother as she cried And then waited there in the Freo rain, to climb aboard the bridal train. Well she was holding her future in her hand, yeah the faded photo of a man Catch a sailor if you can, yeah the war bride leaves her southern land. All the girls around Australia, married to a yankee sailor Your fare is paid across the sea, to the home of the brave and the land of the free, From west to east the young girls came, all aboard the Bridal Train It was a farewell crossing over land, she's gone to meet her sailor man. This is the story of the starry nights, through desert plains and city lights Through burning sun and driving rain, she left aboard the Bridal Train. All the girls around Australia, married to a yankee sailor Your fare is paid across the sea, to the home of the brave and the land of the free, From west to east the young girls came, all aboard the Bridal Train It was a farewell crossing over land, she's gone to meet her sailing man. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k7OncTVHkI “It is estimated that between 12,000 and 15,000 Australian women married American servicemen during World War Two. Some made a life in the USA, while others returned to Australia with or without their husbands in the years following the war. While public perception about war brides paints a narrow picture, it is clear that there are many different reasons why Australian women married American servicemen…… https://www.sea.museum/discover/online-exhibitions/war-brides Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Sep 20 - 08:12 AM COCKY (COCKIE) BELL By Val Hastings You took up your selection west of Karlowin Well. You ploughed the land and fenced it in. The seasons did you well. In '29 you were sowing wheat with a horse team of the best When a combine point came springing down and stabbed you through the chest. CH. Cocky Bell, you were a tough man, one of our pioneers. You were a wheatbelt cocky for only fourteen years. You were a cocky through and through Though it was the death of you, Cocky Bell. For two long days and freezing nights you lay out on the ground. Your faithful team of horses never moved nor made a sound; But you were getting weaker as in the dirt you lay. You prayed to God to give you strength to see another day. Well, when your neighbour found you, you couldn't even cry, For the blasted ants of our fair land had eaten out your eyes; And as he held you in his arms, he marvelled at your pluck. Then it's eighty miles to a hospital bed on the back of a Chevrolet truck. You held hard, hard to the hand of a mate and you swore for evermore, You swore an oath that if you lived you'd kill every ant you saw; But your beaten body couldn't take any more. It'd had just about enough. Cocky Bell, it got the best of you, but by Jesus, you were tough! Catter Bugsy (Peter Bugden), tracked down the lyrics in this Mudcat thread : https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=97418&messages=18#4073450 “This song was sung in memory of those farmers out on the WA wheatfields who in days gone by, used their tractor with a rope slung over to fell trees but often the tractor would flip and they would be trapped underneath -often stuck out in the isolated paddock maybe for days and if they were lucky somebody found them.........” I can relate to this not uncommon occurrence in my own Family History, where my G-Grandmother’s brother was impaled by his own harvester, in rural Victoria :( “…..Cocky / Cockie arose in the 1870s and is an abbreviation of cockatoo farmer. This was then a disparaging term for small-scale farmers, probably because of their habit of using a small area of land for a short time and then moving on, in the perceived manner of cockatoos feeding…..” A.N.U. NB Does anyone know of a copy of this song anywhere online??? Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Sep 20 - 07:24 AM WESTERN AUSTRALIA FOR ME Composed by an Irish Australian Lawyer in 1831 NB all info taken from the WASONG website : https://wasong.com.au/wasong/ The song ‘Western Australia for me’ was written by the Irish Lawyer George Fletcher Moore. It was first sung by George Fletcher Moore at the first Ball at the governor’s house in 1831 enjoyed by 180 ladies and gentlemen to the wee hours of 6 a.m. ”Swans were so abundant on the river when first discovered as to give the name Swan River Settlement. I dare not say that I christened the colony, but certainly after the above song, the name of Western Australia was adopted.” George Fletcher Moore graduated in law in Ireland in1820. Seeing little prospect of advancement he decided to pursue a legal career in the English colonies. He sailed from Dublin to Western Australia on board the Cleopatra, arriving at the Swan River Colony on 30 October 1830. In February 1832, he was appointed a Commissioner of the Civil Court. Rewarded with land and a regular salary, Moore purchased stock and by 1833 he had one of the largest flocks of sheep in the colony. Moore was unusual amongst his contemporaries in a number of ways. He was vocal about the colonies economic problems being brought about by mismanagement. His criticisms made him unpopular with many of the colonies establishment. Moore also developed friendly, lasting relationships with the Indigenous Australians of the area. He began to take a scholarly interest in their language and customs and in1833, Moore published in the Perth Gazette the first account of the customs of the Aborigines of the area. He later co produced a book with John Hutt called A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language in Common Use Amongst the Aborigines of Western Australia. Moore was an active explorer and the Moore River (near New Norcia) was named after him. In about 1878, the editor of The West Australian, Sir Thomas Cockburn Campbell, sought and was granted permission to serialise Moore’s letters. The letters appeared in the West Australian in 1881 and 1882. On seeing them in print, Moore decided to republish them in book form. They were published in 1884 as Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia. Graphics and text from Wikipedia. ".....We have come to explore, the wilds of this Western Australian Shore, In search of a country, we’ve ventured to roam, and now we’ve found it, let’s make it our home. And what though the Colony’s new, Sirs, And inhabitants may be few, Sirs, We see them increasing here, Sirs, So Western Australia for me. With care and experience, I’m sure ’twill be found, Two crops in the year we may get from the ground; There’s good wood and good water, good flesh and good fish, Good soil and good clime, and what more could you wish. Then let everyone earnestly strive, Sirs, Do his best, be alert and alive, Sirs, So Western Australia for me. No lions or tigers we here dread to meet, Our innocent quadrupeds hop on two feet, No tithes and no taxes we now have to pay, And our Geese are all Swans, as some witty folks say, Then we live without trouble or stealth, Sirs, Our currency’s all sterling wealth, Sirs, So here’s to our Governor’s health, Sirs, And Western Australia for me.” The song is sung on Vimeo, by St Hilda’s Choir at : https://wasong.com.au/wasong/ I note that two of my forebears preceded Mr Moore into the Swan River Colony. Sadly however, they did not have his kind of money and education. Actually, I’m not so sure they had any of either necessity – as one was an indentured servant (i.e. female white slave) on the Rockingham, and one was an emancipated East End convict, who was doing all right - until he married the Rockingham female!! C’est la Vie. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 28 Sep 20 - 06:47 AM THE WITCHES AND THE WHALES, John Warner © 18/10/2010 A friend loaned John a Scottish heritage magazine in which he read a story of bay whalers being outwitted by a trio of women who mysteriously disappeared … The whaleboat came when the mist was thin, And drifted up the bay. Upon the tide she ghosted in, Where the whales all feeding lay x 2 They’ll trap the whales on the falling tide, Upon the shingle beach, And slay each one for the oil and bone, When the sea is out of reach x 2 So softly then they drove the whales, Up from the heaving sea, But down the wind came a small, small craft, And aboard were women three, One was a fair and shapely maid, The older nursed a child, oh, The oldest grinned a gap-toothed grin, And they all sang drunken wild, oh. Swift did she go, though none did row, Her gaps and splits gaped wide, And as she rolled such a music came, A drifting up the tide x 2 For those on board sang drunken songs, That echoed round the bay, And no man nigh dared raise a cry, For fear he start the prey x 2 The angry whalers waved their hands, To bid the three be still, But louder yet they clashed their cups And aye they sang more shrill x 2 One was a fair and shapely maid, The older nursed a child, oh, The oldest grinned a gap-toothed grin, And they all sang drunken wild, oh. The youngest seized on an iron pot, And beat it without rest, The older chanted ribaldry, As the child nursed at her breast x 2 The oldest blew on a great bagpipe, A reel to rouse the dead, And at that sound, the boat turned round, And towards the whales it sped x 2 The frightened whales turned up their tails, And dived beneath the swell, And from the three in the reeling tub, Came a fierce triumphant yell, One was a fair and shapely maid, The older nursed a child oh, The oldest grinned a gap-toothed grin, And they all sang drunken wild oh. And in that moment a burst of spray, Hid all the three from sight, But aye what mocking laughter rose, To fade in the gathering night x 2 The whaling men cried out in rage, And brandished stave and fist, But the night was still, for the boat and all, Had vanished like the mist x 2 And down that steep and rocky coast, They say, who hear such tales, The threefold Goddess rides that boat, And thus she guards the whales. One was a fair and shapely maid, The older nursed a child oh, The oldest grinned a gap-toothed grin, And they all sang drunken wild oh |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Sep 20 - 06:36 AM When Stewie posted “The Catalpa”, it reminded me that I’d never seen or heard a song about Sam Isaacs and Grace Bussell’s gallant rescues via horseback, in December 1876 (think West Aussie’s own “Grace Darling”). So I was pleased to come across this recent piece by WA’s current 11-man Shanty group, “The Lost Quays”. Their song, “The Georgette”, was apparently a product of The Great Covid Scare of 2020, as can be seen here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPXYvmpQzs4 “Heave Away, Haul away, the Georgette’s going down, me boys Heave Away, Haul away, the Georgette’s going down” It tells of Aboriginal stockman, Sam Isaacs, sighting the distressed SS Georgette (built 1872, 211 tons, steam/sail), from the clifftops around Calgardup Bay (her cargo of mainly jarrah timber had shifted and holed the vessel and the incoming water stuffed the boilers). Sam ran the 20 Kms to Wallcliffe House where 16 year old Grace Bussell then joined him and together they rode their horses back and forth from ship to shore for around 4 hours (and remember, West Aussie does rather a good line in sharks!), and rescued many of the 50 or so remaining passengers (some had drowned, but some had already made it to shore). I sure hope the horses were okay. Grace was naturally and rightly claimed a heroine (Australia’s youngest) and plaques and citations followed. As can be expected, recognition for Sam, took somewhat longer………….. WA’s generally inhospitable coastline, with its tricky winds, strong surf and currents, chilling water and unusual underwater topography, is (literally) littered with shipwrecks and “lost vessels” that will probably never be found. However, the Georgette’s final resting place is at Redgate Beach, near Margaret River, in about 5metres of water. https://www.tracesmagazine.com.au/2013/11/saving-grace-western-australias-shipwreck-rescuer-grace-bussell/ The Lost Quays, formed in 2015, can currently be found here, on Shore Leave : https://www.facebook.com/TheLostQuays/ http://www.thelostquays.com/ Also, they have been known to perform, on occasion, with those ballsy Ladies of the Sea : SHE SHANTS : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZaHkorfvK0 The LQ’s also have a (more country-sounding) song which commemorates Dutchman, Dirk Hartog, in the Eendracht, and his visit to West Aussie over 400 years ago, in 1616; the second recorded European landing on the continent, but the first on the Western coastline (he left an inscribed pewter plaque as proof - the Hartog Plate - in the Shark Bay region). He also mapped much of the northern WA coastline : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN4_82y1lzA&t=116s The Lost Quays have written too, of the grisly Batavia shipwreck story (if and when I find the Batavia number, I’ll post the links), and the City of York, wrecked off Rottnest : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAoARak1IjA&list=PLIogTlAtxC8F2h-mqxJGS0yL4VqYylUqA&index=6 Here is their 2017 song “Holes in the Nets” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojiNjXvoXWQ and about which they say : “Our new song "Holes in the Nets" is a whimsical take on the seriously scary subject of ocean fish depletion. It makes reference to the classic dystopian film "Soylent Green" (1973) in which the population subsist on an allegedly algae-based protein ... which is of course made from people!” I also found reference amongst Lost Quays, to another West Aussie duo Tingley Turner (Jennifer Tingley & Nick Turner) and in particular his song “Shackleton” about the explorer Ernest Shackleton and his Antarctic expeditions : https://www.reverbnation.com/tingleyturner They had a 2012 CD called “Heroes & Dreamers”, but I’m yet to locate more info on that. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Sep 20 - 12:26 AM SIXTEEN MILLION PEOPLE (Don Henderson) Have you ever had the feeling, being introduced to someone You think that you’ve already met But you really can’t be certain, 'cause the names aren't familiar But there’s something about the face you can’t forget And it turns out that really, after quite a bit of talking You went to kindergarten and such And the people that surround you, there’s only sixteen million And sixteen million people isn’t much Well you walk into a bar and a bloke says, 'G’day Charlie' And you tell him that Charlie’s not yer name And he says that he is sorry but he thought yer name was Charlie But he reckons that he knows yer just the same And it turns out that his sister’s married to your uncle’s second cousin Yes, of course now he remembers you You were seated four rows down at the table in a grey suit At the wedding in nineteen fifty-two Well, you’re at the country-dance and you’re dancin’ with a stranger To tell the truth you wouldn’t know from Eve But with faint heart and all that stuff you say, 'aven’t we met somewhere?' And she says, 'Why yes! I do believe' And it turned out that once you were on a train to Brisbane And it didn’t have a dining car, don’t cry And she was the waitress at South Grafton Station And you ordered black coffee and a pie. Well, you are in the one horse town and the horse has long since bolted There’s nothing but a hotel and a jail And a copper and a publican and a liver-coloured kelpie And the dog comes up to you and wags his tail Now it turns out that really the dog’s never met yer Just thought that he’d come over and say hi! But the copper and the publican, they reckon they both know yer But they didn’t want to say so, they were shy Another one that Danny recorded on his 'Emerging Tradition' CD. Danny's note: I remember falling about myself when I first heard Don Henderson sing this at the Troubadour in Sydney when Australia only had sixteen million population. The experience of being mistaken for someone else might be common enough, but Don's exquisite sense of humour and imagination suggests endless possibilities. This is the only rendition I could find on the Net: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Sep 20 - 11:51 PM RED FOX (Lynne Muir) Where the red fox runs, we will hunt him down We will chase him o’er the mountains ‘till the sun goes down, Poor old fox, we mean no harm But the fire’s in our blood and so we must follow far from the lights of home Chorus For we’re men of the bush And we’re part of the land And we do not kill for pleasure That we’d have you understand. With the sun on our brow or the moonlight on our path We will follow the tracks of our fathers gone before We roam the plains and we’ll set a rout Be it fair or stormy weather, we will seek and hunt him out Where the rabbit runs, we will set our snare But you must not think us heartless men or men who do not care For we do not thrill to the blood and the kill But we live from the land and so we will eat from it when we can, We’re tired old men on a worn-out trail When the tables are turned, maybe the fox will be hunting for the man Danny Spooner recorded this on his 'Emerging Traditions' and 'The Fox, the Hare and the Poacher's Fate' CDs. There is also a live recording on the 'Guilford Tapes' CD that I referred to above. Danny's note: Lynne Muir wrote this great hunting song about her grandfather in 1986. Geoff Muir had spent most of his life in the shadow of Hanging Rock in Victoria and like most country-bred men he knew the best places in the area to fish, shoot and trap. These skills often helped keep families fed, especially during times of Depression. Lynne's song is her tribute to her grandfather and his values. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Sep 20 - 10:18 PM THE CATALPA A noble whale ship the Catalpa Set out from New Bedford one day She sailed off to Western Australia And took six poor Fenians away Chorus So come all you screw warders and jailers Remember Perth regatta day Take care of the rest of your Fenians Or the yankees will steal them away Seven long years they had served here And seven long more had to stay For defending their country old Ireland They were ta’en and transported away You kept them in Western Australia Till their hair had begun to turn grey When a brave whaling ship and commander Came out here and stole them away Now all the Perth boats were a-racing And making short tacks for the spot But the yankee tacked into Fremantle And took the best prize of the lot The Georgette she sailed out with guns ready Intending the yankee to take But they hoisted their star-spangled banner And left the Georgette in their wake So remember those six Fenians heroes Who escaped o’er to Amerikay And join in a toast the bravery of the yankees who stole them away Now they've landed safe in New York harbour And the crowd there to greet them did cry ’So we’ll hoist up the green flag and shamrock For old Ireland we’ll fight or we’ll die There are many versions of 'The Catalpa'. I reckon the above is a good'un. Youtube clip For info on publications, check out Mark Gregory's site: Click Mudcat thread --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Sep 20 - 08:54 PM Here is Martyn Wyndham-Read's version of Sally Sloane's 'The banks of Claudy'. There are minor changes to the text as printed in Meredith & Anderson 'Folk Songs of Australia'. THE BANKS OF CLAUDY It was on a summer's morning all in the month of May Down by the banks of Claudy I carelessly did stray I overheard a fair maid in sorrow did complain All for her absent lover who ploughed the raging main I stepped up unto her and gave her a big surprise I hoped she would not know me, I being in such disguise I said, ‘My pretty fair maid, my joy and heart's delight How far do you mean to wander this dark and dreary night?’ ‘It's to the banks of Claudy, if you'll be kind to show Take pity on a fair maid who knows not where to go. I'm searching for a young man, and Johnnyis his name And on the banks of Claudy I'm told he does remain’ ‘These are the banks of Claudy, fair maid, you’re standing on But don’t depend on Johnny for he's a false young man But don’t depend on Johnny for he'll not meet you here But tarry with me in yon green woods, no danger need you fear’ ‘If Johnny he was here this night, he’d keep me from all harm He's in the field of battle, all in his uniform He's in the field of battle and his foes he does destroy Like the loyal king of honour all on the walls of Troy’ ‘It's six long weeks and better since Johnny left this shore A-crossing the main ocean where thundering billows roar A-crossing the main ocean for honour and for fame, But I'm told his ship was wrecked nigh to the coast of Spain’ Now when she heard this dreadful news, she flew in deep despair A-wringing of her hands and a-tearing of her hair Saying, ‘If my Johnny’s drowned, no man alive I'll take Through lonesome shades and valleys I'll wander for his sake’ When he saw her loyalty, he could no longer stand He flew into her arms, crying, ‘Betsy, I'm your man’ Crying, ‘Betsy, I'm the young man, the cause of all your pain Now since we've met on Claudy banks, we'll never part again’ Youtube clip For a discussion of the song's provenance, see this Mudcat thread: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Sep 20 - 06:24 AM Among The Refugees by Pat Drummond dateline: Port Headland, W.A. 16/01/02 Matthew, 1 - 28 The angel came to Joseph late one night And said, "You must be gone gather up your wife and infant son for you must leave this place Herod seeks you, death awaits through Israel's dark and bloodstained gates to Egypt you must flee" Jesus was a child when he became a refugee Chorus: At The Mercy of the stranger Seeking shelter from the fates Fleeing certain death and danger uncertainty awaits Speak to me, my country Tell me what you see Underneath the razor wire In those same dark and frightened eyes Tell me do you recognize Who is that refugee? The Bible tells us Herod slew each child below the age of two years old to save his dynasty political expediency really isn't something new politicians always do what their ambitions tell them to and truth is sacrificed but shame is all a nation buys when children pay the price Bridge: They didn't speak the language but they prayed God would provide through the kindness of the stranger until the day the tyrant king had died Perhaps sold all they that owned to pay for their escape look at your children, And if you love them tell me then which of you would hesitate? 600 children, heaven sent living in imprisonment for years for the crime of being poor fleeing famine, poverty and war I hear you say to me "It's not our responsibility They came unasked across the sea" Yes, and so did we. And if you lived back in Egypt when that family fled from Herod's men Would we have imprisoned them among the refugees? Chorus: At The Mercy of the stranger Seeking shelter from the fates Fleeing certain death and danger uncertainty awaits Speak to me, my country Tell me what you see Underneath the razor wire In those same dark and frightened eyes Tell me do you recognize Who is that refugee? |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Sep 20 - 11:39 PM I first came across 'The New Road' on a limited edition CD titled 'The Guilford Tapes' given to me yonks ago by Keryn Randall, a fine singer. The recording was of its author, John Beavis, performing at the Guilford Folk Club in Victoria. The song has been recorded by Danny Spooner on his 'Emerging Tradition' CD and by Martyn Wyndham-Read on his 'Oceans in the Sky' CD. Martyn calls it a 'gypsy hymn' and reflects that it is about 'the redemptive pattern of human nature'. Even us non-believers can recognise it as a good'un. THE NEW ROAD (John Beavis) You who puzzle on the saviour’s deeds Won't you stop and listen where the new road leads First born child of the refugees He was raised in Nazareth, schooled in charity And found salvation on His knees. Manhood brought him to the Jordan shore Where the baptist shivered in the rags he wore Plunged his cousin in the pilgrim stream And the dove descended and the old oad ended And the new road wakened from a dream Red sun sinking over Galilee Saw the stranger walking by an inland sea Four young fishermen around entwine For the new road heading to a Canaan wedding Where he turned the water into wine Thousands listened on the mountain slope As they dined on miracles and breathed in hope Blind men followed with the light restored As the sightless Pharisees condemned as heresies The wide-eyed workings of the lord Alleluja, how the people cheer The palm leaves rustle as the king draws near Woe, Jerusalem, the truth you shun And your sins ensuing are your own undoing Till your stones lie broken in the sun Thirteen gathered in an upstairs room As the high priest plotted for the saviour’s doom Blood and body in the wine and bread Then he kissed his enemy in sweet Gethsemane Twelve hours later he was dead. Mary wondered at the stone flung wide And the tomb rang hollow as she stepped inside Angels seated where the christ had lain Bid her quit the prison for the son had risen And would speak in Galilee again Show by living what the lord had done In the selfless giving of his only son Chart this passage to the last amen For the climb is steady if the pilgrim’s ready The new road reaches out again Here's a live recording of Martyn Wyndham-Read. He omits the final stanza. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Sep 20 - 10:43 PM THE OTHER OLDER NATION (Louisa Wise) In Australia towns have an avenue of trees Each poplar planted for a young man fallen In a whiteman's war faraway There's just such a town Near here where we stand And there's a marsh hard by the avenue of trees Where men and women and children were killed one day In a one-sided war that was very much here to stay And where are the trees for these dark-skinned fallen Do they merit a tear or a tree? If we planted a tree for each dark one fallen The wetland would give way to woodland The killings avenged a killing before A white landowner died by the spear Of a black man who had come to take back his wife Take her on back from the whiteman's service The service of flesh - if she would give it or no And for this the people died They were all chased down To the marsh by the road That would be planted with trees Some time in the next generation Trees for the boys of the nation But what of the other nation? The other older nation? And where are the trees for these dark-skinned fallen Do they merit a tear or a tree? If we planted a tree for each dark one fallen The wetland would give way to woodland I got the song from Bob Rummery's 'The Man with the Concertina'. I reproduced the line structure as printed in the booklet for that CD. I presume Bob got it directly from Louisa. As Bob points out, this one incident in WA was replicated across the country. Lest we forget. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Sep 20 - 10:18 PM I first heard this Kiwi classic on Declan Affley's LP of the same name. THE DAY THE PUB BURNED DOWN (Bob Edwards/Anon) Pull up a stump and lend an ear and a story I'll relate About a sinful waste of beer I will elucidate I'll tell of how calamity struck Wapakiwi town And caused a gruesome tragedy, the day the pub burned down The boys had gathered in the bar upon that fateful day. By horse and foot and motor-car they all had made their way While listening to Manuka Jones, New Zealand's finest liar They heard a cry that chilled the bones: ‘The flamin' pub's on fire!’ There'd been a drought for weeks and weeks, the wells and tanks were dry No water flowed along the creeks, we had no town supply The blazing sun, without relent, turned all the green to brown Imagine our predicament, the day the pub burned down Through smoke and flame, we dragged the booze to safety out the door Then thought of what we stood to lose and rushed back in for more ‘Stand by - the fire brigade is here!’ (those men of high renown) ‘Oh, fireman, fireman, save the beer and let the Pub burn down!' They bashed the tops of barrels in while strong men knelt to pray, Shoved their flippin' hoses in and shouted ‘Pumps away!’ They fought with beer and lemonade, that raging fire to drown And we fought and cursed the fire brigade, the day the pub burned down Now moreporks haunt the old pub site 'round Wapakiwi town And shikkers roam the hills at night to hunt the firemen down They curse the cash they cannot spend, their raging thirst to drown Dry horrors drove them 'round the bend, the day the pub burned down Youtube clip Neil Colquhoun included it at p53 of his 'Song of a young country'. He also included this delightful excerpt from a poem by James K. Baxter, the author of 'By the dry Cardrona'. The poem is 'Lament for Barney Flanagan: Licensee of the Hespeus Hotel'. Flanagan got up on a Saturday morning Pulled on his pants while the coffee was warming Didn't remember the doctor's warning: 'Your heart's too big, Mr Flanagan ...' Barney Flanagan ripe for the coffin Eighteen stone and brandy rotten Patted the house-maid's velvet bottom 'Oh, is it you, Mr Flanagan ...' While publicans drink their profits still While lawyers flock to be in at the kill While Aussie barmen milk the till We will remember him, Flanagan Colquhoun also references James McNeish's 'Tavern in the town' as well worth reading in respect of country pubs. There is no such town as Wapakiwi. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Sep 20 - 06:53 AM egads, I come back after 24 hours of no internet to 22 new songs - now we have 239, one of which was a song I wanted to post (after the writer sent me the lyrics, which he hasn't done yet) well done OzCatters! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Sep 20 - 09:49 PM TIMELESS LAND (Phyl Lobl) Once she was a timeless land Where time ran on forever To the dreaming people there She was land of never-never Fish and fowl she had in plenty And her stones were given worth In their hearts they held her holy And they thought of her as earth Once she was an open land Where few would bow to bosses And the working people there Thought they called or barred the tosses Where the convict and the settler Earned their freedom by their toil In their hearts they freely thanked her And they thought of her as the soil Once she was a lucky land Where living easy came And the clever people there Learned to play the power game Soon they sold her stony hillsides Then she lost her very heart In the greed of their intentions They thought of her as dirt Now she is a changing land Upon the point of turning Where she'll go it's hard to say Are we wise or lost in learning? For the ones who are to follow She's the land we hold in trust Will she be to them the earth Will they call her only dust? Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 25 Sep 20 - 09:37 PM A hugely popular song for many years - and one of the earliest Australian folksongs that I loved and learnt. Springtime Brings on the Shearing EJ Overbury / trad Oh the springtime it brings on the shearing And it's then you will see them in droves To the west country stations all steering A seeking a job off the coves. Ch. With a ragged old swag on my shoulder And a billy quart pot in my hand I tell you we'll astonish the new chums To see how we travel the land. You may talk of your mighty exploring Of Landsborough McKinley and King But I feel I should only be boring On such frivolous subjects to sing. For discovering mountains and rivers There's one for a gallon I'd back Who'd beat all your Stuart's to shivers It's the men on the Wallaby Track. From Billabone Murray and Loddon To the far Tartiara and back The hills and the plains are well trodden By the men on the Wallaby Track. And after the shearing is over And the wool season's all at an end It is then that you will see those flash shearers Making johnny cakes round in the bend. This clip of Tina Lawton & Marian Henderson singing, is taken from the ABC-TV production "The Restless Years" in 1967, (which is available online…..) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcBGopVHd7g and as the YT channel says : “You can call it dated, you could possibly call it twee - but it's also a rare duo performance by two of Australia's most respected female folk singers of the 1960s. Both were also quite under recorded, and certainly film of either artist is very rare nowadays.” But the version that was dearest to my teenage heart was this one by Gary Shearston from 1965 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXpNx2bWjnI&list=OLAK5uy_nZIa73rGV7M3pNuDYzwsv37qbQS1e_jXg Consequently, I think I learnt just about every lyric from his LP “The Springtime it Brings on the Shearing” :) John Thompson, on his Oz Folksong a Day website, says : “The following notes are from the liner notes for this song from Gary Shearston's CD re-release of earlier recordings "Here and There: Now and Then". "One of the best known of all Australian folk songs, this was collected in Victoria by Dr. Percy Jones. John Meredith found a rather different version in New South Wales, and most of Dr. Jones' words turn up in some verses called The Wallaby Track, which were published by a bush poet called E.J. Overbury in 1865. Maybe some bush singer read Overbury's words and set some of them to a tune; that was a common habit with bush singers. Maybe Overbury heard a bush song, and took some of the words into one of his own poems; that was a common habit with bush poets. coves: station managers or owners. billy quart pot: an indispensable item of the bush nomads' gear; a can, here of quart capacity, in which water could be boiled and food cooked. new-chums: newly arrived immigrants. Flash shearers making johnny-cakes round in the bend: a contrast in the lot of the shearer at different seasons of the year is implied; during the shearing season he is fl ash (shows an exaggerated sense of his own importance), because he is earning good wages and respect for his skill; when the shearing season is over, and he is unemployed, he is reduced to camping out in the open by some river bend, and living on a diet consisting mainly of camp-made bread (a johnny cake is, roughly speaking, a kind of small damper). Note: from the original album notes by Edgar Waters, supplemented by Stuart Heather.” Now the springtime Down Under means I must get off the 'puter and go and werk!! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Sep 20 - 09:19 PM BELLS AND BULLOCKS (M.Gilmore/R.Rummery) Ben the bullocky sits by the fire On the long slow hours adrift Bowed is the back that could never could tire Whatever the hoist or lift. Ask him stories of the teams, only get him talking He will waken from his dreams, on the roads go walking. There, though the body sags to the knees His mind is out on the road Watching the play of the axle-trees Marking the swing of the load 'Bullocks, ay I knowed them then - no one knowed ‘em better Spelt them just the same as men, letter after letter' Once in a while we ask if he hears The sound of Mennecke’s bells Deep in the pits of his ancient ears Repeating their olden spells 'Mennecke’s bells', then he'll say, 'never heard none like ‘em Mennecke, he had the way, no one else could strike ‘em' Bred to the yoke, old Bullocky Ben Bullock-boy, that was his start Says with a laugh, remembering men 'Them were the days- they were smart' Written in his own queer way, bullock-whip the scriber He made history in his day – Ben the bullock driver Chloe and Jason Roweth sing this poem by Mary Gilmore on their tribute to Bob Rummery concert - go to 10:55 mark. Yutube clip Menneke bell --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Sep 20 - 08:14 PM FAREWELL TO ANZAC (C.F Smith/M.Wyndham-Read) Oh, hump your swag and leave, me lads, the ships are in the bay We've got our marching orders now, it's time to come away And a long goodbye to Anzac Beach where blood has flowed in vain And we're leaving, leaving, leaving it and game to fight again But some there are who will not leave that bleak and bloody shore And some that marched and fought with us will fight and march no more Their blood has bought 'til judgment day the slopes they stormed so well And we're leaving, leaving, leaving them lying where they fell Australia's sons are lying there, the bravest and the best We're leaving them behind us now, their days have come to rest We've done our best with yesterday, tomorrow's still our own And we're leaving, leaving, leaving them lying all alone Oh they are gone beyond it all, the praising and the blame And many a man will win renown, but none more fair a fame; They showed the world Australia's sons knew well the way to die And we're leaving, leaving, leaving them quiet where they lie We will leave these lads behind us now lying where they died They are in our hearts and in our minds, their glory and their pride. Round them the sea and barren land, over them the sky Oh we're leaving, leaving, leaving them quiet where they lie We are leaving, leaving, leaving them quiet where they lie Martyn Wyndham-Read put a tune to this poem by English poet, Cicely Fox Smith. He made some alterations to the original text. His studio version on his album 'Back to you': Click A live rendition with lengthy, but interesting, introduction: Click Mudcatter, Charley Noble, also put a tune to the poem. You can find it here: Mudcat thread --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 25 Sep 20 - 01:10 AM Mention of Colin Dryden reminded me of the VERY prolific songwriter and YT poster, Daniel Kelly, down in Yass. I can't keep up with all he does, but I did rather like his song "The Frederick" about which he says : "I caught a bit of this interview with Peter Grose about the book he has written called Ten Rogues, covering the story of 10 convicts that stole a ship from the camp on Sarah Island in 1834 and sailed to Chile: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/..." Listen here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae7BAeyTKAM Check out his other vidclips here : https://www.youtube.com/c/DanielKellyFolkMusic/videos Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 25 Sep 20 - 12:54 AM okay, so we've made 300 posts - who'da thunkit! R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Sep 20 - 11:05 PM R-J, thanks for posting the songs by Ryder and Flanagan - they are definitely old favourites. I am always amazed by Mick Flanagan's memory - he sings Irish ballads that rival Icelandic sagas. Dermott Ryder wrote a piece on Colin Dryden which should be of interest to some Mudcatters. It took me a while to re-find a copy on the Net. It was titled 'North Country Gentleman'. Ryder on Dryden --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Sep 20 - 10:32 PM I DON’T GO SHEARING NOW (Woods/Wyndham-Read) So you're off to Riverina where the sun is shining clear The ewes and lambs are bleating calling shearers far and near The musterers are busy where the grass is always high And the July fogs are climbing up the sunbeams to the sky And the carpenters are busy fixing gates and pens and bins While the pressers just to kill time press in bales the winter's skins I have been there in the past and I know exactly how The shearing sheds'll get you—though I don't go shearing now No I don't go shearing now Three clear days if you are lucky you'll be there before the roll And the splendour of the springtime will suffice your youthful soul And you'll pay an early visit to your working pen I'll bet Perhaps upon your own old rig the oil rag's lying yet And you'll wander up and down the silent boards with heart quite full As you smell old recollections when you sniff the greasy wool Ah my lad you needn't smile for I know exactly how These little things affect you—though I don't go shearing now No I don't go shearing now Each man his neighbour watching noting well the other's pace As you move a little faster feeling fitter for the race And the pace begins to quicken and the sweat soon starts to drop Each man has found his pacer and is going at his top But ere many days are over weak ones fall down one by one Hit by chips and flying bullets from the boss's little gun I've been there in the past and I know exactly how The fight gets fairly started—though I don't go shearing now No I don't go shearing now How I'd love to travel with you where the Murrumbidgee flows Where the days are always sunny and the noisy quirking crows Are flying round the washpen and the sweating pens are full And to have some tea and damper and be all among the wool Every year I get this longing when the shearing time draws nigh But to saddle up and slipper and to have another try But these days are now behind me for I know exactly how The rheumatism gets me so I don't go shearing now No I don't go shearing now Martyn Wyndham-Read took this poem by Walter William Woods (aka John Drayman) from Stewart and Keesing's Australian bush ballads collection. He noted that he 'penned it in and clipped it short' to make it more singable. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Sep 20 - 09:42 PM MOUNT OUSLEY BREAKDOWN (Robin Connaughton) I drove from Austral’s in my little Commer knocker Two coils of reject copper going back to ERS She was slightly overloaded and the brakes needed relining But I didn’t think it mattered, only one trip more or less I detoured through the suburbs, missed the mermaids down at Sutherland Hammered on past Helensburgh, then out through Maddens plains Screaming sixty down the hills, like the one past Appin turn-off And chugging back to twenty going up the slope again Chorus: Nearer my God, nearer my God, nearer my God to thee I was going down Mount Ousley doing eighty miles an hour Singing, ’Nearer my God to thee’ I changed to third at Ousley, but when I went in for second The preselector gearbox locked out any cog but top I pulled left and hit the anchors, but the front brakes stripped their linings Four miles of hill, ten tons of coil, no bloody way to stop I scraped the kink at fifty, missed the safety ramp at sixty The Commer’s engine knocking like a demolition drill Then it’s through the shute and down the straight, there’s nothing left but houses And the traffic light T-junction at the bottom of the hill Chorus You can lose speed through the cutting if you scape the truck against the side They’ve never bloody tried it doing eighty miles an hour You hit the edge too hard, the load just keeps on going Ten tons of copper coil would press me flatter than a flower I went through the intersection like an angel with its arse on fire Cannoned off a Morris and a Holden lost its back When the front wheels hit the gutter, the cabin left the chassis I could hear the chain links breaking as the coils took up the slack Chorus Suddenly it’s silent, I am sitting in a paddock Crying like a baby, ‘cos I’m still alive to cry Sitting in the wreckage of the cabin of me Commer Between two copper carpets, stretching pink towards the sky And thanking God almighty for that canny little loader Who’d chocked the coils off-centre when he’d chained them down, you see So that when I hit the gutter and the coils came smashing forwards Well, one went right and one went left and both of them missed me Chorus (x2) From The Roaring Forties 'We Made the Steel'. The tune is 'Wreck of the Old '97'. Mt Ousley descent --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 24 Sep 20 - 06:07 AM Well, after that, reckon we could all do with a nice Cup of Tea, eh! Billy of Tea From The Native Companion Songster, c.1889 You can talk of your whiskey, talk of your beer, There's something much nicer that's waiting us here. It sits on the fire beneath the gum tree: There's nothing much nicer than a billy of tea. Ch. So fill up your tumbler as high as you can, And don't you dare tell me it's not the best blend. You can let all your beer and your spirits go free, I'll stick to my darling old billy of tea. I rise in the morning as soon as it's light And go to the nosebag to see it's alright, That the ants on the sugar no mortgage have got And straight away sling my old black billy pot. And while it is boiling the horses I seek, And follow them down as far as the creek. I take off their hobbles and let them run free, Then haste to tuck into my billy of tea. And at night when I camp, if the day has been warm, I give to my horses their tucker of corn. From the two in the pole, to the one in the lead, A billy for each holds a comfortable feed. Then the fire I make and the water I get, And corned beef and damper in order I set. But I don't touch the grub – though so hungry I be – I wait 'til it's ready; the billy of tea. This version by Bruised Knees : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHwYolLLuIc Cheers! (and it's Time for Tea), R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 24 Sep 20 - 05:33 AM Darn! I forgot to say that on the Ovarian Sisters recording, GO TO 03:20 for the song, coz the whole LP is there. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 24 Sep 20 - 05:22 AM Well, the way things are heading in Americal with Roe Vs Wade, someone had better crank this little device into production, pronto! THE I.P.D. Song By Sue Edmonds I'll sing you all a song about a wondorous new device The nation's latest contraceptive plan That funny little object they call the I.U.D Has recently been changed to fit a man. Ch. The I.P.D., the I.P.D. It may not feel too good to you, But it's not hurting me So every time the pain begins to fill your eyes with tears Remember I put up with it for years. They tested it on whales and tried it out on mice They used it in the poorer parts of town It's the cleverest invention since the automatic lift Guaranteed to never let you down. It was proven to be safe for the average human male Though testing showed some minor side affects There were two died from infection and six were sterilized But only ten percent were too depressed. Ah, but you know some people are never satisfied So scientists are working once again They've got something even better than the good old IPD It’s called the morning-after pill for men. It's the pill – it’s better than the IPD It may not be too safe but we'll just have to wait and see So put away your worries and put away your fears And remember I put up with it for years! Here is Sue Edmonds singing with her Ovarian Sisters in Tasmania, from their 1980 LP “Beat Your Breasts” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otJ-SUmWCdI And another version by Judy Small : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDRrTFxVs60 Cheers! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 24 Sep 20 - 04:36 AM FOUR LITTLE JOHNNY CAKES Hurrah for the Lachlan, boys, and join me in a cheer That's the place to go to make an easy cheque each year With a toad-skin in my pocket I borrowed from a friend Oh, isn't it nice and cosy to be camping in the bend? Ch. With my little round flour-bag sitting on a stump My little tea-and-sugar bag looking nice and plump A little fat cod-fish just off the hook And four little johnny-cakes, a credit to the cook I've a loaf or two of bread and some "murphies" that I shook Perhaps a loaf of brownie that I snaffled from a cook A nice leg of mutton ... just a bit cut off the end Oh, isn't it nice and jolly to be whaling in the bend? I have a little book and some papers for to read Plenty of matches and a good supply of weed I wouldn't be a squatter as beside my fire I sit With a paper in my hand and my old clay lit When shearing-time comes, I'm in all my glory then I saddle up my moke and I soon secure a pen I canter through the valley and gallop o'er the plain I shoot a turkey, stick a pig, and off to camp again Last Chorus With my little round flour-bag sitting on a stump My little tea-and-sugar bag looking nice and plump A little fat cod-fish just off the hook And four little johnny-cakes, I'm proud to be the cook! “collected by” Banjo Paterson . There are a couple of Mudcat threads that discuss this song and the meanings/derivation of the lyrics. Mark Gregory’s book notes : “Printed in Paterson's Old Bush Songs, Johnny Cakes are small dampers or scones cooked in a pan rather than in the ashes of a camp fire. Recipe : Mix 250 g of flour with 1 tablespoon of baking powder and a little salt. Slowly mix enough water to make a dough. Divide the dough into small cakes and fry for about 10 minutes each side. Serve cold with jam, honey or cockies' joy (golden syrup)” I was after Dave de Hugard’s singing of it, but sadly,found very little of his online :( However, here is the late Bill Berry, one-time Queenslander, and sounding of course, very authentic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiAVO0ZDs8Q Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 24 Sep 20 - 03:59 AM THE CONSERVATIONISTS by Mick Flanagan, c.1970s? The year was 1964 when Morgan found the nickel ore And the miners headed westward with a will From Rum Jungle, Broken Hill, Leigh Creek and Collinsville The western lands they soon began to fill, began to fill The western lands they soon began to fill. First the Durkin Shaft went down, and up sprang Kambalda town With employment for a thousand mining men Be you Aussie, Scot or Turk, you were well-paid for your work Whether underground or working in the mill, in the mill Whether underground or working in the mill. Next Poseidon made a find, the stock market it went wild As the trading reached a fever on the floor Soon the brokers' knees grew weak as Poseidon hit its peak For the like of it they'd never seen before, seen before The like of it they'd never seen before. Now the shafts are sinking fast and they're spreading through the West The beasts of nature don't know what to do Soon the emu and the ‘roo, there will be no room for you Your extinction seems to be so close at hand, close at hand Your extinction seems to be so close at hand. Conservationists they say, if we carry on this way There's no doubt that we are headed for our doom For the big companies don't mind if the minerals they find For the Dollar God, it rules them every day, every day The Dollar God, it rules them every day. So stand up while you can, think of your fellow man And the children that will follow after you For I'm sure they'd like to see all the animals that we Are killing every day throughout the land, throughout the land Are killing every day throughout the land. Though born in Galway, Mick Flanagan now resides in Georgetown, Tasmania. Click this link for a recording by John Thompson : http://ozfolksongaday.blogspot.com/2011/01/conservationists-song.html Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 24 Sep 20 - 01:52 AM RIGHT OF THE LINE ~ Dermott Ryder Where are you going me fine young blade, With your bright blue jacket and your red cockade, Hauling the gun in the sun and the shade, For to fight 'for the right' in the morning. Sold your soul for the shilling of the king. To follow the gun in the winter & the spring And fight for the crown the sceptre and the ring And the 'right of the line' in the morning. Fired the gun in Germany and France On the wild raw veldt where the Zulu dance They buried your body with hardly a glance Where you died 'for the right' in the morning. Stable belt hangin' on a wagon wheel Red for the blood and blue for the steel Gold the gunners who made the bastards reel, For 'the right' and the glory in the morning The guns stand silent as you march away to the Jungle green, at the break of day. 'Everywhere', I can hear you say, for the right and glory in the morning. Battle honours wove in steel and gold Fought for the youth of a nation sold In the snow and the rain & the heat and the cold For the 'right of the line' in the morning. The pastures are green where the guns once stood The trees grow tall on nations blood, Spilled and mixed with tears and the mud, Where 'the right' was won in the morning. Remember the battles you fought and won, for God and for Country, and for duty done. In freedom's cause your time will come, when you fight for the right in the morning. Where are you going my fine young blade, with your bright blue jacket and your red cockade? Hauling the gun in the sun and the shade, for to fight for the right in the morning. Click for recording by Andy Saunders & Phyl Lobl : https://phyllobl.net/songs/on-my-selection-album/right-of-the-line/ Phyl writes : “In the British Army the Royal Artillary had the first right to movement of guns and troops in the battle line. Dermott Ryder who wrote the song served in the British Army and informed me that 'red cockade' refers to a bloodstain on a head bandage.” (the late) Dermott Ryder “says he wrote “Right of the Line” not as an anti-war song, as some singers assert, but rather as a pro-peace song because I believe that the secondary role of the military of a Christian Nation is to justly gain and humanely maintain the democratic peace……” See also “Dermott’s Last Ride” by Paul Hemphill : https://howlinginfinite.com/2015/03/05/dermotts-last-ride/ Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 24 Sep 20 - 12:34 AM THE YOBBO’S REQUEST ~ Jean Memery Ch. Sing us a song please, Mr Folksinger Sing us the one we forgot You know the one, it’s a bloody humdinger And better than hit parade rot. Sing us a song about life in the bush Make us all proud to be Aussies You know the one, you sang it last week It’s all about blowflies and mozzies. Sing us an Irish one, all full of tears All about torture and pain And drunkards and rebels and famine and fears And then sing it all over again. Sing us a protest song, lay it on thick Tell us what bastards we are Thoughtless and greedy and selfish and sick It was guilt that made Bogle a star. When there’s a chorus, we’ll all sing along It must drive you stark-staring mad Though we can’t hold a tune and the words are all wrong Our intentions are not wholly bad. Jean Memery is a Beechworth (Victoria) resident – poet and retired English teacher – who taught all over, including the NT, which I presume, is how this song became popular up there! It is sung to the tune of the traditional old timey (or even earlier) song “All the Good Times (are past and gone)”, but rather more using the Bob & Carolanne Pegg (aka Mr Fox) variations (though a bit faster than this rendition!) I recall it was good for late, end-of-night harmonies!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_IYnKhgdGw Was it a Bloodwood number, Stew?? I just can’t recall. Also, why are there practically no Bloodwood tracks on YT?? (pretty tragic) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Sep 20 - 11:45 PM LIFT #4 : NB I confess I lifted this whole section (lyrics, notes, clip) from Evan & Lyn Mathieson's very excellent homage website to the music and memories of Queenslander, Harry Robertson, and for his widow Rita, and family. http://www.harryrobertson.net/index.html Some great stuff on there and I trust they will forgive me if I similarly add a couple more favourites too! WHALING WIFE Lyrics and Music: Harry Robertson (As performed by Marian Henderson on Harry’s 1971 LP “WHALE CHASING MEN”) Aye! I’m waiting here at hame and I always feel the same Whenever my guid man goes tae the whaling, Seven months he’ll be awa’ doon amongst the ice and snow And there’s times my lonely heart is nearly breaking. Now it’s time the kids were fed, and I’ll put them into bed, And to them a story then I might be telling, That their Daddy’s gone tae sea, to buy food for them and me, And it’s many whales we hope he will be catching. If the whaling catch is fine, we will have an easy time, New clothes and food we ought to have in plenty, But if the blubber’s thin on the Blue Whale and the Fin, Then for us between the seasons could be scanty. So it’s waiting that I am, and I’m thinking of my man, And the pleasure when I know that he’s returning, But in case ye should forget — he hasna’ come hame yet, And wi’ tears my eyes at times are fairly burning. © Harry Robertson and subsequently ©1995 Mrs Rita Robertson, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA Registered with APRA/AMCOS www.apra-amcos.com.au Click to play the track by [the late and great] Marian Henderson http://www.harryrobertson.net/sound/WCM_Whaling_Wife.mp3 WHALING WIFE "I often thought as I watched whaling men working, what brought most of them down south year after year. Some knew little else — others had backgrounds of a professional nature and yet all of them seemed to have one thing in common — an attraction to the bleak wilderness of Antarctica. The financial motive existed in all and a keen eye was kept on the production figures — yet one suspected that money was the secondary motive — it could perhaps be explained that without being ‘Shackeltons’ or ‘Scotts’ they still sought new frontiers — or rather — the avoidance of existing ones in cities, towns, etc. Whatever the reason, there they were, and probably would be back the following year. Such a pattern often led me to wonder, not only about the whalers, but about the other people in their lives. A great number of people connected with the Whaling Industry never go whaling. In 1950-51 some twelve thousand men of various nationalities operated in the Antarctic season. Surely they each left at least one friend behind. So we find, scattered throughout the world, thousands of people who know of, and depend upon, the return of whaling men and the result of a good catch — such is the — ‘Whaling Wife’." HR Click to play the introduction http://www.harryrobertson.net/WhalingWife.html Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Sep 20 - 11:37 PM LIFT #3 : NB I confess I lifted this whole section (lyrics, notes, clip) from Evan & Lyn Mathieson's very excellent homage website to the music and memories of Queenslander, Harry Robertson, and for his widow Rita, and family. http://www.harryrobertson.net/index.html Some great stuff on there and I trust they will forgive me if I similarly add a couple more favourites too! QUEENSLAND WHALERS Lyrics and Music: Harry Robertson I’ve sailed the North Atlantic, where ice blows in the breeze, And roamed the Dutch West Indies in the calm blue sunny seas. When I think of ships and seamen, my thoughts return again, To a season spent in Moreton Bay with Queensland Whaling Men. Chorus Sing Ho! You Queensland whalers, who have cut the sugar cane, And drove the herds of cattle o’er the dry and dusty plain, You’ve dug the ore at Isa, laid countless miles of rail, And now you’ve come to Moreton Bay, to catch the Humpback whale. For men who’ve chased the brumbies, caught bullocks by the tail, It really is no problem to catch a Humpback whale. Just spur your iron seahorse, put the gun through rigging struts, And when he runs from the coral scrub, you belt him in the guts. Chorus The man up in the crows nest, as whaling legend goes, Looks out across the water and then cries, “Thar she blows!” But here in sunny Queensland you’ll sometimes hear them shout, “There goes a bloody beauty, mate, so get your finger out!” Chorus From Moreton to Caloundra, bronze whaler sharks abound, They wait like dingoes in the scrub for a wounded beast that’s down. But their taste for blood and savagery, it never could compare With the bite that Inland Revenue took from our bonus share. Chorus When fuel tanks were running low, we’d sail to Brisbane town And at the nearest boozer our sorrows we would drown, With beer and fiery whiskey and plonk of vintage rare We’d steer a steady zigzag course without a blasted care. Chorus Hooray, the season’s over and we can all return, To greet our wives and sweethearts and have a little fun, We’ll rant like cattle drovers, we’ll roar like whaling men, But when the season starts next year you’ll find us back again. Chorus © Harry Robertson, and subsequently ©1995 Mrs Rita Robertson, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA Registered with APRA/AMCOS www.apra-amcos.com.au Click to play the track http://www.harryrobertson.net/sound/WCM_Queensland_Whalers.mp3 QUEENSLAND WHALERS "I listened to the words of the song, “And Captain Logan he had us mangled, At the triangles of Moreton Bay”. That such a placid sunlit place was once the scene of inhuman brutality, was hard to believe. Later I walked along Logan Road named after the bloody Captain and I have since wondered just how many historical and present-day bastards are immortalised in such a manner. Perhaps debasement is easier to remember than achievement. Personally I prefer achievement. Consequently, in the following song ‘Queensland Whalers’, I once again refer to the adaptability of men who had indeed worked at everything prior to stepping on board the whale ships. The early fires of struggle in Australia surely forged a metal of its own. I found the temper of this metal in the character of the ‘Have-a-go, Aussies!’ when I whaled at Moreton Bay." HR Click to play the introduction http://www.harryrobertson.net/QueenslandWhalers.html Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Sep 20 - 11:29 PM LIFT #2 : NB I confess I lifted this whole section (lyrics, notes, clip) from Evan & Lyn Mathieson's very excellent homage website to the music and memories of Queenslander, Harry Robertson, and for his widow Rita, and family. http://www.harryrobertson.net/index.html Some great stuff on there and I trust they will forgive me if I similarly add a couple more favourites too! THE ANTARCTIC FLEET Lyrics and Music: Harry Robertson I went down south a-whaling, to the land of ice and snow, And eight-and-twenty pounds a month, was all I had to show, For being on a little ship like a sardine in a can, And eating salty pork and beef, they stewed up in a pan. Chorus Heigh-ho! Whale-oh! Wi’ the Antarctic fleet, I’ve got a drip upon me nose and I’m frozen in the feet. South Georgia is an island, it is a Whaling Base, And only men in search of whales, would go to such a place, No entertainment does exist unless you make home brew, Then we would have some singing and, we’d have some fighting too. Chorus Our gunner came from Norway, like many of the crew, And others spoke wi’ Scottish tongues, as whalers often do, But when the ship was closing in to make the bloody kill, The Scotsmen and Norwegians worked, together with a will. Chorus We sailed down to the Weddell Sea, where the big Blues can be found, We chased between the icebergs and, we chased them round and round, And when they couldn’t run no more, and fought to draw their breath, Our gunner shot harpoons in them, ’til they floated still in death. Chorus For months we sailed the ocean, and wearied with the toil, Of slaughter and of killing just to get that smelly oil, And when the savage storms blew and snow kept falling down, I often wished that I was back, in dear old Glasgow town. Chorus It’s twenty years since I’ve been there, and I won’t go there again, I didn’t like the climate but, I liked the whaling men, And even in the sunshine now when I walk along the street, I’ve got a drip upon me nose, and I’ve still got frozen feet. Chorus © Harry Robertson, and subsequently ©1995 Mrs Rita Robertson, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA Registered with APRA-AMCOS www.apra-amcos.com.au Click to play the song : http://www.harryrobertson.net/sound/WCM_The_Antarctic_Fleet.mp3 THE ANTARCTIC FLEET "I finished taking the slack out of a bottom end bearing on the main engine at St Vincents, Cape Verde Islands, just off the west coast of Africa, our first stop since leaving Britain and our last before we reached Leith Harbour Whaling Base on the island of South Georgia. While fuel and stores were being taken on board, I joined my shipmates in buying, begging, bartering, or stealing, flagons of ‘alco pura’ (gutrot booze) from the ‘Bumboat’ men. Otherwise it would be a dry trip through the ‘Roaring Forties’ degrees south where the weather is worse than any government’s policy — though not consistently so — to the grog-dry Whaling Station and even drier Whaling Men who had spent the winter there. They knew we were coming, we knew they were there and the traditional obligation of bringing supplies must be honoured. Stand your watch, oil the engines, retell old incidents — for news is scarce now. Quite suddenly, out of the mist one morning, appeared the ice-cragged peaks of South Georgia — conversation sparkled once more as we threaded our way towards Leith Harbour and all its majestic squalor." HR http://www.harryrobertson.net/TheAntarcticFleet.html Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 23 Sep 20 - 10:23 PM Great stuff, R-J. Lawls was a very fine singer. PO ATA RAU (Anon/tune based on Swiss Cradle Song} Pö atarau E moea iho nei E haere ana Koe ki pämamao Haere rä Ka hoki mai anö Ki i te tau E tangi atu nei Now is the hour When we must say goodbye Soon you'll be sailing Far across the sea While you're away Oh please remember me When you return You'll find me waiting here In New Zealand, the opening theme of a piano piece, 'Swiss Cradle Song', composed in Australia by Clement Scott was modified for the singing of Po Atarua to farewell WWI Maori soldiers. In 1920, 'This Is the Hour' verse was added. On a visit to NZ in 1945, Gracie Fields learned the song and her version, known as 'Now Is the Hour', became a world-wide hit in 1948. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Sep 20 - 10:10 PM NB I confess I lifted this whole section (lyrics, notes, clip) from Evan & Lyn Mathieson's very excellent homage website to the music and memories of Queenslander, Harry Robertson, and for his widow Rita, and family. http://www.harryrobertson.net/NorfolkWhalers.html Some great stuff on there and I trust they will forgive me if I similarly add a couple more favourites too! NORFOLK WHALERS Lyrics and Music: Harry Robertson (As performed by Marian Henderson on Harry’s 1971 LP “WHALE CHASING MEN”) High on the cliffs of Norfolk’s green isle, Women and children are waiting the while, Far down below the whale boatmen row, As after the Humpback the Norfolk men go. Each man in the boat strains hard at his oar, They head for the whale, and away from the shore, Up at the bow the harpoon man stands, A steel-shafted harpoon clutched tight in his hands. Chorus Row, my love row, and bring back to me, The king of the ocean, the prize of the sea. Ship the oars lads, and quiet as we go, The harpoon strikes deep, and the blood starts to flow, Then hell’s violent furies break out on the waves, One blow from its tail could mean watery graves. For hours the whale drags the boat through the sea, And tires from its effort to break the rope free, Exhausted at last, it floats in the sun, Sharp lances complete what the harpoon begun. Chorus Back to the island, ’twill be a long row, If darkness comes down, the lantern will glow, For high on the cliffs the Islanders stand, And wait for their men to return to the land. With backs nearly broken, and blistered hands sore, The boatmen at last reach the isle’s rocky shore, The joy on friends’ faces, what pleasure to see, Their loved ones return with the prize of the sea. Chorus © Harry Robertson, and subsequently ©1995 Mrs Rita Robertson, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA Registered with APRA/AMCOS www.apra-amcos.com.au Click to play the track by [the late and great] Marian Henderson http://www.harryrobertson.net/sound/WCM_Norfolk_Whalers.mp3 NORFOLK WHALERS "The first thing I noticed on my arrival at Norfolk Island was the number of people who lined the cliff tops, some three hundred feet high at Cascade Bay, to watch our arrival. As a penal settlement, Norfolk Island had been the scene of brutal floggings and inhumane treatment of desperate prisoners condemned for stealing a loaf of bread, or poaching a rabbit ? capital crimes no doubt! Eventually the scene of the crime was changed by removing the prisoners to be ill-treated elsewhere, and the island was granted to the descendants of the Mutineers of the fine ship ‘Bounty‘, who had, by this time, begun to overpopulate Pitcairn Island. Like most migrants, some settled there, and some returned to Pitcairn Island. During my visits ashore to the homes of various people on Norfolk Island, I learned that we were not the first whaling company to operate there. Later, on a visit to Ball Bay, I saw the remnants of what had been large cooking pots and various other debris. Apparently this whaling venture terminated suddenly one night when the plant caught fire and burned down. Cause of the fire ? unknown. One night while in conversation with one of the older inhabitants, I learned of whaling expeditions by the Islanders themselves ? using rowboats and hand harpoon. He described how the whale, once harpooned, would sometimes drag the boat so far away that by the time the whale was killed and towed back to land ? the sharks had almost eaten the lot! Were they fortunate enough to get a whale to the shore in good condition, then the Islanders would descend from the cliff tops, where they had watched their men chase and kill the whale, and each person would carry pieces of blubber, meat etc to the top of the cliff where it was cooked. To me, the cliff top vigil was a repeat of history. You will find the story as it was told to me, in my song ‘Norfolk Whalers’. HR http://www.harryrobertson.net/NorfolkWhalers.html |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 23 Sep 20 - 09:57 PM SON OF ROME ~ © Paul Lawler, 1984 Born and bred, reared and rutted The Parish Priest, over me he muttered Water on the head, salt on the tongue For ensuing pain, this song is sung. Five years old, can’t understand schism Catechism, cataclysm Peter, Judas, rise up Zach Days of religion, minutes of math ... Seven years of age, church seasoned Can you beat the Jesuits’ reason Hymns and bells, indoctrination Another name, confirmation. Through the skin and through the bone You are now a Son of Rome Square one starts at sixty four Other views – close the door … Hindu, Protestant, Muslim, Jew Can’t you see it’s the same for you Steeped in doctrine, day and night Have you really seen the Light? Heretics, skeptics, sages, witches Burned and scorned, so history teaches Dared to question Life above Murdered by a mythical dove … Don’t look behind your stained glass window Your gods are here, they’re all around you Love your neighbour, love him fair Love him just because he’s there. Here is an early folkclub recording of Paul’s “semi-autobiographical” composition “Son of Rome”, before a couple of lyric adjustments! GO TO 20:47 ---- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7PsCsWL6Pk&t=3s Stewie has previously posted Dorothy Hewitt’s lovely poem “Sailor Home from the Sea”. Known as “Cock of the North” in the Top End, where folks used Martyn Wyndham-Read’s tune, down here in Queensland around Briso, they use Chris Kempster’s tune. But here is a Darwin folkclub recording from Paul, slightly folk-processed :) GO TO 03:54 ---- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZVIJ3zc-M4 Helen (via Sandra) has also already posted “One of the Has-Beens” (Robert Stewart/Trad) and here is a Darwin folkclub recording of Paul singing it (similarly folk-processed :) GO TO 28:20 ---- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZVIJ3zc-M4 Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 23 Sep 20 - 08:16 PM BLUE SMOKE (Ruru Karaitiana) Blue smoke goes drifting by into the deep blue sky And when I think of home, I sadly sigh Oh I can see you there, with loving tears in your eyes As we fondly said our last goodbyes And as I sailed away with a longing to stay I promised I'd be true and to love only you Blue smoke goes drifting by into the deep blue sky My memories of home will never die Spoken [Women’s part] Smoke drifts away high into the sky And the memories come flooding back. ‘Aue!’ Those overwhelming feelings, and the tears " ... You are going, you are going ... I travel with you on the wings of my love Oh Tama, my love is all for you." Smoke drifts away high into the sky I will never forget you. I will never never forget you. And as I sailed away with a longing to stay I promised I'd be true and to love only you Blue smoke goes drifting by into the deep blue sky My memories of home will never die Ruru Karaitiana served in the Middle East in WW2 with the 28th New Zealand (Maori) Battalion. He wrote 'Blue Smoke' on a troop ship in 1940 when a friend drew his attention to some passing smoke. In 1947, he formed an Hawaiian-style quintet and recorded it with singer, Pixi Williams. It was the first song written by a New Zealander to be recorded and released on a New Zealand record label. It was a massive hit locally and was later recorded by Dean Martin and other overseas luminaries. It is a tad sentimental but as G.K Chesterton wisely pointed out ‘sentimentality is simply having feelings and not troubling to invent a new way of expressing them’. This recording omits the spoken women's part: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 23 Sep 20 - 08:01 PM THE SHEARING’S COMING ROUND (Wright/Jessett) There's a sound of many voices in the camp and on the track And letters coming up in shoals to stations at the back And every boat that crosses from the sunny other side Is bringing waves of shearers for the swelling of the tide (Chorus) And the shearing's coming round, boys, the shearing's coming round The stations of the mountains have begun to hear the sound They'll be talking up at Laghmor of the tallies that were shore And the bloke who broke the record is remembered at Benmore And the yarns of strikes and barneys will be told till all is blue And the ringers and the bosses will be passed in long review Chorus. The great Orari muster and the drafting of the men Like a mob of ewes and wethers will be surely told again And a lot of heathen places that will rhyme with kangaroo Will be named along with ringers and the things that they can do Chorus At last the crowds have gathered for the morning of the start And the slowest of the jokers will be trying to look smart And a few will get the bullet, and high hopes will have a fall, And the bloke that talks the loudest stands a show of looking small Chorus With the arrival of Australian shearers working under contract on high country stations during the 1890s, NZ locals were exposed to Australian songs and especially the verse of Lawson and Paterson. The latter inspired Kiwi balladeers such as David McKee Wright who has been described as New Zealand’s ‘outback laureate’. His fine poem, 'The Shearing’s Coming Round,' references 3 large Canterbury stations – Laghmore, Benmore and Orari Gorge. The tune is by Michael Jessett. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 23 Sep 20 - 07:40 PM LEAVING THE LAND (Eric Bogle) It's time to go now, Jenny No need to close the door What if the dust gets in the house It doesn't matter any more You and the dust have been at war for far too many years Now the war is over Jenny dear (Chorus) Leaving the land Leaving the land Leaving all I’ve ever been and everything I am Leaving the land Remember when I brought you here Those long bright years ago For all that time you've been my heart But this land has been my soul The long bright days are over now though still the heart beats on But, Jenny dear, the soul is gone. And all I see around me Seems to me of the best For generations loved this land Never thought I’d be the last All that toiling, all that dreaming, birth and death and joy and pain It was all for nothing, all in vain Chorus It’s time to go now, Jenny Drive quickly down the track We'll never see what lies ahead if we keep on looking back Behind is just an empty house Old memories and ghosts And our small dreams gathering dust Chorus Going far away, far away Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 23 Sep 20 - 04:44 AM Some great songs here, thanks guys! The Jim Haynes song reminded me of another favourite by Jim called "Mow Ya Lawn". Used to hear it on the 'Australia All Over' radio show, but I can't find it on youtube or elsewhere. Has anyone got the lyrics? cheers, Ian |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Sep 20 - 10:56 PM Here's one from my mate Dave Evans of Bloodwood fame. There was a YT clip of Bloodwood performing this, but it seems to have disappeared. It is always a favourite at Top End festivals. PLAY SOMETHING WE KNOW MATE (Dave Evans) I've a fan who follows me everywhere I go He's always there at the club waiting for me to show If you want to know what I mean and how the hell I tell I grab my guitar, move to the bar and this voice begins to yell (Chorus) Play something we know mate so we can sing along None of your foreign rubbish mate just give us an Aussie song Waltzing Matilda, Ryebuck Shearer, plenty of guts so we can hear yer We'll sing the chorus - play something we know mate It's Sunday night in Alice Springs, the folk club's on tonight Guitar in hand I'm feeling grand, I think I'll do all right But just as I begin to sing, a voice decides me fate From across the floor, comes a terrible roar - play something we know mate Chorus This fellar's really getting me down, he follows me all day long Waiting for that moment for me to sing me song I took my wife out to tea for a little tête-à-tête When across the room came a terrible boom - play something we know mate Chorus I summoned all my courage up late one Sunday night Left my guitar and went to the bar, spoiling for a fight But he floored me with his very first words, he left me all irate "I don't like to boast but I'm deaf as a post & I can't sing a note, mate" "No I can't sing a note, mate, or even hum along As for your foreign rubbish, mate, well I'm a bloody Pom Waltzing Matilda Ryebuck Shearer, loud as you like 'cos I can't hear yer As for the chorus, it'll probably bore us - play something we know mate" Repeat chorus --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 22 Sep 20 - 10:17 PM Well done, Stewie......I haven't heard that one for ages. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Sep 20 - 09:41 PM Phil Beck and I have been known to recite a beaut poem by Jim Haynes titled 'Dipso Dan' which we got via Campbell the Swaggie whom many Oz folkies would know. Here is another splendid bit of nonsense from Haynes. SINCE CHERYL WENT FERAL (Jim Haynes) Watching ’60 Minutes’ one night As soon as it was over we got into a fight Because Cheryl said alternative was the way to go And the very next day she bought a sarong A sheepskin jacket and a brand new bong And before I knew it we hit the road Since Cheryl went feral Everything's weird And all our friends have disappeared She shaved her head and I've grown a beard Since Cheryl went feral It took us ages to hitch our way From Pennant Hills up to Byron Bay If we’d left those kids at home, we'd have been all right Well living off the land is all very well But the mung bean diet was giving me hell And I had to put that wigwam up each night Since Cheryl went feral Everything's crook And all our food is now uncooked I'd kill for a burger or a piece of chook Since Cheryl went feral Our little girl was called Narelle And we had a little boy called Bruce as well But now she's Crystal Flower and he's Leaf But Leaf's pretty happy since we left home Because he hasn't seen a bath or a shower or a comb And it's been three months since he brushed his teeth Since Cheryl went feral Everything's changed And I'm quite sure I've become deranged And I can't remember anyone's name Since Cheryl went feral Cheryl took a vow of celibacy She said she needed no input from me She got her navel pierced and stared at it all day long So I read the tarot with Leaf and Flower And dreamed about a nice cold shower While I waited for my turn on the bong Since Cheryl went feral Everything's pierced Rings through me nose and rings through me ears I haven't been this pierced for years Since Cheryl went feral I began to change me tune As soon as we joined that big commune And everyone took their clothes off straight away Their cosmic philosophy appealed to me It's multiple serial polygamy And I think the feral lifestyle's here to stay Since Cheryl went feral There's a real traffic jam Of naked women in our wigwam And I'm pretty happy right where I am Since Cheryl went feral Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Sep 20 - 08:54 PM Another little ripper from the pen of Kath Tait. STEEL-HEARTED ANNIE (Kath Tate) Steel-hearted Annie came home from work Through the park in the dark where the rapist lurked Behind the bushes and about to attack With the cold winds whistling across his back He pounced on Annie 'cos she was slim 'Cos she looked so frail and feminine But he wouldn't have done it if he only knew That she was a master of kung fu (Chorus) Steel-hearted Annie with an iron will Looks about as frail as a daffodil But you don't take a chance on a small thin dame With a punch like a piston on a steam train Steel-hearted Annie don't like to pose Like a trembling victim in a movie show She gets mad when she's in distress Like an animal in the wilderness There's nothing that she wouldn't do to survive She's got a strong desire to stay alive And she looks cute in pink or blue But she is a master of kung fu Chorus Steel-hearted Annie lived near a jail Where a psycho killer was released on bail He crept stealthily through the night He broke into her house to give her a fright And a cold wind whistled 'round the window frames Made a sound like a ghost rattlin' chains But the psycho killer ran for his life When he saw Annie coming with a carving knife Chorus Steel-hearted Annie told all her friends, 'We've got to stand up to violence' She went to classes and learned to fight Now she's not afraid to walk around at night She's a great big shark in a little tin can A little fire-cracker with a great big bang So just be careful what you do, 'Cos she is a master of kung fu Kath Tait: 'Steel-hearted Annie' came from watching Doris Day in an Alfred Hitchcock movie behave in such a pathetic manner that it seemed out of character with the fact that she was quite a tall, well-built woman and at least as strong as the male character who was pursuing her. We should remember that a hell of a lot of people live risky, adventurous lives and don't have lots of bad things happen to them. We don't want to let stories of victimisation scare us into leading excessively safe and boring lives. Therefore I try to make the characters in my songs survivors rather than victims. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Sep 20 - 07:44 PM THE BROKEN-HEARTED SHEARER I'm a broken-hearted shearer and ashamed to show my face For the way that I've been treated is a shame and a disgrace Now I’ve got me cheque together and I thought that it would do So I went down to Bendigo to spend a week or two Now I knew I wasn’t flat so resolved to cut it fat And I dressed meself from top to toe, put a pugg'ree round me hat Then I went to get a nobbier at a certain house in town Where the barmaid was a caution for to lamb a shearer down She had all the slang and flash talk that was going round the town And she'd sling it at me right and left while I was lambing down Well me money being nearly spent, I resolved to know my fate So I asked that pretty barmaid if she would be me mate “Well the fact is this, young man, on my feelings don't encroach I'm a decent married woman and my husband drives the coach" So I’ve sold me good old horse and I'll get some work, I hope I've a pipe and some tobaccy and half a bar of soap So I’m leaving Sandhurst now with me billy and jackshay And a pair of old torn leggings and a jar of Holloways That’s why I’m a broken-hearted shearer and ashamed to show me face For the way that I’ve been treated is a shame and a disgrace This is the version sung by Martyn Wyndham-Read. Martyn noted that he got it from David Lumsden who learnt it from his grandmother who spent much of her childhood in the Riverina. The tune is 'The wearing of the green'. 'Lambed down' was the term given to a luckless shearer after the barmaid had prised the last drop out of his cheque. A 'pugg'ree' is a thin muslim cloth (from the word for a turban). 'Holloways' was a family ointment sold in a earthenware jar. Youtube clip The first publication of the song in 1886 here: Click On Thompson's blog, you can find a different version collected by Meredith. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 22 Sep 20 - 01:15 AM Thank you for the Fergie tractor song, Stewie, I haven't heard it for ages! A small village half an hour north of here has a "Grey Fergie Muster" every three years - would have been due next March, but due to the covid plague has been put off to 2022. Mind you, the Fergies at the Muster aren't all grey......I have seen bright pink, lurid purple...... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 21 Sep 20 - 10:29 PM This piece of nonsense was popular. FERGIE TRACTOR (Peter Pentland) Well I run a few acres, pays a few quids rent And I overcome troubles when they be sent Be they flood or drought or some other factor I takes them in stride on me fergie tractor (Chorus) Oh me beaut little fergie tractor Be dad she goes like the clappers I can plough me fields and increase me yields Even comes with a silage extractor Me beaut little fergie tractor The fergie she's a wondrous machine I love to sniff her exhaust because she always runs clean There's no other machine I e’er took a jack to As fewer times as me fergie tractor Chorus Well the missus was naggin’ at me for years Her mouth was always flapping’ around me ears She’d nag about me, me dog and me farm So I ran over her on me ferguson Chorus I once had this milk maid working for me And the material in her blouse filled me with glee I gave her a wink, but I then had to sack her For although she liked me, she hated me tractor Chorus Now some folk say that I'd be an idiot And if brains be lightbulbs that I'd burned out me filament But people like that I just turn me back to And I go in the shed and I sit on me tractor Chorus Recording of a live performance at the Dan O'Connell in Melbourne in 1979. Youtube --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 21 Sep 20 - 09:39 PM ON THE WALLABY (Henry Lawson) Now the tent poles are rotting, the camp fires are dead, And the possums may gambol in trees overhead; I am humping my bluey far out on the land, And the prints of my bluchers sink deep in the sand: I am out on the wallaby humping my drum, And I came by the tracks where the sundowners come. It is nor'-west and west o'er the ranges and far To the plains where the cattle and sheep stations are, With the sky for my roof and the grass for my bunk, And a calico bag for my damper and junk; And scarcely a comrade my memory reveals, Save the spiritless dingo in tow of my heels. But I think of the honest old light of my home When the stars hang in clusters like lamps from the dome, And I think of the hearth where the dark shadows fall, When my camp fire is built on the widest of all; But I'm following Fate, for I know she knows best, I follow, she leads, and it's nor'-west by west. When my tent is all torn and my blankets are damp, And the rising flood waters flow fast by the camp, When the cold water rises in jets from the floor, I lie in my bunk and I list to the roar, And I think how to-morrow my footsteps will lag When I tramp 'neath the weight of a rain-sodden swag. Though the way of the swagman is mostly up-hill, There are joys to be found on the wallaby still. When the day has gone by with its tramp or its toil, And your camp-fire you light, and your billy you boil, There is comfort and peace in the bowl of your clay Or the yarn of a mate who is tramping that way. But beware of the town—there is poison for years In the pleasure you find in the depths of long beers; For the bushman gets bushed in the streets of a town, Where he loses his friends when his cheque is knocked down; He is right till his pockets are empty, and then— He can hump his old bluey up country again. Above is the Lawson poem. As a song, the title is usually 'The tent poles are rotten' with a variety of changes to the text - eg the possums 'ramble' and the 'spiritless dingo' becomes 'the spirit it tingles in my toe ...'. In all the recordings that I have (de Hugard, Loaded Dog, Wyndham-Read, Spooner) the third stanza is omitted. Danny Spooner's note in booklet to his 'Ard Tack' album: This song by Henry Lawson appears in Chris Kempster's tribute to the poet, The Songs of Henry Lawson with Music (Viking O'Neil 1989). Chris cites three tunes and I probably sing a combination of the first two. The song was first collected by Stan Arthur, Bob Michell and Ken McGoldrick in the 1960s from the singing of E. and A. Nesbitt of Bundaberg, Queensland, and Dave de Hugard has adapted that tune. The words explore the toils and rewards of the itinerant life—so much a part of the Australia's nineteenth century culture and identity. Here is a live rendition by Wyndham-Read Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 21 Sep 20 - 08:20 PM MY MAN’S GONE NOW (Anon) My man’s gone now, he had to go Couldn’t find no work around this town Not for ages, used his wages Got up this morning and he was gone Monday morning, it starts to rain Around the curve there comes a south-bound train Under a tarpaulin rides a bum called John He was a strange man, but now he’s gone Morning sunshine, the rooster crows Along the highway where, goodness knows Where’s John sleeping, how’s he keeping? When will he take the homeward road? Repeat stanza 1. A few months after the 1929 Wall Street crash, farm produce prices in New Zealand collapsed. Since the economy depended almost entirely on farm exports, the effects were disastrous. By 1931, over 50,000 New Zealand men were walking, looking for work. A sad effect of the upheaval was the break-up of family life. This little song was collected by Neil Colquhoun from May Simpson. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 21 Sep 20 - 08:12 PM THE WOOL COMMANDEER (George Meek w/Frank Fyfe t) The commandeer is under way, and blimey what a fuss The blinkin’ din and clatter sure would make a parson cuss There's covees tearing up the floors and blokes in overalls Slap-dapping cans of whitewash on the rafters and the walls (Chorus) Well it’s come from Haka Valley and it's come from Sunny Peak It's come from up the river and down Waitaki Creek She’s come from the back of nowhere up the wild McKenzie way And a clip from Tipperary will get here any day There's stackers swinging bale hooks and there's barrows shifting wool, There's covees humping baskets, some half empty, some half full There's classers squealing loudly for more bales of wool to class And someone yelling,’Where do you want this wool from Dansey's Pass?’ Chorus There's wool on every siding and there's wool on every street There's wool on every lorry and every bus you meet There's wool on every trailer and there's wool on every train And the stock-and-station diggers have got it on the brain Chorus There's wool on every corner and there's wool on every floor There's wool dumped in the basement and jammed behind the door There's wool in the old dairy and there's wool down at the dump There's wool in the old freezer and still more bales to hump Chorus. There's shaggy bales and baggy bales, there's fadges, sacks and bags Thank heavens Wally Nash cut out the blinkin’, stinkin’ dags There's belly wool and smelly wool and wool, well spare me days And the old jumbuck that grew it, I'll swear's seen better days. Chorus In 1940, the New Zealand government decided to commandeer all available wool bales and store them for eventual use in the war effort. George Meek of Oamaru was amused by this huge stockpiling and subsequently wrote this ballad. It was set to music by Frank Fyfe. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Sep 20 - 01:19 AM here 'tis https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=105012 Date: 24 Sep 07 - 10:05 AM & here's Bernard singing Basingstoke in 1981 BASINGSTOKE © Bernard Bolan I've got a cat called Basingstoke. he's a cat you must admire. He's black and white, or he was, till the night that he jumped into the fire. What a night! The tale it must be told, So grip your seat, for you're in for a treat that will make your blood run cold. Basingstoke, he used to be so furry Till he tried to kung-fu the canary. Up he jumped, soaring ever higher, Then the soaring stopped and down he dropped in the middle of the fire. In flames and smoke my Basingstoke went roaring round the room. His fiery tum and his blackened bum appeared to spell his doom. What a cat! Whoever would have guessed He could stick his rear in a pint of beer while beating out his chest? Basingstoke, he truly is a trier. It takes guts to sing when you're on fire. What a cat! You should have seen him strain, Stuck like glue in the bottom of the loo and trying to pull the chain. Now life's no joke for Basingstoke; so runs the ugly rumour That the fiery hob did not just rob him of his sense of humour. Poor old chap! The prospect it appals. Just one jump and down with a bump and he's burnt off all his undergrowth. Basingstoke, his tale is truly tragic. Fire and smoke, they have robbed him of his magic. The former spring-pawed terror of the tiles Just sits and sighs with tears in his eyes 'cause he only raises smiles. Basingstoke, he used to be a charmer. Now ladies joke, they talk of fried banana. Poor old chap! He was too young to retire. Once he was happy, handsome and hairy, Just a red-blooded pussy with a taste for canary. Now he comes somewhere between a fritter and a fairy Since he walked the fire. Bernard & friends in the 2019 Bernard Bolan tribute concert |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 20 Sep 20 - 10:05 PM How about "Basingstoke" by Bernard Bolan? Poor old Basingstoke......very funny. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Sep 20 - 09:08 PM good one, Stewie I have no idea when I last heard it, but I remember the chorus, I'll probably be singing it all day. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Sep 20 - 08:49 PM The late great John Clarke was a national treasure on both sides of the Tasman. Before relocating to Australia in 1977 and starting anew as a political satirist, Clarke had created an enduring Kiwi icon in the imagination of New Zealanders – the hilariously laconic, black-singleted, gumbooted farmer, Fred Dagg. Billy Connelly had modified a traditional song, 'The Work of the Weavers, to create his 'Welly Boot Song'. In turn, Clarke transmogrified Connelly’s piece into 'The Gumboot Song', one of Fred Dagg’s greatest hits. THE GUMBOOT SONG (John Clarke aka Fred Dagg) [Spoken] Kick it in the guts, Trev ... Gumboots, they are wonderful, gumboots, they are swell 'Cos they keep out the water, and they keep in the smell And when you're sittin' round at home, you can always tell When one of the Trevs has taken off his gumboots (Chorus) If it weren't for your gumboots, where would ya be? You'd be in the hospital or infirmary 'Cos you would have a dose of the flu, or even pleurisy If ya didn't have yer feet in yer gumboots Now there's rugby boots and racing boots, and boots for drinkin' rum But the only boots I'm never without, are the ones that start with ‘gum’ I've got short ones and long ones, and some up to me belt I'm never dressed 'till I've got on me gumboots Chorus Whenever I sing at the opera, my gumboots are a must They help me hit the high notes, and protect me feet from dust They keep the water well away, so me voice won't get no rust You will not never see me without me gumboots Chorus Now Rob Muldoon and Rowling, they haven't made a hit They're ruining the country, more than just a bit If they keep on the way they're going, we'll all be in turd So you'd better get yer feet up yer gumboots Chorus (x2) Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Sep 20 - 08:33 PM Then there's the splendid parody by the late Marcus Turner. HUNG OVER LIVER (Marcus Turner) Hungover liver. my head it is aching; It's weeks since the daylight I've seen I'm sitting here thinking "This shit I've been drinking Is rotting a hole in my spleen." Farewell to the gold that never I've seen. Goodbye to the acres of New Zealand green. I'm feeling quite plastered; my brain is half-masted. Put me down, you don't know where I've been. It's nearly two weeks since I left my old lady To have a quiet beer with the boys With Acid Head Jimmy and crazy Marie And Zelda with her rubber toys. Farewell to my house, my family and wife. I knew I was heading for all kinds of strife. We really were raving, I knew I was having The best bloody time of my life. We spent the next fortnight in acts of perversion, Old Jimmy Williams and me 'Til we heard of a party where no one had clothes on So we headed down there just to see. We drank and we chundered for night after night. Jug after jug we threw down 'Til two great big p'licemen took Jimmy away In a bust in the east end of town. Farewell lovely Zelda wherever you are. Your knickers are still in the back of my car, And thanks for the games with Marie and with James And I hope the rash doesn't spread far. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Sep 20 - 08:28 PM FAREWELL TO THE GOLD (Paul Metsers) Shotover River, your gold it is waning It's weeks since the colour I've seen. But it's no use just sitting and Lady Luck blaming I'll pack up and make the break clean (Chorus) Farewell to the gold that never I found Goodbye to the nuggets that somewhere abound For it's only when dreaming that I see the gleaming Down in the dark deep underground It's nearly two years since I left my old mother For adventure and gold by the pound With Jimmy the prospector, he was another For the hills of Otago we were bound Chorus Well we worked the Cardrona's dry valleys all over Old Jimmy Williams and me. They were panning good dirt on the winding Shotover So we headed down there just to see Chorus We sluiced and we cradled for day after day Barely making enough to get by 'Til a terrible flood swept poor Jimmy away During six stormy days in July Chorus One of the best-loved New Zealand folk idiom songs. It was written by Paul Metsers, but popularised by Phil Garland, Nic Jones, Gordon Bok and others. Metsers wrote about its composition: I'm afraid there is no mystery source for the song, no distant broadside or doggerel from which it gained its inspiration. It's all out of my head as it happens. I got hold of a pictorial history of gold mining, a small but fascinating book called ‘The Goldfields of Central Otago’. When I read of the tragic flash flood of July 1863, I knew I had the basis of a story. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Sep 20 - 08:02 PM ROSE BAY FERRY (Bernard Bolan) Every morning at 8:25 Down to the Rose Bay wharf I drive Park my Humber underneath a tree Pop along the gangplank and then I'm free Free says you, but how can that be? When you always finish up at Circular Quay So doubting Tom I shall explain When I get on board I sing this sweet refrain Where are we going today, Mr Nicholson? Where is it the going to be? Don't turn left, turn right down the harbour And out to the open sea Throw away your compass, right hand down And it's out through the heads we’ll go Yo ho! let's be merry on the Rose Bay ferry If we run out of petrol, we'll row, yo hoYo Ho! If we run out of petrol, we'll row Monday Java, Tuesday Spain Wednesday's it's Tokyo and back again The only trouble is, there isn't any Gents But what do you want for 20 cents? Off with me raincoat and me woolly vest See the naked ladies on my chest Today is Friday, so hold on tight 'Cos it’s off to Trinidad and back tonight Where are we going today, Mr Nicholson? Where is the going to be? Don't turn left, turn right down the harbour And out to the open sea Pull up your anchor, pull your finger out And wave goodbye to your home We're off to Nantucket, so give that man a bucket 'Cos it's choppy when you're out on the foam, yo ho It's choppy when you're out on the foam Now sometimes if I get up late I only reach the jetty at half past 8 But that doesn't ruin my world-wide trip 'Cos the 8:37 is a battleship Off on the dot with our guns on high Mince up Manly as we pass by We need another rocket so just pop upstairs We can get 'em from the chappy who collects the fares But now, left turn’s right today, Mr Nicholson Trouble in town, you see Let's hear three cheers, we're brave buccaneers The saviours of Circular Quay With patch on high and brollies to the sky Every pollie from his folly must flee With knuckles and chuckles, we'll swash their buckles If they bugger up Circular Quay Then we'll heave to (or three) at Circular Quay Bernard's original final chorus was: Where are we going today, Mr. Nicholson? Where is the going to be? Don't turn left, turn right down the harbour And out to the open sea For though we look like dudes and doctors At heart we are men of the sea Yo ho, let's be merry on the Rose Bay ferry Until we get to Circular Quay We finish up at Circular Quay Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Sep 20 - 07:21 PM I posted this one to the forum almost 20 years ago. At the height of the 'revival' in Oz, the first 3 interstate guest singers we had to the Top End Folk Club in Darwin were Declan Affley, Danny Spooner and Bernard Bolan. UNCLE FRED (Bernard Bolan) My uncle Fred retired last week at the age of 82 So we thought it only proper to prepare a little do My uncle Fred's a lawyer and he works in Sydney town At the offices of Brindle, Bogle, Trimble, Cock and Brown It had always been intended I should follow in his steps And not become a parson or else one of Waltons' reps So I studied for my exams though it nearly split my head And soon I took my proper place alongside Uncle Fred Uncle Fred is 82 today Time to take his specs off and put his books away Time to say farewell to Torrens title and the courts And no more thinking complicated excise duty thoughts Mr Bogle brought the gin and Bogle brought the beer But Trimble, Cock and Brown had not been round for many years The office girls appeared in pearls and some with purple eyes And, in the usual fashion, I was sent to get the pies A wooden chiming clock was bought at very great expense And a little card with flowers on cost petty cash 10 cents At the office bar, with a pencil jar, the cashier lost his head And drank lemonade and a razor blade to the health of uncle Fred Uncle Fred is 82 today Time now for the Law Society's pension fund to pay No more hereunto, aforesaid, thee and thou But time to pay attention to the herein after now Mr Bogle had begun his speech in praise of uncle Fred When he choked upon a cherry and he turned a fearful red They beat him on the back until his teeth fell on the floor And in the pandemonium no one saw the office door But standing there as large as life was a banker known as Max For whom old Fred had once prepared a scheme for saving tax He said, 'So Fred is leaving, I am glad he hasn't gone 'Cos I just got out of jail this week and I'd like to join the fun Uncle Fred is 82 today Time to say goodbye to all his friends up in Long Bay No more telling clients that adultery is wrong And tracking correspondents down and wishing he was young After Max came Mr Phelps who lives at Wollongong He bought a flat in Wollstonecraft but Fred had got things wrong Then poor Herbert Wilkins' missus shedding floods of tears On a speeding charge he'd gone to Fred and he'd got him 14 years But then a hush fell over all as from the ground beneath Came smoke and flames and 20 names framed in a fiery wreath 'God bless you Fred from the grateful dead', Satan's chorus sang, 'For down in hell are the clientele that you managed to get hanged' Uncle Fred, you're 82 today Time to hang your wig up and to give the game away Time to leave your office in the middle of the town With the compliments of Brindle, Bogle, Trimble, Cock and Brown Youtube clip A tribute concert to the great man: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Sep 20 - 09:33 AM Gidday, Richard I copied a post from this thread http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=79383 but it only had 5 verses, I hadn't noticed. A later post on that thread lists the entire song copied from John's first book - which I have & just used to count the verses, so I know there are 8. I'll ask Joe if he can add the extra verses to my original post so it's perfect! The Randwick Races (Words: John Dengate - Tune: "The Galway Races") We arrived at Randwick races, by taxi from Clovelly. I had money in my trousers, boys, and schooners in my belly. Well the bookies saw us coming and they panicked in a crisis; They tinkered with the odds and they shortened all their prices. CHORUS: With my whack, fol the do, fol the diddley idle day. Well the hunger it was gnawing and the thirst was in us rising While the crowd's excited roaring reached a level quite surprising. Oh, we swallowed several middies and demolished pies and sauces And we set to work comparing prices, jockey's weights and horses. CHORUS: Denis Kevans said, "I reckon we will finish rich as Pharaoh If we back the chestnut filly from the district of Monaro. She's a trier, she's a flier, never knock her or decry her - She's sixty-six to one; when she wins we'll all retire." CHORUS: There was every kind of punter from illiterates to scholars; I struggled through the betting ring and wagered twenty dollars - Then the horses were away; from the barrier they thundered And we hoped that very day to collect the thirteen hundred. CHORUS: We shouted in despair; Denis Kevans tore his hair, O'Dea began to swear at the filly from Monaro. She was struggling in the pack and our very hearts were bleeding; She was falling further back and the favourite was leading. CHORUS: It seems the filly heard us for suddenly she sprinted. She raced around the ruck with a purpose quite unstinted. At the ledger she was third, oh you should have seen her flying; I got so damned excited that I choked upon my pie, singing – CHORUS: They stormed into the straight like cavalry invading; The filly was improving and the favourite was fading: "She's won it by a nose ... but a protest has been entered; The stewards have upheld it; curse the day they were invented!' CHORUS: We walked back to Clovelly from the blasted Randwick races, With ulcers in our bellies, boys, and gloom upon our faces. We cursed the filly's jockey and we cursed the Randwick stewards Then drowned our disappointment in a flood of amber fluids. CHORUS: |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Richard Mellish Date: 20 Sep 20 - 05:18 AM Sandra in Sydney 17 Sep 20 - 04:16 AM Randwick Races There are more verses. Do you have them, Sandra? I learnt the song from a recording so there will be some differences from the words in my head and those originally written, but I can post mine if you don't have them. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Sep 20 - 11:16 PM FALZIBAD (Fred Smith) Falzibad, the post-modern muslim Had a thing for those modern women Started out feeling sentimental Left us feeling so existential Falzibad, Falzibad (after each stanza) Falzibad though he was Islamic Liked his vinegar pure balsamic Playing tennis like Boris Becker Kept forgetting to pray to Mecca Falzibad he went to Karachi Met a woman like Greta Scacchi Sang her the song of the mariachi All the mullah got very touchy Muslim boys should not sing in Spanish ‘Falizad’, they said, ‘you are banished To a land where there’s no falafel’ As for english, well he knew stuff all So Falzibad he went into exile Selling rugs and imported textiles Driving down to the hippy market In a porsche and there he’d park it All the women said, ‘Hey habibi You’re the one we’ve seen on tv But we find you more appetising Than the rugs you’ve been advertising’ Falzibad he went to a disco Spanish quarter of San Francisco Wound up with a Latino dancer Woke up wondering where his pants were And as he awoke from his bender There were kisses wet, warm and tender The dancer’s body was long and slender Some uncertainty as to gender Falzibad he was a chick magnet Pulled them in like he had a dragnet Plain to see he’d forgotten Allah Lying there in the massage parlour God so terrible, god so frightening Struck poor Falzibad down with lightning ’That’ll teach you’, he said, ‘for messin’ ‘Round with women without my blessin’’ One of my favourite Fred Smith songs. I reckon the best recording of it is on his album with the Spooky Men's Chorale - 'Urban Sea Shanties' - but that track is not available on YT. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Sep 20 - 10:02 PM In 1840, around two-thirds of New Zealand was still covered in forest and this provided the basis for a strong indigenous timber industry for more than 100 years. A fine timber industry song, 'The Mill', was first published in Neil Colquhoun’s excellent ‘Song of a Young Country’ in 1977. It is attributed to a C.H. Winter about whom nothing is known. THE MILL (C.H. Winter attributed) Beside a clump o’ needlewood we anchored down the mill The engine’s by the blue-clay tank and further up the hill The men are marking out the trees and the chips are on the wing So early in the morning you can hear the axes ring (Chorus) With a jigger and a jemmy and a shigger and a shammy And the sawdust in the sky I keep thinking will he gimme up all of me money Or wait till the big ‘uns lie We’ve laid the bench and trued the saw and given her one spin The benchman eyes his pet with pride and pats the packing in He chocked the engines rolling wheels and backed the watercart And heaped a stack of shortening wood in readiness to start Chorus We have no tearing vertical, we run no twin saws here No clanking winches, swinging cranes, no wealth of yankee gear No office clerk with collar white, no gangs of many men We run a simple clearing mill and number nine or ten Chorus We grease the transports, oil the trucks, the benchman gives a sign The engine starts, the big belt flaps and saw begins to whine The sun comes out a scorcher and the bullocks raise the dust The waterbags gets covered and our throats begin to rust Chorus The hill is looking strange and bare, the bigger trees are cut And through the gaps we catch a sight of some gum digger’s hut The ground is scoured by dragging logs, the grog is put to rout And now it’s just a few more days and we’ll be all cut out Chorus At first, some timber was milled near the logging site. Logs were jammed into position on a platform over a pit. They were then cut by 2 men using a crosscut saw, one standing on top of the log and one beneath. Pit-sawing, however, could not keep up with demand for timber and, after 1865, steam-driven mills were developed with steam generated by burning wood waste. The logs were hauled by bullock teams or rolled by means of timber jacks. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Sep 20 - 09:38 PM The late John Munro lived for a time here in Darwin towards the end of his life. He was a very fine musician and singer, but I must admit that not many of his original songs sparked my clod. However, I really loved this one. SNOWDROP (John Munro) It’s minus six as Alex stands in line The grim procession that’s motionless in time He’ll wash and share some bread But there’s no warmth, there’s no bed At Sanitation Station Number 9 And he thinks about the harsh words with his son But there’s no way back, the damage has been done His thinking’s not so clear now From the vodka and the beer now And not a living soul goes where he’s gone And when all the snows have melted All the papers blown away There you are, there you are Just another snowdrop blooming in the spring A silent voice without a song to sing And this brave new world you fought for Didn’t turn out like you thought For all the lost and lonely snowdrops in the spring Now Alex knows a place where he can go A quiet stair-well where there’s shelter from the snow And as he makes a bed, does he think what lies ahead Or is lying down his head all that he knows There’s money now but Alex wouldn’t know But the news is good, the papers tell us so But for all the lies he stood for, now all the news is good for Is a blanket that won’t quite keep out the cold And when all the snows have melted All the papers blown away There you are, there you are Just another snowdrop blooming in the spring A silent voice without a song to sing And this brave new world you fought for Didn’t turn out like you thought For all the lost and lonely snowdrops in the spring Alex sleeps and sleeps and never dreams And passes out of life somewhere between The darkness and the light, the daytime and the night Unnoticed, unremarked, unloved, unseen And when all the snows have melted All the papers blown away There you are, there you are Just another snowdrop blooming in the spring A silent voice without a song to sing And this brave new world you fought for Didn’t turn out like you thought For all the lost and lonely snowdrops in the spring I transcribed the lyrics from John's singing on Eric Bogle's 2009 album 'The Dreamer'. Corrections welcomed. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Sep 20 - 07:26 PM THE DUST OF URUZGAN (Fred Smith) In the ring they called me ‘Warlord’ my mother calls me ‘Paul’ You can call me ‘Private Warren’ when you're filing your report As to how I came to be here, this is what I understand In this hospital in Germany from the dust of Uruzgan I had just turned twenty eight, just bought a new car When you joined the first Battalion of the Big 1 RAR We were next up for deployment into South Afghanistan To combat the insurgence in the dust of Uruzgan It took seven months of training just to get into the joint There were push-ups and procedures, there was death by powerpoint Then the RSO&I course in Ali Al Salaam But nothing can prepare you for the dust of Uruzgan Me and Benny sat together flying into Kandahar Sucked back on our near beers in the Camp Baker Bar Then up at 05:30 and on the Herc and out In twenty flying minutes, we were in to Tarin Kowt We shook hands as the boys ripped out from MRTF one And pretty soon were out patrolling in the Afghan summer sun Walking through the green zones with a Styer in my hand Body armour chafing through the dust of Uruzgan We started up near Chora working fourteen hours a day Mentoring a Kandak from the Afghan 4th Brigade Down through the Baluchi into eastern Dorafshan Working under open skies in the dust of Uruzgan It's a long, long way from Townsville not like any place you’ll see Suddenly you're walking through from the fourteenth century Women under burkhas, tribal warlords rule a land Full of goats and huts and jingle trucks in the dust of Uruzgan And the Education Minister can neither read nor write And the Minister for Women runs a knock shop there at night They've been fighting there forever over water, food and land Murdering each other in the dust of Uruzgan There's nothing about the province that's remotely fair or just But worse than the corruption is the endless fucking dust It's as fine as talcum powder on the ground and in the air And it gets into your eyes and it gets into your hair And it gets in to your weapon and it gets in to your boots When bureaucrats all show up there, it gets in to their suits It gets in the machinery, it foils every plan There's something quite symbolic about the dust of Uruzgan Still the people can be gracious and they’re funny and they’re smart And when the children look into your eyes, they walk into your heart They face each day with courage and each year without a plan Beyond scratching for survival in the dust of Uruzgan But the Taliban are ruthless, they keep the people terrorised With roadside bombs and hangings and leaving letters in the night And they have no useful vision for the children of this land But to keep them praying on their knees in the dust of Uruzgan It was a quiet Saturday morning when the ’2 Shop’ made a call On a compound of interest to the east of COP Mashal We had some information, they were building IEDs So we cordoned and we searched it in accord with SOPs I was on the west flank picket, propped there with Ben There to keep a watchful eye out while the other blokes went in We knew what to look for from the TTPs we'd learned But the Nationals were moving back and forth without concern We'd been standing still for hours when I took a quick step back Kicked a small AP mine and everything went black I woke up on a gurney, flat out on my back I had to ask them seven times just to get the facts I lived to tell the story through a simple twist of fate The main charge lay ten foot away from the pressure plate You see the mine was linked by det cord to a big charge laid by hand Hidden under Benny by the dust of Uruzgan I was a Queensland champ Thai Boxer now I look south on my knee And all I see is bed sheets where my right foot use to be Benny's dead and buried underneath Australian sand But his spirit's out there wandering through the dust - the dust of Uruzgan Now I'm going back to Townsville, it's the city of my birth Some go back to Ballarat and some go back to Perth I'll be living with my mother who's still trying to understand Why we're spending blood and treasure in the dust - in the dust of Uruzgan Youtube clip Fred noted: In July 2009, passing through the United Arab Emirates on my way into Afghanistan, I attended a memorial service for Ben Ranaudo, a young guy from Springvale, Victoria. This was the first of over a dozen memorial services and ramp ceremonies I went to in my 18 month stint working for Foreign Affairs in Uruzgan Province, Southern Afghanistan. You never really get used to them, but I had just arrived and was unprepared. In the months that followed, through conversations with staff in the headquarters of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, I developed some understanding of what happened on the morning of 18 July, 2009, when Ben was killed. I read the unclassified version of the Commission of Inquiry Report into the incident when it was released in December that year, and found myself imagining an interview between the colonel who wrote the report and one of Ben’s mates, a guy called Paul. You can find explanations of acronyms in the glossary at this site which details Fred's Afghanistan experiences: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Sep 20 - 01:48 AM now we are 200! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Sep 20 - 01:47 AM DEVLIN'S GENERAL STORE, words: © John Warner 19/10/93 tune: John Warner/Margaret Walters Where can I get a cross-cut saw? Devlin's General Store. You can get a cross-cut saw And anything else you're looking for, It's been there since '94, Has Devlin's General Store. Where can I go to collect me mail? Devlin's General Store There you can collect your mail That came from Melbourne town by rail You can get a cross-cut saw [etc] Where can I get a dozen eggs? Devlin's General Store You can get a dozen eggs A washing line, some dolly pegs There you can collect your mail [etc] [And so on until the last verse:] Where can I get some sly grog, mate? Devlin's General Store, You can get some sly grog, mate, We just sold some to the magistrate, * You can get a length of fuse Several types from which to choose You can get some gelignite, Samsonite or dynamite, * You can get some 12 gauge shot, Powder, wadding, they've got the lot You can get a liquorice strap, A tupenny bunger, a rabbit trap, You can get a carbide lamp, A miner's pick or a ha'penny stamp, You can get a set of spurs, Flannel underwear, his or hers, You can get a dozen eggs, A washing line, some dolly pegs, There you can collect your mail That came from Melbourne town by rail, You can get a cross-cut saw, And anything else you're looking for, It's been there since '94, Has Devlin's General Store. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Sep 20 - 01:32 AM From Phyl - I wrote it because my father Roy Vinnicombe went to the Somme aged 18 and was injured a couple of years later. He recovered or I would not be writing this e-mail. He went to WW 2 when I was 3 and was invalided home but died when I was 8. A recording of my lyrics accompanied on Uilleann pipes played by Declan Affley is freely available on my web site website The recording was made somewhere in the 80’s I think. It was performed at a concert in the Sydney Town Hall. BATTLE OF THE SOMME, Sung by Phyl Lobl with Pipe accompaniment from Declan Affley Words: Phyl Lobl Tune: Pipe Major William Laurie adapted by Phyl Lobl. The lark in the evening she drops to the ground now Bidding farewell to the long summer day. High on a ridge hear a gun hit the silence, Flames like a flower brighten the sky. Dugouts are quiet we wait for the morning Feeling a thrill as the battle draws near. As dawn with her pale flush, silvers the grey sky Sharp tongues of shell fire call up the day. Glory, vain glory, you beckoned us onward, Kitchener’s call and your light led the way. Then just when we seem to be near You turn into darkness Splashed with the mud and the pain of the day. The lines they are formed and the orders are given While General Haig sends his prayers to the sky. As we move onward our bayonets before us We know that those prayers were no better than lies. Rising and twisting the smoke curls above us I see by the green glow there's gas in its domes. We stumble and fall through the craters and shell holes, Watching the bombs turning trenches to tombs. We're over the rise now, the line is before us, Enemy gun fire taking its toll What hope have the bayonets and the rifles we carry Against a machine gun here on the Somme. Day's nearly done now the battlefield empties, The living are hidden the dead lying still. The wounded are calling for someone to save them But no one can help them, no body will. *‘What's to be said of the life-time of man now, Shifting from sorrow to sorrow again. You button up one cause for man kind's vexation Only to find there's another undone.'* Each generation has freedom to fight for, Choose between gun fire or words for your tools. Freedom's a phantom but reason could find her. Honour and glory a haven for fools. • Words between the stars are a direct quote from the book. The rest are mine distilled from the revelations of people Guy Chapman interviewed for his book. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Sep 20 - 08:54 PM R-J, here's one of your Kiwi favourites. FAREWELL TO GERALDINE (J.Fleming/Trad/P.Garland) (Chorus) Oh, fare well to you, old Geraldine I am now upon the track I'm travellin' down that long and weary road With a swag all on me back I'm headin' towards Temuka town And if work I cannot find I'll make me way on towards Washdyke Leave Temuka far behind Chorus Perhaps I'll call in at Timaru And round there take a look But if no farmer should want me there I'll drop on down to the Hook Chorus I'll push ahead then to Oamaru Ngapara and Duntroon Where farmers often work late at night By the pale light of the moon Chorus When harvest days are over And corn is in the sack I'll shoulder bluey once again By the rattler I'll be comin' back Chorus Joe Fleming was a swagger poet who roamed through South Canterbury and North Otago. He always wintered in the town of Geraldine. His little rhymes would appear on hut doors throughout the countryside. Joe died along the track, a frozen corpse by the side of the road. He left the itinerary of his regular round which Phil Garland set to a traditional tune. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Sep 20 - 08:46 PM In New Zealand, loggers and forestry workers were known as bushmen. In 1976, Phil Garland collected 'The Dying Bushman' from Ken Hart of Palmerston North who first heard it from bushmen in the Otaki area during the 1930s. Apparently, it is still sung by a younger generation of bushmen. THE DYING BUSHMAN (Anon) I've knocked around the logging camps since early boyhood days I've seen the famous axemen come and go Now me chopping days are over, I shall swing that axe no more On the hillsides where the native timbers grow (Chorus) For me slasher is all rusty, and my axe handle's broke I've laid them both behind the whare door For the rata and the rimu have got so goddamn tough That I really cannot cut them any more The tramways in the valley, I shall never tread again No more I'll hear the hauler's whistle blow Well, oft times I look back as I travel down the track Please don't take me from the only home I know Chorus I'm a poor old worn-out bushman and my chopping days are done Soon this world shall know I'll be no more Down the valley of the shadow, I'll soon be on the track Where oft times I've seen bushmen go before Chorus And when I sleep that last long sleep, I pray that it may be Where the tawa and the matai and the pine And the hinau and the ngaio and the koromiko tree Grow forever by that lonely grave of mine Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Sep 20 - 08:37 PM This is another old favourite that Danny Spooner recorded on his final CD. I first heard it sung by a good mate, Ian White, who recorded it on his LP 'Songs from a Busker's Bag'. Here are the lyrics as printed in the booklet to Danny's 'Home' CD. ANOTHER FALL OF RAIN The weather has been sultry for a fortnight now or more And the shearers have been driving might and main, For some have got the century who ne'er got it before But now we all are waiting for the rain. Chorus (after each verse): For the boss is getting rusty and the ringer's caving in, His bandaged wrist is aching with the pain, And the second man I fear will make it hot for him Unless we have another fall of rain. Now some had taken quarters and were keeping well in bunk, When we shore the six-tooth wethers from the plain. And if the sheep get any harder some other blokes'll flunk Unless we have another fall of rain. But the sky is clouding over and the thunder's muttering loud And the clouds are driving eastward o'er the plain. And I see the lightning flashing round the edge of yon black cloud And I hear the gentle patter of the rain. So, lads, put on your stoppers and let us to the hut And we'll gather round and have a friendly game, While some are playing music and some play ante up And some just a-gazing at the rain. Some cockies come here shearing, they would fill a little book About this sad dry weather for the grain. But here is lunch a-coming, make way for Dick the cook, Old Dick is nigh as welcome as the rain. But now the rain is over let the pressers spin the screw, Let the teamsters back their wagons in again. We'll block the classer's table by the way we push them through, For everything goes merry since the rain. So it's, “Boss bring out the bottle” and let us wet the final flock, For the shearers here may never meet again. While some may meet next season and some not even then, And some they will just vanish like the rain. Final Chorus: And the boss he won't be rusty when his sheep they all are shore, And the ringer's wrist won't ache much with the pain Of pocketing a season's cheque for a hundred quid or more— And the second man will press him hard again. Danny's note: Also known as 'Waiting for the Rain', John Meredith collected a version from wharfie Leo Dixon, who had been a bush worker and shearer and was born at Eugowra. Meredith stated that the words were written by John Neilson of Penola, a bush worker, farmer, and balladist, and the father of John Shaw Neilson. The last verse in this version was sent me by email and comes from Dave de Hugard"s record 'Freedom on the Wallaby'. Martyn Wyndham-Read recorded it on his 'Starlit Skies' album at a more leisurely pace. Martyn's note: A song that goes back many years for me. Just recently I played it with a different rhythm and it took on a new life. The beauty of these old songs is that they will stand any interpretation and still come back to the same shape and form. The song may be based on the poem by Australian poet John Shaw Neilson to a tune of his time 'The Little Low Log Cabin in the Lane'. Wyndham-Read Was it written by John Shaw Neilson or his dad? --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Sep 20 - 07:49 PM New spin on an old favourite by pommie pair: Aldridge and Goldsmith At a more familiar pace: The Bushwackers From the forum database: TRAVELLING DOWN THE CASTLEREAGH I'm travellin' down the Castlereagh, and I'm a station-hand I'm handy with the ropin' pole, I'm handy with the brand And I can ride a rowdy colt, or swing an axe all day But there's no demand for a station-hand along the Castlereagh So it's shift, boys, shift, for there isn't the slightest doubt That we've got to make a shift for the stations further out With the pack-horse runnin' after, for he follows me like a dog We must strike across the country at the old jig-jog This old black horse I'm riding, if you notice what's his brand He wears the crooked R, you see, none better in the land He takes a lot of beatin', and the other day we tried For a bit of a joke, with a racing bloke, for twenty pounds a side It was shift, boys, shift, for there wasn't the slightest doubt That I had to make him shift, for the money was nearly out But he cantered home a winner, with the other one at the flog He's a red-hot sort to pick up with his old jig-jog I asked a cove for shearin' once along the Marthaguy "We shear non-union here," says he. "I call it scab," says I I looked along the shearin' floor before I turned to go There were eight or ten non-union men a-shearin' in a row It was shift, boys, shift, for there wasn't the slightest doubt It was time to make a shift with the leprosy about So I saddled up my horses, and I whistled to my dog And I left his scabby station at the old jig-jog I went to Illawarra, where my brother's got a farm He has to ask the landlord's leave before he lifts an arm The landlord owns the countryside - man, woman, dog and cat They haven't the cheek to dare to speak without they touch their hat It was shift, boys, shift, for there wasn't the slightest doubt Their little landlord god and I would soon have fallen out Was I to touch my hat to him? was I his bloomin' dog? So I makes for up the country at the old jig-jog But it's time that I was movin', I've a mighty way to go Till I drink artesian water from a thousand feet below Till I meet the overlanders with the cattle comin' down And I'll work a while till I make a pile, then have a spree in town So it's shift, boys, shift, for there isn't the slightest doubt We've got to make a shift for the stations further out The pack-horse runs behind us, for he follows like a dog And we cross a lot of country at the old jig-jog Notes First published in the Bulletin in 1892 This poem of Banjo Paterson's ('The Bushman's Song') has grown a number of tunes in its time in the bush. Meredith collected three tunes in NSW, and two tunes are given in the Queensland Centenary Pocket Songbook while in his Big Book of Australian Folk Song Ron Edwards gives another two. The most commonly sung tune was collected separately by Geoff Wills and John Manifold. Manifold got it from Mr Hines of Donald, Victoria, and it is in his Penguin Australian Song Book. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Sep 20 - 09:27 AM that makes 195 songs. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Sep 20 - 09:23 AM When the Wind Blows (Eric Bogle) video The evening air lies heavy and sleep it still escapes me A night where hope and courage are still-born Outside the lurking shadows they press against my windows And wait for the coming of the storm They dance, those shadows When the wind blows The shadows are advancing over all the earth they're dancing And everywhere they dance they shall bring death All the priced and even pages that we've written through the ages Shall vanish in the shadow's poisoned breath The story book will close When the wind blows Suddenly I'm frightened, I wish this room were lightened Can no-one light a candle in the dark For I hear the sullen murmour of far-off threatening thunder I feel its menace chill me to the heart Where can I hide, where can I go When the wind blows There is no-one that can save you and nowhere you can run to No shelter in a world that's gone insane In this world that we created in our arrogance and hatred Stand naked 'neath the gentle deadly rain There will be no rainbows When the wind blows In the darkness I am trembling, this night seems never ending It seems the morning sun will never rise And the crashing of the thunder it split my head asunder And lighting burs and heats into my eyes And oh how the darkness grows When the wind blows In a thousand searing flashes the world shall turn to ashes Whirling like a burning coal in endless space This good earth we did inherit we shall leave a smoking desert A headstone for the heedless human race To mark our final flows When the wind blows Oh I must be dreaming for I thought I heard a screaming Like a billion lost souls falling into hell In a thousand tongues bewailing at indifferent fate a-railing Each one calling on the saviour as they fell Shall we reap what we did sow When the wind blows You can call upon your saviour it you think that is the answer But you've called on him so many times before Call on Allah, Buddah, Jesus, I doubt if they can hear us For we let the devil loose, now hear his roar Hell shall overflow When the wind blows ---------------------------------------------------------------------- recorded by Eric Bogle. Copyright Larrikin Music) "This song was inspired by the book of the same name by Raymond Briggs. It's a chilling little book. I'd like to lend a copy to the world leaders, it might frighten them. It certainly frightened me, and this song is the result" - Eric Bogle (The book was also made into an equally chilling animated movie) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Sep 20 - 09:21 AM PERILOUS GATE (cut down from a 35-verse poem published in 1877) The Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld. : 1858 - 1880) Sat 29th Dec 1877 refers to the Christmas issue of "The Queenslander" which has a supplement that includes a poem by the author of 'Craddock Head,' entitled 'The Perilous Gate;' (Craddock Head is a 4-part story!) PERILOUS GATE Words & Music: Phyl Lobl audio A tale I tell of a narrow gate upon the eastern coast Of many wrecks and ruins this narrow gate can boast, Beneath Newcastle Harbour waves lie rotting hulls and sailor's graves, Heroes tombs are hidden caves below the Nobby's post. It is a pretty entrance but when you're homebound sail, I'd rather stand far out to sea when it blows a stiffish gale. Blowing from the South or East each huge wave a crest of yeast Comes roaring like a wounded beast and mounts the rolling rail. The sixth day of November round eighteen fifty eight, The Eleanor Lancaster was caught entering the Perilous Gate, We watched those huddled at the top with nothing but a slender prop Which at each blow we thought would drop and all her timbers fail. An awful sea was running and not in all that crew Was one who thought boats could be brought those boiling breakers through But then a little fair haired man pushed and panted as he ran And urged us all the waves to scan and to our mates be true. 'Now lads', he shouted shrill and clear 'Who'll venture it with me? Each minute lost a life might cost in such a tumbling sea. With four good men I’ll wager I'll bring them all to shore Come who will try?' ,three answered 'Aye' and I sir made up four. It was a roughish kind of trip but Chatfield steered us well I see him there with sea drenched hair facing what befell, And when we'd brought them all to shore he shook us by the hand once more. 'I've met no braver men before, the truth to you I tell.' For ten good years the Oyster Bank was beaconed by a spar That stood in witness of the storm that sank the Lancaster Five fathoms deep that rotting shell up reared the slender spar to tell Of brave deed done so nobly well upon that very bar. Then t'ward the close of winter, hard blowin' all the night The great seahorses tearing high raced madly past the bight Many a man came down to see if inbound craft there chanced to be And sailor's wives watched anxiously out on the surging flood. The 'Carrwarra' was coming in, I knew her bow so well We watched her as she struggled on and battled with the swell We stood there watching through the blast and hoped that once the Nobby's past The Harbour she might make at last, none but the god's could tell. She tried to turn again to sea but a snow white whiff of steam Told us that her fires were spent, she drifted on her beam, The engines by the waves were quenched, the men by those same waves were drenched, Watcher's hearts were sorely wrenched with hope a fading gleam. No boat stood out to rescue those still clinging to the deck Though one was there with sea drenched hair who now stood on the deck The beacon pointing to the sky urged us not to let him die But his same noble feat to try no man would risk his neck. Many's the time at midnight I've heard the tempest roar I've lain awake and wished that I could have the chance once more, To be the one to leave the crowd and call his name out clear and loud And free from Neptune's salty shroud bring him back to shore. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Sep 20 - 02:17 AM another of Kevin Baker's great songs Aunty Rooney's on a Sunday Getting up on Sunday morning I can hear my parents talking Saying how it's been a long time and it doesn't look like rain And I know it's Aunty Rooney's where my feet will soon be walking First to mass at Kogarah then to Banksia by train And I think Mass will never end, O'Farrell's in the pulpit And I wonder how my father felt to find his mother gone But Aunty Rooney raised him when his mother went to Heaven With the help of Aunty Mary and Uncle Pat and John Soon the Mass is over and to Kogarah we will amble Waiting on the platform looking down the track for trains We spot it in the distance and soon on it we will scramble My sister grabs the window-seat and off we go again We get off at Banksia station with it's many beds of flowers The Station-Master tells us he's won a prize or three We find our way to Short Street but it seems to take us hours As we watch out for the wooden house with it's Frangipani tree Chorus - And they're formerly of Redfern and late of County Galway They tend the Celtic home-fires with a kind of loving hand With each new generation they extend the celebration And keep the green of Ireland growing in this golden land Aunty Rooney tends the oven; Aunty Mary sets the places They take their turns in scolding John who hit the grog last night Uncle Pat returns the book he reads to one of his book-cases And greetings break upon us as we step into the light And after we've had our dinner comes the time that's most exciting All the chairs go in a circle; Uncle Kev is asked to sing He gives us Kevin Barry then my father's up reciting Today I'll play the mouth organ my mother let me bring Chorus Well everyone did something with sometimes some harmonising Though Colleen blushed and giggled and her sister wasn't keen "No politics" calls Mary but just hear the voices rising John has started something with "The Wearing of the Green" So it's "Children to the backyard. Go! Come on now, use your nouses" We'd rather stay inside but still the yard is parent-free We roll and run for hours until Aunty Rooney rouses "Now who has knocked that branch down from my frangipani tree?" Chorus Soon five-o'clock comes round and now the winter sun's declining Grown-ups are startled by the time start straining to get home John says: "Why not stop for tea?" but mum says she's got ironing And things to do before her tribe is fit next week to roam And home in bed before I sleep I catch my memories to me And all those lovely moments get entangled in my dreams And I hope I never get too old to go to Aunty Rooney's To eat and laugh and sing with friends and raise the old roof-beams chorus Recording by Penny Davies and Roger Ilott. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Sep 20 - 02:14 AM An Ozzie favourite for you - "Christmas has been cancelled" by Paul Mortimer (nowadays found in the Gaelic Club & at Irish sessions, wot a loss to the folk world!) (Tune: Lili Marlene) K-Tel records were around in the 60s & 70s & Toltoys distributed (original) Star Wars toys. Christmas has been cancelled, Santa Claus is dead. When the scandal broke He put a bullet through his head. Pinned to his chest they found a note Admitting what - the papers wrote: That he was on the payroll Of Toltoys and K-tel. It was bigger still than Lockheed Worse than Watergate. Kids throughout the world Called for his head upon a plate The myth was destroyed and in its wake, Old Santy stood there a callous fake. And evidence is mounting That he was C.I.A. The Church it tried to brand him A charlatan and worse. The Pope said 'Keep off Christmas, mate, We used that number first, As a time when all good Christians sing Of Jesus Christ and cribs and things. Of course it's only bulldust To get the faithful in.' Further allegations Have made the papers wail, That Santa's love for children Was way beyond the pale, He always liked to give out toys To little girls and little boys. It seems that he was harmless But some don't understand. Well we can still be jolly And celebrate New Year, And we'll be nice to other folks More than once a year. With no tinsel trees or plastic snow Or jingle bells or yo ho ho's. And no more f***ing reindeer Or little drummer boys. Repeat first verse. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 17 Sep 20 - 11:44 PM Ah yes! Fond memories of Batey singing 'Gutboard Blues' at the Turret!! My experience of EnZed songs is sadly not much more than Phil Garland and Martin Curtis concerts at the Turret, back in the 80s. Though I recall liking Paul Metser's Farewell to the Gold plus : Hills of Coromandel / Bright Fine Gold / Farewell to Geraldine / Wind Among the Tussocks? / Tuapeka Gold / Long and Friendly Road / Packing My Things, of course as posted ...... and there's always Peter Cape's She'll Be Right Mate! I have to get back to werk now, I'll check in in a few days! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Sep 20 - 10:14 PM This one was always a great favourite at the gun turret in Darwin back in the day. GUTBOARD BLUES (Dave Jordan) Well I'm off down the road every mornin' 'bout eight Down on the job, and it's a job (that) I hate, Hackin', cuttin' mutton gut on a contract basis I climb into my overalls and take my place as The boss comes along and he tells me that I’ve got to strip and clip a stomach every second flat So I bust a gut just to get the job all done Hackin', cuttin' mutton gut until the cows come home Sling 'em here, sling 'em there Them guts keep a-comin' in from ev'rywhere I’ve got more trouble than I’m able to use I've got hackin', cuttin', bust-a-guttin' gutboard blues Now down through the 'chute with a slosh and a slop Them sheep guts drop and never seem to stop So I grab me a stomach and I split it wide Then I trim it and I scrape it till it's clean inside Then I turn on the hose and let the water run Chuck it on the pile, and that's another one done The pace is hot, I stop a spot and mop my brow, And my face has all been covered up with digested grass by now Sling 'em here, sling 'em there Them guts keep a-comin' in from everywhere I need the money and a beggar can't choose I got the sloshin', sloppin', never-stoppin' gutboard blues Now there's hydrochloric acid eatin' into my head My hair's turnin' green and I’ll smell like I'm dead There's jokers all around me sloshin' juice on my knees And the temperature's a-hittin' 'bout a hundred degrees I've had a gutsful of guts, I'm tellin' you true I don't think that I could stomach one more ewe It's a way of makin' money and a living, but -- Sheep, I hate your guts! Sling 'em here, sling 'em there Them guts keep a-comin' in from everywhere How else can I afford to live the life that I choose Without them acid-burnin', stomach-churnin' Money-earnin' gutboard blues Go drop dead! The gutboards referred to in Dave Jordan’s 'Gutboard Blues' are now called ‘viscera tables’. At the time, sheep guts earned New Zealand $50 million a year exported as sausage skins. As one freezer said, ‘It’s sometimes what you have to handle that is the guts of the matter’. Dave explained: I worked at Fielding Freezing works in the summer holidays of ’65 and ’66, but as a point-switcher on the mutton/lamb grading lines. My best mate at the time, Graeme Cowley, was on the gutboard. I wrote the song out of sympathy for him after asking him one time why the skin was coming off his hands and his toes appeared to be rotting off, and why he smelled like vomit all the time. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Sep 20 - 09:45 PM STRONG WINDS FOR AUTUMN (Bob McNeill) Strong winds for Autumn Better bring those engines up No sail can carry my love No words will guide her The calling voice is silent And I watched them make turns for ten knots I went each day to the end of the dock Till the day my Annie sailed On the last boat down the weeping loch When the sickness came I suffered with my friends One day I thought the world would end In the dark I called her name The others there heard nothing And I watched them make turns for ten knots I felt her wake with my feet in the surf Till even that was calm And the last boat had gone Sail away my Annan love No breeze can catch you now It's all clear There's only memories here This year will know no winter [Instrumental break] And I watched them make turns for ten knots The cries of the gulls filled the air as I watched The day my Annie sailed On the last boat down the weeping loch Chorus (X2) Strong winds for Autumn Better bring those engines up Bob McNeill moved from Glasgow to New Zealand in 1998 and established himself as one the country’s foremost singer-songwriters. He has twice won the Recording Industry of New Zealand’s award for ‘Best Folk Album’. In relation to his best-known song, 'Strong Winds for Autumn' about a community off the coast of Scotland, he noted: In small coastal communities, there was sometimes a delicate balance between the number of people in the community and the amount of work needed to feed them. If many people died from illness at one time, often this left too few people to get enough food in to enable the community to survive the winter. In the song, a village is evacuated for this reason. The story is told from the perspective of a man who died from the sickness. You can hear Bob introducing and singing this song at about the 5-minute mark of this set: Youtube Emily Smith did a fine cover: Emily --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Sep 20 - 09:23 PM Here's a tour around NZ. R-J, I think you sent me a copy of the album by 'When the cat's been spayed". TEA AT TE KUITI (Ken Avery) I'm havin' tea at Te Kuiti with my sweetie Then a row at Rotorua on the waves Do a tour of Turangi When the Maoris have a hangi Then I'll wind up in the old Waitomo caves I'm gonna tread the narrow path at Ngar'awahia And dash to Dannevirke before the beer is cut I'm going to town at Taum'runui Wander down the Wangernewy Then I'm go'ng'ta live it up at Upper Hutt I'm gonna chat about the Chateau Tongariro I'm gonna talk about the Tokomaru Bay And when I tell a man or two About the Manawatu They'll wonder why I ever went away I'm gonna crow about the good old Coromandel And tell them where I'd like to see Waiwera shore Although it sounds like Taranaki When I'm shooting at Wairakei I can always hit a geothermal bore I'm gonna have a cuppa tea on Kapati Island And a cup of coffee in Kawhia town Drink a handle or a schooner When I tack at Takapuna Where the Waitamata never lets me down I want to eat a pie at old Paekakariki See the wishing well in Wellington and then When we pull in to Kaiwhara There's a fiver I can borrow So I'll turn around and do it all again Interlude Been there … etc I'm gonna travel in by car to Invercargill Then I’ll meet a man at Manapouri Lake Though I'm not the one to boast I've been toasted on the coast And washed ashore at Taylor's Big Mistake I've eaten oysters in the stew at Stewart Island And met a mutton-birder down at Foveaux Strait I've tried to bluff them at the Bluff Each time I said I'd had enough They put another dozen osters on my plate. I'm gonna canter on the plains at Canterbury I'm gonna rue the day I leave ol' Oamaru I'll spend the winter on the inter - Island ferry, makin' merry An' wait for North and South to come in view Now you can see a lot that's new in ol' New Zealand You c'n keep your Port of Spain an' Mexico But if if you plan to go away Down A-o-tee-a-ro-a way A Kiwi always tells you where to go - "Look out for Trentham" - A Kiwi always tells you where to go My source for this little ditty is an all-female Kiwi group entitled ‘When the cat’s been spayed’. It is from the pen of Ken Avery from Dunedin who was known for his novelty songs featuring wordplay and exotic names – classics such as 'The dog dosing strip', 'When the scrum is on the ball' and 'The way she handled the clutch'. NZ Sheilas --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Sep 20 - 08:40 PM Way back in this thread (on 19 Aug) Mysha mentioned 'By the dry Cardrona'. Here ya go: BY THE DRY CARDRONA (James K. Baxter) Oh I can tell where the cherries grow By the dry Cardrona Where I picked them long ago On a day when I was sober On a day when I was sober My father wore a parson's coat By the dry Cardrona He made a tally of the sheep and the goats But I was never sober I was never sober My mother sewed her Sunday skirt By the dry Cardrona They say she died of a broken heart For I was never sober I was never sober I loved a young girl, and only one By the dry Cardrona She up and married the banker's son For I was never sober I was never sober I courted a widow of forty-nine By the dry Cardrona She owned a stable and a scheelite mine But I was never sober I was never sober Lay my bones till the judgement crack By the wild Cardrona A blanket swag all on my back To pillow me drunk or sober Pillow me drunk or sober All rivers run to a rimless grave Even the wild Cardrona But never a one will come my way Till I am stone cold sober Till I am stone cold sober I can tell where the cherries grow By the wild Cardrona Where I picked them long ago On a day when I was sober On a day when I was sober One of New Zealand’s best-known poets, James Keir Baxter, featured his poem,'By the Dry Cardrona', in his 1958 radio play, 'Jack Winter’s Dream'. The dry Cardrona is a symbol of the spritual aridity of his early life in contrast with the life-giving? springtime snowmelt waters of the wild Cardrona that nourish the cherry trees along its banks. Scheelite, which is mentioned in the poem, is an important source of tungsten, a very hard metal. English folkie, Steve Turner, always did it justice: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Sep 20 - 08:25 PM The inimitable Kath Tait was also a NZ icon before fleeing to London. Here's one of her best: THE RIVER OF LIFE (Kath Tait) She was born in a middle-class town She could have gone up, she could have gone down But she just went around and around On a downward spiral One morning so fair and fine She stole away while the moon did shine Strayed on down the wayward line Southwards of survival (Chorus) She could have been a lady She could have been a wife But she fell into the river of life Swimming in a pool of trouble and strife She really loved the danger But the river of life it rolls and flows Down by the banks where the brambles grow Swimming around in trouble and strife Way down low in the river of life Over hills of thorns and valleys of scorn Rambling like she was gypsy born Travelling on through weather and storm Without a thought for danger But she was young and looking for fun And dreaming of things she'd never done So lost in sweet oblivion She welcomed in the stranger But the stranger he was a wanton rake For he took her money and he called her a fake And he shook her around like an old earthquake And left her there for plunder Now a heart gone down might never be found Might lie in the dirt and roll around But she was always on the rebound And she never would go under Chorus Now the woman of character wins in the end The river of life will be your friend Not frail of heart, but a true upstart The river of life has made her And like a flood she did surely rise High as the hills and the clear blue skies She never was a lady but she was wise And nothing much would change her Chorus Lin Van Hek and Joe Dolce did a beaut rendition for their 'Difficult Women' project. Youtube clip Kath Tait has been described as ‘the diva of the dysfunctional’. She departed New Zealand to live in London. The 'Waikato Times' noted: It was inevitable she left New Zealand, having insulted most of her family and friends in her songs. Behind the cheerful guitar and sweet voice lie lyrics of barbed wire. The ironies of modern life are her inspiration, the contrast in her disarming delivery and often explicit words, is her charm. --Stewie |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 17 Sep 20 - 08:03 PM R-J, I remember Martin Curtis from his days in Tennant Creek back when the world was young. Sandra has also now posted a song by a Kiwi. Let's go for it - our conspicuously absent moderator can always chuck 'em out! Sandra, thanks for the Marcus Turner song. I posted the lyrics of his magnum opus, 'When the boys are on parade', over a decade ago. It is one of finest songs ever about armed forces. Andy Irvine's made it known outside NZ, but my favourite rendition is by Michael Black on his wonderful self-titled CD on Compass Records. Michael Black WHEN THE BOYS ARE ON PARADE (Marcus Turner) Here they come marching past the houses, shiny boots and khaki blouses Stiff as the creases in their trousers, standing tall and straight and strong And they all keep in step together, glint of steel and flash of leather Braving every kind of weather as they boldly march along You may dismiss it as a ploy for the enlistment of the boys Who’ll be impressed to see the toys and play the games that can be played Refrain: And you may well prefer abstention but I feel compelled to mention You’d do well to pay attention when the boys are on parade Look at your sons before they’re older they’ll be stronger, they’ll be bolder Just the thing to make a soldier and we’ll turn them into men And they’ll be taught to follow orders, keep the peace and guard the borders To protect us from marauders and defend us to the end But the position they’ll be filling is to be able and be willing To be killed or do the killing when there’s a price that must be paid Refrain In the pursuit of a community of decency and unity And equal opportunity, we stand prepared to fight And if there’s a threat to our position from aggressive opposition Then, with guns and ammunition, we’ll repel with all our might. We’ll dehumanise and hate them, send in the troops to decimate them As in the name of the nation all it stands for is betrayed Refrain Merely the whim or intuition of an elected politician Makes a melee without conditions as the monster quits the cage It’s a machine that knows no quarter, dealing death and sowing slaughter Raping mothers, wives and daughters in an all-consuming rage We may well decide we need it and we’ll pay to arm and feed it Can you tell me who will lead it when a decision must be made? Refrain Instrumental break Some will wonder what’s to fear and say there is no danger here But there has never been a year when soldiers haven’t been at war And the eternal executions and the bloody revolutions And the ultimate solutions, too, have all been seen before. And there’s always someone scheming and some nights when I am dreaming In the distance, I hear screaming and in my heart I feel afraid Refrain Here they come marching past the houses, shiny boots and khaki blouses Stiff as the creases in their trousers, standing tall and straight and strong And is it any cause for pride that now the women march beside them Will they have wiser gods to guide them in discerning right from wrong? ‘Cause every step is a reminder of the threat that lies behind If we forget the ties that bind us when the decisive game is played Refrain And as the procession passes by, consider the sight before your eyes ‘Cause it’ll be you they’ll kill and die for when called to the crusade And you may love them and adore them, you may hate them and abhor them But, for God’s sake don’t ignore them, when the boys are on parade The late Marcus Turner was fine songwriter. One of his close friends wrote: ‘Multi-instumentalist, singer-songwriter, Marcus Turner, is a New Zealand folk music icon, regularly guesting at folk festivals and clubs for over 30 years … He is renowned for his astute song-writing from the dark to the endearing, from the political to the exceedingly funny’. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 17 Sep 20 - 07:58 PM I AM A TOLERANT MAN anon (from WA Goldfields) I don't mind blokes who digs or stokes, Who fettle or work on derricks; I can even stand a German band, But I draw the line at clerics. Ch. Why strike me pink, I'd sooner drink With a cove sent up for arson, Than a rain-beseeching, preaching, teaching, Blanky, cranky, parson. I snort and jibe at the whole of the tribe, Whatever their sect of class is - From lawn-sleeved ranters to kerbstone canters, From bishops to Army lasses. Give me the blaspheming, scheming, screaming, Barracking football garcons - In preference, to the reverent gents, The blithering, blathering parsons! I couldn't get John Thompson's recording to play on his Oz Folksong a Day website, so here is one from "Les Wayfarers" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTm8_8MvRtc "Words from John Lahey's Great Australian Folk Songs (1965) via Mudcat, where Bob Bolton notes that it is from the Western Australian goldfields." Apparently an early poem in the "Kalgoorlie Sun" newspaper; music by John Lahey. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 20 - 05:41 AM THE WHALE (Terry Fielding and Fred Dyer) - Fred used to post on Mudcat youtube (Am) (G) (Am) Di Di Di Di DA Di DE Di Di (Am) They sailed from port one morning the (G) weather it was (Am) fair A gentle breeze it pushed them and (G) no one gave a (Am) care They sang and danced and (Am7) laughed that night and D opened up a (E) keg They're (Am) out to catch the monster whale that (G) took the captain's leg (Am) Di Di Di Di Da (G) Di DE Di (Am)Di (Am)The Captain said "a piece of gold for (G)him who sees me (Am)whale" So bend your backs and row me boys I(G) know that we won't (Am)fail Chorus (chords as Verse1) So bend your backs and row me lads and take me to me whale. Tonight we'll sing and dance and tomorrow night we'll sail. We'll sail into the harbour no prouder man there'll be; We'll show them all we captured the monster from the sea Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di They saw the whale one morning the weather it was fair the men were white as ghosts, the Captain didn't care I'll take this whale meself he cried the weak can stay behind The strong can share my glory and tonight they'll share my wine Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di The whale it came so close it was bigger than the sky they lowered down the longboat and they heard the captain cry Chorus Bend your backs and row me lads and take me to me whale. Tonight we'll sing and dance and tomorrow night we'll sail. We'll sail into the harbour no prouder man there'll be; We'll show them all we captured the monster from the sea Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di Chorus The whale it came so close it almost tipped the boat The captain took his spear and he rammed it down it's throat the whale it gave a mournfull cry and lifted it's great tail and brought it down a crushing their small boat like a gale (spoken) Now 100 years have passed since the Captain and his men went below to spend their days in Davy Joneses' den The whale it goes on living but inside it bears a scar And if your ever near that place a voice calls from afar Chorus twice, last line: We'll show them all we captured the monster from the sea |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 20 - 04:59 AM I'm going thru my folder of songs - did you know there are 828 species of birds in Australia, one in 10 of the world's 10,000 or so living bird species. BIRD SONG Words and Music John Broomhall Adelaide Hills, it's early mornin', through the window see them yawnin', Lonesome travellers wind their way back home; Misty valleys, lofty ranges, signposts mock our weary strangers: Pack a road map mate next time you roam! There's a Kookaburra, Cuckoo, Bronzewing, Budgerigar, Lorikeet, Cat Bird, Currawong, an old Galah; Frog Mouth, Magpie, Miner, and a White-Winged Chough, A Babbler, a Warbler, and even a bird called Rough. Somewhere up in Northern Queensland, sunshine bright, golden sea sand, We're lyin' on the beach the way that dreamers do. Paradise Lost, ah poor John Milton, he didn't get to stay at the Douglas Hilton, I guess he missed Mossman, Kuranda, and Cooktown too. Seagull, Plover, Petrel, and Ocean Tern, Albatross, Grebe, Shearwater and Frigate Bird; Cormorant, Pelican, Gannet and Cockatoo, Cassowary, Egret, Heron and Jabiru. Life's a breeze in the centre of Australia, corroboree's the only regalia, Wide brown land, and a sky that's big and blue; Camel Drivers wearin' turbans, nothin' here you'd call suburban, They're all dinkum Aussies through and through. Curlew, Drongo, Falcon, Emu, Wren, Brolga, Spoonbill, Duck and Native Hen; Spinebill, Thrush and Lark up in the sky, Swallow, Butcher, Robin, Silver-eye. Soldier, Shoe Maker, Coot and Sooty Owl, Buzzard, Booby, Bell and Mallee Fowl; Rainbow, Sparrow, Crow and Whistling Kite, A Wedge-tailed Eagle and a Boobook late at night. (c) Copyright J. Broomhall 1991 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 20 - 04:28 AM 2 songs from the Shiny Bum Singers (Canberra Chris was a founding member) I am Speaking [C] – Tune: Frere Jacques I am speaking I am speaking And I’m right And I’m right You shut up and listen You Shut up and listen Or we’ll fight Or we’ll fight ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There’s No Paper Here (tune: A Pub With No Beer) (words ©ShinyBumSingers 2020) It's lonesome away, from your kindred and co. In the throne-room at night, where we all have to go But there's nothing so lonesome, so morbid or drear Than to stand in an aisle, when there’s no paper here Now the public is anxious, for the quota to come There may not be paper, for a-wiping their bum The Mums are all cranky, and the staff’s acting queer What a terrible place, when there’s no paper here Then the stock man rolls up, with his pallet shrink-wrapped Overtaken by hoarders, he screams “Holy Crap!” A mad glint in their eyes, as the rolls disappear As with locusts to Egypt, there’s no paper here There's a Dad on the dunny, for his shopper he’ll wait But she’s a non-starter, having left it too late She searches forlornly, despair ever near There’s no place for a shopper, when there’s no paper here Old Gilly the Greenie, first time in his life Has run out of paper, and now he’s in strife He’d settle for NewsCorp, but the irony’s clear It’s a “digital” world, when there’s no paper here (NewsCorp, Rupert Murdock's papers in Australia) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 20 - 04:16 AM Randwick Races John Dengate (Tune: "The Galway Races") (D) We arrived at Randwick races, by (Em) taxi from Clovelly. I had (C) money in my trousers, boys, and (G) schooners (D) in my (G) belly. (G) Well the bookies (d) saw us (D) coming and they (Em) panicked in a crisis; They (G) tinkered with the odds and they (Em) shortened (D) all their (G) prices. Chorus: With my (D) whack, fol the do, fol the (Em) diddley idle (Em) day Well the hunger it was gnawing and the thirst was in us rising While the crowd's excited roaring reached a level quite surprising. Oh, we swallowed several middies and demolished pies and sauces And we set to work comparing prices, jockey's weights and horses. Chorus: With my whack, fol the do, fol the diddley idle day Denis Kevans said, "I reckon we will finish rich as Pharaoh If we back the chestnut filly from the district of Monaro. She's a trier, she's a flier, never knock her or decry her - She's sixty-six to one; when she wins we']] all retire." Chorus: With my whack, fol the do, fol the diddley idle day There was every kind of punter from illiterates to scholars; I struggled throuah the betting ring and wagered twenty dollars - Then the horses were away; from the barrier they thundered And we hoped that very day to collect the thirteen hundred. Chorus: With my whack, fol the do, fol the diddley idle day We shouted in despair; Denis Kevans tore his hair, O'Dea began to swear at the filly from Monaro. She was struggling in the pack and our very hearts were bleeding; She was falling further back and the favourite was leading. Chorus: With my whack, fol the do, fol the diddley idle day |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 20 - 04:12 AM Both Sides Now (known as The Toast Song) (Chris Clarke) - former Mudcatter Canberra Chris In morning time when I arise My breakfast fare is no surprise, I pour the cornflakes, make the tea And then reach for the bread. I turn the gas on, light the grill, And think this time I really will Stay wide awake, make perfect toast and start the day well-fed - I'll lightly toast it both sides now, Both up and down To golden brown, The toasting time I will recall, I really can make toast After all. But then I read, to pass the time, The cornflakes advertising rhyme, I hear the news, but don't take in A single item read. And then an old, familiar smell Invades the dreamworld where I dwell, and fills the room with flames and smoke and fumes of burning bread - I've burnt the toast on both sides now, Both front and back To charcoal black, The toasting time I don't recall, I really can't make toast After all. And so I scrape it in the bin Which makes the slices rather thin, Then wipe the knife upon the cloth Back in my dream-like state. I butter it with marmalade, Then to correct the mess I've made Spread butter on the other side And stick it to the plate - My toast is buttered both sides now, Both left and right, I'm none too bright, The buttering I don't recall, I really can't make toast At all. Written in Perth, Western Australia, early 80s. Chris Clarke |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 20 - 04:08 AM another NZ song that used to be heard around the Sydney sessions years ago Folksong NZ site The chocolate Song by Marcus Turner (sound) bite of Chocolate When you're tired and depressed, and feeling lonely, When your chequebook's in the red, and you are blue, When you've left the freezer open, or your rubber band is broken, Or you've dropped the toilet paper down the loo, If you feel a sudden urge to wash the bread-knife, Or to sniff at the exhaust-pipe of your car, Or to farewell those you love 'n' take a nap inside the oven, STOP!... Salvation's just a sup from where you are! Chorus: When you're feeling down, the best way up is chocolate: It's the answer that will get you through the day. Let me get my teeth around something small and square and brown, And I'll masticate until I feel O.K. Now, when God had finished making all the heavens, And the valleys and the mountains and the seas, And the weather, and the weasels, and the squid, and German Measles, And the gherkins, and Hong Kong, and all the fleas, On the seventh day, as he was sitting resting, He was feeling in a very chipper mood. There came one more inspiration for one last divine Creation: Something fit to please a God, that could be chewed! Ch. When I see a bar of chocolate lying idle, It always seems to find its way inside my jaws. It's a shame to mess about, 'cos it tastes better in than out, And it's going to a very worthy cause. And although it won't endear me to my dentist, And my doctor will be worried for my health, And it's given me a skinful of enormous oily pimples, I'm still feeling very good about myself! Ch. Just remember, if it's chocolate, you can eat it: Chocolate eggs and chocolate fish and chocolate chips, Chocolate steak and mousse and frogs, chocolate beans and mice and logs, Let a chocolate bomb explode across your lips! Some is crunchy, and is filled with Hokey-pokey, Some is thrown about by cowboys, and is white. There's a whole world out there waiting: don't just sit there salivating, Pull your socks up, brace yourself and Bite! Bite! Bite! Ch. You will never have a bad trip eating chocolate. And it's tastier than sex, and much more fun. Keep your pills and dope and glue, and your gin and whiskey too, 'Cos there's no buzz like a chocolate Buzz - Bar none! If you really, really love me, give me chocolate, Give me chocolate 'till it's coming out my ears. All I crave is just enough so I can indolently stuff myself for years and years and years and years and years! Ch. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 17 Sep 20 - 04:05 AM Greg Hastings! OMG Sandra, I rem'ber when his family first arrived - in Perth - with their Welsh accents and great songs - his shy young sister Val, in particular, had a lovely voice : COCKY BELL is a good song, which I think she wrote ..... But I have to add this one for Stewie! THE GIN AND RASPBERRY Written by Martin Curtis, c.1980 While hunting for fox we first came this way From Lake Pembroke township took many long days We cut through the bush and we found a new rush With a mine called the Gin and Raspberry Ch. Oh, but it's hard, cruel and cold Searching Cardrona for nuggets of gold An ounce to the bucket and we'll all sell our soul For a taste of the gin and raspberry The rumors went out and the thousands poured in A handful grew rich but many grew thin They all hoped to find their own patch of tin As rich as the Gin and Raspberry At first it was summer and we all thought it grand No shirts on our back as we sluiced and we panned But then came the snow and the southern wind's blow And there's ice down the Gin and Raspberry Now Billy McGraw he worked hard and worked long Ready to smile and to give us a song But then he struck gold and was found dead and cold Down in the Gin and Raspberry So I'll work at the mine and I'll stay out of strife I'll save all me gold to send home to me wife And when the gold’s won I’ll leave at the run And to hell with the Gin and Raspberry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwN5A1zeROk Martin Curtis singing his own song. My GGGrandfather left Lancashire in 1857 for a new life in Victoria, but by the early 1860s he was in Sth Isle EnZed in these very same goldfields. He found enough to buy a couple of pubs! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 20 - 03:52 AM Greg Hasstings on didgeridoo traveling down Highway 1 (no words!) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 20 - 03:40 AM Greg Hastings - lyrics Greg began his musical career as a founding member of the Mucky Duck Bush Band in 1973, 3 years after he migrated to Australia from Wales. In 1976 the band turned professional and rose to great heights of success in Western Australia. At the beginning of 1979 Greg launched his solo career, travelling to New Zealand, America, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe. He then returned to Australia for a year before setting off once more around the world in 1982. On his return to Australia in 1983, he began touring the continent extensively. For 25 years he has toured almost continually playing Festivals, Clubs, Tourist Resorts, Schools etc. GGreg has traversed over 400,000 kilometres of this vast continent amassing a unique knowledge of Australia and Australians, including some of the most respected elders of the Aboriginal people. Learning to play the didgeridoo from them on his first tour of the Kimberley Aboriginal communities in 1988. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ reg's humorous, environmental protest song COCA COLA CAN T'was on the Canning Stock Route, by the Kannanagi Well I parks the four wheel in the shade, the sun was hot as hell I thought that I would have a leak where no man had before But as I strolled off in the bush, imagine what I saw; There were kangaroos, all sweat and flies, playing football in the sand And the ball they were using was a Coca cola can. CHORUS: Why must I always be second (Mate) It can't be part of the plan Why must I always be second To a Coca Cola Can While Climbing up Ben Nevis on a cold and freezing day The sun was falling lightly, so I took an easy way And as I trudged up to the top, the sky began to clear Just my footprints in the snow, no-one else was there. Then I stood in silence, the horizon to scan I spotted below me, a Coca Cola can. CHORUS (Jimmy) Now in the great Grand Canyon, on an early summer's morn I thought if I climbed the side, I could watch the dawn I struggled through the cactus, it must have been 5 miles Thought that when I reached the top, I'd sit there for a while. But as I reached that one last time, I felt beneath my hand Yep, you guessed it, a Coca Cola can. CHORUS (Yee Ha) I thought I'd found an island where no man had ever been No footprints in the sand, the water was so clean So I went in for a swim, to wash the dust away And as I swam down to the rocks to watch the fishes play There, right below me, half buried in the sand Was that red and white monstrosity, a Coca Cola can CHORUS (By Jingo) So if you're walking or you're riding or sailing on the sea Don't throw your empties overboard and leave them there for me I wouldn't come to your place, chuck me rubbish on the lawn And if I did I'm sure you'd be the one to moan But, if you didn't you wouldn't understand Why I don't like coming second to a Coca Cola can If we looked into the future, I wonder what we'd see In a thousand years from now, I wonder where we'll be For since the world begun, many places man has trod Some believe in Einstein, some believe in God But if whoever started it could reveal the plan I am sure it would not include a Coca Cola can Copyright Greg Hastings © 1980 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 20 - 03:39 AM Greg Hastings - lyrics Greg began his musical career as a founding member of the Mucky Duck Bush Band in 1973, 3 years after he migrated to Australia from Wales. In 1976 the band turned professional and rose to great heights of success in Western Australia. At the beginning of 1979 Greg launched his solo career, travelling to New Zealand, America, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe. He then returned to Australia for a year before setting off once more around the world in 1982. On his return to Australia in 1983, he began touring the continent extensively. For 25 years he has toured almost continually playing Festivals, Clubs, Tourist Resorts, Schools etc. GGreg has traversed over 400,000 kilometres of this vast continent amassing a unique knowledge of Australia and Australians, including some of the most respected elders of the Aboriginal people. Learning to play the didgeridoo from them on his first tour of the Kimberley Aboriginal communities in 1988. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After seeing many a night 'ruined' by mismanaged sound systems, Greg penned this song. TESTING 1, 2, 3 by Greg Hastings For many years I've sung in places all around the world No sweeter than the human voice in chorus can be heard But now with our technology all reason has been lost Sometimes I wonder if the end defeats the cost. CHORUS Cos it's testing, testing 1, 2, 3 We don't need electricity Don't need a microphone to sing a song So nice to hear the music back where we belong. Once not long ago if you had a mind to sing Friends would gather round you and make the rafters ring But now with these amps they run in mortal fear With the booming of a microphone ringing in their ear CHORUS Now the local musos gather round With their ultra quado phonic sound The crowd was stunning nearly yelled for more When one he counted up to four ! His quiet little voice was made to sound Just like Michael Jackson in the London underground With digital delays, effects by the score Just one check blew his audience through the door CHORUS I stayed at that club till just a few were there Speakers the size of tea chests standing on a chair I checked, it buzzed, everything went wrong When I finally got to singing, the audience had gone. Saying why can't you just sing to me Without this testing 1, 2, 3 We long for the day you can do without Because it's far too loud and it hides your mouth. CHORUS Yes, I feel acoustic music is music of the soul Sharing it in harmony should always be our goal The way things are going it's very plain to see Before we can speak we'll have to test 1, 2, 3 But they'll flick a switch and they won't say when Before you know we'll have to sing again But I can sing to you and you can sing to me There'll be no more testing 1, 2, 3 Copyright Greg Hastings © https://www.greghastings.com/asongs.html#top m |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 20 - 03:31 AM Alistair Hulett winners https://www.alistairhulett.com/alistair-hulett-memorial-fund/songs-for-social-justice-award-aus/ (2019 & 2020 winners are not yet on the website, so I contacted one of the organisers) Winner of the 2020 Songs for Social Justice Award: Karen Law for Wildflower Woman. (Qld newspaper) Winner of the 2019 Songs for Social Justice Award: Penelope Swales for Cambridge Analytica (NFF website) Winner of the 2018 Songs for Social Justice Award: Teri Young for ‘Fishing at Okehampton Bay’ Winner of the 2017 Songs for Social Justice Award: Miguel Heatwole for ‘Better Times’ Winner of the 2016 Songs for Social Justice Award: Tony Eardley for ‘Sally Cross the Water’ Winner of the 2015 Songs for Social Justice Award: Paddy McHugh for ‘The Snowmen’ Winner of the 2014 Songs for Social Justice Award: Miriam Jones for ‘Post Post Feminist Revolution’ Winner of the 2013 Songs for Social Justice Award: The Lurkers for ‘Mining Man’ Winner of the 2012 Songs for Social Justice Award: Steph Miller for ‘The Riverside’ |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 17 Sep 20 - 02:58 AM Another song from the pen of Hendo (I remember this played regularly on the radio) : Put a Light in Ev'ry Country Window" DON HENDERSON Ch. Put a light in every country window High-speed pumps where now the windmills stand Get in and lay the cable so that one day we’ll be able To have electricity all over this wide land. Miners tunnel to feed the fires at Wangi While others scrape the brown coal at Yallourn Turbine blades are yielding to the tumbling tons of Eildon And the Snowy will be finished before long. The little farms and giant outback stations They all are mechanised today For milking cows and shearing sheep to do it fast and do it cheap Electrically is the modern way. The old Coolgardie and the red-hot woodstove They all have seen their day at last For now the ice and fire that is coming on the wire Has made them all relics of the past. Ch. Put a light in every country window High-speed pumps where now the windmills stand Get in and lay the cable so that one day we’ll be able To have electricity all over this wide land. Here is Gary Shearston's version : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6NScBO_JWU Who knows if in another 50 years, Electricity will still be "the modern way"?! Coolgardie Safe : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolgardie_safe Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 17 Sep 20 - 02:40 AM BOONAROO Don Henderson, 1968 Ch. Oh, who will man the Boonaroo? Who will sail her, be the crew, sailing on the Boonaroo? Is there food and is there store to feed the hungry, clothe the poor? In this world their number isn't few. In her cargo would you find any way for one mankind, sailing on the Boonaroo. Is there bandage by the reel? Is there medicine to heal? Christ knows, there's healing work to do. In her cargo would you find any way for one mankind, sailing on the Boonaroo? Would the hull be filled with material to build, perhaps a bridge for a world that's split in two? In her cargo would you find any way for one mankind, sailing on the Boonaroo? Or jam packed in the hold, is there grief and death untold and asked "Why?" have to answer true. In her cargo would you find any way for one mankind, sailing on the Boonaroo? Thanks to Mark Gregory's Union Songs site : http://unionsong.com/u260.html Don Henderson wrote: "Australian seamen have manned the Australian National Line M.V.s Boonaroo and Jeparit sailing to Vietnam 'under strong protest'. In the case of the Boonaroo, which has already completed one round trip, the crew's continued hostility to the U.S. aggression in Vietnam, and the friendly contacts they established with Australian troops engaged in the war, are already a small part of Australian working-class history." Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 17 Sep 20 - 02:24 AM DECLAN AFFLEY SONGWRITING AWARD : After mentioning the NFF’s 1987 winner, Mark Gillett, a few posts ago, I thought : “Now there’s a go! Probably many other winners of this competition should have their entry in Mudcat’s Aussie thread!” Well, that was another idea and much time, lost down the rabbithole. When I googled, many artists are proudly claiming to have been a winner (or a runner up) - and rightly so. However, where are the details of this award? Where is the List of previous winners and entries? How does one enter? Is it even still being awarded??? I could find no information on the current National Folk Festival (Australia) website about awards/comps – until, that is, I opened the 2019 Program Book, where a half page was devoted to the idea. It seems that ‘The Declan’ is no more and that the current thing is the Alistair Hulett Memorial Award for the best ‘social justice’ song, which follows on from the original British award. (but where now, do the writers of worthy non-social justice material go?!) OK, there now appears to be a number of other awards (as well as the post-1994 Lis Johnston Awards, for vocal excellence) – but who would know that you have to add “/festival-awards/” up to the main URL, to be able to locate any info on the NFF website?? (and that’s just for 2019!) Surely there should at least be some easily accessible, permanent page of The Nash’s website which acknowledges and celebrates past award winners, and their great music? Because if not there, where is that info? At present it appears that it’s purely up to the actual artist to inform or remind us - IF they still have an online presence, that is – and IF we happen to come across their web data!! So, can any regular Nash attenders (Sandra, Gerry, Graham et al), shed any light on this situation??!! Cheers, R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Sep 20 - 11:19 PM This one was a favourite in the Darwin folk scene. Martyn Wydham-Read put a tune to Matt O'Connors' poem. THE SHEARER'S LAMENT (O'Connor/Wyndham-Read) We finished shearing sheep Out west of the Paroo But now it's rained three inches We don't know what to do. A week ago the sand was loose And dust blew every day But now the mud is three feet deep And we can't get away I've just been talking to the boss You all know Hector Cole He says the Bulloo's two miles wide To cross it there's no hope. You hear a lot of people swear About the dough we make But they forget the price of beer And all the combs we break Well, why I took this job on I just can't understand, If the bloody sheep ain't waterlogged The cows are full of sand A man is doubled up all day Half-blinded by his swea; And when the darkness comes around Cooped up in a mozzie net It might have been a good job once Those old hands had their breaks They pushed a bike from shed to shed And lived on johnny cakes They had more time to do the job They worked nine hours a day And after paying for their grub One pound a hundred paid I think I'll give this job away I'm sick of being a greasy I've heard about a fencing job They tell me it's dead easy Youtube clip Martyn noted: 'Some bush poems definitely invite a tune. "A shearer's lament" came from Matt O'Connor who contributed the odd ballad to the "Singabout" magazine in the 60s. This was his last contribution prior to his death in 1965.' --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 16 Sep 20 - 10:12 PM I can't believe I did it again. Anyhow, despite no answer re Kiwi songs, if R-J can post one, so can I. Here is my favourite - it has an Australian connection with Cobb & Co. Phil Garland put a tune to Peter Cape's lovely poem. THE STABLE LAD (Cape/Garland) When Cobb & Co ran coaches from the Buller to the Grey I went for a livery-stable lad in a halt up Westport way And I gave my heart to a red-haired girl, and left it where she lay By the winding Westland highway from the Buller to the Grey There's Neatsfoot on my fingers, and lamp-black on my face And I've saddle-soaped the harness and hung each piece in place But my heart's not in the stable, it's in Charleston far away Where Cobb & Co goes rolling by from Buller to the Grey There's a red-haired girl in Charleston, and she's dancing in the bar But I know she's not like other girls who dance where miners are And I can't forget her eyes and everything they seemed to say The day I rode with Cobb & Co from Buller to the Grey There's a schooner down from Murchison, I can hear it in the gorge So I'll have to pump the bellows now and redden up the forge And I'll strike that iron so very hard she'll hear it far away In the roaring European that the road runs by from Grey Some day I'll be a teamster with the ribbons in my fist And I'll drive that Cobb & Co Express through rain and snow and mist Drive a four-in-hand to Charleston, and no matter what they say I'll take my girl up on the box and marry her in Grey There's a graveyard down in Charleston where the moss trails from the trees And the Westland wind comes moaning in from off the Tasman seas And it's there they laid my red-haired girl, in a pit of yellow clay As Cobb & Co went rolling by from Buller to the Grey Youtube clip Back in the day, I once introduced with the following - I can't remember where I got the info. This tragic love story of a stable hand and saloon girl is set against the colourful background of Cobb & Co coach travel. Freeman Cobb, an American, began Cobb & Co in Australia in 1853. From small beginnings, it became the biggest and best transport system in the world with branches in all Australian states (except Tasmania) and in NZ, South Africa and Japan. The red-haired girl in the poem is obviously Catholic. There are 2 graveyards in Charleston, one on a hill to the north and the Catholic one by the roadside where camper-vans of Japanese tourists go rolling from the Buller to the Grey River Valley. The 2-storey, corrugated-iron European Hotel eventually collapsed in the 1970s. Cobb & Co passengers all travelled one class, but travellers often paid big money to sit on the 'box seat' next to the driver to listen to his yarns, poetry and songs. Sometimes the box seat was auctioned to the higher bidder. You can find more information here: Click --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 16 Sep 20 - 09:12 PM Impressions of the outback in the late 19th century don't come better than this. ACROSS THE WARREGO (Jim Grahame) I dreamt some dreams of dried up streams Streams that never flow Of men and things misfortune brings Across the Warrego And I could see old faces there Old faces grim and sad Old mates of mine that tramped with me And some are tramping yet And I dreamt then of other men All trudging to and fro With empty bags and cruel swags Across the Warrego And most of them looked straight ahead A few were looking back The bush had claimed their souls and left Their bodies on the track And in my sleep I saw the sheep Heard them bleating low The ringing flocks, the stringing flocks Across the Warrego The young and strong were in the lead The old and weak behind With lagging feet and dragging feet And some of them were blind And in my dreams I saw the teams The teams I used to know The long long teams, the strong strong teams Across the Warrego And lurching wool bales strained the ropes That lashed them fore and aft And every ounce of horse flesh pulled From leader to the shaft I dreamt of nights by campfire lights The flicker and the glow The great white moon, the black gin’s croon Beyond the Warrego And I could hear the bullock bells A-ringing on the plains And thirsty kangaroos loped in And bounded out again And in the scrub I saw a pub A name I do not know But it was there to cash the cheques Across the Warrego A graveyard stood right out in front Two pepper trees were near The goats were camping underneath A skillion at the rear And in my dreams a camel team Was winding in and out Its swaying packs and blistered backs The messengers of drought And as they crossed the sandy ridge The sun went down below I saw them on the skyline then Beyond the Warrego And in the night I woke in fright My pulse was far from slow I thought that I was on the road Beyond the Warrego I thought a mirage danced ahead A dry plain at my back And I was trudging trudging on Alone along the track Youtube clip In 1890, Lawson went to work in Brisbane for 'The Boomerang'. When that collapsed in the depression of 1890-91, he decided to go up country in search of work. With a mate, Jim Grahame, he swagged it to Bourke and out to Hungerford. They worked as house painters and around the sheds as pickers-up, pressers or scourers when shearing was on. Although it was not a long trip, Lawson drew extensive copy from it. Jim Grahame (spelled with and without an 'e'), whose real name was James Gordon, came from Creswick in Victoria and is said to have been born 'under the flap of a tilted cart'. He had intended to become a jockey, with the help of Adam Lindsay Gordon, but went jackarooing instead. The outback certainly made a deep impression on him. Grahame on Lawson --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Sep 20 - 01:25 AM I tried to correct the date of Gulgong FF competition but it wouldn't take. The winners of the Illawarra (2014-20) & Gulgong (2017-19) Parody competitions are available to download sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Sep 20 - 01:23 AM Noel Gardner won the Dale & John Dengate Parody competition at Illawarra Folk Festival in 2018 & also appeared at the 2020 Memorial zoom get-together Speaking of excellent Australian songs - the winners of the Illawarra (2014-20) & Gulgong (2017-20) Parody competitions are available to download here |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 16 Sep 20 - 12:49 AM Ah, that's a noice one, Stew; never heard it before. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 15 Sep 20 - 11:40 PM THE DECLARATION (Neilson/Wyndham-Read) Now I shall love you till the birds Have lost the way to sing Until there be no tenderness Upon the face of spring And I shall love you till a babe Shall neither laugh nor cry When men no more are wanderers And women’s tears are dry And I shall love you till the trees Know neither sun nor rain When morning brings no mystery And love can leave no pain And I shall love you till there be No grace in hearts of men When a girl’s eyes will glow no love I’ll love you until then Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 15 Sep 20 - 10:58 PM STORYTIME: Back in 87, I was performing with the Darwin mob at the 21st National Folk Festival in Alice Springs, NT. It was only the 2nd time The Nash had happened outside of a capital city and the 1st was also in The Alice, in 1980. (BtW, it only happened twice more : 1989 was Maleny, Qld and 1990 was Kuranda, Qld, and both of which were financially very successful, somewhat unusual for NFFs up til then). Our lad from The Top End, Paul Lawler, entered into the Declan Affley Songwriting Award competition, his semi-autobiographical song “Son of Rome”***. We all had high hopes for Lawls’ excellent entry. Imagine our chagrin, when a bloody ‘Quoinslander’ walked away with the prize!!! One “Noel Gardner” had come west, to sing his mate’s song in the comp. His mate was Mark Gillett, a Kiwi-born-and-raised Queenslander, and the song was “Watching The Obi Flow”. Many years later, with Paul and I living together in Maleny, Qld and running the ABOFOTS folkclub (where the afore-mentioned Mark Gillett was often welcomed!), well, my sister Alex (who was also at that Alice National), took up with a Sunshine Coast bloke who was a singer-songwriter ..... and now, Noel Gardner is my Brother-in-Law!! The winning song is below. Oh, and Paul’s ‘pipped’ song*** will be posted soon :) WATCHING THE OBI FLOW ~ Mark Gillett (Hinterland Band) The city no longer gave me thrills, so I thought I’d move up to the hills Draw the dole to pay my scratch, sing my songs and tend my patch and Watch The Obi Flow, I’d Watch The Obi Flow Sing my songs and tend my patch and Watch The Obi Flow. Well this countryside had eased my mind, I thought I’d left my cares behind But I have found what many knew : the city will catch up with you No matter how far you go, it doesn’t matter how far you go The city will catch up with you no matter how far you go. Coz down in the gorge where the trees were tall, they’ve gone and built a mighty wall And from a lake that’s dark and still, turned The Obi through the hills To the Sunshine Coast below, to the Sunshine Coast below They’ve turned The Obi through the hills to the Sunshine Coast below. Well, Maleny’s sewage flows right through, and the cow sheds drain to The Obi – POOH!! The water looks a trifle rough, you wouldn’t want to drink the stuff But my, the lawn should grow, my my, the lawns will grow You wouldn’t want to drink this stuff, but my, the lawns will grow. Now down in the gorge where the waters flow, or on the slopes where the bunyas grow Once they bulldoze, burn, and wreck, no earthly power will bring it back And the kids will never know, you can tell’em but they won’t know No earthly power will bring it back and the kids’ll never know. Well, my little house was high and dry, till the Shire Inspector he dropped by Said this house should never have been, tear it down and start again Before the next big blow, it’ll fall down in the next big blow Tear it down and start again, before the next big blow. So I’ll move to Maroochy by the sea, get me a job in a factory And when I come home to my flat, I’ll just turn on my kitchen tap And Watch The Obi Flow, I’ll Watch The Obi Flow I’ll just turn on my kitchen tap and Watch The Obi Flow. I’ll Watch The Obi Flow, I’ll Watch The Obi Flow Just turn on my kitchen tap and Watch The Obi Flow. And Watch The Obi Flow, I’ll be Watching The Obi Flow Just turn on my kitchen tap and ..... (spoken) : Watch The Obi Obi Flow : drip - drip - drip First track of 4 from The Hinterland Band’s EP “Against the Flow” c.1985 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFoIDwyZ0XA with Mark Gillett (also on banjo), Noel Gardner, Jim Maloney, Paul Vella. This song is still in Noel Gardner’s repertoire, but doesn’t seem to be recorded elsewhere. The posthumous CD of Mark’s recordings (Mark Gillett, 1953 – 2007) proposed by friends at his Wake, is apparently still a work-in-progress ..... PS The Obi Obi Creek [which drops around 435m over its 53.2km length], was named after a noted warrior of the local Aboriginal ‘Kabi Kabi’ people. Cheers, R-J (and yes, OK, it's a top little number!!! Thanks to Noel for correcting my lyrics :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 15 Sep 20 - 10:56 PM Jeez, I finally realised that again I hadn't signed in. And Neilson's best-loved poem. THE ORANGE TREE (Neilson/O'Sullivan The young girl stood beside me. I Saw not what her young eyes could see: A light, she said, not of the sky Lives somewhere in the orange tree. Is it, I said, of east or west? The heartbeat of a luminous boy Who with his faltering flute confessed Only the edges of his joy? Was he, I said, borne to the blue In a mad escapade of Spring Ere he could make a fond adieu To his love in the blossoming? Listen! the young girl said. There calls no voice, no music beats on me But it is almost sound: it falls This evening on the orange tree Does he, I said, so fear the spring Ere the white sap too far can climb? See in the full gold evening All happenings of the olden time? Is he so goaded by the green? Does the compulsion of the dew Make him unknowable but keen Asking with beauty of the blue? Listen! the young girl said. For all Your hapless talk you fail to see There is a light, a step, a call This evening on the orange tree Is it, 1 said, a waste of love Imperishably old in pain Moving as an affrighted dove Under the sunlight or the rain? Is it a fluttering heart that gave Too willingly and was reviled? Is it the stammering at a grave, The last word of a little child? Silence! the young girl said. Oh, why Why will you talk to weary me? Plague me no longer now, for I Am listening like the orange tree Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 15 Sep 20 - 10:32 PM Cathie O'Sullivan put a tune to this lovely poem by John Shaw Neilson. STONY TOWN (J.S.Neilson/C.O’Sullivan) If ever I go to Stony Town, I’ll go as to a fair With bells and men and a dance-girl with a heat-wave in her hair I’ll ask the birds that live on the road; for I dream (though it may not be) That the eldest song was a forest thought and the singer was a tree Oh, Stony Town is a hard town! It buys and sells and buys It will not pity the plights of youth or any love in the eyes No curve they follow in Stony Town, but the straight line and the square And the girl shall dance them a royal dance, like a blue wren at his prayer Oh, Stony Town is a hard town! It sells and buys and sells Merry men three I will take with me, and seven and twenty bells The bells will laugh and the men will laugh, and the girl shall shine so fair With the scent of love and cinnamon dust shaken out of her hair Her skirts shall be of the gossamer, full thirty inches high And her lips shall move as the flowers move to see the winds go by The men will laugh, and the bells will laugh, to find the world so young And the girl shall go as a velvet bird, with a quick step on her tongue She shall cry aloud that a million moons for a lover is not long And her mouth shall be as the green honey in the honey-eater’s song If ever I go to Stony Town, I’ll go as to a fair, And the girl shall shake with the cinnamon and the heat-wave in her hair Youtube clip John Shaw Neilson --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 15 Sep 20 - 09:32 PM Bernard Carney, a West Australian singer/songwriter, has written a delightful song for his grand-children - Tian, Joe and Dan. R-J has already posted one of his songs. THE FEATHER FOOT FAIRY (Bernard Carney) Now gather ‘round folks, I’ll sing you a song Of a feather foot fairy named Tian Chorus: She never grew old and she never grew young She knew every song that had ever been sung And she played in the moon and the stars and sun And she was there when the world began The feather foot fairy named Tian The feathers on her feet were oh so fine She could fly through the mists of time She’d fly ten zillion years or more And she often had lunch with a dinosaur And the dinosaur’s house had the strangest things There were butterfly bats with rainbow wings And the hills were covered in purple trees Where the starfish bird sang delicussly Now ‘delicussly’ is not a real word But it’s often used by the starfish bird And if you’re wondering how I know Well the feather foot fairy told me so And she should know - ‘cos Chorus Now the feather foot fairy named Tian She was there when the world began And she watched all the oceans come and go And her only friend was a fossil named Joe. Now Joe was asleep for a million years ’til she woke him up with her feather foot tears And they played in the sands of time so free And they slept upstairs in the fossilott tree Now the fossilot tree in quite absurd, But it’s often used by the starfish bird And if you’re wondering how I know Well the featherf oot fairy told me so And she should know - ‘cos Chorus Now Tian took Joe on the trout sea trail In a plastic boat with a polythene sail And they dived to the bottom in an old tin can And met with a big seahorse called Dan Now Dan had a pancake stuck to his bum And he brewed his tea in a kettle drum And he knew every horse that lived in the sea And he talked to them equifishously Now ‘equifishously’ is not a real word But it’s often used by the starfish bird And if you’re wondering how I know Well the feather foot fairy told me so And she should know - ‘cos Chorus Now the feather foot fairy and seahorse Dan Took fossil Joe to the big trout dam And they all held hands and disappeared And travelled ahead 10 thousand years. The future all looked a little bit blurred But the first thing they saw was the starfish bird And if you’re wondering how I know Well the feather foot fairy told me so And she should know - ‘cos Chorus Yutube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 15 Sep 20 - 09:24 PM Well done, Sandra. Despite queries from Mysha and R-J, we still haven't had an answer as to whether this thread's focus could be expanded to include songs from our Kiwi brothers/sisters in arms. I reckon it would be a good idea. It would be good to hear in this regard from our thread mediator or Joe. R-J has already posted 'Packing my things'. it should be noted, however, that the attribution to 'Phil Colquhoun' is incorrect. The author of the song is unknown. It was collected by NEIL Colquhoun who reconstructed the music from material collected. His informant was Alistair Swan. In respect of corrections, I had a yarn with Phil Gray of Loaded Dog about 'Glenburgh Wool' by Jack Sorensen the lyrics of which I posted on 6 September. He rejects the addition of the Wendy Evans chorus. He argue that it is inappropriate to the subject of the song. The song is about transportation of wool by camel trains, not about shearers. I agree. Chuck out the chorus! --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 20 - 06:51 AM it took me 2 days! I've emailed it to you as a doc - easy to search sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 15 Sep 20 - 06:18 AM Oh, I'm so glad you've done that, Sandra!! I kept thinking I should "make a list" soon, but couldn't quite summon the energy to start!! Excellent Post. Thanks, R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 20 - 06:04 AM Since 16th August we have posted 144 songs, well done, us! ----------- 1. Date: 16 Aug 20 - 11:00 AM ANDERSON'S COAST © John Warner 8/5/93 2. Date: 18 Aug 20 - 10:41 AM "Now I'm easy" (no words) 3. Date: 18 Aug 20 - 08:11 PM Battler's ballad 4. Date: 18 Aug 20 - 08:53 PM Do You Think That I Do Not Know? 5. Date: 18 Aug 20 - 10:00 PM SERVICE SONG lyrics and Music: Harry Robertson Arranged by Evan Mathieson 6 & 7 - Date: 19 Aug 20 - 02:12 AM One of the has-beens by Don Henderson & One of the has-beens (trad) 8 + 9 Date: 19 Aug 20 - 02:44 PM Where the Brumbies Come to Water + Reedy Lagoon 10. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 08:04 PM He fades away Alistair Hulett 11. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 08:21 PM Suicide town Alistair Hulett 12. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 08:37 PM Rabbit Trapper 13. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 08:48 PM WHERE THE CANE FIRES BURN (Bill Scott) 14. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 09:02 PM HEY RAIN (Bill Scott) 15. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 09:33 PM Brown skin baby 16. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 09:59 PM Phyl Lobl has written so many great songs lyrics 17. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 10:00 PM Dorothy Hewett's SAILOR HOME FROM THE SEA 18. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 10:11 PM Dorothy Hewett's Weevils in the flour + original poem 19. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 10:16 PM BARE LEGGED KATE words: John Dengate 20. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 10:48 PM My apologies, the transcription that I posted above of 'Sailor home from the sea' needs severe correction. I copied and pasted it from a Mudcat thread. Martyn's version varies a little from Hewett's original, but this is what he sings: SAILOR HOME FROM THE SEA 21. Date: 19 Aug 20 - 11:35 PM THE BROKEN-DOWN SQUATTER (Charles Flower) 22. Date: 20 Aug 20 - 07:36 AM MY DEAR DARWIN © Paul Lawler, 1983 23. Date: 20 Aug 20 - 09:40 AM Australian version of Stephen Foster's 'Gentle Annie'. 24. Date: 20 Aug 20 - 10:17 AM JOHNNY STEWART DROVER (Chris Buch) 25. Date: 20 Aug 20 - 10:45 AM Will Ogilvie, WHEN THE BRUMBIES COME TO WATER 26. Date: 20 Aug 20 - 11:02 AM Waltzing Matilda 27. Date: 20 Aug 20 - 11:04 AM I've just made a quick list of traditional songs, collected & re-popularised in the revival of the 50s/60s. They were all published by the Bush Music Club in Singabout (1956-67) Maggie May, Nine Miles from Gundagai, The Neumerella Shore, The Wild Colonial Boy, The Black Velvet Band & The Old Bark Hut, The Drover's Dream, Wild Rover, Old Black Billy (written in 1938 but thought to be trad. when it was collected), and a couple of other classics which strangely enough were not published in Singabout! - Moreton Bay & Reedy River lyrics & video of Chris Kempster singing 28. Date: 20 Aug 20 - 11:46 AM Gerry Hallom The Outside Track 29. Date: 20 Aug 20 - 08:48 PM AND WHEN THEY DANCE (Roy Abbott) 30. Date: 20 Aug 20 - 09:19 PM WATCHERS OF THE WATER (Paul Hemphill) 31. Date: 21 Aug 20 - 07:56 AM very famous songs in copyright Redgum - I was only 19 lyrics I was only 19 video Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody - From little things big things grow 32. Date: 21 Aug 20 - 08:22 PM TIME IS A TEMPEST John Broomhall / John Thompson 33. Date: 21 Aug 20 - 08:30 PM John Dengate The Answer's Ireland (Tune Rody McCorley) 34. Date: 21 Aug 20 - 08:59 PM AFTER ALL (Henry Lawson/Garnet Rogers) 35. Date: 21 Aug 20 - 09:42 PM THE SLIPRAIL AND THE SPUR (Henry Lawson) 35. Date: 21 Aug 20 - 10:08 PM THE SWAGGIES HAVE ALL WALTZED MATILDA AWAY (Alistair Hulett) 36. Date: 21 Aug 20 - 10:22 PM PAST CARIN’ (Henry Lawson) 37. Date: 21 Aug 20 - 11:52 PM THE REEDY LAGOON (post 50) ====================== 39. Date: 22 Aug 20 - 10:23 PM Ted Egan's 'Sayonara Nakamura' 40. Date: 22 Aug 20 - 10:44 PM Back to Broome - Ted Egan 41. Date: 23 Aug 20 - 10:17 PM NORTHWARD TO THE SHEDS (Will Ogilvie) 42. Date: 24 Aug 20 - 10:02 PM LAST COAL TRAIN (Paul Wookey) 43. Date: 24 Aug 20 - 10:24 PM SERGEANT SMALL 44. Date: 24 Aug 20 - 11:21 PM DUSTY GRAVEL ROAD (Alan Mann) 45. Date: 24 Aug 20 - 11:37 PM THE POISON TRAIN (Michael O'Rourke) 46. Date: 25 Aug 20 - 12:19 AM PADDY'S BACK (Alan Ralph) 47. Date: 25 Aug 20 - 09:08 PM CALL OF THE NORTH (J.Sorensen/R.Rummery) 48. Date: 25 Aug 20 - 09:25 PM THE WINDMILL RUN (Alan Mann) 49. Date: 25 Aug 20 - 10:07 PM DOWN THE RIVER (H. Lawson/I. MacDougall) 50. Date: 25 Aug 20 - 10:41 PM KITTY KANE (John Warner) 51. Date: 25 Aug 20 - 11:15 PM ON THE DEATH OF MR HOLT (John Manifold/Paul Lawler) 52. Date: 26 Aug 20 - 10:57 PM THE SHAME OF GOING BACK (Henry Lawson) 53. Date: 27 Aug 20 - 12:37 AM THE PEOPLE HAVE SONGS (Miguel Heatwole) 54. Date: 27 Aug 20 - 01:25 AM THE SIEGE OF UNION STREET (words & music by Alistair Hulett) 55. Date: 27 Aug 20 - 10:50 PM WINNIPEG IN WINTER (Alan Mann) 56. Date: 27 Aug 20 - 11:41 PM AWAY TO TINTINARA (Mike O'Connor) 57. Date: 28 Aug 20 - 09:04 PM WHEN YOU'RE FLUSH (T.Brittain/R.Rummery) 58. Date: 28 Aug 20 - 09:53 PM MENZIES' SHOUT (HAVE A DRINK ON ME) (Alan Mann) 59. Date: 28 Aug 20 - 11:20 PM SONG OF ARTESIAN WATER (Paterson/O'Sullivan) 60. Date: 29 Aug 20 - 01:35 AM WITH THE CATTLE (Paterson/Hallom) 61. Date: 29 Aug 20 - 10:04 AM Kevin Baker - Snowy River Men - video 62. Date: 29 Aug 20 - 10:52 AM Kevin Baker - Superstar 63. Date: 29 Aug 20 - 11:08 AM THE RABBITER Words and music: Stan Wakefield 64. Date: 29 Aug 20 - 10:37 PM BRUNSWICK ROAD (Steve Groves & Danny Bourke) 65. Date: 29 Aug 20 - 11:03 PM SHEARING IN A BAR (Duke Tritton) 66. Date: 30 Aug 20 - 07:14 PM LEWIS ISLAND LUGGER (M.Murray & L.Silvester) 67. Date: 30 Aug 20 - 07:57 PM BENEATH ULURU (Dave Oakes) 68. Date: 30 Aug 20 - 10:36 PM SHIP REPAIRING MEN (Harry Robertson) 69. Date: 30 Aug 20 - 11:14 PM HOMELESS MAN (Harry Robertson) 70. Date: 30 Aug 20 - 11:43 PM WEE POT STOVE (Harry Robertson) 71. Date: 31 Aug 20 - 12:27 AM Reedy River. 72. Date: 31 Aug 20 - 07:37 AM Weevils in the Flour by Dorothy Hewitt in 1962 (post 100) ===================== 73. Date: 31 Aug 20 - 07:29 PM SONG OF THE WHEAT (Paterson/Hallom) 74. Date: 01 Sep 20 - 07:08 PM This one, relating to the red centre, is by a Scot. SINGING LAND (Dougie Maclean) 75. Date: 01 Sep 20 - 07:21 PM BAW BAW BIG BILL (Terry Piper) 76. Date: 01 Sep 20 - 07:54 PM HANGING ON FOR THE RAIN (Anne Infante) 77. Date: 01 Sep 20 - 08:59 PM FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG THINGS GROW (Paul Kelly/Kev Carmody) 78. Date: 01 Sep 20 - 09:22 PM NO MORE BOOMERANG (Kath Walker) Oodgeroo Noonuccal 79. Date: 02 Sep 20 - 08:25 PM THIRTY TON LINE (Don Henderson) 80. Date: 02 Sep 20 - 11:31 PM RAKE AND A RAMBLING MAN (Don Henderson) 81. Date: 03 Sep 20 - 08:44 PM BONNIE JESS (T.Spencer/G.Shearston) 82. Date: 03 Sep 20 - 08:59 PM GIRLS IN OUR TOWN (Bob Hudson) 83. Date: 03 Sep 20 - 09:24 PM NED KELLY'S FAREWELL TO GRETA (Traditional) 84. Date: 03 Sep 20 - 10:39 PM IRISH GIRLS (WILL STEAL YOUR HEART AWAY) (Gary Shearston) 85. Date: 04 Sep 20 - 07:50 PM THE KELLY'S TURNING (Larry King) 86. Date: 04 Sep 20 - 08:29 PM SONG OF THE SHEETMETAL WORKER (John Dengate) 87. Date: 04 Sep 20 - 09:12 PM DIAMENTINA DROVER (Hugh McDonald) 88. Date: 04 Sep 20 - 09:40 PM I WAS ONLY NINETEEN (A walk in the light green) (John Schumann) 89. Date: 06 Sep 20 - 12:48 AM COURTING THE NET (Bob Wilson) 90. Date: 06 Sep 20 - 08:20 PM THE MAN WITH THE CONCERTINA {Stewart/Rummery/Kevans) 91. Date: 06 Sep 20 - 09:31 PM THE GLENBURGH WOOL (Jack Sorensen) 92. Date: 06 Sep 20 - 11:18 PM JAIL AWAY FREMANTLE (W.Evans/A.Ferguson) 93. Date: 07 Sep 20 - 10:50 PM THE TOWN OF KIANDRA (THE WEE ONE) 94. Date: 07 Sep 20 - 11:44 PM HUMPING THE DRUM (Steam Shuttle) 95 & 96. Date: 08 Sep 20 - 03:51 AM Back of the Milky Way (Humping the Drum) - lyrics & audio Lyrics to Graham's songs, all with audio. The Country Knows The Rest by Graham Seal with audio link. 97. Date: 08 Sep 20 - 08:18 PM Enda Kenny's Earl Grey 98. Date: 08 Sep 20 - 09:28 PM THE SANDY HOLLOW LINE (Duke Tritton) 99. Date: 08 Sep 20 - 09:49 PM THE STREETS OF FORBES (THE DEATH OF BEN HALL) 100. Date: 08 Sep 20 - 10:39 PM THE PUSH ON THE CORNER 101. Date: 08 Sep 20 - 11:26 PM BOURKE STREET ON SATURDAY NIGHT (P.C. Cole & Fred Hall) 102. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 12:54 AM NORTHWARDS TO THE SHEDS (W.Ogilvie/G.Hallom 103. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 02:08 AM Gurindji Blues Ted Egan 104. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 02:38 AM the bush girl (henry lawson) 105. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 03:21 AM YIL LULL ~ Joe Geia 106. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 04:19 AM THE GREEN MAN ~ John Thompson 107. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 05:36 AM DAVEY LOWSTON 108. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 06:06 AM COONAWARRA [HAS] THREE SHADOWS ~ Judith Crossley (post 200) ============= 109. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 07:36 AM FANNIE BAY ~ Doug & Andy Tainsh / and possibly David Charles 110. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 08:00 AM Miner’s Washing ~ John Warner 111. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 08:26 AM THE STATION COOK ~ trad Oz 112. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 09:03 AM NZ - PACKING MY THINGS ~ Phil Colquhoun 113. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 08:53 PM THE FREE SELECTOR'S DAUGHTER (Lawson/Hallom) 114. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 09:58 PM THE FIZZER (Gerry Hallom) 115. Date: 09 Sep 20 - 10:13 PM BOSS LADY (Bob Sharp) 116. Date: 10 Sep 20 - 08:14 PM THE BALLAD OF 1891 (H.Palmer/D.Jacobs) 117. Date: 10 Sep 20 - 08:45 PM WALTJIM BAT MATILDA (Ali Mills) 118. Date: 11 Sep 20 - 12:27 AM Little England by late Kiwi-Quoinslander, Mark Gillet. 119. Date: 11 Sep 20 - 02:49 AM THE DROVER'S BOY ~ Ted Egan 120. Date: 11 Sep 20 - 03:05 AM THE RUSTY FORD CORTINA ~ Mark Gillett 121. Date: 11 Sep 20 - 03:23 AM BILL AND THE BEAR - John Thompson 122. Date: 11 Sep 20 - 04:23 AM SUN ARISE ~ Rolf Harris & Harry Butler 123. Date: 11 Sep 20 - 10:12 PM Turning Steel (The Factory Lad) © Colin Dryden 1969 124. Date: 11 Sep 20 - 10:26 PM OCEAN LINER (Barry Skipsey) 125. Date: 11 Sep 20 - 10:45 PM YUENDUMU FLAGON WAGON (Wendy Baarda/Bloodwood) 126. Date: 11 Sep 20 - 11:21 PM "The Year of the Drum" ~ Wendy Joseph 127. Date: 12 Sep 20 - 09:12 PM Pass the Song Along ~ Bernard Carney. 128. Date: 12 Sep 20 - 09:19 PM KALGOORLIE PIPELINE ~ Alan Ferguson / trad Irish tune 129. Date: 12 Sep 20 - 09:31 PM THE DEATH OF BEN HALL 130. Date: 12 Sep 20 - 09:49 PM MATT SAVAGE: BOSS DROVER (Ted Egan) 131. Date: 12 Sep 20 - 09:52 PM WARATAH AND WATTLE ~ Frances Patterson (& Henry Lawson) 132. Date: 12 Sep 20 - 11:35 PM ADELAIDE RIVER (V.McGinness/J.McGinness) 133. Date: 13 Sep 20 - 02:49 AM RANGITIKI [© BOB WILSON 2014] 134. Date: 13 Sep 20 - 05:14 AM GREEN AMONG THE GOLD ~ Steve Barnes 135. Date: 13 Sep 20 - 07:37 AM ORE TRAIN BLUES © BOB WILSON 2013 136. Date: 13 Sep 20 - 08:52 PM PIONEERS (F.Ophel/R.Rummery) 137. Date: 13 Sep 20 - 09:50 PM THUNDERBOLT'S DREAM (Trad/Anon) 138. Date: 13 Sep 20 - 10:07 PM NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN (Mudie/Rummery) 139. Date: 14 Sep 20 - 08:52 PM As sung by Martyn Wyndham- Read. TOMAHAWKING FRED 140. Date: 14 Sep 20 - 09:43 PM FREEDOM ON THE WALLABY (Henry Lawson) 141. Date: 14 Sep 20 - 10:16 PM THE SHEARERS (H.Lawson/R.Rummery) (post 200) =============== 142. Date: 15 Sep 20 - 03:59 AM WARRANDYTE MORNING ~ Mark Leehy (PARADIDDLE) 143. Date: 15 Sep 20 - 04:04 AM Bring Out The Banners ©1997 John Warner 144. Date: 15 Sep 20 - 04:08 AM The Miner’s Way ~ Sally Harris (Gone Molly) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 15 Sep 20 - 04:08 AM The Miner’s Way ~ Sally Harris (Gone Molly) Cold tunnels, black as night That’s The Miner’s Way Toiling by the candlelight Half a shilling in my pay. Pick and hammer, wedge and wheel That’s The Miner’s Way Blackened lungs that never heal. Half a shilling in my pay. Born to the yoke of misery Not enough to feed our families, While the rich are counting out their pounds We must send our children underground. Working for the rich man’s purse That’s The Miner’s Way Poverty, the worker’s curse Half a shilling in my pay. 12 long hours in the deep That’s The Miner’s Way Still we face a famished sleep Half a shilling in my pay. Born to the yoke of misery Not enough to feed our families, While the rich are counting out their pounds We must send our children underground. When the land no wealth reveals That’s The Miner’s Way Parting wages bankers steal Half a shilling in my pay. Cast out like a deadly blight That’s The Miner’s Way Lords and Ladies dance tonight That’s the bloody miner’s way, That’s the bloody miner’s way, That’s ….. The Miner’s Way. Gone Molly were a delightful duo (singer-songwriter Sally Harris and Rebecca Wright on cello and vocals) and are now a delightful trio with the addition of Lachlan Baldwin on vocals and multi instruments. Sally’s songs often have that quality of making you wonder if it’s traditional :) and are also often great for singing along with! Listen here : https://gonemolly.bandcamp.com/track/the-miners-way They have a CD and an EP so far. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 15 Sep 20 - 04:04 AM Bring Out The Banners ©1997 John Warner In faded photo, like a dream, A locomotive under steam Rolls with the ranks of marching feet And union banners on the street. Ch. Bring out the banners once again, You union women, union men, That all around may plainly see The power of our unity. I've seen those banners richly made With symbols fair of craft and trade, The union's names in red and gold, Their aspirations printed bold. Boilermakers, smiths and cooks, Stevedores with cargo hooks, Declare their union strong and proud, Rank on rank before the crowd. They won the eight-hour working day, They won our right to honest pay, Victorious their banners shone, How dare we lose what they have won? Today, when those who rule divide, We must be standing side by side, Our rights were bought with tears and pain, Bring out the banners once again. (Tune: Oxford or See Amid The Winter's Snow by John Goss. 1800-1880) As a good lefty folkie :) My Paul loved to sing "BOTB" in Maleny; this is how they honour John’s song and its sentiments in Minneapolis, MN : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9EqdD7_toA |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 15 Sep 20 - 03:59 AM WARRANDYTE MORNING ~ Mark Leehy (PARADIDDLE) Dragonfly morning in the summer heat You bring no warning anytime you feel, And we’ll drift through the air with a tumbling motion And we’ll sift through the sands of an endless ocean. Warrandyte morning in the summer haze If you catch me yawning, wake me up today, And we’ll drift through the air with a tumbling motion And we’ll sift through the sands of an endless ocean. I’ve had the days of dreaming, but today they’ve all gone home I’ve never really had to ramble, but I feel I’m coming home. Dragonfly morning in the summer haze You bring the dawning of my summer days, And we’ll drift through the air with a tumbling motion And we’ll sift through the sands of an endless ocean. I’m coming home But I’ve felt times when I was far beyond my mind……. In a Warrandyte morning in the summer haze If you catch me yawning, wake me up today. From their “Wait Till the Word Gets Around” - 1st of 3 LPs : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db0v2nnUSgY Warrandyte is an old town in a beautiful area about 25kms NE of Melbourne’s CBD . Dunno if it is now possibly a little suburban?? - but the pics still show it as lovely! (if a little bushfire-prone…..) Mark Leehy was a member of Paradiddle folk band from 1978 and he and some other members are part of Bushfire Press. Plus, I believe Mark is still connected with Music in Schools programs and bush dances. Cheers, R-J (this song was a great favourite of my late partner, Paul Lawler)……. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 15 Sep 20 - 03:55 AM Excellent! I look forward, Graham, to working my way through listening to your tracks. R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Sep 20 - 01:53 AM Seal Songs - Songs by Graham Seal Seal Songs - Stream Shuttle bio & tracks Steam Shuttle at Sydney Opera House, 2nd Bush Music Festival 1979 Review of Steam Shuttle LP, 1977 |
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Subject: RE: Steamshuttle From: GUEST Date: 15 Sep 20 - 12:46 AM Hi Mudcatters Sandra Nixon alerted me to this thread and suggested I post on Steamshuttle and my songs. The easiest way to access all this is from my music blog at https://sealsongs.blogspot.com/ I have a selection there, arranged by song title (lyric, link to an audio recording). Just click on the button and it takes you to the recording on my Soundcloud site. There is also a button for Steamshuttle, which takes you to a selection of tracks from the LP, a bit of info about the band, as well as some unreleased tracks intended for a follow-up that didn’t happen. Happy to answer any questions (g.seal@curtin.edu.au) and keep up the good work on a great project. GS |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 14 Sep 20 - 10:16 PM Here's another Lawson poem for which Bob Rummery provided a tune: THE SHEARERS (H.Lawson/R.Rummery) No church-bell rings them from the Track, No pulpit lights their blindness– ‘Tis hardship, drought, and homelessness That teach those bushmen kindness: The mateship born, in barren lands, Of toil and thirst and danger, The camp-fare for the wanderer set, The first place to the stranger. They do the best they can today– Take no thought of the morrow; Their way is not the old-world way– They live to lend and borrow. When shearing’s done and cheques gone wrong, They call it “time to slither”– They saddle up and say “So-long!” And ride the Lord knows whither. And though he may be brown or black, Or wrong man there, or right man, The mate that’s steadfast to his mates They call that man a “white man!” They tramp in mateship side by side– The Protestant and Roman– They call no biped lord or sir, And touch their hat to no man! They carry in their swags perhaps, A portrait and a letter– And, maybe, deep down in their hearts, The hope of “something better.” Where lonely miles are long to ride, And long, hot days recurrent, There’s lots of time to think of men They might have been–but weren’t. They turn their faces to the west And leave the world behind them (Their drought-dry graves are seldom set Where even mates can find them). They know too little of the world To rise to wealth or greatness; But in these lines I gladly pay My tribute to their straightness It can be found on Loaded Dog 'That there dog o' mine' CD. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 14 Sep 20 - 09:43 PM Once again, I forgot to login. Of course, this Lawson poem should be among any collection of Australian 'folk songs'. FREEDOM ON THE WALLABY (Henry Lawson) Australia's a big country An' Freedom's humping bluey, An' Freedom's on the wallaby Oh! don't you hear 'er cooey? She's just begun to boomerang, She'll knock the tyrants silly, She's goin' to light another fire And boil another billy. Our fathers toiled for bitter bread While loafers thrived beside 'em, But food to eat and clothes to wear, Their native land denied 'em. An' so they left their native land In spite of their devotion, An' so they came, or if they stole, Were sent across the ocean. Then Freedom couldn't stand the glare O' Royalty's regalia, She left the loafers where they were, An' came out to Australia. But now across the mighty main The chains have come ter bind her – She little thought to see again The wrongs she left behind her. Our parents toil'd to make a home – Hard grubbin 'twas an' clearin' – They wasn't crowded much with lords When they was pioneering. But now that we have made the land A garden full of promise, Old Greed must crook 'is dirty hand And come ter take it from us. So we must fly a rebel flag, As others did before us, And we must sing a rebel song And join in rebel chorus. We'll make the tyrants feel the sting O' those that they would throttle; They needn't say the fault is ours If blood should stain the wattle! There are plenty of renditions available on the Net. Unfortunately, my favourite is not - Bob Rummery singing it on Loaded Dog 'Dusty gravel road'. Loaded Dog faithfully keep to Lawson's text. Decades ago, I put together the following intro for a themed concert of Oz songs. It may be of interest: The depression of the early 1890s led to an explosion of the antagonisms that had been simmering between capital and labour. Strikes and lockouts were the order of the day. The shearers' strike of 1891 brought Australia close to the brink of civil war at a time when working people throughout the world were demanding social justice, better pay and improved working conditions. The powerful squatters were aided and abetted by colonial governments, the military and the police. At Barcaldine, over 1500 troopers with cannon and gattling guns confronted 1000 armed shearers who were attacking a train loaded with scabs. This led to hundreds of shearers being arrested and woodsheds being burned to the ground. Lawson published 'Freedom on the Wallaby' in 'The Worker' in Brisbane on 16 May 1891. It was his comment on the use of the military to put down the shearers' strike and some stanzas were read out in the Queensland parliament amid calls for his arrest for sedition. The poem took to the bush and grew itself a tune. A.G. Stephens once said of one of Lawson's poems and would have said of many 'this is not high poetry, but the passion, the grip of it, make it valuable and, in Australia, memorable. It is interesting to note that, as early as 1889, Lawson was writing: 'I don't think I'd live for a week under the freedom or tyranny of unionism, universal brotherhood, glorious liberty or whatever you like to call it'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 14 Sep 20 - 08:52 PM As sung by Martyn Wyndham- Read. TOMAHAWKING FRED Now some shearing I have done, and some prizes I have won Through knuckling down so close against the skin But I'd rather tomahawk every day and shear a flock For that's the only way to make some tin Chorus I am just about to head for the Darling River shed To turn a hundred out I know the plan Just give me sufficient cash and you'll see me make a splash For I'm Tomahawking Fred, the lady's man Put me on a shearing floor and I’ll lay you five to four That I'd give any ringer ten sheep start Oh when I’m on the whipping side then away from me they glide Just like any bullet or a dart Chorus Oh of me you might have read for I'm Tomahawking Fred In shearing sheds me fame has travelled far I'm the don of the Riverine, amongst the shearers cut a shine And our tar-boy says I never call for tar Chorus Wire in and go ahead, for I'm Tomahawking Fred In a shearing shed, my lads, I cut a shine There is Roberts and Jack Gunn, shearing laurels they have won But my tally's never under ninety-nine Chorus Youtube clip This belter of a shearing song was preserved for us by the self-styled 'last of the bushrangers', Jack Bradshaw, who had done a bit of shearing when he wasn't horse stealing or planning bank robberies. He served 20 years from 1880 for bank robbery and some business over a stolen cheque. In jail, he put together his 'Highway Robbery Under Arms Without Shedding Blood' and 'Twenty Years of Prison Life in the Gaols of NSW'. These included a number of traditional songs, including this one. It appears in Stewart and Keesing' edition of 'Old Bush Songs' under the title 'Some Shearing I Have Done'. Evidently, the ballad is based on a music hall song 'Fashionable Fred'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Sep 20 - 10:07 PM Bob Rummery put a tune to Ian Mudie's poem about Australian soldiers in New Guinea in WW2. NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN (Mudie/Rummery) Are you there, Peter Lalor, are you there? Ghost with gold-dust in your hair And lean Stuart do you ride to seek your northern tide? Where in greens they're slowly swinging Through the mud, too tired for singing Where the poison of New Guinea fills the ai Are you there, untiring Eyre, are you there? With your heart beyond compare Are you there, you brave wild Kellys where heroes on their bellies Through the jungle now are creeping May their women have no weeping When snipers from their tree-tops cruelly stare? You ghosts that walk beside Do you watch them now with pride? As through green hell and glory, they carry on your story Where in mud their feet are sinking And in dreams they're always thinking Of their homes and of the cobbers who have died --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 13 Sep 20 - 09:59 PM Uralla is just an hour north of here, their local museum has an excellent Thunderbolt display. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Sep 20 - 09:50 PM THUNDERBOLT'S DREAM (Trad/Anon) One night in Uralla scrub as I lay Strange fancies came o'er me and I thought it was day I thought it was day yet I knew it was night My dreams they all vanished and I woke in a fright I saw scenes of a picnic in a faraway town Of music and dancing and sports all around My mother and father enjoying the fun And schoolmates with whom I once ventured to run Yes my dreams they all vanished and I woke with a jolt To find myself still the outlaw Thunderbolt But the music kept playing, there was a dance on nearby No one would know me so I strolled on inside We were having a spell, we'd just finished a dance When a trooper rode up and his horse it did prance I could tell by his looks he was more than a colt So I thought to myself, 'You'll suit Thunderbolt' While the trooper engaged in having a dance I made for the door, to the horse I soon pranced I sprang to the stirrup, in the saddle with one bound I said, 'My young fellow a rider you've found' Over rivers and valleys and mountains we flew And from the green grass swept the bright morning dew The trooper gave chase but he hadn't a chance With his head hanging down he rode back to the dance To that young policeman a lesson I've taught No more he'll be heard in any police court It was a hundred good miles I made on that colt They put a thousand bright sovereigns on bold Thunderbolt The song is the opening track of Bob Rummery's 'Man with the concertina'. Here is less spirited rendition than Bob's - Bob's nephew, Mark Rummery, and Barry McDonald. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 13 Sep 20 - 08:52 PM R-J, well said. Thanks for posting a link to Val McGinness's 'Shake Hands Dance'. Lovely. Sandra, yes. PIONEERS (F.Ophel/R.Rummery) They said, 'Now here is gold The cloth of gold unrolled Lies spread about our feet Now fortune smiles and sweet' The mulga hid the face of fate Watching with ruthless eyes of hate 'Now wealth is ours', they said 'Great wealth and riches red Our journeying is done Guerdon and gold are won' Red were the written words they signed And scenting blood the wild dog whined They said, 'Now ours is fame And honoured glorious name - The name of pioneers And honour as of seers' They turned to take the homeward track And dreamed a joyous welcome back No man knows where they lie None heard their last death cry Unmarked their grave by mound But at the last trump sound Perchance some god who all things hears Will give them praise as pioneers This one is on Bob Rummery's 'Man with the concertina' CD. Bob's note: A poem written by Frederick Ophel in June 1906. A story on WA's goldfields in the early 1890s told that the first prospectors to peg Coolgardie found pegs in the ground with indecipherable writing in red ink. No one knows who pegged the ground'. You can find a rendition at about the 45-min mark of Chloe and Jason's tribute to Bob. Youtube --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Sep 20 - 09:40 AM does that mean I have to get back to work? |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 13 Sep 20 - 07:48 AM Sorry if Stewie and I have put anyone else off from posting, but there's just so much good music out there (much of it not heard outside of Oz festivals or folkclubs), and when the spirit moves you, well, ya just gotta let it take ya :)) But I think I'm having a break for a coupla days now anyway .... Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 13 Sep 20 - 07:37 AM ORE TRAIN BLUES © BOB WILSON 2013 V.1 He got a job way out west carting iron ore From the outback mines of the Pilbara to the West Australian shore The hours were long, but the pay was good, but there wasn’t much to do Except strum the ukulele and sing train songs with the crew. CH.1 and they sang: Freight train, Graveyard train, Blow that Lonesome Whistle train The Indian Pacific and the Abalinga Mail Night train, Morning train Roll in m’Baby’s Arms train Picking up the tempo with the rattling of the rails. V.2 Now the bosses and the union called a meeting in the yard They had heard about this trio with the engineer and guard “It’s workplace health and safety, it’s like talking on your phone.” But he knew it wasn’t the music, they just didn’t like the tone. CH.2 and they sang: Ghost train, Poison train, not bound for glory, This train And they all sang la la la la, when They Drove Old Dixie Down Bridal train, Salvation train, Get on Board Little Children train He could have been the King of the Road but he never got the crown. V.3 The boss bought high-tech robots from Korea and Japan And the maiden hands-free journey went pretty much to plan They said: “It’s a boring job, we’ll find you something else to do.” Now he’s in a control room, sharing train songs with the crew. CH.3 and they sang: Freight train, Graveyard train, Blow that Lonesome Whistle train The Indian Pacific and the Abalinga Mail Night train, Morning train Roll in m’Baby’s Arms train Picking up the tempo with the rattling of the rails. CH.4 and they sang: Mail train, Slow train, Desper-ados Waiting for a Train Homeward Bound, John Henry, Engine Engine Number Nine Peace train, Freedom train, Robert Johnston’s Love in Vain And they all sang like Dylan: well, I'm walkin' down the line And they all sang like Dylan: well, I'm walkin' down the line. For all you lovers of Train Songs - another from Bob & Laurel Wilson (aka The Goodwills) and a great one to try and sing along, esp with the 4 chorus variations!! You'll find it here : https://www.thegoodwills.com/store/music-by-the-goodwills/the-last-waterhole/ on their latest CD "The Last Waterhole". Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 13 Sep 20 - 05:14 AM GREEN AMONG THE GOLD ~ Steve Barnes 1. Dusty plains and iron chains met Erin's sons and daughters Cast upon a barren land, a far-off distant shore They dreamed of misty mountains and their home across the water They sang of Connemara and the home they'd see no more. Now limestone walls are all that's left of times of pain and failure This country yields the secrets of the beauty that it holds And the tunes of Erin's Isle are now the music of Australia For Irish hands have woven strands of green among the gold. Ch. And so beneath the southern cross they sang their songs of Ireland Who sent her sons and daughters there in the hungry days of old They play their jigs and reels beneath the skies of their new homeland For Irish hands have woven strands of green among the gold. 2. Times were hard at home and so they took a crazy notion To start a brand new life upon the far side of the globe And now they find their hearts are stranded somewhere in mid ocean Though their days are full of sunshine and their future's full of hope, Their children sing of a droving life, of shearers, and bushrangers They learn to play the music and to dance the steps of old Though their hearts are in Australia they never will be strangers To the land they left behind them; they're the green among the gold. I didn’t find a recording by WA composers Steve & Ros Barnes, so here is an a cappella version by the Germany-based trio IONTACH : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx1Slp02jE0 Steve Barnes was for many years the Artistic Director of Fairbridge Folk Festival, at Pinjarra in Western Australia. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 13 Sep 20 - 04:20 AM When you posted "On the Death of Harold Holt" by JS Manifold, Stewie, I had clean forgotten that it was already up on Paul's YT channel at his 15th National Folk Festival concert in Brisbane at Easter 1981 :)) (I said I thought I was going ga-ga :( It was quite a few posts back, so I'll repeat the lyrics : HAROLD HOLT*** poem by John Streeter Manifold music by Paul Oswald Lawler Only a week before Christmas The happiest day of the year They held a wake for Harold Holt And the big wig guests came here Bonny Prince Charlie came o’er the sea With Wilson who never smiles And L B J from the U S A And the king of the cannibal isles Chaps from Siam and South Vietnam And the Philippines too I think Some for the sake of the free free world And some for the free free drink They made long speeches and shed loud tears To propitiate Harold’s ghost And the king of the cannibal isles got up To propose a final toast He said we have had such a splendid time Such generous Christmas cheer We hope you’ll be able to drown A Prime Minister every year ***JSM’s title was “On the Death of Mr Holt” The track is at 12:55 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kGADIvdG_c Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 13 Sep 20 - 02:49 AM RANGITIKI [© BOB WILSON 2014] 1. Life was spartan in England years after the war Few jobs, low wages, prospects were poor No better in Scotland or Ireland too Uncle Jim emigrated so we joined the queue It was life on the prairies or in old Sydney town Dunedin was mentioned, with a worrisome frown Nine families, one bathroom, it was not hard to choose Except for the day they told their parents the news. ch. When the Rangitiki, Rangitane, Rangitata sailed upon the seas They carried troops in the war, then took migrants to the colonies The commonwealth of nations welcomed them with open arms They brought teachers and tradesmen and laborers to work the farms. 2. My dad said “they’ll take us if we’re breathing and warm.” There was ice on the windows, it was a terrible storm He had one small piece of paper to say who we were Paid five english pounds for the seagoing fare We all got vaccinations and smallpox scars Stayed with auntie in London, saw the changing of the guard She drove us to Tilbury on a drizzly day With sad music playing, we sailed away. Ch. When the Rangitiki, Rangitane, Rangitata sailed upon the seas They carried troops in the war, then took migrants to the colonies The commonwealth of nations welcomed them with open arms They brought teachers and tradesmen and laborers to work the farms. People in the new land helped put us at our ease They made fun of our accents but no-one called us refugees Yet we sought asylum in our modest anglo-saxon way Now one in four is born somewhere else, or so they say, 3. There are pictures of her children hanging on the wall Wearing academic gowns, standing proud and tall Some have been to England, some have been to France One moved to Manitoba, a refugee romance Sometimes with her family gathered all around She thinks of what we got for those five english pounds We work and we save and we give what we can To those seeking refuge from their troubled lands. We work and we save and we give what we can To refugees from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan From Burma, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, (spoken) Ch. When the Rangitiki, Rangitane, Rangitata sailed upon the seas, When the Rangitiki, Rangitane, Rangitata sailed upon the seas, When the Rangitiki, Rangitane, Rangitata sailed upon the seas. Here is the link to The Goodwills YT presentation of this song : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idnXHKWl01A&t=297s And here is Bob's Blog where he explains the background story : https://bobwords.com.au/rangitiki-migrants-story/ This track is from their latest CD "The Last Waterhole" and their previous recording "Loungeroom Legends", has another great favourite of mine : "Impressions of New Zealand" - a companion migrant song to this one. Watch their YT presentation : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3gCGksoS_8 Bob Wilson [The Goodwills] is a lovely songwriter and The Goodwills (now of Warwick, Qld) have 4 CDs , which contain mostly Bob's originals. He paints great pictures with his words and gentle humour. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 13 Sep 20 - 02:25 AM Thanks Stew! I'm very fond of Val's "Adelaide River' song!! Hopefully one day it will make it online. Here is the sound of the regenerated Darwin String Bands in The Darwin Rondalla and the famous Shake Hands dance : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol4XPSNHT7E Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 12 Sep 20 - 11:35 PM Some additional information re 'Waltjim bat Matilda' posted above. Ali Mills is the grand-niece of the late Val McGinness who had an old-time string band in pre-WW2 Darwin. Val was the writer of 'Waltjim but Matilda' (original had 'but' not 'bat') and Ali adapted it by adding some Gurindji and Larrakia words. Jeff Corfield, who lived in Darwin for many years, wrote a book in tribute to the life and music of Val McGinness whom he described as 'one of the last of Darwin's old string band musicians: 'String Bands and Shake Hands'. Val died in 1988. Shortly before Val's death, Jeff made extensive recordings of his songs and tunes and these have been deposited in the Northern Territory Archives. Val's brother, John (Jack), was also a musician. In relation to 'Waltjim but Matilda', Val told Jeff in 1988: We (Johnny and I) would start off singing 'once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong' and the rest of the band would play with us. When we'd finish that first verse, I'd come in and say 'hey you fella, you chingim that song wrong way!' (and they'd say) 'yeah, which right way you chingim?' and I'd say 'you blow that bamboo (that didgeridoo) and I'll chingim proper way for you' ... and Johnny would get the guitar and he'd go dung dung a dung - make noise like a didgeridoo and I'd sing it see! Here is one of Val's songs. His brother wrote the music. ADELAIDE RIVER (V.McGinness/J.McGinness) Have you been on the beautiful Adelaide River? Have you ever seen kangaroos and wallabies at play? Trees are ever green on the beautiful Adelaide River That is where my heart is and where I long to stay Bamboo trees sway in the breeze while moon is rising high Waters rolling, lovers strolling, just like you and I Night birds calling, shadows falling, over silver streams Oh how grand to hold your hand just like I do in dreams We fell in love on the beautiful Adelaide River Moon rose above, lighting love's glorious way You were in my arms on the beautiful Adelaide River Darling, I love you for ever and a day --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 12 Sep 20 - 11:19 PM I am still interested in finding songs relating to C.Y. O'Connor, the brilliant Irish-born engineer who planned/built the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme (aka The Kalgoorlie Pipeline - from Mundaring in the Darling Range of Perth), 1896-1903, amongst other projects in West Aussie and New Zealand. He was hounded to take his own life less than 12 months before the taps were successfully turned on, by MSM rants (esp The Sunday Times) and politicians like Alexander Forrest (though his brother, John Forrest, was a supporter). I have posted songs I have found so far in the following thread : https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=48647&messages=31#4071699 Cheers, R-J (not sure why the Blicky Machine doesn't work for Mudcat threads - I only get 404 messages!) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 12 Sep 20 - 09:52 PM WARATAH AND WATTLE ~ Frances Patterson (& Henry Lawson) Though poor and in trouble I wander alone With a rebel cockade in my hand Though friends may desert me and kindred disown My country will never do that! You may sing of the Shamrock, the Thistle, the Rose Or the Three-in-a-Bunch, if you will But I know of a country that’s gathered all those And I love the Great Land where the Waratah grows And the Wattle bough blooms on the hill. In Dreamtime, they tell us, the Great Spirits came They wandered and traveled the land They raised up the mountains and flattened the plains They laid down the rocks and the sand They carved out a course for the long river’s way They planted the forests in shade The great power of forming is joined to their way And the tracks that they traveled are still here today Under the roads we have made. Now under the Wattle I wander alone And I think of the loss and the gain To the land where we live we no longer belong Although it is held in our name This great earth which has borne us we want to disown We have deserted our land We are separate now and we live quite alone And we try to grow roots in a place that we own And bitterly don’t understand And bitterly, we won’t understand. I learnt this great song in the 80s from the singing of Lynne Tracey (now back to being Lynne Muir), who is a most beautiful artist - calligrapher in Victoria and now sings classical music rather than folk. Though the first verse is Lawson's, Frances Paterson of Sydney, wrote the next two and composed the music. If you find Lawson's poem being sung on YT, it's pretty dire, and the tune definitely does not fit this song. Frances recorded her song in 1987 on an album of originals called "Sol Y Sombra" - I cannot find the song online, but I have ordered the LP from EBay! Frances was also in bands like "Okapi Guitar Band" performing "AfroPop" - great-sounding dance music. She died in 2018. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 12 Sep 20 - 09:49 PM MATT SAVAGE: BOSS DROVER (Ted Egan) At the six-mile in Wyndham the word passed around Matt Savage, the boss drover, has just come to town His plant's on the common, he's looking for men 'Cos he's taking a mob into Queensland He's a legend in the outback, he's a man among men Matt Savage, the boss drover, and he's riding again Two thousand store bullocks, wild ones at that That's the mob that he's taking into Queensland Chorus: Matt Savage, the boss drover, he'll take a mob over Taking the bullocks to Queensland, ah ha! Matt Savage, the boss drover, he'll take a mob over Taking the bullocks to Queensland Six of us ringers with cigarette swags Signed up by Matt Savage and we've each got six nags The cook's all hung over but the boss drover knows That he'll travel ok into Queensland First night, star bright, cattle travelling well Hear the jingle of the hobbles, hear the Condamine bell Sing a song as we watch them, make the buggers lie down Or they'll rush all the way into Queensland Chorus Meat for the packbags as we pass through Wave Hill There's a big Vestey's bullock so we're in for the kill Grilled rib-bones tonight by the campfire's light We'll be fit when we finally hit Queensland But we're haunted by ghosts on the Murranji Track Dead men, dead bullocks, cursed outback Cattle dry-staging and the boss drover's raging Hard times on the way into Queensland Chorus The Murranji's dry but at Newcastle Waters We'll be dancing in the bar with old Bullwaddy's daughter Then it's back in the saddle, keep pushing them cattle Gotta take 'em along into Queensland And when the bullocks all rushed, led by the big roan Matt Savage on the night-horse, he turned them alone He's been on the road now for about forty years Boss drover on the stock routes to Queensland Chorus Four months on the road and the Tableland's bare And it's heat, and it's dust, and there's flies everywhere But when we get to Camooweal, we won't give a damn and we'll Go riding along into Queensland And there's the railway, there's the siding, delivery Dajarra Then as quick as a flash we'll be into the bar Of the pub for a blowout and a gutful of rum 'Cos we just brought a mob into Queensland Ted noted: Bullwaddy Bates was a legendary figure who came on to the Barkly Tableland, acquired several Jingili women as concubines and set up Beetaloo and OT Stations. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Bates (or Bathern, which was his correct name) recognised his mix-race children and bequeathed the properties to them when he died. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 12 Sep 20 - 09:31 PM THE DEATH OF BEN HALL Come all Australian sons with me, for a hero has been slain Cowardly butchered in his sleep, upon the Lachlan Plains. He never robbed a needy man, as all the records show Staunch and loyal to his mates, and manly to the foe. No brand of Cain e’er stamped his brow, no widow’s curse did fall When tales are read, the squatter’s dread, the name of bold Ben Hall. When first he left his trusty mates, the cause I ne’er did hear The bloodhounds of the law heard this, and after him did steer. Then savagely, they murdered him, those cowardly bluecoat imps Who were led on to where he lay, by informing peelers’ pimps. No more he’ll mount his gallant steed, or range the hills so high The widow’s friend in poverty, bold Ben Hall – goodbye. Pray do not stay your seemly grief, but let the teardrops fall For all Australia mourns today, the death of bold Ben Hall. It’s a pity that the version poignantly sung (in my memory!) by TONY LAVIN (Wild Colonial Boys) does not appear to be online. It was on their 1971 “Glenrowan to the Gulf” LP. WCB were Jacko Kevans, Bob McInnes, Jim Fingleton, Bill Morgan, Tony Lavin, and originally, Declan Affley. They all had a bit part in Tony Richardson’s 1970 film “Ned Kelly” (yes, the Mick Jagger version) – did they even get credited?? IMHO, t’would have been better if they had featured in the soundtrack instead of the Yanks (i.e. Shel Silverstein comps with Waylon Jennings & Kris Kristofferson & Tom Ghent singing, FFS!!!!) But yes, it’s all a long time ago now - and the remakes of Ned just keep on coming :) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 12 Sep 20 - 09:19 PM KALGOORLIE PIPELINE ~ Alan Ferguson / trad Irish tune Ch. Way Way over the desert, the daylight is fading The camp fires grow bright at the close of the day And over the Darlings, our loved ones are waiting Beyond the Great Ocean, in Ireland far away. Way out in the diggings, the miners are toiling Dry blowing gold in the bright blazing sun They're cursing the price of the water they're drinking And praying O'Connor will get the job done. 300 miles we have toiled for O'Connor Swinging our hammers and heaving the lines A desert in front and a pipeline behind us And C. Y. O'Connor will get there in time. chorus..... Political wrangles have led to this pipeline And I cursed the day that I joined on meself To Kalgoorlie, soon, the water is flowing But that damned Irish foreman will see me in Hell. From Mundaring we're known as the wild pipeline navvies We sing and we booze 'round the campfire at night Through all the long days of typhoid and sickness Laying this pipeline for O'Connor's lone fight. Ch. Way over the desert, the daylight is fading The camp fires grow bright at the close of the day And over the Darlings, our loved ones are waiting Beyond the Great Ocean, in Ireland far away. A song from the pen of Alan Ferguson - half of The Settlers (with Sean Roche) from WA and from their 1979 album "Bound for Western Australia" for WA's 150th anniversary celebrations. The original LP had a wonderful accompanying history/lyric booklet, which sadly, the later CD edition lacked. SUCH a shame that this whole record has not been placed online. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 12 Sep 20 - 09:12 PM A simple happy song for Sunday, to be sung by saints and sinners alike!! Pass the Song Along ~ Bernard Carney. You can Sing and I can Sing So let’s all Sing together Lift your voice and pass the song along, Sing your joy, Sing your love And we can Sing forever Lift your voice and pass the song along. Share a simple melody When you hit some nasty weather Lift your voice and pass the song along, Don’t care what you sound like If we’re singing it together Lift your voice and pass the song along. Pass the song along, the song is loud, the song is strong The song is old, the song is new, the song is free, The song is helping someone out, The song is laugh and dance and shout The song is anything you want the song to be. So you can Sing and I can Sing So let’s all Sing together Lift your voice and pass the song along, Sing your joy, Sing your love And we can Sing forever Lift your voice and pass the song along. Lift your voice and pass the song along. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmKTzRrEBmA Bernard has over 40 years working full-time in the Oz entertainment industry, with numerous overseas and interstate gigs (he resides in WA), has released many CDs, and also works with the “Spirit of the Streets” choir and “Working Voices” combined unions choir. http://www.bernardcarney.com/ |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 12 Sep 20 - 12:34 AM R-J, I had the WABO album, but I gave it to Pembo years ago to convert to CD. He never got a 'round tuit' and I don't know what has happened to his stuff. I have the words to 'Matt Savage' in one of Ted's songbooks. I'll type them out tomorrow. Here is a link to a spirited rendition of 'The Rabbiters' for which Sandra posted the lyrics earlier in this thread. Beaut song. Mucky Duck BB --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 11 Sep 20 - 11:21 PM Stewie, do you have WABO's "The Timbercutters Song" that Tropical Ear used to sing?? ("Keep them logs rolling boys, Down to the mill my boys, Keep them logs a-rolling down ....") How about "Matt Savage - The Boss Drover" - Ted Egan/Bloodwood??? Cheers, R-J BtW, someone mentioned "The Year of the Drum" "This song from Wendy Joseph describes the tragic effects of the World Wars on several generations of the people of Mannum and the use of music to entice young men to war. Mannum is a small town on the lower Murray River and has the distinction of having lost more men per head of population in both World Wars than any other town in South Australia." Here is Wongawilli's version : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj7g5v-891s "The Year of the Drum" ~ Wendy Joseph My name is Jack Gresham, I grew up in Mannum, That river boat town I loved well, I married Meg Davis, we had us two children, One day our family bliss turned to Hell. For in nineteen fourteen, 'twas the year of the drum, The guns and the Government called me to come, Past melaleuca and tall shining gums, I drifted away down the Murray. My name is Meg Davis and I work down at Shearers, Making wagons and stirrups and hames, The war it is raging, the men are all fighting, The women toil here making fuel for the flames. For it's nineteen fifteen and the men have all gone, They're fighting in Europe so we carry on, We're keeping the candles lit bright here at home, To light their way back up the Murray. My name it is Mary and I am an orphan, My father was killed in the war, My mother Meg Davis, an upstanding lady, She drowned in the Murray the year I turned four. It was nineteen sixteen when the telegram came, The death of her soldier its message proclaimed, My Mum lost her footing due to tears and the rain, She slipped on the banks of the Murray. My name it is Billy and I am a soldier, I just got my orders to-day, My wife's name is Mary, she's as fair as a sunset, I hate to be leaving her lonely this way. But the year's forty two, 'tis the year of the drum, The guns and the Government call me to come, Past melaleuca and tall shining gums, I'm drifting away down the Murray. But the year doesn't matter, there's always a drum, The guns and the Governments call men to come, But the town still grows strong in her tall shining sons, While her daughters light lamps by the Murray. RjB |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 11 Sep 20 - 10:45 PM Here's another one from the NT. Wendy Baarda was a long-time resident at the Yuendumu Aboriginal community out from Alice Springs. Bloodwood, a well-regarded bush band from Alice Springs, adapted a poem that she wrote many years ago. It relates to the serious problem of illegal grog-running into the community. YUENDUMU FLAGON WAGON (Wendy Baarda/Bloodwood) (Chorus) Engine roarin’, tailpipe draggin’ Yuendumu flagon wagon Made it home again Every time, rain or shine Cops are waitin’ far behind Kids clear out and the women are cryin’ Daddy’s comin’ home with a load of wine Airstrip out and the road is clay Rain coming down every night and day No tucker in the store but they dropped in the pay There’s a big mob of flagon in the camp today Chorus Flagon wagon caught in a bog Rain comin’ down, no jack, no log No food, no fire, no blankets, no dog Seven day living off nothing but grog Chorus Every time, rain or shine Cops are waitin’ far behind Kids clear out and the women are cryin’ Daddy’s comin’ home with a load of wine Copper up ahead, too late, cut short ‘Hey black feller, what’s that you bought’ Ten jerry cans full of Four Crown port Talk about it two weeks later in court Chorus A hundred dollar down, hey man you’re on Win this round, get a car and I’m gone Another flagon wagon doin’ the run Up and down the Track to Aileron Chorus Every time, rain or shine Cops are waitin’ far behind Kids clear out and the women are cryin’ Daddy’s comin’ home with a load of wine The song may be found on the 2-CD set 'Bloodwood: the Collection'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Andrez Date: 11 Sep 20 - 10:33 PM Link to Factory Lad by Colin Dryden. https://soundcloud.com/nomeshome/factory-lad-turning-steel-by Cheers, Andrez |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 11 Sep 20 - 10:26 PM Barry Skipsey is a singer/songwriter and professional photographer from Alice Springs. He has written many fine songs. This one is a session favourite in the Northern Territory. OCEAN LINER (Barry Skipsey) When I was fishing back in the west Rollin’ on the foamin’ sea I dream of them pretty girls back on the shore And I wish they was here with me Chorus Step on board the ocean liner Step on board without delay, me lads Step on board there’s nothin’ finer And together we’ll sail away Well, I made up me mind to take to the wave On hearing of a good return So the very next mornin’, I found myself prawnn’ Me stomach it began to churn Chorus I was workin’ twenty four hours a day Me eyes hangin’ out of me head Twenty four hours barely makin’ a wage I wish I was back in me bed Chorus Seven cents a kilo for kings, they said Eight cents a kilo endeavours At ten cents a kilo for tiger prawns For that they want the best out of you Chorus I’m a long way from mother out here on the waves A long way from family And a bloody long way from being a tap dancer That my mother so wanted me to be Chorus The skipper is a big man, he stands so high His head pokes up through the riggin’ And a crew of old dragons and they’re so high I think they’ve left the land of the living Chorus So I’m eatin’ and thinkin’, and sortin’ prawns Till they flamin’ well come out of me ears And the cook gives me the shits in more ways than one So I think I’m on my very last run Chorus Here is a rendition at Top Half Folk Festival in Alice Springs - ragged but right. Youtube clip It's hard to believe that prawns (or shrimps as they are called in the US) were ever that cheap. These days, you almost have to take out a bank loan to purchase a box. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Andrez Date: 11 Sep 20 - 10:12 PM Another great one from days gone by. Turning Steel (The Factory Lad) A song by Colin Dryden ©Colin Dryden 1969 You wake up in the morning, the sky's as black as night, Your mother's shouting up the stairs, you know she's winning the fight, You hurry to the breakfast table and grab a bite to eat, Then out the door and up the road, and through the factory gate. Chorus: Turning steel how do you feel, as in the chuck you spin. If you felt like me you'd roll right out and never roll back in. Cold and dark the morning as you squeeze in the gate. As you clock in, the bell will ring - eight hours is your fate. Off comes the coat and up go the sleeves and "right lads" is the cry. With one eye on the clock, the other on your lathe, you wish that time could fly. But time can't fly as fast as a lathe, and work you must - The grinding, groaning spinning metal, the hot air and the dust. And many's the time I'm with me girl and we're walking through the park, While gazing down at the spinning steel or the welder's blinding spark. Well, old Tom, he left last week - his final bell did ring. His hair as white as the face beneath his oily sunken skin. But he made a speech and he said "good-bye" to a life time working here, As I shook his hand, I thought of hell - a lathe for forty years. When my time comes, as come it must, why then I'll leave this place. I'll walk right out past the chargehand's desk and never turn my face. Out through the gates, into the sun, and I'll leave it all behind, With but one regret for the lads I've left, to carry on the grind. Cheers, Andrez |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 11 Sep 20 - 04:23 AM SUN ARISE ~ Rolf Harris & Harry Butler Sun arise, she bring in the morning. Sun arise, bring in the morning, fluttering her skirts all around. Sun arise, she come with the dawning. Sun arise, come with the dawning, spreading all the light all around. Sun arise, on the kangaroo paw. Sun arise, on the kangaroo paw, glistening the dew all around. Sun arise, filling all the hollows. Sun arise, filling all the hollows, lighting up the hills all around. Sun arise, come with the dawning, Sun arise, she come every day. Sun arise, bring in the morning, Sun arise! Every, every, every, every, day. She drive away the darkness. Every day, drive away the darkness. Bringing back the warmth to the ground. Sun arise, oh, oh, Sun arise, oh, oh. Spreading all the light all around. Sun arise, bring in the morning. Sun arise, bring in the morning, Sun arise, bring in the morning, Spreading all the light all around. Regardless of the circumstances of Rolf’s recent falling from grace and his consequent punishments, I have always maintained that this 1960 song was important, in that it introduced the feel and sound of Aboriginal music to a wide audience, both in Oz and the UK. Remember that Aboriginal music - as heard by the general populace - in those days, was pretty much limited to Jimmy Little’s country style “Royal Telephone” and Harold Blair’s classical singing. After all, The Authorities considered The Aborigines as “a dying race” (or so they seemed to hope.....) But as a West Australian growing up in the ‘burbs of the 50s-60s, I really loved this song (as did my Mother!) – and we weren’t alone – it was often heard on the radio and it is still popular today and has been covered by many artists. “ In his autobiography Rolf Harris recalls the writing of Sun Arise: Another song from that time was 'Sun Arise' which was inspired by the Aboriginal music that Harry Butler had introduced to me. (pp. 159-160) Harry Butler and I wrote 'Sun Arise' together, trying to capture the magic of Aboriginal music by reproducing the repetition of lyrics and music that make it so mesmerizing. The lyrics of the song came from a story Harry told me about Aboriginal beliefs. Some tribes see the sun as a goddess. Each time she wakes in the morning, her skirts of light gradually cover more and more of the land, bringing back warmth and light to the air. (p. 161) - Rolf Harris, Can You Tell Me What It Is Yet? London, Bantam Press, 2001 “ Here is a clip using mostly scenes of nature and Aboriginal life to illustrate – perhaps try to maintain some perspective and not let the odd pic of Rolf disturb your sensibilities : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwtnBm8glPE And with that, I’m taking a break for the night (to await the sun arise - coz "Che gelida manina" :) Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 11 Sep 20 - 03:23 AM BILL AND THE BEAR - John Thompson 1. Come listen now, good people here To a story of renown of the day a hundred years ago when the circus came to town Mr Wirth and all his gallant crew They raised the big top high And all the folk for miles around Gathered under a canvas sky Ch. And were you there in the clear night air when William Sinclair he fought the bear Were you there to see William Sinclair When he wrestled the bear to the ground 2. There were dancing ponies and tumbling clowns The best you ever did see A lion tamer and a high wire act A girl on the flying trapeze There was a fat ring-master in a big top hat And he slashed his whip through the air With a roar and a growl, a cage went clang It was Samson the mighty bear 3. He was ten feet high, he was nine feet wide A mountain of muscle and fur A mighty beast just as black as the coal The ground shook with his roar Then the man with the whip He called for quiet not a sound from those who were there I've a crisp ten pounds for any man here Who's brave enough to wrestle a bear. 4. Bill and his family had come to see the show his youngest newly born The strongest man to ever walk the range He'd carry his weight in corn he sized up the beast, with a glance at his wife he slowly raised his hand "I'll have a go", he heard himself say then up struck the band 5. Stripped to the waist, bill entered the ring Circling and bouncing round First left, then right, 'til he lunged right in The crowd didn't make a sound They twisted and they turned as they wrestled and they grappled At the skin and the muscle and the hair With a mighty roar, Bill threw Samson down He raised his fist in the air 6. You've never heard a roar quite like it The shouts split the midnight air Bill was raised above all the heads of the crowd to the cheers of everyone there And to this day, when you see the name of the famous Bill Sinclair Raise your glass and drink to the health Of the only man to ever beat the bear. The true story of a Glaswegian emigrant to Australia, William Sinclair, who became famous in the Maleny District of South-East Queensland for defeating a bear in a wrestling match when a circus visited Landsborough in the early 20th Century. John says his post is dedicated to Bill's grandson, Leslie Norman ("Nugget") Sinclair who died at the age of 92 on 26 August, 2011. With a good chorus for joining in on, this track is on Cloudstreet's 'Circus of Desires' album; but this is a link to a local(ish) live performance of John & Nicole & Emma : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnWcE0ukutU Landsborough is just a few Kays down the bottom of the hill from me, in Qld's Sunshine Coast Hinterland!! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 11 Sep 20 - 03:05 AM THE RUSTY FORD CORTINA ~ Mark Gillett The vinyl on the dashboard has all faded And I can’t believe the speedo’s reading true Coz it’s been 10 long years today Since I purchased this old station - wagon An’ I’ll drive this hack till the driving’s done. Ch. For the rain always falls on my rusty Ford Cortina Bits keep falling off and get left behind And the muffler’s mighty roar Always causes a sensation An’ I’ll drive this hack till the driving’s done. Seems when I start it up each morning That it’s gonna take me half the day For there’s only one headlight And it isn’t very bright An’ it bucks & jumps and handles like a dray. Sometimes I think, I’ll buy myself a new one But they cost so much, I always change my mind And the tailgate rattles on and on And the front end’s most peculiar But I’ll drive this hack till the driving’s done. Mark wrote this parody c.early 80s - with apologies to Hugh McDonald! Here is Hugh's song and his amended story of the writing of "The Diamantina Drover" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoWJWEr7DO4 Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 11 Sep 20 - 02:49 AM THE DROVER'S BOY ~ Ted Egan They couldn't understand why the drover cried as they buried the drover's boy, For the drover had always seemed so hard to the men in his employ. A bolting horse, a stirrup lost, and the drover's boy was dead The shovelled dirt, and a mumbled word And it's back to the road ahead And forget about…..the drover's boy. They couldn't understand why the drover cut a lock of the dead boy's hair, Put it in the band of his battered old hat as they watched him standing there. And he told them "Take the cattle on; I'll sit with the boy awhile" A silent thought, a pipe to smoke And it's ride another mile, And forget about …..the drover's boy. They couldn't make out why the drover and the boy always camped so far away, For the tall white man and the slim black boy had never had much to say. And the boy would be gone at the break of dawn; tail the horses, carry on While the drover roused the sleeping men Daylight - hit the road again, And follow…..the drover's boy. In the Camooweal pub they talked about the death of the drover's boy, They drank their rum with the stranger who'd come from the Kimberley round Fitzroy. And he told them of the massacre in the West; barest details, guess the rest Shoot the bucks, grab a gin, Cut her hair, break her in, And call her a boy…..the drover's boy. So when they build that stockman's hall of fame and they talk about the droving game, Remember the girl who was bedmate and guide Rode with the drover side by side Watched the bullocks, flayed the hide Faithful wife, but never a bride Bred his sons for the cattle runs Don't weep…..for the drover's boy, Don't mourn….. for the drover's boy, But don't for-get! The Drover's Boy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ9a0qr7ORY Great song; great story; great bloke. I'm sure it's been discussed on The Cat before. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 11 Sep 20 - 12:27 AM Here is one of many excellent compositions from the late Kiwi-Quoinslander, Mark Gillet. Little England Our pioneers, many generations lost in time, Sail away, made a home across the world They took this land, transformed it with blood and iron Above it all, the flag of England unfurled They saw clouds like white cliffs on the horizon Above a land that was clean, green and new But when they came they bought Little England with them And it lives on inside me and inside you Ch. And in the lion and the unicorn, Cricket oval and a croquet lawn Carol singers and a hunting horn Little England And though I know it’s just a state of mind Little England can be so unkind I’ll sail away and see what I can find In Little England Echoes from, my childhood so far away The cradle songs, my mamma sang to me Oh Little England when will I let you go Your cradle songs, keep haunting me The beating drum, there’s red coats marching in the square Keeps us in chains, stop our souls from flying free Oh Little England when will you let us go Your beating drums keeps driving me Chorus ..... I’ll sail away and see what I can find In Little England I can see clouds, like white cliffs on the horizon Above a land that‘s clean, green and new But I can’t go Little England’s got this hold on me Till everyone can sail away too More about Mark can be read in the Mudcat "In Memorium" thread. Thanks to his mate, Noel Gardner, for these lyrics. Noel has been learning Mark's 'LE' song of late, for his next CD. Here is a YT clip of Mark singing "Little England" that I only just discovered : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SmVXeq4Jus Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 10 Sep 20 - 09:44 PM Yay!! Beats that feckin 'AAF' hands down!! Miss seeing Ali, June, and the girls in those regular Brown's Mart shows, e.g. - it's rather different here in provincial Qld ........... R-J :( |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 10 Sep 20 - 08:45 PM R-J I didn't even reach 50% recognition, but it is pleasing to note the inclusion of the classic kriol rendition of 'Waltzing Matilda' by Darwin girl, Ali Mills. Thanks to a posting a decade ago by Rob Naylor, we have the lyrics. WALTJIM BAT MATILDA one balla carrdia bin cum up langa billabong im bin chid on a groun langa coolibah tree im bin chingum but corobree watchim but him billy boil you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me waltjim bat matilda, waltjim bat matilda, you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me im bin chingum but corobree watchim but him billy boil you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me bum bye datun maaa bin cum up langa billabong carrdia bin gatchim wholly maaa ngee ngee im bin put im dtun maaa inchide langa ducker bag you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me waltjim bat matilda, waltjim bat matilda, you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me im bin put im dtun maaa inchide langa ducker bag you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me bum bye datun marrdagee bin cum up langa dimina pleetjaman bin cum up one, two, three where datun maaa you bin putim langa ducker bag you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me waltjim bat matilda, waltjim bat matilda, you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me where datun maaa you bin putim langa ducker bag you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me bum bye datun carrdia bin jump in langa billabong you gan gatchim me libe one ngee ngee and im pirit jere chingin out inchide langa billabong you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me waltjim bat matilda, waltjim bat matilda, you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me and im pirit jere chingin out inchide langa billabong you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me waltjim bat matilda, waltjim bat matilda, you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me and im koodook (spirit) jere chingin out inchide langa billabong you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me Dibmorr diborr dibmorr diborr dibmorr diborr – whee Youtube clip Mudcat thread --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 10 Sep 20 - 08:14 PM THE BALLAD OF 1891 (H.Palmer/D.Jacobs) The price of wool was falling in 1891 The men who owned the acres saw something must be done “We will break the Shearers' Union, and show we're masters still And they'll take the terms we give them, or we'll find the ones who will.” From Claremont to Barcaldine, the shearers' camps were full Ten thousand blades were ready to strip the greasy wool. When through the west like thunder, rang out the Union's call: “The sheds'll be shore Union or they won't be shorn at all.” Oh, Billy Lane was with them, his words were like a flame, The flag of blue above them, they spoke Eureka's name. “Tomorrow,” said the squatters, “they'll find it does not pay. We're bringing up free labourers to get the clip away.” “Tomorrow,” said the shearers, “they may not be so keen, We can mount three thousand horses, to show them what we mean.” “Then we'll pack the west with troopers, from Bourke to Charters Towers. You can have your fill of speeches but the final strength is ours.” “Be damned to your six-shooters, your troopers and police, The sheep are growing heavy, the burr is in the fleece.” “Then if Nordenfeldt and Gatling won't bring you to your knees. We'll find a law,” the squatters said, “that's made for times like these.” To trial at Rockhampton the fourteen men were brought, The judge had got his orders, the squatters owned the court. But for every one that's sentenced, ten thousand won't forget, Where they gaol someone for striking, it's a rich man's country yet. Trevor Lucas The Bushwackers Helen Palmer --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 10 Sep 20 - 05:24 PM The Museum of Australian Democracy is in the old Parliament House in Canberra. Might check it out, when and if we can ever visit Canberra again. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 10 Sep 20 - 03:59 AM I remember that thread search-Austn Songs of Influence at Museum of Australian Democracy 13 results & first one is Songs of Influence - I was only 19! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 10 Sep 20 - 02:34 AM I just revisited the interesting 2009 discussion thread re Austn Songs of Influence, for the new (at the time) "Museum of Australian Democracy" in Canberra : https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=118102#2552374 However, of the final 30 chosen by the Curating team, at first glance I recognised exactly half - not sure what that says of me, hahaha!! Archer, Robyn Menstruation Blues Blue King Brown Come and Check Your Head Bogle, Eric And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda Carmody, Kev Cannot Buy My Soul Cox, Kerrianne Beagle Bay Dreaming De Bortoli, Lucia [trad] Mama Mia Don me Cento Lire Hewett, Dorothy and Mike Leyden Weevils In The Flour Hicks, Peter and Geoff Francis One day in October Hunter, Ruby Down City Streets Luscombe, Jack [trad] Sam Griffiths Mazella, Kavisha Love and Justice McCormick, Peter Dodds Advance Australia Fair Midnight Oil US Forces Mills Sisters Waltzing Matilda (Wadjimbat Matilda) O'Loughlin, Tim and Angie McGowan No dams Palmer, Helen and Doreen Bridges Ballad of 1891 Randall, Bob My Brown Skin Baby Reddy, Helen and Ray Burton I am Woman Slim Dusty When the Rain Tumbles Down in July Sloan, Sally Ben Hall Small, Judy Mothers Daughters Wives Storer, Sara Land Cries Out The Herd The King is Dead The Saints Stranded Warner, Dan & Dastey, Sally Anthem Warumpi Band Blackfella Whitefella Wiggan, Roy Bardi Ilma Wright, Lola and Ruth Shepherd The Equal Pay Song Youthu Yindi Treaty Wonder if the museum is still going strong and if the song list is still the same?! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 10 Sep 20 - 12:28 AM I wonder if I still have Ken Ferguson's tapes? - I just leaned to the right & immediately put my hands on them. Franklin & The Singing Wire, not much use tho, unless I buy a plug-in cassette machine, & transcribe them ... The National Library has both cassettes, but there is no other info on line sandra obit for Ken Ferguson https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=124337 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 11:47 PM OMG Stewie - that'll teach me to update the page before I post, haha! But great song choice, eh :) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 11:45 PM Thanks for that extraordinary Wave Hill news, Stew; I've been off the news radar for a few days! And speaking of Jeannie Gunn, do you have the lyrics/recording to Bob Sharp(?)'s 'Boss Lady'??? I'm having great trouble dredging the singer/songwriter names and songs from my aging memory (and it could be that the continual post-midnight bedtimes and poor diet, are not assisting me?! :( I noted "The Streets of Forbes" posted above and have "The Death of Ben Hall" ready here - but I wanted Tony Lavin's excellent recording to go with it. Haven't found it on YT and Andy Irvine's is just not quite what I wanted. I think Tony's was on "Glenrowan to the Gulf" (Wild Colonial Boys), but I no longer have that LP. I hafta opine that SO MUCH much good earlier Folkie material - esp the HUGE swag of LPs and tapes from 70s-90s - is missing from the Internet, whilst the dross increases by the minute (or am I being too unkind?!) OK, gotta go and werk. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Sep 20 - 10:13 PM The reference to Jeannie Gunn reminded me of a very fine song by a good mate of mine, Bob Sharp, who lived for many years in the NT but now lives in Tasmania. BOSS LADY (Bob Sharp) She came to the outback unwanted, unseen By the men who lived their lives hard They could not foresee what life there could be For a lady from Melbourne’s backyard But bold Jeannie Gunn would prove it to them She was as strong in the heart as the rest It did not take long before she proved them all wrong And they found a new type of respect She was the lady of old Elsie Station, arrived from the city in 1902 They called her Boss Lady respected her greatly For all the things that she went through Heard many stories of men and their travels And how they developed new lands Jeannie she wrote of a woman's view In a man’s world of hot fiery sands Their lives were hard in a far different way Their reasons for being there too They would follow their men to the ends of the earth To make far distant dreams come true Chorus Time has moved on and the old homestead's gone White ants have left their mark here Road markers stand where the station once stood Now only the hot springs run clear The legends live on of bold Jeannie Gunn Her stories of good times and bad And what it would be for a lady like thee To experience the times that you had Chorus Bob recorded it on album that he made with Ken Ferguson 'The Windmill Run' - the duo called themselves 'Facial Expressions'. You can find info here: Bob Sharp Phil Beck and I included the song in a themed concert entitled 'Images of Strong Women'. Phil's introduction to the song: Jeannie Gunn (nee Taylor), ‘The Little Missus’, was born on 5 June 1870. Her father was a Presbyterian minister. In the 1890s she met Aeneas James Gunn, son of Rev. Peter Gunn. Gunn had spent most of the 1890s in northern Australia and helped to establish sheep and cattle stations. Aeneas and Jeannie married in December 1901. Just before his marriage Aeneas had agreed to manage the Elsey cattle station on the Roper River, about 300 miles south of Darwin, so on 2 January 1902 the couple sailed for Port Darwin. In Darwin Jeannie was told that as a woman she would be 'out of place' on a station such as the Elsey. The Territory had always been considered a man's world and news of her arrival in Darwin caused an alarm amongst the tough stockmen of the Elsey who attempted to stop this female invasion by forwarding telegraph messages to prevent her coming. This wasn't enough to discourage Jeannie, all five feet of her had always had a determined streak. The Elsey was in a remote part of the NT known locally as the ‘Never-Never’: in fact later on in life Jeannie wrote ‘We of the Never Never’ based on her time there. The homestead when she arrived was a run down, comfortless bush dwelling which Jeannie set about trying to transform into a home. The stockmen were not easily won over. They were men who’d withdrawn from civilisation and were intolerant of anything that wasn't an accepted part of their lifestyle, which included intrusions from women. Jeannie's friendliness and humour as well as her personal courage and refusal to complain showed these bushmen that she would, like them, accept and make the best of conditions. It was this attitude along with her determination that in the end earned their respect and admiration. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Sep 20 - 09:58 PM Here is a Hallom original. He recorded it on his 'On the Periphery' album. The fizzer delivered mail in the Northern Territory at the turn of the 20th century. He based it on information in Jeannie Gunn's autobiography. THE FIZZER (Gerry Hallom) A thousand miles in forty days He carries the precious freight To the homes along the bush highways For settlers who yearn and wait Day by day, week by week Keeping tight to the government time Dicing with death on the dried out creeks Yet it’s his face not his heart that bears the lines Chorus A thousand miles ‘cross the great divide Inside mail from the world outside No sooner here than he’s gone With a hale so long The long dry stretch on the open downs That’s where the fizzin’ gets done Eighty miles till a drink is found Then fifty more with none The thirst of the team fixes the time This gamble with death is played Where the searing, scorching heat combines With a downs that holds no shade Chorus A drink at the well, an all night spell To the toughest pinch of all Fifty miles of sunbaked hell With a team that’s fit to fall And here’s where the tracks are vague and tell Of a bushman’s skill and pluck It’s here where the last mailman fell And they talk of the fizzer’s luck Chorus Is it luck to know to the very last drop Just what a horse can do? Luck to know just when to stop To know when to take them through Is it luck to have the courage to play This game when the stakes are high? For only those who’ve been can say What’s faced by a man on the downs in the dry Chorus Sixteen days on the open downs He takes the treacherous run Knowing the folk at Anthony’s town Will come out in the noonday sun To watch for the distant moving frame Away in the quivering glare And death will have won in the dice-throwing game If the fizzer is late getting down there Chorus Youtube clip Ted Egan also wrote a song about the fizzer. Ted Egan --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Sep 20 - 08:53 PM Another Lawson poem adapted by Gerry Hallom. THE FREE SELECTOR'S DAUGHTER (Lawson/Hallom) (Chorus) I met her on the Lachlan side A darling girl I thought her I swore before I left I'd win The free selector's daughter I worked her father's farm a month I brought the wood and water I mended all the broken fence Before I won the daughter. I listened to her father's yarns, I did just what I oughte And what I'd had to do to win The free selector's daughter So I broke my pipe and burnt my twist Gave up my beer for water I had to shave before I kissed The free-selector's daughter Chorus Then, rising in the frosty morn I brought the cows for Mary And when I'd milked a bucketful I took it to the dairy I poured the milk into the dish While Mary held the strainer I summoned heart to speak my wish And, oh, her blush grew plainer Chorus I told her I must leave this place, I said that I would miss her At first she turned away her face But then she let me kiss her. I put my pail upon the ground And in my arms I caught her I'd give the world to hold again The free selector's daughter Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Sep 20 - 07:45 PM You have posted some good'uns, R-J. Re Gurindji people, are you aware that only 2 days ago (Tuesday 8th Sept) they were finally granted native title over Wave Hill Station at a special sitting of the Federal Court? ABC report --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 09:03 AM Mysha's earlier question re if there will be a separate "edition" for Kiwi material, wasn't really answered and I've just come across typed words for one of me EnZed faves, so here goes : PACKING MY THINGS ~ Phil Colquhoun When first to this country I came [when I came and took up my claim] Well, Bill Muggins was me name And though I’m a young man and able Here am I stuck rocking the cradle - And that’s a Bill Muggins game. But I’m awake up – I will break up I’m never more going to roam I've panned in my dugout with never a nugget I’m packing my things to go home. I’ve hunted Otago for gold In the wind and the rain and the cold And I’ve holed up all winter all under the snow All along the winding Molyneux - And that is where you need to have holed! But I’m awake up – I will break up I’m never more going to roam I've panned in my dugout with never a nugget I’m packing my things to go home. In those shanties where you spin Away all your hard-earned tin Nancy’s smiles are so beguiling That’s why Nancy is always smiling! - Landlord says he’s not taking you in. But I’m awake up – I will break up I’m never more going to roam I‘ve panned in my dugout with never a nugget I’m packing my things to go home. I almost gave up hope of finding many Kiwi folk songs on YT until I thought to plug in "Phil Garland"! So here is his version : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kH8cLjr0A Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Richard Mellish Date: 09 Sep 20 - 08:38 AM > Richard M, well why don't you 'put forward' a few? Fair comment! But where do I start? I could just scan the contents lists of a few books (where presumably the editors had already exercised some selection) but I should try to make a personal selection. I'm a bit tied up just now but I'll have a go. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 08:26 AM THE STATION COOK ~ trad Oz The song I’m going to sing to you, will not detain you long It’s all about a station cook we had at old Pinyong [Penong] His pastry was so beautiful, his cooking was so fine It gave us all a stomach ache, right through the shearing time. Oh, you should see his plum-duffs, his doughboys and his pies I swear by Long Moloney, they’d open a shearer’s eyes He’d say “take your time good fellows” and he’d fix us with a glance Saying “I’ll dish you up much better, if you’ll give me half a chance.” Oh you should see his doughboys, his dumplings and his pies The thought of such luxuries would open a shearer’s eyes He gets up in the morning, gives us plenty of stewed tea And don’t forget when shearing’s done, to sling the cook his fee. But oh dear, I feel so queer, I don’t know what to do The thought of leaving Fowler’s Bay just breaks me heart in two But if ever I catch that slushy, I’ll make him rue the day That he ruined me constitution while shearing at Fowler’s Bay. The Station Cook could often be an old shearer who can no longer do his tally a day, bent over on the board - much like The Old Woman was often an old cowboy who could no longer do long days in the saddle, keeping the cattle in check on the Trails. Fowler's Bay is in South Australia's Eyre Peninsula/Nullarbor Plain region. Here is Gary Shearston's version from 1965 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONE44capghQ Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 08:00 AM Miner’s Washing ~ John Warner I come from Durham in 99 Married a laddie from the Coal Creek mine The finest lad that a girl could ever know Til he brought me his washing from the pit below. Ch. Scrubbing the miner's clothes Scrubbing the miner's clothes All piled up in a ghastly stack Heavy as lead and smelly and black And oh, the pain in my aching back! Scrubbing the miner's clothes Well your Currumburra miner is a grimy sort of bloke So I chuck in his duds for an all-night soak I takes me a soap and I'll grate it like a cheese And I'll chuck it in the bucket with his grubby dungarees. And it's haul ‘em from the copper to the rinsing tub Pound ‘em with the dolly and scrub – scrub - scrub Pour away the mucky water, do it all again Haul ‘em through the wringer and pray it doesn't rain. Beyond Cardella, the sky is looking fine Basket out the washing to the old clothes line I bet when they're hung out and I've hauled up the prop The rain'll come a-pouring and the wind will drop. So all you maids who to marriage do incline Never wed a laddie from the Coal Creek mine A squatter may be surly, a merchant may be mean A banker may be boring but they're easier to clean. A great session song - didn't find Margie Walters' version, but here is one from Qld duo, Cloudstreet : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtnwKFjM1Sc Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 07:36 AM FANNIE BAY ~ Doug & Andy Tainsh / and possibly David Charles Tell her I’m droving down Camooweal way Or signed on with pearlers for seas far away You can tell her I’ve gone, I’ll be back some day Please don’t tell her they hanged me in old Fannie Bay. ch. And on Thursday Island the sun warms her hair As the breeze from the sea blows her hair And she sits by her window and calls me Yes, she calls me. You can say I’ve gone on the old “River Queen” Its whistle a-haunting the bullockys’ dream Down the Murray I’ve gone, I’ll be back some day Please don’t tell her they hanged me in old Fannie Bay. You can say the bush has called me away And I’m riding the fences for ten bob a day Yes, I needed a job, I needed the pay Please don’t tell her they hanged me in old Fannie Bay. And they came to the door and they dragged me away From all that I love and I pray That it won’t reach her ears, ‘cause I love her And she’d die - she’d die - she’d die for sure. Just say the gold has taken me down To the places where fortunes are easily found Yes, I’ve gone, but tell her I’ll be back some day Just don’t tell her they hanged me in old Fannie Bay. I wanted to link to the version by Darwin, NT trio "Tropical Ear" - from the 1980s - but I cannot locate one on YT. However, I found this version which has similarities - it's by FNQ [= Far North Qld] group "Snake Gully" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yniaWFegcE Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 09 Sep 20 - 06:32 AM Davy Lowston is one of my favourite songs, thanks for posting it. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 06:06 AM COONAWARRA [HAS] THREE SHADOWS ~ Judith Crossley T’was the ninth of October, in Echuca way she lay A new boat on the river, while the steamers passed away Laid up, forgotten, rotting, just a few were left to trade Of those roaring river steamers, that saw the outback made. Ch. Excelsior keep turning Murrumbidgee, you’ll never die J L Roberts on the water, see the paddles fly Shadow ships go softly with her, drift on all her days Coonawarra, lovely black swan, takes the River Ways. She was built in 1950, for the Murray tourist trade Murray Valley Coaches, lost a boat in ’48 Brave old Murrumbidgee burned, that sad heroic day There was not a soul there perished, but that fine ship passed away. Last barge to work the Murrumbidgee, J L Roberts stood alone For sixty years she had ploughed the rivers, her story was well-known On her hull they have built a lovely boat, to take the ‘Bidgee’s place And they named her for the black swan, Coonawarra, full of grace. For ninety years that redgum hull, has left the river sand For thirty years the Coonawarra, beat across the land Three ghosts they travel with her, from the elder time And three shadows has the Coonawarra, they carry on the line. Lyn and Denis Tracy used to do a really beautiful version of this, but luckily there is a version on YT by Irene Petrie : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJhLeRTyqoU Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 05:36 AM DAVEY LOWSTON Oh me name is Davey Lowston, I did seal, I did seal Oh me name is Davey Lowston, I did seal Though my men and I were lost and our very lives it cost I did seal, I did seal, I did seal. We were set down in Open Bay, were set down, were set down We set down in Open Bay, we set down We were left, we gallant men, never more to sail again For to sail, for to sail, for to sail. Our captain, John Bedar, he set sail, he set sail Yes, all for Port Jackson, he set sail “I’ll return men, without fail”, but, he foundered in the gale And went down, and went down, and went down. We cured ten thousand skins for the fur, for the fur We cured ten thousand skins for the fur Brackish water, putrid seal, we did all of us fall ill For to die, for to die, for to die. Come all you lads who sail upon the sea, sail the sea Come all you jacks who sail upon the sea Though the schooner “Governor Bligh”, took on some who did not die Never seal, never seal, never seal. Oh me name is Davey Lowston, I did seal, I did seal Oh me name is Davey Lowston, I did seal Where the icebergs tower high, it’s a pitiful place to die Never seal, never seal, (never) seal. Regarded as a traditional New Zealand song, though many scholars believe it originated on the Sydney docks - and it was collected on t’other side of the world. No matter. It’s a goodun! Here is a version by Qld harmony group “Work in Progress” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvDn3tQ7cTI Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 04:19 AM OK, the subject of this song may not be commonly regarded as Aussie or Kiwi, or even Southern Hemisphere, BUT, I prefer to think that - just like the ubiquitous Chickenman - "He's EVERYWHERE, He's EVERYWHERE"!! So, this is a session favourite from Qld's CLOUDSTREET. THE GREEN MAN ~ John Thompson Ch. The Green Man’s a traveller, a reveller, unraveller Of dreams and of fancies from first to the last Older than all men, living in all things Son, father and sage, long live The Green Man. First light of first morning saw The Green Man there waiting He saw the creation and joined in the dance All creatures grew round him He grew with them singing The first song of all, sing of The Green Man. Quietly watching and waiting and learning The storms are his fury, the lightning his laugh The first leaf of spring is his beauty and glory His stillness, his power, in the trees in his path. There are fewer trees now, but The Man is not sleeping ‘Though our ruin brings sorrow to Time’s oldest heart In our soul we may find him and remember his wisdom And rekindle the flames, once again make a start. There are a couple of Cloudstreet versions on YT - This is from "Swallow the Concertina" in 2000 (and the second is from 2010's "Circus of Desires") : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIRK0uQs760 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS32e1qWhIM Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 03:21 AM YIL LULL ~ Joe Geia I sing, for the black, and the people of this Land I sing, for the red, and the blood that’s been shed Now I’m singing for the gold, of a new year young and old. Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay I sing, unto Him, of the most high I sing, so much praises, it makes me want to cry Now I’m singing, just for you, so all can recognise. Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay Sing for the black (Singout!) Sing for the red (Singout!) Sing for the black (Singout!) Sing for the red (Singout!) Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay Sing for the black! Sing for the red! And the gold! Stories told, for young and old. Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay, Yil Lull ay. “Yil Lull means Sing!” in Kuku Yalanji language of FNQ” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9BvEa9xxvQ The YT clip is from 1988 when Joe first wrote and released the song (now regarded as an anthem!), but he is still going strong and I was lucky to be part of the choir performing with him at Qld's Maleny Festival in 2019! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 09 Sep 20 - 03:16 AM Richard - I've posted a lot of old songs on Bush Music Club blog, but I'd have to type up the words & that is putting me off - unless I post the URLs of the song image. I've posted 43 articles which include the subject "songs" This article Compilation - Early Song Sheets1950s/60s has links to 14 of them. There are over 600 articles so the blog is heard to search - best way to search is to open a google page & do a site search -(subject) site:blog.bushmusic.org.au & skim down the offerings. Not every song is traditional - The Bush Music Club was founded in 1954 to collect, publish and popularise Australia's traditional songs, dances, music, yarns, recitations and folklore and to encourage the composition of a new kind of song - one that was traditional in style but contemporary in theme. Australian Song Index by Hugh Anderson Being a list of 375 Bush Ballads that have been published between the days of transportation & 1956. The Black Bull Chapbooks No.7, 1957. Here's another good source of early & contemporary Australian songs 2020 Joy Durst Memorial Song Collection download - FREE - Victorian Folk Music Club (est 1959 as Victorian Bush Music Club) 1st ed, 1970, 2nd ed. 1980. It includes audio files sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 02:38 AM the bush girl (henry lawson) So you rode from the range where your brothers “select” Through the ghostly grey bush in the dawn You rode slowly at first, lest her heart should suspect That you were [so] glad to be gone. You had scarcely the courage to glance back at her By the homestead receding from view And you breathed with relief as you rounded the spur For the world was a wide world to you. Grey eyes that grow sadder than sunset or rain Fond heart that is ever more true Firm faith that grows firmer for watching in vain She’ll wait by the sliprails for you. Ah! The world is a new and a wide one to you But the world to your sweetheart is shut For a change never comes to the lonely Bush Girl From the stockyard, the bush, and the hut. And the only relief from the [its] dullness she feels Is when ridges grow softened and dim And away in the dusk to the sliprails she steals To dream of past meetings [evenings] with him. Grey eyes that grow sadder than sunset or rain Fond heart that is ever more true Firm faith that grows firmer for watching in vain She’ll wait by the sliprails for you. Do you think, where in place of bare fences, dry creeks Clear streams and green hedges are seen Where the girls have the lily and rose in their cheeks And the grass in midsummer is green. Do you think now and then, now or then, in the whirl Of the city, while London is new Of the hut in the bush, and the freckled-faced girl Who is eating her heart out for you? Grey eyes that are sadder than sunset or rain Bruised heart that is ever more true Fond faith [heart] that is firmer for trusting in vain She waits by the sliprails for you. Sung here by the late Gary Shearston (tune by Con Caston) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ9vgyb2S2Y Seeing “Bonnie Jess” posted above, reminded me of this one – a very singable favourite in my teenage years and often heard in Perth’s folkclubs of the 60s-70s! Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 09 Sep 20 - 02:08 AM Gurindji Blues Poor bugger me, Gurindji Me bin sit down this country Long time before the Lord Vestey Allabout land belongin' to we Oh poor bugger me, Gurindji. Poor bugger blackfeller; Gurindji Long time work no wages, we, Work for the good old Lord Vestey Little bit flour; sugar and tea For the Gurindji, from Lord Vestey Oh poor bugger me. Poor bugger me, Gurindji, Man called Vincent Lingiari Talk long allabout Gurindji 'Daguragu place for we, Home for we, Gurindji: But poor bugger blackfeller, Gurindji Government boss him talk long we 'We'll build you house with electricity But at Wave Hill, for can't you see Wattie Creek belong to Lord Vestey' Oh poor bugger me. Poor bugger me, Gurindji Up come Mr: Frank Hardy ABSCHOL too and talk long we Givit hand long Gurindji Buildim house and plantim tree Longa Wattie Creek for Gurindji But poor bugger blackfeller Gurindji Government Law him talk long we 'Can't givit land long blackfeller, see Only spoilim Gurindji' Oh poor bugger me. Poor bugger me, Gurindji Peter Nixon talk long we: 'Buy you own land, Gurindji Buyim back from the Lord Vestey' Oh poor bugger me, Gurindji. Poor bugger blackfeller Gurindji Suppose we buyim back country What you reckon proper fee? Might be flour, sugar and tea From the Gurindji to Lord Vestey? Oh poor bugger me. Oh ngaiyu luyurr ngura-u Sorry my country, Gurindji. © Ted Egan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8LcF0kwbjE&t=2s Here is a later version by Galurrwuy Yunupingu with Vincent Lingiari : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdLIlyhLewI The importance of Ted's song and this piece of NT history, cannot IMHO, be overestimated. It was also often played on Perth's ABC radio, back in the day. See also the previous post of "From Little Things, Big Things Grow". Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 09 Sep 20 - 01:13 AM Words and music to "Bourke Street on Saturday night" can be found in "A treasury of favourite Australian songs, with complete words and music" compiled by Therese Radic. Published by Currey O'Neil, Melbourne, 1983. Music by Fred Hall, words by P.C. Cole, 1918. I wonder if this was one of the Cole faimly of "Cole's funny picture books" fame? Whether it is or isn't, this book is a great addition to my book shelf. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 09 Sep 20 - 12:54 AM Here is another Ogilvie poem to which Gerry Hallom put a tune. As usual, his version has alterations and omissions - good but! NORTHWARDS TO THE SHEDS (W.Ogilvie/G.Hallom There's a whisper from the regions out beyond the Barwon banks There's a gathering of the legions there's a forming of the ranks There's a murmur coming nearer with the signs that never fail And it's time for every shearer to be out upon the trail (Chorus) For the Western creeks are calling And the idle days are done With the snowy fleeces falling And the Queensland sheds begun There is shortening of the bridle, there's a tightening of the girth There is a grooming of the horse that they love the best on earth Northward from the Lachlan River and the sun-dried Castlereagh Outward to the Never-Never ride the shearers on their way Chorus They will leave their girls behind them and their empty glasses too For there's plenty left to mind them when they cross the dry Barcoo There'll be kissing, there'll be sorrow such as only sweethearts know But before the noon tomorrow, they'll be singing as they go Chorus They will camp below the station, they'll be cutting peg and pole Raising tents for occupation till the boss he calls the roll And it's time the colts were driven, it's time to strap the pack For there's never licence given to the laggards on the track Chorus John Thompson has a version on his site that is close to the original poem. His source is the excellent CD by Alan Musgrave (with Bob McInnes & friends) 'Songs They Used to Sing: A panorama of Australian folksong'.. Hallom Thompson I found this on the Net, but I can't verify its authenticity: As Will wrote in 'My life in the open (Short stories)' (1908): On a big sheep station everything dates from shearing-time. “It was just before last shearing,” they say, or “I will attend to it after shearing,” or “So-and-so was here two shearings ago.” Through the greater part of the year a large station of 50,000 to 80,000 sheep is worked by a staff of ten to fifteen men; but at shearing-time the shed and surrounding buildings contain from fifty to a hundred men, with here and there a white tent starring the plain, and the stir and hum of the work turn this quiet corner into the semblance of a thriving settlement. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Sep 20 - 11:26 PM Here's another forgotten gem, also on the Hildebrand and O'Leary CD. It is in the style of CJ Dennis. Below is how Hildebrand sings it. You can find the original and info here: Info BOURKE STREET ON SATURDAY NIGHT (P.C. Cole & Fred Hall) Them ragtime songs got me fair pippy All Hawaii or old dixie land And the same kind of tarts always in ‘em Starry eye, golden hair, china hands Now tell me what’s wrong with Australia And the cliner on which I am shook I don’t need no cotton fields shady And I don’t need no soft purlin’ brook So give me old Melbourne and give me a tart And then I am simply all right Can any bloke point to a better old joint Than Bourke Street on a Saturday night When me and me Maudie goes out for a stroll Me cobbers all try to be smart ‘Get out of their way, here comes Billo’, they say Walkin’ out with his fair dinkum tart On Princes Bridge once we were standin’ And gazed down at the water below In the lamplight we feels sentimental Holdin’ hands, all that rot, don’t you know Says Maud, ‘Prove you’re fond of me really So I looked to see no one was near I gives her a kiss, then she murmurs ’Now you loves me, I know, Billo dear’ Repeat stanzas 2 and 3. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Sep 20 - 10:39 PM Here's a delightful little ditty that has been buried deep in the forum database. It was posted and collected by Joybell, a lady who used to post prolifically to Mudcat. She explained: I believe it deserves its own thread and a place in the DT. It's a Melbourne song probably from around the early 1900s. I learned it from an elderly man, in about 1984, in a pub in Collingwood, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He called it an old Melbourne song. He used the title "Push on the Corner". A friend, Jack Johnson, recorded an almost identical version from an elderly man in a Melbourne nursing home. My informant told me he wanted me to have the song because I was "a Collingwood Lassie". He added that he meant not of the type described in the song. These two appearances of the song are the only ones I've come across. It sounds like somebody's music-hall turn. THE PUSH ON THE CORNER Last night I was driven near crazy By one I both love and adore Now she's packed up her boxes and left me And I ain't gonna see her no more I've written her hundreds of letters, To beg her my faults to forget But now she's found one she loves better And this is the answer I get Oh, wait till the push on the corner Refuses to drink a long beer Wait till the thieves and pickpockets From the streets of Fitzroy disappear When the dear little Collingwood lassies rom powder and paint they are free When the Chinese are coppers on Bourke Street My darling I'll come back to thee The tune may be found on a beaut CD O'Leary & Hildebrand 'Together Again, Again' --Stewie |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Sep 20 - 09:49 PM The other Youtube video of Steam Shuttle is one of those warhorses. They noted that their version was based on one collected by John Meredith from Mrs Ewell late of Bathurst NSW. THE STREETS OF FORBES (THE DEATH OF BEN HALL) Come all you Lachlan men and a sorrowful tale I'll tell Concerning of a hero bold who through misfortune fell His name it was Ben Hall, a man of good renown Who was hunted from his station and like a dog shot down Three years he roamed the roads and he showed the traps some fun One thousand pounds was on his head, with Gilbert and John Dunn Ben parted from his comrades, the outlaws did agree To give away bushranging and cross the briny sea Ben went to Goobang Creek and that was his downfall For riddled like a sieve was the valiant Ben Hall 'Twas early in the morning upon the fifth of May When the seven police surrounded him as fast asleep they lay Bill Dargin he was chosen to shoot the outlaw dead The troopers all fired madly and they filled him full of lead They rolled him in his blanket and strapped him to his prad And they led him through the streets of Forbes to show the prize they had Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Sep 20 - 09:28 PM For those who have not heard Steam Shuttle, there are 2 recordings available on Youtube. The better one imo is their rendition of Duke Tritton's 'Sandy Hollow Line'. They noted that they put it to a traditional tune that Tritton had used for another of his songs, 'The Great Northern Line', 'in preference to the usual dreary melody'. Amen to that! THE SANDY HOLLOW LINE (Duke Tritton) The sun was blazing in the sky and waves of shimmering heat Glared down on the railway cutting, we were half dead on our feet And the ganger stood on the bank of the cut and he snarled at the men below "You'd better keep them shovels full or all you cows 'll go." "I never saw such a useless mob, you'd make a feller sick As shovel men you're hopeless, and you're no good with the pick" There were men in the gang who could belt him with a hand tied at the back But he had power behind him and we dare not risk the sack. So we took his insults in silence, for this was the period when We lived in the great depression and nothing was cheaper than men And we drove the shovels and swung the picks and cursed the choking dust We'd wives and hungry kids to feed so toil in the heat we must And as the sun rose higher and the heat grew more intense The flies were in their millions, the air was thick and dense We found it very hard to breathe, our lungs were hot and tight With the stink of sweating horses and the fumes of gelignite But still the ganger drove us on, we couldn't take much more We prayed for the day we'd get the chance to even up the score A man collapsed in the heat and dust, he was carried away to the side It didn't seem to matter if the poor chap lived or died "He's only a loafer," the ganger said. "A lazy, useless cow I was going to sack him anyway, he's saved me the trouble now" He had no thoughts of the hungry kids, no thought of a woman's tears, As she struggled and fought to feed her brood all down the weary years But one of the government horses fell and died there in the dray They hitched two horses to him and they dragged the corpse away The ganger was a worried man and he said with a heavy sigh "It is a bloody terrible thing to see a good horse die" "You chaps get back now to your work and don't stand loafing ther Get in and trim the batter down, I'll get the engineer" Well the engineer he looked around and he said as he scratched his head "No horse could work in this dreadful heat or all of them will be dead" "They're much too valuable to lose, they cost us quite a lot And I think it is a wicked shame to work them while it's hot So we will take them to the creek and spell them in the shade You men must all knock off at once - of course you'll not be paid" And so we plodded to our camps and it seemed to our weary brains We were no better than convicts, though we didn't wear the chains And in those drear depression days, we were unwanted men But we knew that when a war broke out, we'd all be heroes then And we'd be handed a rifle and forced to fight for the swine Who tortured us and starved us, on the Sandy Hollow Line Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 08 Sep 20 - 08:46 PM Richard M, well why don't you 'put forward' a few? My impetus has been to post, mainly but not exclusively, worthy songs that have not been posted or have been buried deep in the forum database - songs that are less well known and not as easily accessed as the warhorses. Sandra, thanks to the link to Seal's lyrics. Apart from some reordering, Danny's version is much the same. Two stanzas from the Stewart/Keesing printing, as collected by Bill Bowyang, have been dropped: I courted Flo in Jericho And Jane at old Blackall I said farewell to the Sydney belle At the doors of the Eulo hall And the final one: I've seen and heard upon my word Some strange things on my way But spare my days, I was knocked sideways When I landed here today --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 08 Sep 20 - 08:18 PM Thank you, Sandra! On a completely differnt note, I quite like Enda Kenny's Earl Grey Tea song - although I never drink tea, I'm a coffee girl. EARL GREY Is it perfume? Is it tea? Whatever it is, it does nothing for me Should I drink it? Or dab it on? Can I swap it for a coffee or has all the water gone. It is hot, it is wet, It is eau de toilette Is it from the House of Lipton or Chanel? I only want a cup of tea, not this stuff you've given me, If you think I'm going to drink it go to..... Help me someone...... Call a doctor or a nurse, Call an ambulance I'm poisoned, And I think it's getting worse. I only wanted a cup of tea But I fear that my last mouthful will be the death of me It is hot, it is wet, It is eau de toilette To my mind it is more toilette than eau. If you want to spoil your day Add the oil of Earl Grey, I'm reliably informed it's bergamot. What a mouthful! Is it perfume? Is it wee? Whatever it's supposed to be it doesn't taste like tea. Should I drink it, or dab it on? Can I swap it for a coffee or has all the water gone. It is hot, it is wet, It is eau de toilette Is it Twinings? is it Tetley? let me see. Go ahead and make my day But please don't make me drink Earl Grey. All I want is a proper cup of tea. Enda Kenny (1995) Earl Grey Tea |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Richard Mellish Date: 08 Sep 20 - 12:51 PM > Lloyd altered the words "I am a young man, cut down in my blossom..." to "I am a young man from the town of Kiandra..." I had heard or read before now that the "town of Kiandra" words were due to Bert, and I had wondered whether we should encourage singers to revert to the version as collected. However "cut down in my blossom" clearly belongs in a different song, not this one. The man is justifiably lamenting having to rock the baby that is not his, but he is not the Unfortunate Rake who really has been cut down. Not for the only time, I think we have to count Bert's work on this song as an improvement. On another matter entirely: it has struck me that a lot of the songs being put forward in this thread are of fairly recent origin. Nothing wrong with that in itself but there are lots of older ones that I think are equally deserving. |
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Subject: LYR Add - The Country Knows The Rest -Graham Seal From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Sep 20 - 03:51 AM Back of the Milky Way (Humping the Drum) - lyrics & audio Lyrics to Graham's songs, all with audio. Graham Seal writes good songs (he also writes good books) & was Australia's first (& maybe only) Professor of Folklore. interview with Graham The Country Knows The Rest by Graham Seal with audio link. Norman Brown was an innocent bystander, he was not one one the strikers. He was JennieG's mother's cousin The year was nineteen-twenty-nine, the place was Rothbury town, The miners were all locked out and our wage had been knocked down, From March until December we lived on bread and dole, Until the Rothbury mine re-opened, with scabs to dig the coal - And the country knows the rest … So the miners’ dole was cut and our strike pay couldn’t last, But the men and women of Rothbury determined to stand fast. All across the coalfields miners heard the call, On a warm night in December they met at Rothbury, one and all - And the country knows the rest … It was early in the morning upon that fateful day, Many hundred miners gathered there to send the scabs away, A piper played before us in the breaking blood-red dawn, But when we reached the Rothbury mine gates a bloodier day was born - And the country knows the rest … The police were in the bushes with pistols in their hands, There were more of them on horseback to break the miners’ stand, Just how it started I swear I'll never know, But the guns began firing and the blood began to flow - And the country knows the rest … When the firing was all over and the police had broken through, Many miners badly beaten - bullet-wounded, too, Beneath the Rothbury mine gate Norman Brown was lying dead, And the lifeblood from his veins stained the coaldust red - And the country knows the rest … Notes Many thanks to Graham Seal for permission to add this song to the Union Songs website. Graham writes 'The Country Knows the Rest was written in the 1970s while I was researching popular protest in Australia. One of the Kelly ballads used the line the country knows the rest and I was also struck by a few phrases from the oral accounts of miners who had been at Rothbury. The music and lyrics came together from these sources. I recorded the song on my Barbed Wire Ballads in 2005 and Andy Saunders and Tim Glover recorded it as The Symbolics, back around the late 70s/early 80s.' When the depression hit at the end of the 1920s miners everywhere were in trouble. In February 1929 the coalowners of the Hunter Valley NSW demanded a 12.5% wage cut. When the workers refused, the bosses, supported by a conservative State Government, locked them out of the mines for 15 months. Towards the end of 1929 the coalowners tried to open some pits with scab labour. Miners decided to take them on. Around 4000 of them made there way to Rothbury on December 16th and the police opened fire killing the young miner Norman Brown and wounding many others. Veteran miner Jim Comerford, now in his nineties, was at Rothbury when he was just 16 years old, he tells his story in his book The Great Lockout |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 07 Sep 20 - 11:44 PM HUMPING THE DRUM I've humped my drum from Kingdom Come To the back of the Milky WaY I boiled my quart on the Cape of York And I starved last Christmas Day I cast a line on the Condamine And one on the Nebine Creek I've driven through bog, so help me bob Up Mungindi's main street I crossed the Murray and drank at Cloncurry Where they charged me a bob a nip. I worked in the Gulf where the cattle they duff And the squatters they give 'em tip I've worked from morn in the fields of long corn Till the sun was out of sight I've cause to know the Great Byno And the Great Australian Bight I danced with Kit, when the lamps were lit And Doll when the dance broke up I flung my hat on the Myall Track When Bowman won the Cup I laughed aloud with the merry crowd In the city of the plains I sweated too on Omdooroo While bogged in those big bore-drains I wheeled me bike from the shearers' strike Not wanting a funeral shroud And I made the weights for the Flying Stakes And I dodged the lynchin' crowd I've carried a gun through World War One Then went to the track again From Omeo to Bendigo To Bourke and back again I lost some tears in the hungry years When jobs were short and few And I picked up me swag and me old tucker bag There was nothing else to do There are various versions of this song, but the above is what Danny Spooner sang on his final album 'Home'. Danny noted: I like the way that each verse seems to be sung by another travelling character ... these words were adapted by Graham Seal. I first heard the song on an old Larrikin LP by a group named 'Steam Shuttle' of which Graham Seal was a member - 'Steam Shuttle Larrikin LRF-018. Unfortunately, I am unable to play it to check the lyrics against Danny's version as my record player is stuffed. However, the note on the LP sleeve reads: A recitation from Stewart and Keesing's revision of Banjo Pateron's 'Old Bush Songs'. A few verses have been cut out, a couple added and the whole thing set to an Irish tune. As it now stands, the song is essentially a potted history of itinerant labour in Australia up the 1930s. 'Humping the drum' is one of the many terms for carrying a swag. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 07 Sep 20 - 10:50 PM Hi Joe, irrespective of what happens re 'Rise Up Singing', I reckon it's good to have a collection of Australian songs, particularly less-well-known ones, in one place on this site. It's a pity that it is only Sandra and I doing the bulk of the posting. R-J, Sean's voice was particularly fine on those recordings. THE TOWN OF KIANDRA (THE WEE ONE) I am a young man from the town of Kiandra I married a young woman to comfort my home She goes out and she leaves me and cruelly deceives me She leaves me with a baby that's none o' me own Chorus Oh dear, I rue the day ever I married How I wish I was single again With this weeping and wailing and rocking the cradle And rocking the baby that's none o' me own While I'm at work, my wife's on the rantan On the rantan with some other young man She goes out and she leaves me and cruelly deceives me And leaves me with a baby that's none o' me own Now all you young men with a fancy to marry Be sure you leave them flash gals alone Or by the Lord Harry, if one you should marry They'll leave you with a baby that's none o' your own This is in the DT under the title 'Rocking the Cradle'. Extensive information on its provenance may be had here: Mainly Norfolk Bob Bolton posted this back in the day: The "Wee One" was collected by John Meredith from the wonderful old Australian singer Sally Sloane, late 1950s or early 1960s. A.L. Lloyd would have seen the words in the photocopies of Meredith, Ward and Stewart & Keesing's collection notes lodged with the EFDSS (by Edgar Walters?) and possibly heard the field tapes. Lloyd altered the words "I am a young man, cut down in my blossom..." to "I am a young man from the town of Kiandra..." because he had heard of someone from Kiandra to whom such things had happened. Martyn Wyndham-Read may well have sung the Lloyd version in the 1960s. The modal tune is Sally's and typical of her Irish heritage. The song words come from a long and forked line of songs/parodies/re-works that go all the way back to "The Christ Child Lullaby", in the Erse and, at least as far forward across America as "Get along Little Dogey". The details of Meredith collecting this song (and many others, along with a lot of dance tunes) would be in "Folk Songs of Australian and the men and women who sang them", Volume 1, John Meredith & Hugh Anderson, (Ure Smith ~1967 / University of New South Wales Press ~1988). The song was also published in "Singabout Magazine, the journal of Australian folksong", Vol. 5, No. 2, p5, Bush Music Club, October 1964, and so appears in my anthology "Singabout - Selected Reprints", Bush Music Club, 1985. If you are interested in looking at primary sources, these two publications are still available for the Bush Music Club at $12A and $9A plus $3A post/packaging. Sally Sloane was a wonderful singer and I am proud to have known her - and had her sing for me in concerts in the 1970s. She contributed more songs and tunes than any other single singer of Australian tradional songs. I like to remember her by her original songs, rather than the changed versions of later singers. Danny Spooner recorded it under the title 'The wee one' for his last album 'Home'. Wongawilli recorded it under the title 'The Town of Kiandra (The Wee One)'. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 07 Sep 20 - 04:36 AM Ah, I've always loved that "Let the rope, soap, and calico take me ...." number - Alan and Sean were a great duo, way back when (and as I've said before, when they supported The Dubliners in Perth, The Settlers ran rings around the Dubliners - until the Dubs were shocked into lifting their game, LoL!!) R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Joe Offer Date: 06 Sep 20 - 11:50 PM Oh, gee, these are wonderful. Be sure to look at Australian Folk Song a Day from Cloudstreet and John Thompson. Also "Australian Folk Songs": -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Sep 20 - 11:18 PM JAIL AWAY FREMANTLE (W.Evans/A.Ferguson) Chorus: Let the rope, soap and calico take me I’ll grin and I’ll hold me head high And the devil take he who can make me Bow low ‘cos I’d far rather die The landlord that fenced in our farmland Was a thief and he left us to die The judge gave 5 years transportation So I downed him and blackened his eye On the boat we fared far worse than cattle I was detailed to clean up the ship The devil take ye, says I, what a battle But I laughed when they gave me the whip Chorus At Fremantle a rat cell awaited Some others had died in that place The guard who released me weeks later Gave a curse as I spat in his face I was sentenced to work on the chain gang Lashed backs as the rocks we did crush But I struck a great blow at a weak link And made a quick dash to the bush Chorus Near starving I met up with Dugan And rode with his wild Irish band And plundered the rich idle squatters When we levelled our guns and cried stand We were caught in an ambush near Collie And most of them died in that fight I was locked up in jail for a dawn dance But I broke through the roof in the night Chorus I have rode with the rustlers at Moora And many the cattle I’ve duffed I’ve ridden the wild trails through the outback And with me swag many miles I have roughed With a new name I joined in the gold rush And was lucky and struck a rich vein For the landowner’s hirelings claim-jumped me So I swore that I’d blacken his name Chorus Now killing don’t make a man suffer It’s others that get to despair But he’s brought his young wife to the diggings So I gave the old bastard an heir And he sent out his hirelings to kill me And I laughed as the bullets did fly And I’ll laugh when I hang in the morning ‘Cos I don’t give a damn if I die Chorus Alan Ferguson put a tune to this ripper Wendy Evans poem. The Settlers, a West Australian band, recorded it on 'Bound for Western Australia' Tempo DBCD 114. Thanks to Phil Beck for checking my above transcription. Info on Wendy Evans may be found here: Wendy Evans --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Sep 20 - 09:31 PM THE GLENBURGH WOOL (Jack Sorensen) The ramp outside the woolshed door Holds yet another load: So yolk the camel team once more And take the waggon road. The shafters prop, the leaders pull The wheels creak dismally, And sixty bales of Glenburgh wool Roll westward to the sea On down the winding dusty track From dawn till close of day The punchers shout, the big whips crack While straining camels sway By stony plain, by sandhills brown By wattles o'er the lea The hard-won wool goes rolling down From Glenburgh to the sea Chorus: Come spare a thought for lads outback who shear the Glenburgh wool In summer heat out on the board where the wool fleece bob and pull Our ringer's Tommy Gibson, he's a gun from northern town And he shears his tally every day when the Glenburgh wool goes down A creek to cross, a hill to climb A stretch of sandy track They'll haul it through if given time Though a straw would break each back So a morning breaks, a bright sun wanes Till a day, then a week, is gone. Yet with creaking wheels and clinking chains The Glenburgh wool rolls on Chorus Cool nights of rest while the camels swell As they munch the mulga near While the hobble chain, and the doleful bell Will lull the puncher's ear Two more long days from Rocky Pool And then Carnarvon town So sixty bales of Glenburgh wool From inland heights go down Chorus This song may be found at about 30-min mark of the Roweth concert linked in my previous post. The poem by Sorensen has been set to music by Roger Montgomery, Alan Ferguson et alia. A chorus, written by Wendy Evans, has been added to the poem. I'm not sure of the latter part of the second line - 'where the wool fleece ....' A correction is welcomed. Roger Montgomery's band 'Dingo's Breakfast' issued a CD of Sorensen: 'Jack Sorensen: Weaver of Dreams'. You can listen to it on Spotify. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Sep 20 - 08:20 PM Thanks, R-J. THE MAN WITH THE CONCERTINA {Stewart/Rummery/Kevans Once more I'm away on the bridle track and through the mountains steering With a horse to ride and one to pack, I'm jogging down to shearing At night I pick the driest camp and build a three-log fire And when a man is on the tramp what more could he desire I eat my tucker and drink my tea, perhaps with a piece of damper Then lie for a while upon my back and watch the possums scamper I light my pipe and puff a cloud, you'd think it was a steamer Then 'Finnegan's Wake' I finger out upon the concertina There's a place I long to be, it's on the old Monaro For ryebuck sport and company, you'd have no need to care O For the boys all get together there and we all toss in a deeper And we'll buy some grog and have some tunes upon the concertina Now, my boys, my song is done I find my throat wants clearing I've told you how to have some fun going down the river shearing You'll hear of me I have no doubt all through the Riverina You're sure to hear them talk about the man with the concertina This song is the title track of Bob Rummery's 'The man with the concertina' CD. Bob noted: A poem by Robert Stewart who travelled from the Illawarra to the Riverina for the shearing season. The third verse was sung, and written by, the late Jacko Kevans and the late 1960s Canberra band The Monaro Boys. The tune after verse 3 is 'Cosgroves Schttische'. The Chloe and Jason Roweth tribute to Bob Rummery, mentioned above by Sandra, is now on Youtube - beaut stuff. Roweths on Rummery --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 06 Sep 20 - 09:09 AM The Goodwills are now based in Warwick, Qld, closer to the border, but are practising Grey Nomads for much of the year! R-J :) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Sep 20 - 03:53 AM I haven't heard that song for years, since they were in Sydney & did a floorspot @ The Dog. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 06 Sep 20 - 12:48 AM COURTING THE NET (Bob Wilson) My love is on the Internet again He says he'll come to bed soon, but he never tells me when He's out there surfin' somewhere with imaginary friends He's a little fish in a big pond, dot com.au at the end My love is on the Internet again I fear some horny geek girl is messing with his brain For the Net's an open sewer, and he's peering down the drain Printing out the porn page as I sing this sweet refrain Why won't you come to bed with me We could yahoo all night long for free Make a real connection if we try But every time I hear that modem squeal Like a lover's cry that's not quite real I put a bookmark in my paperback, think about the things I lack And dream about a real time guy My love is on the Internet again I wish he'd kept his motorbike, we'd more in common then But he's moved away from maintenance and he's given up on zen Now he follows the money markets and the fortunes of the yen Oh the information highway is an easy road to be on Kerouac could have travelled it without ever leavin' home It's like a message in a bottle, swept up on the sand But there's a million bottles on the beach, each with a unique message of its own My love is on the Internet again His cyber-infidelity indelibly ingrained He left me with the phone bill, I left him standing in the rain He even took the lap top where I wrote this sweet refrain Why won't you come to bed with me We could yahoo all night long for free Make a real connection if we try But every time I hear that modem squeal Like a lover's cry that's not quite real I put a bookmark in my paperback, think about the things I lack And dream about a real time guy Source: transcription from The Goodwills 'Courting the Net' Bob Wilson is a Kiwi who now lives in Maleny, Queensland. The Goodwills --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 04 Sep 20 - 09:40 PM I WAS ONLY NINETEEN (A walk in the light green) (John Schumann) Mum and dad and Denny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunya It was a long march from cadets The sixth battalion was the next to tour and it was me who drew the card We did Canungra, Shoalwater before we left And Townsville lined the footpaths as we marched down to the quay This clipping from the paper shows us young and strong and clean And there's me in me slouch hat with me SLR and greens God help me I was only nineteen From Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust at Nui Dat I'd been in and out of choppers now for months And we made our tents a home - V.B. and pinups on the lockers And an Asian (agent?) orange sunset through the scrub And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep? And night-time's just a jungle dark and a barking M16? And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means? God help me I was only nineteen A four-week operation, when each step can mean your last one on two legs It was a war within yourself But you wouldn't let your mates down 'til they had you dusted off So you closed your eyes and thought about somethin' else And then someone yelled out 'Contact!', and the bloke behind me swore We hooked in there for hours, then a God almighty roar And Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon God help me He was goin' home in June And I can still see Frankie, drinkin' tinnies in the Grand Hotel On a thirty-six hour rec leave in Vung Tau And I can still hear Frankie, lying screaming in the jungle 'Til the morphine came and killed the bloody row And the Anzac legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears And the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real I caught some pieces in my back that I didn't even feel God help me I was only nineteen And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep? And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet? And what's this rash that comes and goes Can you tell me what it means? God help me I was only nineteen Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 04 Sep 20 - 09:12 PM DIAMENTINA DROVER (Hugh McDonald) The faces in the photograph have faded And I can't believe he looks so much like me For it's been ten long years today Since I left for Old Cork Station Sayin' I won't be back till the drovin's done Chorus For the rain never falls on the dusty Diamantina And a drover finds it hard to change his mind For the years have surely gone Like the drays from Old Cork Station And I won't be back till the drovin's done It seems like the sun comes up each mornin' Sets me up and then takes it all away For the dreaming by the light Of the campfire at night Ends with the burning light of day Chorus Sometimes I think I'll settle back in Sydney But it's been so long and it's hard to change your mind For the cattle trail goes on and on And the fences roll forever And I won't be back when the drovin's done Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 04 Sep 20 - 08:29 PM SONG OF THE SHEETMETAL WORKER (John Dengate) Oh when I was a boy in Carlingford All sixty years ago, The eucalypts grew straight and tall And the creeks did sweetly flow But times were hard when the old man died And the orchard would not pay So I left the land for the factory bench And I'm working there still today. I've earned my bread in the metal shops For forty years and more My hands are hard and acid-scarred As the boards on the workshop floor. My soul is sheathed in Kembla steel And my eyelids have turned to brass And the orchard's gone, and the apple trees Where the wind whispered through the grass. The workbench is my altar Where I come to take the host. Copper, brass and fine sheet steel Father son and holy ghost. The sacramental wine of work Grows sour upon my tongue Oh the fruit was sweet on the apple trees When my brothers and I were young Youtube clip Dengate's tribute to his father. The tune is 'Valley of Knockanure'. John's recording is on John Dengate 'Australian Son: Vollume I' Danny Spooner recorded it on his 'Emerging Tradition' CD. It is also on Declan Affley 'Vintage Recordings' CD --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 04 Sep 20 - 07:50 PM I posted this fine song decades ago: THE KELLY'S TURNING (Larry King) We're meeting by the riggin' For the word has passed around We'll drink our spree on Texas tea So the drills are goin' down Men roll in from everywhere From France and England too Boomers and boll weevils that make up the drillin' crew Chorus The kelly's turnin', the drill rod churnin' The metal burnin' as she breaks the hard rock floor Rough voices grumblin' The diesel's rumblin' The kelly fumblin' with the key to Satan's door There's Hank and Mac and Paddy From across the sea they've come With Czechs and Swedes, all kinds o' breeds They share a common bond It's music in the air to men Followin' the call When high upon the christmas tree They hear the driller call Chorusr Devil's getting' angry There's a rumblin' in the well For men are cruel who steal the fuel That feeds the fires of hell His heart is big and black as soot And darker is his soul And when he cries, he fills the skies With tears as black as coal Chorus Well, now the drillin's ended So we'll pack our things and go We've drawn a million barrels From a thousand feet below So it's bound for eastern cities Our hard-earned cheques to spend On girls and grog and fancy krog Till the word goes out again Chorus We're meeting by the riggin' For the word has passed around We'll drink our spree on Texas tea So the drills are goin' down Men roll in from everywhere From France and England too Boomers and boll weevils that make up the drillin' crew Chorus Larry King and Alex Hood wrote 2 songs a night for Bill Peach's 'This Day Tonight' show, one of which was telecast. The pair undertook an Arts Council-sponsored tour of Australia as The Prodigal Sons and wrote many songs together. However, 'The Kelly's Turning' is a Larry King solo effort inspired by time spent with the oil rig workers in Exmouth, Western Australia. It is set to a Dutch traditional tune 'The windmill's turning'. Scott Balfour of Alice Springs has recorded it on his excellent CD, 'Mother Land'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Sep 20 - 10:39 PM This jaunty piece of nonsense has long been a favourite of mine. IRISH GIRLS (WILL STEAL YOUR HEART AWAY) (Gary Shearston) From Carlow to Tipperary and martyr Ring of Kerry Waterford, Roscommon, Dingle Bay From Sligo to Connemara, Wicklow to Wexford Harbour Irish girls will steal your heart away Now one day by Shannon water, I met a Kerry daughter Riding on a colt of dapple grey She just said her name was Ethne then rode away and left me Thinking I’d been dreaming in the day So I made a quick inquiry up at the local priory An old monk just winked at me and said ‘Ah, for sure, go down the road there, you’ll find a path that’s quite clear Leading to her home but not her bed For her heart is with a stranger whose grave is marked bush ranger They both used to live ‘round here before And together they cavorted until he got transported To Australia from Erin’s shore’ I just figured he was far gone, been on his knees for too long Heard as much as he could absolve But his words came back to haunt, to tease, perplex and daunt me Leaving me a mystery to solve So next day I went a-courting, sweet apples she was sorting Smiled at me then quickly looked away And said of the rose I brought her, ‘I suppose you think that oughta Make me wanna roll you in the hay’ I just laughed and begged and pleaded, she finally conceded Horses we might ride a little way She brought out the dapple grey, called the bay, she said ‘I might just saddle both of them without delay’ Beneath skies of stormy weather, we rode through mountain heather She said that she did not have long to stay Later, strolling by the river, I promised I would give her Anything she wanted not to stray As her fancy I was seeking, I heard a willow creaking And turned around in time to see it sway But, as it began to tumble, it made me trip and stumble Dragged her to the ground in disarray There our arms and legs entangled, and for a while we dangled Then she said goodbye and rode away And although I tried to follow, up hill, down dale and hollow I kept getting lost along the way Then a mist began a-falling, seemed bent upon forestalling Any hope of sign upon the ground Next thing I heard a fiddle, snare drum, a paradiddle I tell you I shivered at the sound So next day I took the quare path, returned again to her hearth It was just a pile of ruined stones Out the back a cross was hedged in, it bore the strangest legend ‘Here lies one of Johnny Doolan’s bones’ From Carlow to Tipperary and martyr Ring of Kerry Waterford, Roscommon, Dingle Bay From Sligo to Connemara, Wicklow to Wexford Harbour Irish girls will steal your heart away Irish girls will steal your heart away Maybe someone could check the accuracy of my above transcription. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Sep 20 - 09:24 PM Here is another one that I first heard on the Cobbers 'Portraits ...' LP. NED KELLY'S FAREWELL TO GRETA (Traditional) Farewell to my home in Greta, to my sister Kate farewell. It grieves my heart to leave you, but here I must not dwell They placed a price upon my head, my hands are stained with gore And I must roam the forest wild within the Australian shore But if they cross my chequered path, by all I hold on earth I'll give them cause to rue the day their mothers gave them birth I'll shoot them down like carrion crows that roam our country wide And leave their bodies bleaching upon some woodland side Oh, Edward, darling brother, surely you would not go So rashly to encounter with such a mighty foe Now don’t you know that Sydney and Melbourne are combined And for your apprehension, Ned, there are warrants duly signed To eastward lies great Bogong, towering to the sky From east to west and then you’ll find that's Gippsland lying by You know the country well, Ned, go take your comrades there And profit by your knowledge of the wombat and the bear And let no childish quarrels cause trouble in the gang Bear up with one another, Ned, and guard my brother Dan See, yonder ride four troopers; one kiss before we part Now haste and join your comrades, Dan, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart Youtube clip Cobbers note: Greta was a town in central Victoria where the Kellys made their home. The song is supposed to be a conversation between Ned Kelly, the famous bushranger, and his sister Kate. It is one of the many songs collected from the 'Kelly Country' around Benella in Victoria and, despite its dubious authenticity, it is a rather lovely song. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Sep 20 - 08:59 PM GIRLS IN OUR TOWN (Bob Hudson) Girls in our town, they just haven't a care You see them on Saturday floating on air Painting their toenails and washing their hair Maybe tonight it'll happen Girls in our town they leave school at fifteen Work at the counter or behind the machine And spend all their money on making the scene They plan on going to England Girls in our town go to parties in pairs Sit 'round the barbecue, give themselves airs Then they go to the bathroom with their girlfriend who cares Girls in our town are so lonely Girls in our town are too good for the pill But if you keep asking they probably will Sometimes they like you or else for the thrill And explain it away in the morning Girls in our town get no help from their men No one can let them be sixteen again Things might get better but it's hard to say when If they only had someone to talk to Girls in our town can be saucy and bold At seventeen, no one is better to hold Then they start havin' kids and they start gettin' old Girls in our town Girls in our town Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 03 Sep 20 - 08:44 PM Sandra, also thanks to a good friend, I'm fortunate enough to have 3 Affley LPs on CD and also the Australian Folk Archive vintage live recordings CD. Gary Shearston added a tune to Thomas E. Spencer's lovely 'Bonnie Jess'. Spencer is perhaps best remembered for his 'How McDougal topped the score'. BONNIE JESS (T.Spencer/G.Shearston) Now the shearing time is over, Bonnie Jess And the sheep are in the clover, Bonnie Jess By the creek the kine are lowing And the golden crops are growing While the setting sun is glowing, Bonnie Jess And a kiss to you he's blowing, Bonnie Jess To your face the crimson's rushing, Bonnie Jess Ah! I know why you are blushing, Bonnie Jess ‘Tis the memory appearing Of the promise in the clearing When you said twixt hope and fearing, Bonnie Jess You would wed him after shearing, Bonnie Jess And now the shearing time is over, Bonnie Jess And you're looking for your lover, Bonnie Jess And his horse's hooves are ringing As along the road he's swinging And a song for you he's singing, Bonnie Jess And the wedding ring he's bringing, Bonnie Jess I first heard it on the Cobbers' beaut LP 'Portaits of Australian Women' which is still available as a digital download via Bandcamp. Cobbers Shearston --Stewie |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Sep 20 - 05:16 AM it's also on the LP Declan Affley made by Colleen Burke, Mark Gregory & Peter Parkhill in 1987, & I'm lucky enough to have a CD version of it, made by a friend some years back. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 02 Sep 20 - 11:31 PM I did it again. I must stop clearing my website data each evening. But, as Art Thieme would say, when your memory's shot, forget it. The tune to this one is on a Mudcat thread, but not the lyrics. It was very popular back in the early days of the revival. I first heard it on a Declan Affley LP. RAKE AND A RAMBLING MAN (Don Henderson) Chorus I am a rake and a rambling man Fortune I fall to when I can Could I be, would I be, other than A rake and rambling man I travel far, I travel wide From where winds spring to where winds blow And if I walk or if I ride Won't matter only that I go Stay with the friends that I have made I stay with the rich and the poor No welcome has been overstayed I never linger too long for I'm a rake but a rambling man With the police, I know the score Seldom we meet, but now and then I'm called to mind that there are more Police than ever were rambling men Once as I got, I quickly returned I am a man and free Long nights go by and the lesson learned That in jail no one can be A rake or a rambling man Women know men and that talk of the day Pries at the secrets silent nights hold Two thousand miles and ten towns away Names fade and fall from the story that's told Walked into wind whips at the foot fall Night breeze is soft and soon spent Who can't love one might better love all What cares the road of the farewell that went With a rake that's a rambling man I travel far, I travel wide From where winds spring to where winds blow For every hill has an unseen side Cross roads that quarrel the four ways to go I'll take by chances with fortune and fame Heads and tails fall as they will If some know my song who do not know my name It will not matter if I am still A rake and a rambling man The tune and chords may be found at page 63 of the abovemented Don Henderson songbook. Henderson noted: 'Declan Affley sang this song beautifully. He gave it a quality that can't be conveyed on this page, one that I am not sure was even there when I wrote it. Some reviewers have said that this song is autobiographical; so is the information on my driver's licence'. Youtube only gives you a Don Williams song with a similar name. The Affley recording has been reissued on the double CD 'Songs of Don Henderson' on Shoestring Productions label - well worth purchasing: CD --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 02 Sep 20 - 08:25 PM My apologies, Sandra. I had forgotten that you posted links re 'From little things...' It seems so long ago. Anyhow, the words are now available on this thread. From Union Songs website: THIRTY TON LINE (Don Henderson) Purpose built tugs that like line boats attended berthed bulk coal carriers in open sea. To fulfil 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. Belyando. 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. 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. 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. 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 l'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" The tune can be found here: Union Songs Music and chords are on p176 of Don Henderson '100 Songs & Poems: A Quiet Century' Queensland Folk Federation- Danny Spooner did a fine rendition on his 'Emerging Tradition' CD. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Sep 20 - 10:18 AM Phyl Lobl's EP Dark-Eyed Daughter. audio of the EP This EP recording was made in 1968 for the Aboriginal Advancement League of Victoria. All proceeds went to the League. Director Stan Davey and Pastor Doug Nicholls were instrumental in organising the recording with W&G and for the distribution of the disc. “Dark Eyed Daughter” Lobl nee Vinnicombe “Whose hand?” Ian Hills/Margaret Kitamura “No more boomerang” Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker) Will you fight, will you dare?” Lobl nee Vinnicombe |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Sep 20 - 09:22 PM Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker) was the first Aboriginal Australian to publish a volume of verse. NO MORE BOOMERANG (Kath Walker) No more boomerang, no more spear Now all civilised, colour bar and beer No more corroboree, gay dance and din Now we got movies and pay to go in No more sharing what the hunter brings Now we work for money and pay it back for things Now we track bosses to catch a few bob Now we go walkabout on bus to the job One time naked who never knew shame Now we put clothes on to hide whatsaname No more gunya, now bungalow Paid by hire purchase in twenty years or so Lay down the stone axe, take up the steel, Work like a nigger for a white man's meal No more firesticks that made whites scoff Now all electric and no better off Bunyip he finish got now instead, Whitefella bunyip, call him Red Abstract pictures now, what they comin' at Cripes, in our caves, we did better than that Black hunted wallaby, white hunt dollar Whitefella witchdoctor wear dog collar No more message lubras and lads Got television now, mostly ads Lay down the woomera, lay down the waddy Now we got atom bomb. End everybody Gerry Hallom put a tune to the poem and recorded it on his 'Old Australian Ways' album. There are some alterations. Youtube clip Oodgeroo Noonuccal --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Sep 20 - 08:59 PM Thanks for your comments, Andrez. You remind me that this one should be posted: FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG THINGS GROW (Paul Kelly/Kev Carmody) Gather round people I’ll tell you a story An eight-year-long story of power and pride ’Bout British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiari They were opposite men on opposite sides Vestey was fat with money and muscle Beef was his business, broad was his door Vincent was lean and spoke very little He had no bank balance, hard dirt was his floor From little things big things grow From little things big things grow Gurindji were working for nothing but rations Where once they had gathered the wealth of the land Daily the oppression got tighter and tighter Gurindji decided they must make a stand They picked up their swags and started off walking At Wattie Creek they sat themselves down Now it don’t sound like much but it sure got tongues talking Back at the homestead and then in the town From little things big things grow From little things big things grow Vestey man said, 'I’ll double your wages Seven quid a week you’ll have in your hand' Vincent said, 'Uhuh we’re not talking about wages We’re sitting right here till we get our land' Vestey man roared and Vestey man thundered 'You don’t stand the chance of a cinder in snow' Vince said, 'If we fall others are rising' From little things big things grow From little things big things grow Then Vincent Lingiari boarded an aeroplane Landed in Sydney, big city of lights And daily he went round softly speaking his story To all kinds of men from all walks of life And Vincent sat down with big politicians This affair they told him it's a matter of state 'Let us sort it out, your people are hungry' Vincent said, 'No thanks, we know how to wait' From little things big things grow From little things big things grow Then Vincent Lingiari returned in an aeroplane Back to his country once more to sit down And he told his people let the stars keep on turning We have friends in the south, in the cities and towns Eight years went by, eight long years of waiting Till one day a tall stranger appeared in the land And he came with lawyers and he came with great ceremony And through Vincent’s fingers poured a handful of sand From little things big things grow From little things big things grow That was the story of Vincent Lingiari But this is the story of something much more How power and privilege cannot move a people Who know where they stand and stand in their law From little things big things grow From little things big things grow From little things big things grow From little things big things grow Youtube clip Wave Hill story --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Andrez Date: 01 Sep 20 - 08:03 PM Great one Stewie. I'd completeley forgotten about BB big Bill but the tune came right back to me as soon as I read the words. It resonates especially as I spent a long time working in the NT and the Kimberley. One special moment that comes back to me was the time I visited Kalkaringi and took the chance to stand at Wattie Creek and reflect on time past a few years earlier when Gough met Vincent Lingiari. Cheers, Andrez |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Sep 20 - 07:54 PM This is by a Queensland singer/songwriter: HANGING ON FOR THE RAIN (Anne Infante) Well Christmas is coming across this dry land I’m hanging on, I’m hanging on I’ve drawn the line, I’m making a stand Hanging on for the rain The shepherds who watched o’er my flocks have all gone I’m hanging on I’m hanging on The few sheep I’ve left I can watch on my own I’m hanging on for the rain Chorus I’m hanging, on I’m hanging on, this drought can’t last for ever And I’m searching the skies blinking sweat from my eyes While I wait for a break in the weather The wise men flew in to this land scorched and parched They said the drought won’t break til maybe next March Well I’ve sold all the cattle that I can afford And now I’m hand rearing the best of my herd And the kids they’re excited that Christmas is near They’ll think Santa’s a mean old bugger this year For Jill wants a raggy doll, Jack wants a train But my Christmas wish is for good summer rain When they close the long paddock, you know times are hard There’s no use going droving with no grass to be had And I’ve thought about walking off hundreds of times But I’m tied to the land with invisible chains. This song was recorded by Danny Spooner's for his final album 'Home'. Danny's note: Australia is a country of extreme weather patterns: flood and fire, wind and drought are part of the rural weather cycle. In Anne Infante's song, we hear a farmer enduring these devastating extremes to restock when conditions improve. Phil's intro: This song was written about 10 or 15 years ago and, taking away references to toy trains for example, could easily describe the Australia of the 1800s. The fact that it would have been as relevant then as it is now demonstrates how little has changed in the bush. This ancient land changes slowly. Anne Infante --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Sep 20 - 07:21 PM My friend, Terry Piper, was at one time a ranger at Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory - he now lives in Cairns. He wrote this song decades ago, but its theme is still very relevant. Just recently, a mining company blew up sacred sites in the Kimberley. BAW BAW BIG BILL (Terry Piper) It’s been ten long years now Since they first found uranium Did you know what it meant Did you see through the lies When they hounded your people Did you know it was no good Did you give up the fighting Just for some peace and quiet Chorus: And it’s baw baw Big Bill Will the brolgas keep dancing Will the bones rest safe In the caves where they lie Though the people keep coming And the mines keep on growing Who’ll look after the land One day when you die In come the people With machines and their buildings And they take what they want Do they ever give back And they stay only long enough To earn what they can They just couldn’t give a damn They’ll never return Chorus You’re a rich man now But will that really save you Where will you spend it And what will you buy And your culture will change When it’s all you’ve to cling to And they’ll use all the money As a cheap alibi Chorus You’re watching the old people The once proud and bold people They get fewer each day Its hard to survive When the drink takes its hold It soon takes its toll When there’s so much to run from Is it easier to hide Chorus It’s been ten long years now Since they first found uranium And you land has changed more Than in ten thousand years And the scars will live on Once the tears have long gone Will they poison the world While your people disappear Chorus (x2) My intro: Big Bill Neidjie was a traditional owner of the northern Kakadu National Park area. Fearing that he might take his language and traditional secrets to the grave, he shared many of his stories with anthropologists despite the taboo against revealing them to the uninitiated. The English language has a word that closely links human distress to a sense of place. The root meaning of ‘nostalgia’ – nostos, return to home or native land and algia, pain or sickness – was a concept related to a medically diagnosable illness. It is well-documented that dispossessed indigenous peoples worldwide have been likely to experience such a pathology. They have experienced physical and mental illness at rates far beyond those of other groups. Their social problems – unemployment, alcoholism, substance abuse, disproportionate rates of suicide, incarceration etc – have led to community dysfunction and crisis. Yi-Fu Tuan, the eminent pioneering researcher of sense of place, points out that such serious distress of nostalgia can also be produced by a feeling of changes occurring too rapidly and without one’s control. --Stewie |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 01 Sep 20 - 07:08 PM Another themed concert that Phil Beck and I presented was entitled 'A Sense of Place'. It included several songs that may be of interest in this context. This one, relating to the red centre, is by a Scot. SINGING LAND (Dougie Maclean) Your burning skies are never ending across your red brush plains Out where the dingo still is king and eternity remains There between the old and ancient desert oasis bright Your gentle children who have gone are close to me tonight Chorus: In your singing land In your singing land Shine on, oh shine on over me There's a feeling still and eerie, there's a feeling strong The path humanity has come and the path that he has gone Me I am, I am just passing, three score years and ten And I'm just a stranger who may never come this way again Chorus Under the spell of caterpillar dreaming a new light shapes its form Along the river's naked banks which are straining from the storm On secret rock in thunder ocean the tree of man grows clear The woodlarks sing, the woodlarks dance and the dawn is slipping near Chorus Youtube clip Phi's intro: 'The Singing Land' is set in the MacDonnell Ranges out of the Alice Springs. The red centre of Australia is a place of quiet almost mystical vastness where, as yet, man has made little impact. It’s magnificent ancient country, a vision splendid in any and every direction. The song captures perfectly the timelessness of this place of Aboriginal dreaming. The three score years and ten conventionally allotted to we mortals is as nothing to the ancient Country that is just there and has been so forever, seeming to mock the utter insignificance of man. The melody too fits perfectly with the tranquillity of the red centre: it’s in sync with the rhythm of the land which is slow, and natural change will take its own good time. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 31 Aug 20 - 07:29 PM Gerry Hallom put a tune to Paterson's 'Song of the wheat'. Once again, he makes omissions and minor changes to the poem. Here is what he sings: SONG OF THE WHEAT (Paterson/Hallom) We have sung the song of the droving days Of the march of the travelling sheep How in silent stages and lonely ways The drovers’ herds did creep But the man who now by the land would thrive Must keep to a plough-share beat And the singer changing his tune may strive To sing the song of the wheat Silver gum and box and pine ’Twas axe and fire for all We scarce could tarry to blaze the line Or wait for the trees to fall But the land was cleared both far and wide As the dust from the horses feet Rose up like a pillar of smoke to guide The wonderful march of wheat Furrow by furrow, and fold by fold The soil is turned on the plain It’s better than silver, it’s better than gold The precious mine of the grain Better than cattle and better than sheep In the fight with drought and heat For a stubborn streak both wide and deep Lies hid in a grain of wheat Green and amber and gold it grows As the sun sinks late in the west And the breeze sweeps over the rippling rows Where the quail and the skylark nest Mountain or river or shining star There’s never a sight can beat Away to the skyline stretching far A sea of the ripening wheat When the burning harvest sun sinks low And the shadows stretch on the plain The roaring harvesters come and go Like ships on a sea of grain And the lurching, groaning wagons bear Their tale of the load complete Of the world’s great work he has done his share The man who has gathered wheat Princes, kings and queens and czars Travel in royal states But old King Wheat has a thousand cars For his trip to the water-gate; And his thousand steamships breast the tide And sail through the winds and sleet To the lands where the teeming millions lie And say, ‘Thank God for wheat!’ Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Aug 20 - 10:08 AM I'm not on facebook either, but I do look at a few sites. I used to have Bob's CD but gave most of my Oz CDS to a radio program that promotes Australian music, otherwise I could listen again. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 31 Aug 20 - 10:02 AM Thanks, Sandra. I'm not on facebook, but I'll watch it on Youtube. Bob is a fine composer and performer and a thoroughly good bloke. He composed a tune after a bbq and music session with Darwin folkies. We would occasionally gather on the cliffs above the Nightcliff foreshore for such sessions. He simply titled it 'Nightcliff' and it is the final track on his solo album 'The Man with the Concertina'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Aug 20 - 07:57 AM Joe is her son & one of her literary executors from Bush Music Club Blog - Weevils in the Flour, October 2012. A preliminary history of a song; the early songwriters - Dorothy Hewett (1923-2002) & Merv Lilley (1919-2016) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Andrez Date: 31 Aug 20 - 07:37 AM Another one of my all time favourites, Weevils in the Flour by Dorothy Hewitt in 1962. Somewhere on one of my old cassettes I've got a version of the late Hugh McDonald singing this and I also have fond memories of Dave Brannigan singing it around the traps and or folk festivals too. The link belowis a video with her son (I think) singing a version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgp7zWdZtoM Cheers, Andrez |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Aug 20 - 05:00 AM good one, Andrez Stewie - Chloe & Jason Roweth present Saturday Streaming 8th August, 7-8.30pm (Aus Eastern Standard time), The Songs & Tunes of Bob Rummery, live on facebook, donations welcome (To be posted on youtube a week later) Over the years our repertoire has greatly benefited from the addition of songs from Bob Rummery, and we are thrilled to have the chance to focus on his work in this special presentation. Bob has been performing and championing West Australian songs and music both as a solo performer and with West Australian band Loaded Dog for many years. He is a fine tune writer and sets Australian poetry to music as though it was always meant to be sung that way. It occurs to me that many folks who loves Bob Rummery’s work, might not be Facebook users. If you know anyone who might be interested, please pass it on... As usual for our Saturday Streaming shows, it will be on YouTube early next week. Likewise - it’d be great to have mates of Bob’s join in the craic on Saturday night. It’ll be a real pleasure to focus on his great work - all in one show! We’d appreciate any folks sharing this one - hoping to reach all Bob’s friends and fan... |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 31 Aug 20 - 12:27 AM Speaking of Henry Lawson, I'd like to put in a vote for Reedy River. http://folkstream.com/073.html Cheers, Andrez |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WEE POT STOVE (Harry Robertson) From: Stewie Date: 30 Aug 20 - 11:43 PM Perhaps the best-known of Robertson's songs is 'Wee Pot Stove'. I've copied this text from the booklet to Mathieson's 'Harry's Legacy': WEE POT STOVE (Harry Robertson) How the winter blizzards blow when the Whaling Fleet's at rest Tucked in Leither Harbour's sheltered bay, safely anchored ten abreast The whalers at their stations, as from ship to ship they go, Carry little bags of coal with them, and a little iron stove. Chorus: In that wee dark engine room, where the chill seeps in your soul How we huddled roon' that wee pot stove, that burned oily rags and coal Fireman Paddy worked with me, on the engines stiff and could A stranger to the truth was he, there's not a lie he hasn't told He boasted of his gold mines, and the hearts that he had won And his bonny sense of humour shone, just like a ray of sun. Chorus We laboured seven days a week, with could hands and frozen feet Bitter days and lonely nights making grog and having fights Salt fish and whalemeat sausage, fresh penguin eggs a treat And we trudged along to work each day through icy winds and sleet Chorus Then one day we saw the sun, and the factory ship's return, Meet your old friends, sing a song, hope the season won't be long Then homeward bound when it's over, we'll leave this icy cove But I always will remember that little iron stove Perhaps the best-known cover is the one by Nic Jones who recorded it under the title 'The Little Pot Stove' and used a phrase in the song as the title of his album. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: HOMELESS MAN (Harry Robertson) From: Stewie Date: 30 Aug 20 - 11:14 PM Bugger, I did it again - all the nameless GHESTS in this thread are yours truly. Here's another Robertson favourite that I first heard on Declan Affley's 'Rake and a Rambling Man' LP. HOMELESS MAN (Harry Robertson) I've travelled hard these last ten weary years And my youthful dreams have slowly turned to fears If you think I am complaining I can tell you that I'm not For I know that this is just the drifter's lot Many years my home has been the wayside camp And I've starved and sweated on the river banks And I've fought with fists and feet, rough-neck drifters that I meet Broken dreams and bottles pave my lonely street As a homeless boy I thought when I'm a man I'll change this world and right what wrongs I can Since then I have met defeat, it's a bitter bread to eat And the homeless boy is now a homeless man Happiness has not been mine upon this earth Both my parents left me when they met their death And I'll drink before I eat with the drifters that I meet But the sorrow here is mine and mine alone So my friends I think that I should move along And I'm glad that you have listened to my song For the road is all I know and I'll wander it alone As an outcast homeless drifter, and unknown The text above is copied from the booklet to Mathieson's 'Harry's Legacy'. Evidently, the tune is traditional Norwegian. The only clip I could find on the Net is by Warren Fahey: Youtube clip Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SHIP REPAIRING MEN (Harry Robertson) From: GUEST Date: 30 Aug 20 - 10:36 PM SHIP REPAIRING MEN (Harry Robertson) To the workshop off we go, toolkits heavy in our hands To a big ship that’s come in, from a trip to foreign lands Salty streaks of rust have marked her, but her moorings hold her tight And we’ll work to fix her engines, all today and half the night CHORUS: Don’t wait up for me this evening — I’ll be out all night again Working on the Brisbane River with the ship repairing men. Oil-fired boilers throb with power, drinking up the furnace heat Water turns to driving steam to make the engines beat But the feed pump’s sighing wail to us cuts through all other sound As it sings a song of triumph, for the valves that we have ground Engine bearings that knocked and hammered through the wild and stormy seas Will be machined and fitted till they run with silent ease And that winch that rattles every time the piston turns the shaft Will hum along and sing its song to men skilled in their craft When you see an ocean liner glide between the river banks And the Captain in his gold braid orders men of lesser ranks Have you thought perhaps this stately craft might never sail again If it wasn’t for the toil and sweat of ship repairing men The National Sound and Screen Archive released a CD of Robertson: 'Whale Chasing Men' SSA/WC0022. This song is not on it. I first heard it on a Declan Affley LP. You can find it on Evan Mathieson 'Harry's Legacy' Mamaia 0701. Evan Mathieson has a second CD devoted to Robertson: 'Tribute to Harry Robertson' Mamaia 0902. Here is a rendition by John Thompson. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BENEATH ULURU (Dave Oakes) From: Stewie Date: 30 Aug 20 - 07:57 PM Here's another one from the NT. Dave Oakes is a fine singer/songwriter from Alice Springs. [He's not the one you get if you put the name in Youtube search], BENEATH ULURU (Dave Oakes) Looking forward to seeing you You're just a week away And like so many times before I'd want that time to stay for more And yet before we know it We'll be saying our goodbyes Time will have come and gone To be seen through memory's eyes Time has no time, time's passing through No one can hold it, it's always anew That was a time, the memory of you Under the starlight beneath Uluru Nothing comes from yearnin' Just an achin' for the heart And time is just like learnin' With no endin' and no start Got no time for worryin' 'Bout tomorrow or yesterday Stop the clock and turn the tide It's on the wings of change time flies Time has no time, time's passing through No one can hold it, it's always anew That was a time, the memory of you Under the starlight beneath Uluru That was a time, the memory of you Under the starlight beneath Uluru Youtube clip Perhaps R-J could check my above transcription. --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: LEWIS ISLAND LUGGER (Murray & Silvester) From: Stewie Date: 30 Aug 20 - 07:14 PM Western Australian Herald - 23 October 1869: Preparation for the New Pearling Season ...take the first of the ebb and glide away out of the creek ... then comes the most important part, the picking up of niggers ... for pearling after all would never pay white labour. LEWIS ISLAND LUGGER (M.Murray & L.Silvester) The lugger is painted already She is painted in red and in green She is painted so gaily we smile at her She is painted in red and in green The lugger is rigged out already She's rigged out with tackles and ropes She's rigged out to take us a-pearling She's rigged out with tackles and ropes And the lugger is charted already She's charted out from Nichol Bay She's charted to go for the pearling She's charted out from Nichol Bay O father why are we waiting Away from our home far away Why do we wait on Lewis Island For the lugger to take us away And the lugger is loaded already She's loaded with beer and with wine Loaded with blackbirds from the Gascoyne Loaded with beer and with wine The lugger is waiting already She's sailing away from the land She's taken away my family She's sailing away from the land O father why are we waiting Away from our home far away Why do we wait on Lewis Island For the lugger to take us away And the lugger is stranded already She's stranded between surf and reef Now gone are my sister and brother Stranded between surf and reef And their headstone is written already Written in pearl shells and blood A headstone to stand among many Written in pearl shells and blood O father why are we waiting Away from our home far away Why do we wait on Lewis Island For the lugger to take us away And the lugger is saiing already The song may be found on Mike Murray and Lesley Silvester 'Strangers on the Shore' TimeTrackers TT0101 2001. It is an album of true stories of ships, the sea and first contact with Western Australia. Mike and Lesley noted: Blackbirding flourished in the pearling industry in NW Australia. Kidnapped Aborigines from the Gascoyne region were held captive on islands such as Lewis Island, and the luggers would call in from time to time to replace those who had perished either from the bends, ill-treatment or shipwreck. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Aug 20 - 11:35 PM Pete Seeger talks with Duke Tritton 1963 |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Aug 20 - 11:33 PM Extracts from Singabout - the early songwriters - Duke Tritton (1886-1965) I'll contact Gerry |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SHEARING IN A BAR (Duke Tritton) From: Stewie Date: 29 Aug 20 - 11:03 PM SHEARING IN A BAR (Duke Tritton) My shearing days are over, though I never was a gun I could always count my twenty at the end of every run I used the old trade union shears, and the blades were always full As I drove ’em to the knockers, and I chopped away the wool I shore at Goorianawa and didn’t get the sack From Breeze out to Compadore, I always could go back And though I am a truthful man, I find when in a bar My tallies seem to double, but I never call for tar Shearing on the western plains where the fleece is full of sand And the clover burr and corkscrew grass is the place to try your hand Where the sheep are tall and wiry where they feed on the Mitchell grass And every second one of them is close to the cobbler class And a pen chock full of cobblers is a shearer's dream of hell So loud and lurid are their words when they catch one on the bell But when you’re pouring down the grog, there's no need to call for tar For a shearer never cuts ’em, when shearing in a bar At Louth I caught the bell sheep, a wrinkled, tough-wooled brute Who never stopped his kicking till I tossed him down the chute My wrist was aching badly, but I fought him all the way I couldn’t afford to miss a blow, I must earn my pound a day So when I’d take a strip of skin, I’d hide it with my knee Turn the sheep around a bit where the right bower couldn’t see Then try and catch the rousie’s eye and softly whisper 'tar' But it never seems to happen when I’m shearing in the bar I shore away the belly wool and trimmed the crutch and hocks Opened up along the neck while the rousie swept the locks Then smartly swung the sheep around and dumped him on his rear Two blows to clip away the wig – I also took an ear Then down around the shoulder when me full blades open wide As I drove ’em on the long blow and down the whipping side And when the fleece fell on the board, he was nearly black with tar But this is never mentioned when I’m shearing in a bar Now when the season's ended and my grandsons all come back In their buggies and their sulkies -I was always on the track They come and take me into town to fill me up with beer And I sit on a bar stool and listen to them shear There’s not a bit of difference – it must make the angels weep To hear a mob of shearers in a barroom shearing sheep For the sheep go rattling down the race with never a call for tar For a shearer never cuts ’em when he’s shearing in a bar Then memories come crowding in and they wipe away the years And my hand begins to tighten and I seem to feel the shears I want to tell them of the sheds, the sheds where I have shorn Full fifty years and maybe more, before these boys were born I want to speak of Yarragin, Dunlop or Wingadee But the beer has started working and I’m wobbling at the knees So I’d better not start shearing, I’d be bound to call for tar Then be treated as a blackleg when I’m shearing in a bar Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BRUNSWICK ROAD (S Groves & D Bourke) From: Stewie Date: 29 Aug 20 - 10:37 PM It keeps me off the streets, Sandra. Thanks for posting the Wakefield songs - excellent. it looks like it is up to us. I am puzzled by the absence of our thread moderator who listed songs in Joe's original thread, but has posted none. Anyhow, this lovely song is one of my wife's favourites. BRUNSWICK ROAD (Steve Groves & Danny Bourke) I know a woman who says she's old She weaves a spell around my rented house of stone It's late when we leave at the foot of the stairs The gas pipes ring as she laughs and sings of her dancing years Chorus: And she tells me we should go home down Brunswick Road Where we would walk and we would talk till the moon went down We were arm in arm, as in days of old We thought the street was lined with gold down Brunswick Road We live in the heart of the town she loves She doesn't mind I can't recall her yesterdays. Outside the hall, the iron lace Her dancing's over now the pain is on her face She laughs again, she sees her man He's singing Daisy on a bike out in the rain He fades from sight, he's out of view and if I had the chance I'd bring him back to you Chorus As sung by Graham Dodsworth: Brunswick Road --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Aug 20 - 10:24 PM Extracts from Singabout - the early songwriters - Stan Wakefield (1906 - 1962) |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Richard Mellish Date: 29 Aug 20 - 04:50 PM Thanks for The Rabbiter Sandra. It's one I've sung occasionally for many years, but I was missing the last verse. Now I have to graft that onto what is already in my brain. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE RABBITER (Stan Wakefield) From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Aug 20 - 11:08 AM https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=23038 THE RABBITER Words and music: Stan Wakefield I read about the fortunes that the rabbiters make outback - The sporting life and the lairy tales of prices fetched at Sydney sales, So I started out across New South Wales on the roving rabbiters' track. CHORUS: With a hool-em-up and a sool-em-up And the fool-em-up decoys; The men who scalp the rabbiters Are the Sydney market boys. A free and independent life, a life of simple joys I camped beneath an old belah ' and my tucker was mostly fried galah, And I trapped 'em near and I trapped 'em far, for the Sydney market boys. I poisoned out at Hillston, and I trapped at Gundagai, I followed 'em over creeks and bogs, and chopped 'em out of hollow logs, And tailed 'em up with yelping dogs, 'way back of Boggabri. Besides the bunnies that you catch, there's things that you despise: A hawk, a snake, a crow, a rat, a bandicoot, a tiger cat, And when you're lucky, a lamb that's fat is a welcome enough surprise. I skinned and scalped and scalped and skinned, till my back was nearly broke, With blood and muck all stiff and brown, the stink of my clothes would knock you down, And I slaved all day for half a crown for the Sydney market bloke. I thought I'd get a snifter cheque for skins I sent from Bourke, But the broker rogues in Sydney Town, they weigh them short and they grade them down, And they sent me back three lousy pound, for a month of slavin' work. Some day we're going to set our traps to catch the hungry crew Who live on useful workers' sweat -- we'll stop their thieving racket yet, And to make them earn their tucker, you bet, is the job for me and you. With a hool-em-up and a sool-em-up, And there'll be no more decoys; Then a-hunting, hunting we will go For the Sydney market boys. Stan (died early 1960s) wrote The Rabbiter's Song in the 1930s. It refers to the Government attempt to persuade the unemployed to go out and make money from trapping rabbits, instead of applying for the dole (which required working for the Government anyway - usually on public works programmes ... sometimes of utility and value). Of course, when a whole mob of unemployed city slickers started sending off rabbit skins to the Sydney or Melbourne markets ... the price dropped (the law of supply and demand) as well as a number of the skins arriving rotten due to poor preparation. Anyway, there wasn't much money to be made in the game and Stan, being the good Left-winger that he was, wrote a beaut song and, being the competent musician that he was, wrote his own tune to it. |
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Subject: LYR ADD - Kevin Baker - Superstar From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Aug 20 - 10:52 AM Kevin Baker - Superstar I still hear my mother whistling as she hung clothes on the line While our neighbour did the Monday wash and sang away the time Down the road on a building lot where hammers kept the beat Workmen sang and shared their lunch with the boy from up the street And the Baker's cart and the Rabbito came trading to a tune As we lived to our own music morning night and afternoon. CHORUS - But now you've got to be a superstar if you want to sing a song If they catch you quietly singing people think there's something wrong Somehow we lost the right to sing: it almost seem a crime To share the things you care about in music, words and rhyme. I hear echoes of my father in the songs he used to know Of love and work and freedom; the memories start to flow And my mother played an old squeeze-box as he people had before And friends would visit friends and bring their songs in through the door. And no-one was at all surprised or thought it indiscreet If the friendly sound of music were to spill out on the street. CHORUS But now we get our music with an electronic sound In accents strange and foreign that aren't heard on our home ground It's slick and flash but hasn't got a thing to do with me But it clogs up all our radios and floods out from TV And I can't help looking back to when we thought we all belonged Before we lost our voices and bought other people's songs. CHORUS Rabbits were poor people's meat & Rabbitos sold them door to door. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Aug 20 - 10:04 AM geez, Stewie, don't you have anything else to do! I'd love to put some of Kevin Baker's songs up, but I'd have to type them. Tthere's not much online, just this bio from a 2006 appearance at Sutherland folk club. Kevin Baker A long time political activist and historian, Kevin Baker is a brilliant exponent on the social, economic and industrial life of the Illawarra. He has recorded in song the struggles of workers and the despair of unemployment. Kevin’s song The Snowy River Men” is regarded as the most powerful anti-war song ever written. His three recordings, The Snowy River Men, Still a Rich Man’s Land and Harvest and Heartbreak, all his own compositions carry a wealth of Australian history and are an invaluable Australian Folk Collection. A poet/singer/songwriter Kevin knows and feels the real Australia and has that special gift of telling a story in song. Kevin Baker - Snowy River Men - video Dear Mrs Allen I write to you today To say that I was with your son just before he passed away I trained with him at Goulburn and we traveled on to France And I was there when he got hit in the German advance. It seems so long ago since we marched into your town And all the young men heard the call and signed their name straight down And the girls and the children proudly all cheered us all along At Bibbenluke that day was a feast of speech and song. CHORUS - And the Snowy River men just couldn't march today There's far too many of them dead for the rest to feel that way The cold ground of Europe has been watered with their blood There's a strange new crop of crosses rising in this foreign mud From Goulburn to Sydney and then a ship from Circular Quay A spirit of adventure stirred and filled both Les and Me It was great to be with comrades true and travelling abroad For a while the war seemed far away and the world was to be toured In Durban the natives took us travelling in style In rickshaws that they pulled along at a shilling a mile. In Capetown we watched the black boys diving in the Bay The Snowies had a good time there and would have liked to stay CHORUS - But the Snowy River men just couldn't march today There's far too many of them dead for the rest to feel that way The cold ground of Europe has been watered with their blood There's a strange new crop of crosses rising in this foreign mud When we landed at Plymouth, we'd spent 8 weeks at sea And entrained straight way for Wilton where our camp turned out to be, They treated us well there so we really can't complain That the sky was grey, the weather bleak and it always seemed to rain When we set sail for France, the weather had turned fine And it wasn't long before the call to reinforce the line Then a shell whined above us and we were raked with stones and mud And I turned and saw Les sitting there in a pool of his own blood CHORUS And the Snowy River men just couldn't march today There's far too many of them dead for the rest to feel that way The cold ground of Europe has been watered with their blood There's a strange new crop of crosses rising in this foreign mud He stared as the blood poured out of his legless thigh And I carried him back to the aid post close nearby His blood soaked my uniform but he never breathed a sigh And I had no idea then that he was going to die When I left him he spoke of a pain inside his chest I suppose that's what killed him, I just don't know the rest But I know that we all miss him and cant help but wonder why So many Snowy men so quickly had to die. CHORUS - And the Snowy River men just couldn't march today There's far too many of them dead for the rest to feel that way The cold ground of Europe has been watered with their blood There's a strange new crop of crosses rising in this foreign mud We hear the king's grateful for all the men who've died And is sending home a photo of the graves in which they lie Well I still think that the cause is right but it's not clear any more Why so many Australian men should die in Europe's war We hope with our hearts that time will ease the pain Of never once to see his face or hear his voice again But I've seen so much death now since that day on which he died That I can't now be the snowy man that once I was inside CHORUS - And the Snowy River men just couldn't march today There's far too many of them dead for the rest to feel that way The cold ground of Europe has been watered with their blood There's a strange new crop of crosses rising in this foreign mud |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 29 Aug 20 - 01:35 AM Gerry Hallom put a tune to Paterson's beaut poem 'With the cattle'. He makes some minor changes and omissions: here is how he sings it: WITH THE CATTLE (Paterson/Hallom) The drought is down on field and flock The riverbed is dry And we must shift the starving stock Before the cattle die So we muster up with weary hearts At breaking of the day And turn our heads to foreign parts And take the stock away By the stock routes bare and eaten On dusty roads and beaten In heat and drought and hopeless pain, we take the stock away We cannot use the whips for shame On beasts that crawl along We have to drop the weak and lame And try to save the strong For the wrath of God is on the track The drought fiend holds his sway With blows and cries and stock whip crack We take the stock away As they fall we leave them lying, With the crows to watch them dying With half a chance to save their lives we take the stock away So in dull despair the days go by With never hope of change But every stage we draw more nigh The distant mountain range And some may live to climb the pass And reach the great plateau And revel in the mountain grass By streamlets fed with snow As the mountain wind is blowing It starts the cattle lowing The creatures smell the mountain grass that's twenty miles away They press towards the mountain grass They look with eager eyes Along the rugged stony pass That slopes towards the skies Though their feet may bleed from rocks and stones And though the blood-drop starts They struggle on with stifled groans For hope is in their hearts As the mountain wind is blowing And the mountain grass is growing They break in to a kind of run – pull up, and let them go! The days are done of heat and drought Upon the stricken plain The wind has shifted right about And brought the welcome rain The river runs with sullen roar All flecked with yellow foam And we must take the road once more And bring the cattle home And it's `Lads! we'll raise a chorus There's a pleasant trip before us Towards the far-off mountain-land, to bring the cattle back' We have to watch them close at night For fear they'll make a rush And break away in headlong flight Across the open bush And by the campfire's cheery blaze With mellow voice and strong We hear the lonely watchman raise The overlander's song While the stars shine out above us Like the eyes of those who love us The eyes of those who watch and wait to greet the cattle home The plains are all awave with grass The skies are deepest blue And leisurely the cattle pass And feed the long day through But when we sight the station gate We make the stockwhips crack A welcome sound to those who wait To greet the cattle back And through the twilight falling We hear their voices calling, As the cattle splash across he ford and churn it into foam And the children run to meet us Our wives and sweethearts greet us Their heroes from the overland who brought the cattle home Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Aug 20 - 11:20 PM Thanks R-J. There are fewer Paterson poems set to music than those of Lawson, but there are some. Cathie O'Sullivan put a tune to this one years ago. SONG OF ARTESIAN WATER (Paterson/O'Sullivan) Now the stock have started dying, for the Lord has sent a drought, But we're sick of prayers and Providence - we're going to do without, With the derricks up above us and the solid earth below, We are waiting at the lever for the word to let her go. Sinking down, deeper down, Oh, we'll sink it deeper down: As the drill is plugging downward at a thousand feet of level, If the Lord won't send us water, oh, we'll get it from the devil; Yes, we'll get it from the devil deeper down. Now, our engine's built in Glasgow by a very canny Scot, And he marked it twenty horse-power, but he didn't know what is what. When Canadian Bill is firing with the sun-dried gidgee logs, She can equal thirty horses and a score or so of dogs. Sinking down, deeper down Oh, we're going deeper down: If we fail to get the water, then it's ruin to the squatter, For the drought is on the station and the weather's growing hotter, But we're bound to get the water deeper down. But the shaft has started caving and the sinking's very slow, And the yellow rods are bending in the water down below, And the tubes are always jamming, and they can't be made to shift Till we nearly burst the engine with a forty horse-power lift, Sinking down, deeper down, Oh, we're going deeper down: Though the shaft is always caving, and the tubes are always jamming, Yet we'll fight our way to water while the stubborn drill is ramming- While the stubborn drill is ramming deeper down. But there's no artesian water, though we're passed three thousand feet, And the contract price is growing, and the boss is nearly beat. But it must be down beneath us, and it's down we've got to go. Though she's bumping on the solid rock four thousand feet below, Sinking down, deeper down, Oh, we're going deeper down: And it's time they heard us knocking on the roof of Satan's dwellin', But we'll get artesian water if we cave the roof of hell in- Oh we'll get artesian water deeper down. But it's hark! the whistle's blowing with a wild, exultant blast, And the boys are madly cheering, for they've struck the flow at last: And it's rushing up the tubing from four thousand feet below, Till it spouts above the casing in a million-gallon flow. And it's down, deeper down- Oh, it comes from deeper down: It is flowing, ever flowing, in a free, unstinted measure From the silent hidden places where the old earth hides her treasure- Where the old earth hides her treasures deeper down. And it's clear away the timber and it's let the water run, How it glimmers in the shadow, how it flashes in the sun! By the silent belts of timber, by the miles of blazing plain It is bringing hope and comfort to the thirsty land again. Flowing down, further down: It is flowing further down To the tortured thirsty cattle, bringing gladness in its going; Through the droughty days of summer it is flowing, ever flowing- It is flowing, ever flowing, further down. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Aug 20 - 10:23 PM "Life, the Universe, & Everything" Stew! (#1 excuse for not coping, or doing!!!) R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Aug 20 - 09:53 PM Alan Mann used the tune of an old favourite for this one. He noted: This is the true story of the founding of the town of Menzies in WA's goldfields in 1894. After striking it rich, Leslie Robert Menzies tipped his nuggets on the floor of the Bank of Coolgardie and proceeded to shout the town 4000 pounds worth of champagne. Lonnie Donegan had a great skiffle version of this tune which had previously been covered by Leadbelly and collected by Alan Lomax. MENZIES' SHOUT (HAVE A DRINK ON ME) (Alan Mann) In the eighteen nineties down a dusty road Came a saddle-bagged miner with a six ton load Everybody - have a drink on me He was caked in dust from his foot to his head But he had a 'gold smile' it had to be said Hey, hey ev'rybody drink on me He reined his camels, hitched them to the rail Shouted to his mates: 'Found the Holy Grail' Everybody - have a drink on me He staggered to the bank, tipped nuggets on the floor 'I've pegged out ground, there's a whole heap more' Hey, hey ev'rybody drink on me Chorus: Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me Ev'rybody have a drink on me Hey, hey ev'rybody drink on me Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me Hey, hey ev'rybody drink on me There's trouble in store at the Old Camp Saloon It being quite early - not yet noon Everybody have a drink on me 'First things first, a day of champagne Settle in boys for a long campaign' Hey, hey ev'rybody drink on me Well I've been to Hannans and to Kununulling Toasted success - this time we're skulling Everybody have a drink on me This new show, a hundred miles from here Has beaten all the rest for all of last year Hey, hey ev'rybody drink on me I went to the Barossaa to float another mine The gold was scarce, but the red was fine Everybody have a drink on me Seems like the gold and my luck have run out But I remember the day it was my turn to shout Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 28 Aug 20 - 09:04 PM R-J, good to hear you got your 'puter back. What is LtU&E? Is it something like a 'round tuit'? Bob Rummery put the tune to this one: WHEN YOU'RE FLUSH (T.Brittain/R.Rummery) The work's been long and steady, now the contract's finished up When the pass is hard, it doesn't pay to rush Burning in my moleskin pocket is what I got from it And there's other things you think of when you're flush So I'll wind up the stringline, I'll put the tools away And I'll turn the old camp-oven upside down And in quest of earthly capers, I will look around a bit And I'll try the bill of fare in Bunbury town Yes, I'll try the bill of fare in Bunbury town By the noon I'd crossed the sandplain and I didn't raise a sweat 'Cause a traveller that day was kind to me I alighted from his sulky at the Prince of Wales Hotel And soon afterwards embarked upon a spree When a lady I befriended, so delightful was her charm My desire of it was soon to wear me down I feted her a fortnight with all the spice of life It was nice, the bill of fare in Bunbury town Yes, it was nice the bill of fare in Bunbury town And then a day out at the races, some pennies that I tossed Soon relieved me of my remaining dough So I shouldered my possessions, I whipped the cat a bit To the bush I stretched, 'twas time to strike a blow Back across the Preston River, and about a mile beyond Resting in the shade of Boyle O'Reilly's tree My mind's eye shaped a picture of him trudging years before In a way that seemed a parallel with me Yes, In a way that seemed a parallel with me Having finished with my dreaming at the junction of the roads And with thirty mile or more still left to tramp And past another sunrise to a gully farther on I've rested in the refuge of my camp Where I've unwound the stringline, I've turkeyed up my axe And I hope my daily tallies bring renown Cooking in the old camp-oven there's a lovely mutton stew And it beats the bill of fare in Bunbury town Yes, it beats the bill of fare in Bunbury town I've been toiling long a steady since the contract started up When the pass is hard, it doesn't pay to rush I'll settle up and clean the slate with what I get from it And I'll satisfy my needs when I am flushed Yes, I'll satisfy my needs when I am flush The song is on 'A coastline facing west'. Bob introduces the song in one of the few videos of the Dog available on the Net (there's some competition from sprog noises): Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 28 Aug 20 - 03:57 AM Sorry, only just got my 'puter back from the Docs (with a warning that it won't last too much longer :( I will try to add some more suggestions too! Crikey Sandra, that's funny about "Poison Train" - it was a firm favourite in SE Qld sessions when I arrived some 27 years ago and is still frequently heard. Good Song! Stewie, re "On the Death of Harold Holt" : a good 18 months back I was preparing Lawls' TEFC bracket of Manifold songs, with pics, for upload to his YT channel ..... not quite sure why they haven't manifested there yet ..... LtU&E, I guess :( I was always very fond of "Fannie Bay" [by D&A Tainsh] as sung by the late "Tropical Ear" in Darwin. Their version was quite unlike the (Dobe Newton's) Bushwackers version, more poignant and more singable. And not at all like the "Galway Bay" parody on John T's "Oz Folk Song a Day" webpages!!! So I'll just have to add another to my upload list, along with the previously mentioned "Northern Gulf", sung by Smokey. Happy Friday!! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Aug 20 - 11:41 PM AWAY TO TINTINARA (Mike O'Connor) It's away to Tintinara and miles to Emu Springs Every year a little farther to the song the drover sings It's a hundred miles from Adelaide the Overlander rolls Then a dusty road to sunrise where open bushland calls Chorus: And the music on the wind is the creaking of the saddle And the rhythm of the song are the hooves upon the ground Where the fences run forever to the dusty blue horizon And like gems on distant velvet, stars echo to the sound 'Call me back' There's a lonely crossroad beckons to the blue remembered hills Then beyond the sands of Sugarloaf where memory lingers still On the sunlit plains of yester year where lyre birds dance and sing Are the echo of the voices a bushman's dreams can bring Chorus And around the paddock dreaming, you know that she'll be right And around the billy boiling the stories last the night For there's room enough for breathing, there's space to be your own And to sing again the old song and watch the sun go down Chorus Martyn Wyndham-Read explains the genesis of the song at the end of this video: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 27 Aug 20 - 10:50 PM Another fine song from Alan Mann. Alan noted: Home thoughts from abroad! Sitting in a Canadian airport in winter knowing that in Western Australia it is summer and remembering the landscapes and associated farming activities. WINNIPEG IN WINTER (Alan Mann) Winnipeg in winter is not the place to be When the wind is up to 30 knots and it's minus 23 And all around a sea of white, snow drifts and sheets of ice Frozen lakes, high latitudes don't make for paradise Freezing, fevered snowbound - I'm sitting all alone In Winnipeg in winter, ten thousand miles from home Summertime is beautiful, so the locals say I'm not convinced to press my luck and stay another day Instead of this white wilderness, I see the big red heart Purple hill and spinifex - I'm ready to depart Brown and yellow's on the fields, a harvest's coming in Sweaty seat, the Inter truck, Kellerberrin bin And all along the gravel roads, lines of eucalypts Dance and shimmer in the heat, and make the light of it There an azure ocean laps a golden beach A little line of breakers is curling out of reach Majestic stands off karris and ghostly river gums Throw their shade at red-brown dirt 'til evening's blanket comes Of this distant dreaming it's not hard to make some sense When from a fresh-cut field of oats or along a barbed-wire fence Dust clouds spiral skywards, you'd pause and take a guess 'It's forty in the water bag' - more or less Stooped against the driving snow, hail the brave Canuck Wrapped up in fur and feathers, shuffling through the muck Tugging at the parka hood, he nods and says 'G'day' Breaking links to a train of thought - ten thousand miles away Winnipeg in winter is not the place to be When the wind is up to 30 knots and it's minus 23 And all around a sea of white, snow drifts and sheets of ice Frozen lakes, high latitudes don't rate with paradise Freezing, fevered snowbound - I'm sitting all alone In Winnipeg in winter, ten thousand miles from home You can find the song on Loaded Dog's 'That there dog o' mine' album. For this one, there is a beaut video on Youtube. Bob Rummery is lead singer: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Aug 20 - 01:25 AM Gotta have Union Street by Alistair Hulett Siege of Union Street video https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=118813 THE SIEGE OF UNION STREET (words & music by Alistair Hulett) words taken from 'The Cold Grey Light of Dawn' by Alistair Hulett & Dave Swarbrick Musikfolk Ltd, 1997. The Unemployed Workers Union was formed in Melbourne during the Great Depression to fight evictions by heartless landlords of destitute families for non-payment of rent. A Sydney branch soon followed and the UWU drew thousands into it's ranks. Matters came to a head in Union Street in the inner city suburb of Erskinville in Sydney, when over a thousand militants fought a pitched battle with police that lasted several days. The tenants were a 'war widow' and her children, so emotions were running high and the struggle received much media coverage The Communist Party was deeply committed to supporting the UWU and the police had assistance from the covert right wing paramilitary group identified by D.H. Lawrence in his novel "Kangaroo." Casualties on both sides were high but the issue was finally resolved when the Labor State Premier, Jack Lang, introduced legislation to protect the unemployed from being thrown out of their homes. Jim Munroe, a founding member of the UWU is the source of the material on which much of this song is based. You should have seen us down at Erko Fourteenth August, Saturday night To Newtown, Stanmore, Enmore and Petersham Calls went out 'Workers unite!' We built a bloody great wall With planks and boards full seven foot tall We didn't mind the howling wind and sleet When we stood around the fire at Union Street The man from the shop said put it on tick The kids came round with bottles and bricks There was Irish stew and home-made lemonade They were grand old days on the barricade I never thought I would join a party Carry a card or see things red The sight of bare foot children crying Out on the pavement turned my head Their old man's over in France Flapping like a rag on a barbed wire fence Their Mum does what she can to make ends meet And she's down at the siege of Union Street The cops came down and they came down hard They must have numbered five hundred strong They called us reds and they cracked our heads To teach us poor sinners right from wrong I learned a lesson that night It's all out war when you stand and fight I saw those brisk young coppers on their beat Behave like thugs in Union Street Sunshine danced on the broken glass It shone like diamonds as morning broke The cops were back by the railroad track And the streets were filled with working folk They'd bashed us bloody and raw But it forced Jack Lang to change the law Now the landlords have to cop it sweet And the Red Flag flies over Union Street The man from the shop gave out licorice sticks To the kids who cleaned up the bottles and bricks Down the years those memories never fade Of the grand old days on the barricade. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Aug 20 - 12:43 AM TYPO! how did I hit submit? another great session song is former Catter Canberra Chris's Call to Song , also recorded by Miguel for his latest CD More People Have songs, also available on Bandcamp. I'll ask him to pop in with the words. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Aug 20 - 12:37 AM we have copies of "Who wrote the Ballads" in BMC library. THE PEOPLE HAVE SONGS (Miguel Heatwole) Here voices are tuned to each other in gladness To all here in common affection belongs Here joy and laughter meet keening and sadness Here tyranny's cursed for the people have songs Chorus: Let us set the room ringing with the sound of our singing When we come to the end let us hold the chord long Hear the harmonies rise and all close our eyes 'Til the last cadence dies the people have songs Here is war parting sweethearts Here are strong sweating sailors And poets for beauty who ardently long Here are people at work singing loud at their labours Here are marriage and drinking for the people have songs Respect for each other gives each one a hearing And whether the voice be uncertain or strong We listen with love if the heart is endearing Supported in harmony the people have songs Disdaining oppression like others before us Our gentleness angered by history's wrongs Our tradition endures, and our voices in chorus Are lifted in hope for the people have songs! People have Songs on bandcamp anotehr greta session song - |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 26 Aug 20 - 10:57 PM Many thanks for that, Sandra. It is very interesting, albeit difficult (physically), reading. Have you read his 'Who wrote the ballads'? He wrote one of Australia's finest poems: The Tomb of John Learmonth AIF THE SHAME OF GOING BACK (Henry Lawson) When you've come to make your fortune, and you haven't made your salt And the reason of your failure isn't anybody's fault When you haven't got a billet, and the times are very slack There is nothing that can spur you like the shame of going back Chorus: Crawling home with empty pockets Going back hard-up Oh! it's then you learn the meaning of humiliation's cup When the place and you are strangers and you struggle all alone And you have a mighty longing for the town where you are known When your clothes are very shabby, and the future's very black There is nothing that can hurt you like the shame of going back When you've fought the battle bravely and are beaten to the wall, 'Tis the sneer of man, not conscience, that makes cowards of us all And while you are returning, oh! your brain is on the rack, And your heart is in the shadow of the shame of going back When a beaten man's discovered with a bullet in his brain They post-mortem him, and try him, and they say he was insane But it very often happens that he'd lately got the sack And his onward move was owing to the shame of going back Ah! my friend, you call it nonsense, and your upper lip is curled You have had no real trouble in your passage through the world But when fortune rounds upon you and the rain is on the track You will learn the bitter meaning of the shame of going back Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Aug 20 - 04:02 AM & I located my Loaded Dog CDs today, so can play them again. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Aug 20 - 03:52 AM good one, Stewie, the more serious side of John Manifold |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Aug 20 - 11:15 PM I did it again - lost my cookie. Here's an amusing little poem that my good mate, the late Paul Lawler, put to music. It is by the late John Manifold, a fine poet, activist and editor of the original 'Penguin Australian Song Book'. Perhaps Rich-Joy will post the tune to the website of Paul's music in due course. ON THE DEATH OF MR HOLT (John Manifold/Paul Lawler Only a week before Christmas, The happiest day of the year, They held a wake for Harold Holt, And the bigwig guests came here. Bonnie Prince Charlie came owre the sea With Wilson, who never smiles, And L.B.J. from the U.S.A And the king of the Cannibal Isles; Chaps from Siam and from South Vietnam And the Philippines too, I think; Some for the sake of the free, free world, And some for the free, free drink. They made long speeches and shed loud tears To propitiate Harold's ghost, And the king of the Cannibal Isles got up To propose a final toast. He said: "We have had such a splendid time, Such generous Christmas cheer, We hope you'll be able to drown A Prime Minister every year!" --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 25 Aug 20 - 10:41 PM Here's another good'un from the pen of John Warner. Kitty Kane is a tough woman who thumbs her nose at convention and not only survives but thrives. Good on her! KITTY KANE (John Warner) I came up the Thomson with thousands of others When Walhalla's gold wove its wild, shining spell I was young, I was pretty, I called myself Kitty I offered the best jewels a woman could sell A length of fine velvet in well fitting burgundy Tight round the curves where a man's eye could fall Lace at the edges and eyes full of laughter Oh young Kitty Kane was the pride of them all (Chorus) I might take a walk by the wild Thomson River Where the mountain ash rise in the soft misty rain There's gold in the range and there's gold in the memories Of the lady of pleasure they call Kitty Kane The publican brought a piano from Melbourne I could tell you right now, it was never in tune But the work-weary diggers came crowding to hear it When Samson would play in the late afternoon On nights when Walhalla lit up like a fire And the miners were roaring some boozy refrain There would always be eyes lit with lust and desire And bright gold for evenings with young Kitty Kane Chorus There were schemers and sailors and bearded old diggers Whose tough, hairy hides had the gravel ground in Young men far from home who still needed a mother And sad furtive parsons who needed to sin Rough, drunken brutes with the manners of cattle Who let me lie bleeding and shaking in pain I served them their drinks while my bruises were healing And I laughed and I shone, I was still Kitty Kane Chorus I've heard the men singing down at the piano That youth it soon passes and beauty will fade But I gave them their pleasure when I was past forty It's the light in me eyes made me queen of my trade Though Walhalla now is all merchants and farmers Whose wives see in me what they think of as shame I'll die in this valley with fine, singing memories My name's Kitty Kane, I was best in the game Chorus (X2) You can find the song on Margaret Walters' excellent 'Pithead and Fern' album. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Aug 20 - 10:07 PM DOWN THE RIVER (H. Lawson/I. MacDougall) I've done with joys an' misery, An' why should I repine? There's no one knows the past but me An' that ol' dog o' mine. We camp an' walk an' camp an' walk, An' find it fairly good; He can do anything but talk, An' he wouldn't if he could. We sits an' thinks beside the fire, With all the stars a-shine, An' no one knows our thoughts but me An' that there dog o' mine. We has our Johnny-cake an' "scrag," An' finds 'em fairly good; He can do anything but talk, An' he wouldn't if he could. He gets a 'possum now an' then, I cooks it on the fire; He has his water, me my tea — What more could we desire? He gets a rabbit when he likes, We finds it pretty good; He can do anything but talk, An' he wouldn't if he could. I has me smoke, he has his rest, When sunset's gettin' dim; An' if I do get drunk at times, It's all the same to him. So long's he's got me swag to mind, He thinks that times is good; He can do anything but talk, An' he wouldn't if he could. He gets his tucker from the cook, For cook is good to him, An' when I sobers up a bit, He goes an' has a swim. He likes the rivers where I fish, An' all the world is good; He can do anything but talk, An' he wouldn't if he could You can find the song on Loaded Dog 'That there dog o' mine' album. They note that the tune they use is by Ian MacDougall. I can't find any rendition on the Net. There is a tune by Chris Kempster in his songbook (page 12): Kempster |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Aug 20 - 09:25 PM My apologies, I once again forgot to log in before posting 'Call of the north'. A couple of decades ago, Bob Bolton posted the lyrics to Alan Mann's 'Windmill run' together with a few notes to assist non-aussies: THE WINDMILL RUN (Alan Mann) The Southern Cross is turning, creaking joints need oiling There's a finger-full of grease for cog and gears, Clockwise, ever clockwise, hot-dipped and galvanised, The blades have turned for fully fifty years. One day's dawn will find him, astride his faithful Harley Just a kerosene tin jammed between his knees. There's a hessian bag of tucker, twitch wire and some pliers, And his camouflage, khaki dungarees. Out along the western fence, the three-mile troughs are full, And it's north along the track 'till deadwood bore. There's spinifex and mulga, plus the dozen mills or so, 'Till nightfall finds him on an Alcan floor The Southern Cross is turning, creaking joints need oiling There's a finger-full of grease for cog and gears, Clockwise, ever clockwise, hot-dipped and galvanised, The blades have turned for fully fifty years. Well, every now and then, there's a breakdown - and he finds it Depressing as the jammed-up rods he frees. Fifty head it cost him ... and the crows with bellies full; Sitting there ... laughing in the trees. Mostly, though, it's endless toil – adjusting floats and valves, And checking out the fences near and far. Visions of the wife and kids – see him through the afternoon, 'Till his nightly destination with the stars. The Southern Cross is turning, creaking joints need oiling There's a finger-full of grease for cog and gears, Clockwise, ever clockwise, hot-dipped and galvanised, The blades have turned for fully fifty years. Gone again's another week and he turns up at the homestead, Just a silhouette against the setting sun, There's just two days at home, for there's sheep to dip tomorrow. And a rest before another windmill run. The Southern Cross is turning, creaking joints need oiling There's a finger-full of grease for cog and gears, Clockwise, ever clockwise, hot-dipped and galvanised, The blades have turned for fully fifty years. The Southern Cross is turning, creaking joints need oiling ... Notes: Alcan: Local brand of aluminium (well, lots of Canadian money in it as well). Presumably the floor of a work shed or store out on the run. Clockwise, ever clockwise: Of course, the blades always turn in the same direction because the tailpiece keeps them pointing up wind Dungarees: Work overalls – in this case ex-army Fifty head it cost: On these huge inland runs, there is little permanent water and the bore (artesian) water brought up by the windmill may be all there is. A pump breakdown can mean death to all the cattle in that paddock. Harley: Harley Davidson motorbike? Maybe an old WWII despatch rider's bike, rather than the fat road bikes of today Hot-dipped and galvanised: They made things to last back then … not that there is much rain to rust windmill blades out in the outback! Mulga: Low scrubby acacias of the arid interior Southern Cross: The best known Australian brand of water-pumping windmill (named for the famous southern sky constellation). Spinifex: Thorny weed - the Australian species is zygochloa paradoxus. Tucker: Food, supplies Twitch wire: Binding or tie wire for minor repairs You can find the song on Loaded Dog 'A Coastline Facing West'. Here is a rendition by Wongawilli: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST Date: 25 Aug 20 - 09:08 PM Cheers Jennie and Sandra. I'll post a few more favourites from the Dog albums. Bob Rummery wrote the tune for this one: CALL OF THE NORTH (J.Sorensen/R.Rummery) Oh the western wind is blowing So there’s rain and storm in store And the teams have long been going Down the road to Glindawor To where tropic sun is gleaming And the fragrant winds blow free I’ve awakened from my dreaming And the north is calling me Chorus: Oh, the steam is in the boiler In the expert’s room below While upon the board each toiler waits To hear the whistle blow For the shearing is beginning And my heart is fancy free And the friction wheels are spinning So the north is calling me From the southward to the nor’ward Where the long brown tracks wind down All me mates have hastened forward To the wilderness from town Gone! By stony hill and hollow To where I now fain would be Where they lead, I needs must follow For the north is calling me Chorus What’s this news I have been hearing Tidings strange to me indeed Bidgimia now is shearing With Sawallish in the lead Straining camels teams are swaying From the junction to the sea Why so long am I delaying When the north is calling me Chorus And so northward I am going For I cannot linger here For the starting whistle’s blowing And the ‘guns’ are into gear So to be there I am yearning I will hail the sheds with glee For the friction wheels are turning And the north is calling me Chorus The song is on 'Dusty gravel road'. Here is a rendition by Wongawilli: Youtube clip My mate, Phil Beck from Perth, and I once presented a themed concert 'Songs of Separation' which included 'Call of the north'. For those who may be interested, here are Phil's remarks about the life of Jack Sorensen: Sorenson was amongst other things a shearer and a pugilist (at one time welter weight champion of WA) who once said you had to be prepared to be the latter if you were going to pretend to be the former in and around a shearing shed in the outback. In other words that one needs to be a hard man in a hard environment. Born in Western Australia he began his working life as an orchardist on his family's property in Perth, and then worked as a shearer on stations in the Murchison, Gascoyne and Kimberleys. Returning to Perth, Sorensen took up employment with Mr Sampson, a local MP, who was influential in having some of his early poems published in local papers. Throughout his life he drew on his early bush experiences to write poetry and songs mainly about life in rural Western Australia, often with an environmental theme. He clearly loved the bush and the sense of peace that living in the outback can bring. The outbreak of war evoked in Sorensen a sense of doom that was to haunt him forever. The death of his friend and mentor, Mr Sampson had a further detrimental effect on his mental health to the point that he was discharged from the military. Not long after his discharge, his mother also died, further deepening his melancholia. Seeking happier times, Sorensen set out for the Kimberleys searching for that inner peace that he’d felt in the north of WA in earlier years. This song, probably written around that time, revolves around the start of the shearing season in northern Western Australia. The Bidgemia mentioned is a reference to Bidgemia Station located on the south bank of the Gascoyne River. Sawallish refers Bob Sawallish a gun shearer of the time. Mullewa, inexplicably referred to as Glindawor in our version of the song, is a shire in mid west WA. Sadly the inner peace Sorensen sought eluded him, so in 1949, he decided to fulfil his lifetime dream of going to the Queensland outback. He sailed from Fremantle, but never reached his goal, for it was on the ship in Sydney, just a week or so short of his destination that Jack decided his life was no longer worth living. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Aug 20 - 11:28 AM thanks for the memories, Stewie, I need to locate my Loaded Dog CDs from wherever they are hiding. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 25 Aug 20 - 12:19 AM PADDY'S BACK (Alan Ralph) Father had a soft spot for the men out on the track And somehow Paddy featured regularly He worked upon the rabbit-proof and when he came to town He'd doss down in our shed for a week or three He'd spend his days in the town's hotels drinking pinkie wine And shouting drinks for almost all the town We'd feed his horse and dog and keep them watered regularly And when he left, he'd give us half-a-crown Chorus: And the spring-cart tracks led through our gate His horse and dog were there We ran to mother, shouting out the news 'Paddy's back from the rabbit-proof, he's in from way outback And I'll bet he's down at the Federal getting boozed' When Paddy staggered home alone or on a copper's arm We'd take him down some supper on a tray A plate of snags and murphys or mother's shepherd pie He thought it like a banquet, so he'd say And often when we'd go out to the outhouse in the night We'd hear old Paddy talking to his dog Or singing Irish melodies or spieling to the stars He'd stay a gentle man despite the grog Chorus When his money was all gone, then father told him so His clothes were laundered, he was scrubbed and shaved He'd join us at the table and tell stories of the bush Us kids would listen spellbound to his tales Then next day he'd load his cart up with stores to see him through And father'd slip some pinkie in the back He'd head off to the rabbit-proof to check along the fence And we'd watch him disappear along the track Chorus At christmas time there'd always be a parcel for us kids That Paddy got the local store to send And one year I remember when he really got it right Tin soldiers in a box - a hundred men Father would get a cherry pipe, a tablecloth for mum The gifts were better than a lump of gold A flask of Irish whisky was what father'd give to him To frighten off the snakes and beat the cold Chorus But somehow Paddy drifted from our lives as we grew up I often wonder where old Paddy went Did he meet a childhood sweetheart and settle down in town Or did he die out by that lonely fence The snake that killed his old blue heeler, did it get him too Or did he strike it rich in someone's will Either way I still can hear those Irish melodies And tin soldiers march across the table still Chorus That cracker of a song was written from an old-timer's recollections of growing up in country Western Australia. It is on Loaded Dog's 'Dusty gravel road' album. Alan Ralph is not a member of the group. His song was published in 'The West Australian'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: JennieG Date: 25 Aug 20 - 12:10 AM You are doing a great job, Stewie! |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Aug 20 - 11:37 PM Loaded Dog are fantastic, they turned up at Jamberoo years ago & I had hopes of booking them for the Loaded Dog Folk Club, but alas, they never came east again. I think they had a grant from some Govt agency to travel that year. Poison Train is one of the best session songs, & we've had it many a time at the Dog, often sung by Margaret & Bob Fagan. The Dog is run by singers for a singing audience. I remember the first time I went to another club after a friend took over the Dog in 1995 & NO-ONE SANG ALONG! sung by Chloe & Jason Roweth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45fvCPqTm8M Subject: ADD: The poison train ^^ From: Stewie - PM Date: 04 Mar 00 - 08:52 PM THE POISON TRAIN (Michael O'Rourke) This old town has had its day All the people moved away And the houses standing empty In the dry and the dusty day No one cares for this old town Now the money's not around And the railway lines are rusty And the station's falling down Chorus: There's a light down the line Let it shine, shine, let it shine There's a camp down the way All the fettlers will be coming home today When the railway opened here All the gutters flowed with beer And the people stood beside the line To watch and wave and cheer All the speeches that were made When the bosses smiled and said 'The good times are just beginning Follow us and you'll go ahead' Chorus Well, they built the street so wide It would be a thing of pride To walk across it drunk Or throw a stone to the other side And the buildings grew so tall You would tremble at the fall But they've just dried out And you would never know There was anyone there at all Chorus I still hear the tall man say To the children at their play 'You'd better go home early And you'd better stay away Stay away from the line Can't you hear the railway humming The grass has grown too tall And the poison train is coming Chorus You feel sorry for the grass All it did was grow too fast All the weapons used against it It was never made to last And the man and his offsider Are all dressed in black As the poison train goes through the town And blisters all the track Chorus Well, it never lasted long Half the town was packed and gone And everybody was afraid To be left there alone All the people stayed away And there was no celebration Nobody made a speech the day They closed the railway station Chorus Published by Greenhouse Publications. Source: Roy Bailey 'New Directions in the Old' Fuse CFCD 402. Recorded by 'Mike O'Rourke on 'Flying Pieman' 1980. PS. The image of the 'Poison Train' is used by O'Rourke to describe the decay of outback towns that grew too quicly. The fast-growing grass around the railway tracks has to be burnt back. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 24 Aug 20 - 11:21 PM DUSTY GRAVEL ROAD (Alan Mann) Have you travelled northwards past the slime dumps of Kalgoolie Out upon the old Broad Arrow Road Have you seen the heaps of mullock like the tombstones in a graveyard That signify the finding of a lode Have you ever stopped to wonder how many picks and shovels And aching muscles on bodies young and old Would have scraped the dust of legend, the clay and the ironstone Searching for a dish of yellow gold Chorus: For the passing of some years seats you in a four-wheel-drive The exhaust pipe leaves your sweat and your worries far behind The air-conditioned faint north-easter blows cool air across your mind Travelling on the dusty gravel road Well ahead there's corrugations and you spot the blackened carcass Of a tyre gone to pieces on the side Christ, what happens if you break down - the petrol tank is holed Or, worst of all, the grog supply runs dry Like the heroes in that legend maybe you'll walk a while Maybe you'll get lucky, hitch a ride But would you push your barrow, loaded up with life's possessions Like some of them damn near three hundred mile Chorus At the turnoff there's some diggings and you stop to rest a while As nightfall pulls the curtain on the day By the last few glints of sunlight something on that yonder hillside Beckons you to come and walk that way Glittering in the gully, piles of champagne bottles Signs they caught up with the golden fate And you lift the flimsy flip-top from a frosty ice-cold can And you join their celebration just eighty years too late Chorus Alan Mann, a fine musician and songwriter, has been part of the West Australian folk scene for ever. 'Dusty gravel road' is the title track of an album by Loaded Dog. In respect of this song, Alan noted: 'The first prospectors had a great and intimate understanding of the goldfields country. It was not until 1986 that the output of gold in Western Australia exceeded that of the halcyon year of 1904'. Unfortunately, the only clip of Loaded Dog on the Net is the one I posted re 'Waltzing Matilda'. Loaded Dog's website has disappeared. They have 4 excellent CDs. If any 'cattier is interested in obtaining their music, send me a personal message and I will put you in touch. --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SERGEANT SMALL From: Stewie Date: 24 Aug 20 - 10:24 PM SERGEANT SMALL I went broke in western Queensland in 1931 Nobody would employ me so my swag carrying begun I came down into Charleville through all the western towns I was on my way to Roma destination Darling Downs My pants were getting ragged my boots were getting thin But when I stopped at Mitchell a goods train shunted in I heard the whistle blowing and looking out could see She was on her way to Roma it was quite plain to me Chorus I wish I was about twenty stone and only seven feet tall I'd go back to western Queensland and beat up Sergeant Small Now as I sat and watched her inspiration's seed was sown I remembered the government slogan: Here's the railway that you own By this time the sun was setting and the night was getting nigh So I gathered my belongings and took her on the fly When we got into Roma I kept my head down low I heard a voice say "Any room, mate?" I answered "Plenty Bo" "Come out of there my noble man" came the voice of Sergeant Small "I have trapped you very nicely - you've ridden for a fall" The judge was very kind to me he gave me thirty days Saying "Maybe this will help to cure your rattler jumping ways" So if you're down and outback boys I'll tell you what I think Stay off those Queensland goods trains for they're a short cut to the clink Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: LAST COAL TRAIN (Paul Wookey) From: Stewie Date: 24 Aug 20 - 10:02 PM Sandra, it looks like it is down to us. I don't mind posting some more - our moderator can always chuck 'em out. LAST COAL TRAIN (Paul Wookey) No more black-faced miners Buying carbide at the store All the lamps that lit the darkness Are hangin’ empty by the door And the chilly winds that blow no good Have blown no good once more And the last coal train is leavin’ town No more kids out on the trestle bridge Playin’ that dangerous game You’ll never have to mend a broken track Or drive the spike again You can leave the sleepers rotting The signals rusting in the rain ‘Cause the last coal train is leavin’ town You’ll never have to feed a family Upon a striker’s pay You’ll never have to fight for what’s yours by right In this game that rich men play And for the first time in a long time You might see the light of day And the last coal train is leavin’ town So the word came down from Melbourne Said they’ve got to close the mine Oh we can’t afford to dig it out We’ll just have to leave it lyin’ With all the men who died in 20 shafts Who’ll lie there for all time And the last coal train is leavin’ town Youtube clip Paul Wookey, was raised in the Dandenong Ranges. An excellent singer and guitarist, he was heavily influenced by American folk, blues and country. He had a solid reputation in Melbourne’s folk clubs – Traynor’s, Outpost Inn and One-C-One. A fine example of his original work is 'The Last Coal Train' which he noted ‘was the last coal train that left Wonthaggi some time in 1968 after the coal mines were finally closed down. It represents the passing of a period in Australian history – the generational move from the land to the city, the loss of country jobs, the dislocation of the pre-war generation. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 23 Aug 20 - 10:23 PM I don't know what happened in my above post, but it seems that my signature became the link to Youtube. --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: NORTHWARD TO THE SHEDS (Will Ogilvie) From: Stewie Date: 23 Aug 20 - 10:17 PM Here's another fine Ogilvie poem that has been put to music. At this very moment, due to COVID-19, there are challengers to bringing in the NZ shearers needed to do the job in Oz. NORTHWARD TO THE SHEDS (Will Ogilvie) There's a whisper from the regions out beyond the Barwon banks There's a gathering of the legions and a forming of the ranks There's a murmur coming nearer with the signs that never fail And it's time for every shearer to be out upon the trail Chorus: For the western creeks are calling, And the idle days are done With the snowy fleeces falling, And the Queensland sheds begun They must leave their girls behind them and their empty glasses too, For there's plenty left to mind them when they cross the dry Barcoo There'll be kissing, there'll be sorrow much as only sweethearts know But before the noon tomorrow they'll be singing as they go Chorus There is shortening of the bridle, there is tightening of the girth There is fondling of the idol that they love the best on earth Northward from the Lachlan River and the sun-dried Castlereagh Outward to the Never-Never ride the ringers on their way Chorus From the green bends of the Murray, they have run their horses in For there's haste and there is hurry when the Queensland sheds begin On the Bogan they are bridling, they are saddling on the Bland, There is plunging and there's sidling -- for the colts don't understand Chorus They will camp below the station, they'll be cutting peg and pole Rearing tents for occupation till the calling of the roll And it's time the nags were driven, and it's time to strap the pack For there's never licence given to the laggards on the track Chorus Hark the music of the battle: it in time to bare our swords! Do you hear the rush and rattle as they tramp along the boards? They are past the pen-doors picking light-wooled weaners one by one I can hear the shear-blades clicking, and I know the fight's begun! Ted Egan printed the complete Ogilvie poem in his 'The Shearers: Songbook', but the clip on Youtube for 'Northward to the sheds' has 3 stanzas only - the song begins at the 2-minute mark. Gerry Hallom also messes with and shortens the Ogilvie text, but it's worth a listen: --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Aug 20 - 09:59 PM In Sydney the Redfern Shanty club does a great version of "Broome" & it might be on their facebook page as it's not on their Reverbnation page I met Ted Egan at Illawarra Folk Festoval one year & suggested he see Shanty club as thy were on the program, I hope he got to see them When you get (got! preCovid) a legal maximum for the premises of 45 mainly young singers all roaring out a shanty or sea song under the instruction to the newcomers "if you don't know the words, sing louder" it is magic. One day they will be back. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Aug 20 - 11:00 PM Please ignore my previous post. It appears the Youtube link was correct. Somehow when I first clicked it, the Nakamura clip came up. I'll go and lie down. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Aug 20 - 10:55 PM My apologies, the Youtube link in my previous post was the wrong one. It should have been: Back to Broome Where are other Oz 'catters? Is our thread moderator going to post any songs? --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Aug 20 - 10:44 PM Another Ted Egan song posted by rich-joy. 'Back to Broome always feature in 'uglies' at Top Half Folk Festivals here in the Northern Territory. Mudcat thread Youtube clip --Stewie |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 22 Aug 20 - 10:23 PM Another fine song relating to an immigrant worker is Ted Egan's 'Sayonara Nakamura' - one of his best: Mudcat thread Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE COOMA CAVALIERS (Ulik O'Boyle) From: Stewie Date: 22 Aug 20 - 09:30 PM Always great fun to sing - from 60's group The Settlers: THE COOMA CAVALIERS (Ulik O'Boyle) From Jindabyne tunnel and 'round Island Bend We boys go to Cooma, our money to spend And we'll buy youse one beer there if you happen to see Four Italians, three Germans, two Yugoslavs and me Chorus Now we may not be diggers but we'll have you know We're digging the tunnels up here in the snow It's dark in that tunnel and the work she is rough By the time it hits payday we all have enough So we rush into Cooma to have us one spree Four miners, three fitters, two chippies and me We pull up in Sharp Street by the Alpine Hotel If you've been to Cooma you'll know this place well Before we get inside our order rings out Four vinos, three schnappses, two slivovitz, one stout Well I guess we got-a noisy, though no-a harm did we mean Singing "O Solo Mio" and "Lili Marlene" Some Aussies went crook 'cos they didn't agree With four singing, three marching, two dancing and me We may not be diggers but we'll have you know The barmen all love us up here in the snow The barman stood up then with a snarl on his face, He said: "You Europeans, you're a flipping disgrace, Stop drinking those queer drinks if you want to stop here Become integrated drink our Aussie beer. So we switched on to schooners and to the bar's cheers Sang "Waltzing Matilda" and "Click Go The Shears" For hours and hours without any cease 'Till the sudden arrival of the Cooma police Now we may not be diggers but we'll have you know We're regular swiggers up here in the snow In a furious moment, the whole bar was cleared And no sign remained of those Aussies that cheered So the coppers locked up then - unfair you'll agree - Four Italians, three Germans, two Yugoslavs and me Now we're back in that tunnel as broke as can be For it cost us a fortune to bail ourselves free But before you start laughing let me make it clear It was worth it Australia for the sake of your beer We may not be diggers, but we'll have you know We dig digger beer up here in the snow Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE REEDY LAGOON From: Stewie Date: 21 Aug 20 - 11:52 PM The late Danny Spooner recorded this little gem on his final album 'Home'. Danny noted that a 1935 article identified the author as Jimmy Connors. If that is correct, it passed into oral tradition. The version below was collected here in the Northern Territory by Geoff and Nancy Wills. The song was published in the Stewart & Keesing, John Manifold (Penguin) and Ron Edwards books of Australian folk songs. THE REEDY LAGOON The sweet-scented wattle sheds perfume around, Enticing the bird and the bee; As I lie at my rest in a fern-covered nest In the shade of a currajong tree; High up in the air I can hear the refrain Of a butcher-bird piping its tune, For the spring, in her glory, has come back again To the banks of the Reedy Lagoon. I've carried my bluey for many a mile, My boots they are worn out at the toe; And I'm dressing, this season, in a far different style, To that of last season, God knows! My cooking utensils, I'm sorry to say, Consist of a knife and a spoon. And I've dry bread and tea, in my battered jack-shay On the banks of the Reedy Lagoon. Where is old Frankie, man how could he ride, And Johnny, the kind-hearted boy; They tell me that lately he's taken a bride, A benedict's life to enjoy. And Big Mac, the Scotchman; I once heard him say, That he wrestled the famous Muldoon: But they're all far away, and I'm lonely today On the bank of the Reedy Lagoon. Now where is that lassie I oft-times caressed, The girl with the sad dreamy eyes? She pillows her head on another man's breast, While he tells her the very same lies. My bed she would hardly be willing to share, Where I camp by the light of the moon. But it's little I care, cos I couldn't keep square On the bank of the Reedy Lagoon. Martyn Wyndham-Read recorded on his 'A rose from the bush' LP and noted: 'I would take this song with me to a desert island, as it brings home so much of Australia and the smell of the bush to me'. I first heard it recorded by Gordon Bok on his 'Seal Djiril's Hymn' album. He sticks pretty close to the Wills text. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: PAST CARIN’ (Henry Lawson) From: Stewie Date: 21 Aug 20 - 10:22 PM My favourite rendition of another beaut Lawson poem: Riogh PAST CARIN’ (Henry Lawson) Now up and down the siding brown The great black crows are flyin’ And down below the spur, I know Another `milker's' dyin'; The crops have withered to the ground, The tank's clay bed is glarin' But from my heart no tear nor sound For I have gone past carin' — Through death and trouble, turn about Through hopeless desolation Through flood and fever, fire and drought Through slavery and starvation Through childbirth, sickness, hurt and blight And nervousness and scarin' Through bein' left alone at night I've got to be past carin'. Our first child took, in days like these A cruel week in dyin' All day upon her father's knees, Or on my poor breast lyin' The tears we shed, the prayers we said Were awful, wild, despairin' I've pulled three through and buried two Since then, and I'm past carin'. T’was ten years first, then came the worst All for a dusty clearin' I thought, I thought my heart would burst When first my man went shearin' He's drovin' in the great North-west I don't know how he's farin’ For I, the one that loved him best Have grown to be past carin'. My eyes are dry, I cannot cry I've got no heart for breakin' But where it was in days gone by A dull and empty achin' My last boy ran away from me I know my temper's wearin' But now I only wish to be Beyond all signs of carin’ Past wearyin' or carin' Past feelin' and despairin'; And now I only wish to be Beyond all signs of carin'. --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE SWAGGIES HAVE ALL WALTZED MATILDA AWA From: Stewie Date: 21 Aug 20 - 10:08 PM At a themed concert that my mate Phil Beck and I presented at a folk festival in Tasmania, Phil had this to say about another Alistair Hulett belter: '"The Swaggies Have All Waltzed Matilda Away" is from the pen of the song writer non-pariel, Alistair Hulett. It’s really a potted history of the foundation of Australia as we know it, and refers not only to the transportation of convicts but also to the dispossession of the Aboriginal lands to the newcomers. I’m sure I remember Alistair telling me that he wrote the song as an entry into an Australia Day song-writing competition and this was his ‘up yours’ take on the thing. Whatever, it’s an optimistic song and says that whatever our people in the end, we all ought to be united". THE SWAGGIES HAVE ALL WALTZED MATILDA AWAY (Alistair Hulett) You came to this country in fetters and chains Outlaws and rebels with numbers for names And on the triangle were beaten and maimed Blood stained the soil of Australia Dookies and duchesses, flash lads and whores You worked their plantations and polished their floors Lived in their shadow and died in their wars Blood stained the soil of Australia Chorus: Does it quicken your heart beat To see tar and concrete Cover the tracks of the old bullock dray Have you grown so heartless To christen it progress When the swaggies have all waltzed Matilda away Driven like dogs from your own native home Hardship and poverty caused you to roam Over the bracken and over the foam Blood stained the soil of Australia Then in the fever for fortune and fame You caused the poor blacks to suffer the same Imprisoned on missions or hunted for game Blood stained the soil of Australia Chorus It's two hundred years since you came to this land Betrayed by the girl with the black velvet band And still to this day you don't understand Blood stained the soil of Australia Koori and white, old Australian and new Brothers and sisters of every hue The future is ours, take the wealth from the few And raise the Red Flag in Australia Let it quicken your heart beat The road's at your own feet Travel it lightly and travel it well And don't speak of success Or christen it progress Til the swaggies can all waltz Matilda as well [Repeat last 3 lines of final chorus] Hulett recorded it first with Roaring Jack. Unfortunately, although there are clips by Roaring Jack on YouTube, this is not among them. However, Wongawilli do a fine rendition, but they replace Hulett's 'red flag' with 'true flag'. Bowdlerism! Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE SLIPRAIL AND THE SPUR (Henry Lawson) From: Stewie Date: 21 Aug 20 - 09:42 PM I first heard a lovely setting of another Lawson classic on a home-recorded cd of Brian Mooney given to me by his fellow Tasmanian, Mike Manhire. THE SLIPRAIL AND THE SPUR (Henry Lawson) The colours of the setting sun Withdrew across the Western land - He raised the sliprails, one by one, And shot them home with trembling hand; Her brown hands clung - her face grew pale - Ah! quivering chin and eyes that brim! - One quick, fierce kiss across the rail, And, "Good-bye, Mary!" "Good-bye, Jim!" Oh, he rides hard to race the pain Who rides from love, who rides from home; But he rides slowly home again, Whose heart has learnt to love and roam. A hand upon the horse's mane, And one foot in the stirrup set, And, stooping back to kiss again, With "Good-bye, Mary! don't you fret! When I come back" - he laughed for her - "We do not know how soon 'twill be; I'll whistle as I round the spur - You let the sliprails down for me." She gasped for sudden loss of hope, As, with a backward wave to her, He cantered down the grassy slope And swiftly round the darkening spur. Black-pencilled panels standing high, And darkness fading into stars, And, blurring fast against the sky, A faint white form beside the bars. And often at the set of sun, In winter bleak and summer brown, She'd steal across the little run, And shyly let the sliprails down, And listen there when darkness shut The nearer spur in silence deep, And when they called her from the hut Steal home and cry herself to sleep. And he rides hard to dull the pain Who rides from one that loves him best... And he rides slowly back again, Whose restless heart must rove for rest. Unfortunately, Mooney's rendition is not available on the Net. However, Garnet Rogers recorded a version on his 'Speaking Softly in the Dark' album. He is faithful to Lawson's text for the first few stanzas but reshuffles and rewrites the latter part of the poem. You can listen to it on Bandcamp here: Rogers There's a trio of renditions available on Youtube, including one by a choir, but none of them sparks my clod. Youtube clips --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: AFTER ALL (Henry Lawson) From: Stewie Date: 21 Aug 20 - 08:59 PM It is somewhat disappointing that it was up to a Canadian - Garnet Rogers - to put a tune to one of Lawson's finest poems: AFTER ALL (Henry Lawson) The brooding ghosts of Australian night have gone from the bush and town; My spirit revives in the morning breeze, though it died when the sun went down; The river is high and the stream is strong, and the grass is green and tall, And I fain would think that this world of ours is a good world after all. The light of passion in dreamy eyes, and a page of truth well read, The glorious thrill in a heart grown cold of the spirit I thought was dead, A song that goes to a comrade's heart, and a tear of pride let fall -- And my soul is strong! and the world to me is a grand world after all! Let our enemies go by their old dull tracks, and theirs be the fault or shame (The man is bitter against the world who has only himself to blame); Let the darkest side of the past be dark, and only the good recall; For I must believe that the world, my dear, is a kind world after all. It well may be that I saw too plain, and it may be I was blind; But I'll keep my face to the dawning light, though the devil may stand behind! Though the devil may stand behind my back, I'll not see his shadow fall, But read the signs in the morning stars of a good world after all. Rest, for your eyes are weary, girl -- you have driven the worst away -- The ghost of the man that I might have been is gone from my heart today; We'll live for life and the best it brings till our twilight shadows fall; My heart grows brave, and the world, my girl, is a good world after all. Rogers makes some very minor changes to the Lawson text: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE ANSWER'S IRELAND (John Dengate) From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Aug 20 - 08:30 PM http://ozfolksongaday.blogspot.com/2011/03/answers-ireland.html The Answer's Ireland (Tune Rody McCorley) originally published in Singabout 6(1), 1966, p.4 Who gave Australia the tunes to sing, the tunes of songs so grand? Songs to inspire, full of beauty and fire – the answer's Ireland. Know when you sing of Jack Donahue, that he was a Dublin man And Dennis O'Reilly is travelling still with a blackthorn in his hand. Who raised a ruckus at Castle Hill, who there defied the crown? 'Twas the same rebel boys who in '98 'gainst odds would not lie down. Oh, but they made Samuel Marsden fret and ruffled silver tails, Why, the words "Croppy Pike" were enough to strike fear into New South Wales. Who agitated at Ballarat for Joe Latrobe's death knell? Who was it raised up the five-starred flag and damned the traps to hell? Who was it gathered beneath that flag, where solemn oaths were sworn? Who would not run from the redcoats' guns, upon Eureka morn? Ned Kelly's dad was an Irish lad, the Kellys all died game. Brave Michael Dwyer's bones are buried here, we'll not forget that name. Who could resist Larry Foley's fist, and Foley wore the green. Who led the anti-conscription ranks in 1917? |
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Subject: Lyr Add: TIME IS A TEMPEST (Broomhall, Thompson) From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Aug 20 - 08:22 PM TIME IS A TEMPEST John Broomhall / John Thompson As sung by Cloudstreet on "Dance up the Sun" (2008) Time is a tempest and we are all travellers. We are all travellers; we are all travellers. Time is a tempest and we are all travellers, Travelling through the storm. Our cities are crowded; our forests are falling, War clouds above, angry voices are calling. Five minutes to midnight is no time for stalling. It's time to share our load. So lift up your voices and sing of the wind and rain. Sing of the wind and rain; sing of the wind and rain. Lift up your voices and sing of the wind and rain, Travelling through the storm. For time is a tempest and we are all travellers. We are all travellers; we are all travellers. Time is a tempest and we are all travellers, Travelling through the storm. They've poisoned the oceans; they've dammed the great rivers. They've killed all the jungles; they're takers, not givers. They call it progress; well, it gives me the shivers. We're in for a winter that's cold. So lift up your voices and sing of the wind and rain. Sing of the wind and rain; sing of the wind and rain. Lift up your voices and sing of the wind and rain, Travelling through the storm. For time is a tempest and we are all travellers. We are all travellers; we are all travellers. Time is a tempest and we are all travellers, Travelling through the storm. So brothers and sisters, we'll join hands together. With love in our struggle, we'll face the foul weather. And when the sun shines through, under blue skies we'll gather. Our journey will take us home. So lift up your voices and sing of the wind and rain. Sing of the wind and rain; sing of the wind and rain. Lift up your voices and sing of the wind and rain, Travelling through the storm. For time is a tempest and we are all travellers. We are all travellers; we are all travellers. Time is a tempest and we are all travellers, Travelling through the storm. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Aug 20 - 07:56 AM very famous songs in copyright Redgum - I was only 19 lyrics I was only 19 video Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody - From little things big things grow In this video Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly talk about the process of writing the song. From Little Things Big Things Grow tells the story of Vincent Lingiari, a Gurindji stockman who, in 1966, initiated a strike in response to the poor working conditions faced by Gurindji workers, on the Wave Hill Cattle Station. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WATCHERS OF THE WATER (Paul Hemphill) From: Stewie Date: 20 Aug 20 - 09:19 PM Gallipoli is a striking example of place identity. Bob Hawke fancied that Anzac Cove is ‘a little piece of Australia’ and John Howard postulated that the Gallipoli peninsula is ‘as much a part of Australia as the land on which your home is built’. We have been told for decades that Australian soldiers sacrificed their lives there for our freedoms. If anything, the notion of ‘sacrificing for freedoms’ is truer for the Turks. The Turks were defending their land from invasion at a cost of over 50 000 dead – the Anzac count was 10 000. For Turks, every piece of soil at Gallipoli is sacred. Historians, Mark McKenna and Stuart Ward, wrote in their essay ‘An Anzac Myth: The Creative Memorialisation of Gallipoli’: 'Turkey and Australia have rushed to memorialise a romantic image of Gallipoli – one of co-operation and friendship. As admirable as these intentions might be, they are based on falsehoods and the misrepresentation of war. Far better a friendship that has the courage to confront war’s brutality and the senseless loss of life that occurred in 1915' WATCHERS OF THE WATER (Paul Hemphill) It is the night of April 25th, 1915. The Turkish soldiers are waiting for the ANZAC assault on Gallipoli to begin … The sun's fiery furnace beat down upon our backs As we fixed our sharpened bayonets and shouldered heavy packs We marched in ordered files to destiny that day In a land God had forgotten, due east of Suvla Bay And in the hills so rough and rugged, we hauled our guns by hand Raised the shells upon our shoulders to the heights we must command We watched and prayed and waited, each heart beating like a drum We all had our eyes on the seaward horizon to west where they would come And the cold moon she rose on the watchers of the water The stars hung brightly high above the trees And in the warm night-tide, sheep came to the slaughter From their land so far away across the seas And when night fell, oh, she fell so soft and silent We could have been in the Garden of Paradise And no man raised his voice, not a soul made a noise Though our blood ran as cold, as cold as ice And the cold moon she shone on the watchers of the water The stars hung brightly high above the trees And in the warm night-tide, sheep came to the slaughter From their land so far away across the seas The cold moonlight upon the water glistened And enwrapped in all of our hopes and fears As through the long night-tide, oh, we watched and listened With sharpened eyes and very, very frightened ears And we saw small boats come sailing from great ships far out to sea Shells came at us wailing in infernal symphony And with fists of fire and steel, we were hammered hard that night And many brave men went to God without the chance to fight And as the boats drew nearer, oh, we watched with bated breath We waited for the order and our turn to deal out death And the cold moon looked down on the watchers of the water The stars hung brightly high above the trees And in the warm night-tide, sheep came to the slaughter From their land so far away across the seas From their land so far away across Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Aug 20 - 09:01 PM My apologies. The Guest above for 'And when they dance' was me. I forgot to log in or to sign the post. Henryp referred to Gerry Hallom and 'Outside Track'. Here is a link to Gerry singing it: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: AND WHEN THEY DANCE (Roy Abbott) From: GUEST Date: 20 Aug 20 - 08:48 PM Here's a good'un from Roy Abbott, a West Australian singer-songwriter. It was first recorded by Mucky Duck Bush Band. AND WHEN THEY DANCE (Roy Abbott) I play in a band, I’ve played all around, From Perth in the west to old Melbourne Town, But one thing delights me each time I look down It’s the lasses who dance ‘til the morning. Chorus: And when they dance their dresses spin round, They travel so light that they scarce touch the ground And the smiles on their faces would win any crowd The lasses who dance ‘til the morning. I’ve played for the gentry I’ve played for them all, From the old bush hut to the debutante’s ball, But one thing unites them the great and the small It’s the lasses who dance ‘til the morning. And when the dance ends and they all leave the floor Their legs are so weary tired and sore But who are the ones that keep yellin’ for more? It’s the lasses who dance till the morning. So, long may I travel and far may I roam Around this big country we call our home Playing for people that I’ll never know And the lasses who dance till the morning. Danny Spooner recorded it on his 'Emerging Tradition' album, but here is a live version: Youtube clip |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE OUTSIDE TRACK (Henry Lawson) From: GUEST,henryp Date: 20 Aug 20 - 11:46 AM Gerry Hallom sang The Outside Track to his own tune in 1984 on his Fellside album A Run a Minute. He noted: Another Lawson poem which fits conveniently into song. To me it captures the sadness and emptiness when parting company from friends when futures are uncertain. The traveller at least has his adventures before him to soften the parting, but those on the quayside have only the loss. There were ten of us there on the moonlit quay, And one on the for’ard hatch; No straighter mate to his mates than he Had ever said: “Len’s a match!” “’Twill be long, old man, ere our glasses clink, ’Twill be long ere we grip your hand!”— And we dragged him ashore for a final drink Till the whole wide world seemed grand. For they marry and go as the world rolls back, They marry and vanish and die; But their spirit shall live on the Outside Track As long as the years go by. The port-lights glowed in the morning mist That rolled from the waters green; And over the railing we grasped his fist As the dark tide came between. We cheered the captain and cheered the crew, And our mate, times out of mind; We cheered the land he was going to And the land he had left behind. We roared Lang Syne as a last farewell, But my heart seemed out of joint; I well remember the hush that fell When the steamer had passed the point We drifted home through the public bars, We were ten times less by one Who sailed out under the morning stars, And under the rising sun. And one by one, and two by two, They have sailed from the wharf since then; I have said good-bye to the last I knew, The last of the careless men. And I can’t but think that the times we had Were the best times after all, As I turn aside with a lonely glass And drink to the bar-room wall. But I’ll try my luck for a cheque Out Back, Then a last good-bye to the bush; For my heart’s away on the Outside Track, On the track of the steerage push. Thanks to Mainly Norfolk |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Aug 20 - 11:04 AM I've just made a quick list of traditional songs, collected & re-popularised in the revival of the 50s/60s. They were all published by the Bush Music Club in Singabout (1956-67) Maggie May Nine Miles from Gundagai The Neumerella Shore - 1 2 pages The Neumerella Shore - 2 The Wild Colonial Boy The Black Velvet Band & The Old Bark Hut also in Singabout 5(1) 1963 The Drover's Dream & Wild Rover both also in Singabout 3(1) 1958 Old Black Billy (written in 1938 but thought to be trad. when it was collected) and a couple of other classics which strangely enough were not published in Singabout! - Moreton Bay & Reedy River lyrics & video of Chris Kempster singing |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 20 Aug 20 - 11:02 AM West Australian group, Loaded Dog, give their authentic version of Australia's best-known song. I reckon they are the best bush band in Oz. Alan Mann is telling the story and Bob Rummery is lead vocalist and box player. Waltzing Matilda --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN THE BRUMBIES COME TO WATER (Ogilvie) From: Stewie Date: 20 Aug 20 - 10:45 AM Will Ogilvie, a Scotsman, wrote some fine bush ballads during his years as a jackaroo in Australia. One of his best was 'When the brumbies come to water' which circulated in oral tradition, changed, shortened and turned into a song. This version was collected by Ron Edwards. WHEN THE BRUMBIES COME TO WATER There's a lonely grave half hidden where the blue-grass droops above, A slab that roughly marks it: we planted it with love There's a mourning rank of riders closing in on every hand O'er the vacant place he left us: he was best of all the band Now he's lying cold and silent with his hidden hopes unwon Where the brumbies come to water at the setting of the sun There's a well-worn saddle hanging in the harness-room above A good old stock horse waiting for the steps that never come And his dog will lick some other hand when the wild mob swings We'll get a slower rider to replace him on the wing Ah but who will kiss his wife who kneels beside the long lagoon Where the brumbies come to water at the rising of the moon We will miss him in the cattle camps a trusted man and true The daddy of all stockmen was young Rory Donahue We will miss the tunes he used to play on his banjo long and low We will miss the songs he used to sing of the days of long ago Where the shadow-line lies broken 'neath the moonbeams' silver bars Where the brumbies come to water at the twinkling of the stars Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 20 Aug 20 - 10:20 AM Thanks Stew. I'll have to see what I can "carefully resurrect" from my old tapes!! Wonder if Tone has copies?? R-J |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNY STEWART DROVER (Chris Buch) From: Stewie Date: 20 Aug 20 - 10:17 AM The late Chris Buch was a good friend of mine. He used to run the Mt Isa Folk Club which for a time was one of the clubs that organised the Top Half Folk Festival. Back when the world was young, Chris was commissioned by the Australian Folk Trust to go on a cattle drive and collect songs from the drovers. He went on the drive but was unable to collect any songs. Chris told me that the drovers were too buggered at night to sing around a campfire - all they did was consume soup, snore and fart in their sleeping bags. Bereft of any collected songs, Chris decided to write one himself. He based it on a drover from Camooweal who occasionally attended the Mt Isa folk club. It is a fine song indeed. The story goes that the song came over the radio in the Camooweal servo/cafe. One of the patrons yelled out to Johnny who happened to be there: 'Hey Johnny, there's some pommie bastard singing about you on the radio. JOHNNY STEWART DROVER (Chris Buch) The mob is dipped, the drive is started out They're leaving Rockland's dusty sheds behind them The whips are cracking and the drovers shout Along the Queensland stock-roads you will find them Droving ways have been like this for years No modern ways have meant their days are over The diesel road trains cannot know the steers Or walk them down like Johnny Stewart, drover CHORUS On the banks of the Georgina and down the Diamantina To where the grass is greener, down by New South Wales Johnny Stewart's roving with mobs of cattle droving His life story moving down miles of dusty trails The cook is busy by the campfire light Above a fire a billy gently swinging The mob is settled quietly for the night And Johnny's riding softly around and singing Johnny doesn't spend much time in town Impatient for the wet to be over Most of the year he's walking cattle down The stock roads are home for Johnny Stewart, drover CHORUS Dawn will surely find another day Sun still chasing moon, never caught her The morning light will find them on their way Another push to reach the next good water CHORUS They're counted in now, Johnny's work is done And fifteen hundred head are handed over It's into town now for a little fun And a beer or two for Johnny Stewart, drover CHORUS The song has gone around Australia and the world. Gordon Bok made a fine recording of it: Youtube clip |
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Subject: Lyr Add: GENTLE ANNIE (Australian variant, Foster) From: Stewie Date: 20 Aug 20 - 09:40 AM R-J, unfortunately I do not have any recordings of Smokey. I recall he also did a belter rendition of 'Death of Ben Hall'. He had an excellent voice for Oz bush ballads - his German accent would disappear when he sang. Ah, Sandra, the turret days were wonderful. We had hundreds attend of a Sunday night. Many heard about us on the hippy routes to the north. Here is an Australian version of Stephen Foster's 'Gentle Annie'. There are several variants, but the text of an unusual one was given to Danny Spooner by Dave Lumsden who said his family tradition had that it was written for his grandmother's sister, but that he believed it was probably written for a friend. The words were by Jack Cousens who was an itinerant worker around the Murray River in the 1890s. Cousens spent much of his time with the travelling steam-driven threshing machines that travelled from town to town. GENTLE ANNIE Now the harvest time is come, Gentle Annie And the wild oats they are scattered o'er the field And you'll be anxious to know, Gentle Annie How your little crop of oats is going to yield And we're travelling down the road into Barna And we're following the feeder, Billy Yates When we arrive and we see the donah She's the little girl we left at Tommy Waits' So we must meet again Gentle Annie As each year we're travelling round your door And we never will forget you, Gentle Annie You're the little dark-eyed girl we do adore Well, your mutton's very sweet, Gentle Annie And your wines they can't be beat in New South Wales But you'd better get a fence round your cabbage Or they'll all be eaten up by the snails And you'll take my advice, Gentle Annie, And you're bound to watch old Chaffie going away With a pack bag hung over his saddle For he stole some knives and forks the other day Yes, we must meet again Gentle Annie Each year as we're travelling round your door And we never can forget you, Gentle Annie You're the little dark-eyed girl we all adore Well, your little bed of oats is fresh, Gentle Annie And the bullocks they are yoked to go away You'll be sorry when we're gone, Gentle Annie For you'll want us then to stop and thresh the hay But we must say farewell, Gentle Annie, For you know with you we cannot longer stay But we hope one and all, Gentle Annie, To be with you on another threshing day Here's a version by Martyn Wyndham-Read: Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST,Mysha Date: 20 Aug 20 - 09:35 AM Ah, thanks Sandra. I have a grasp of how Jan Abe Tassema named those islands, but have only a vague idea of how later natives reinvented the topography afterwards. (-: So, back to the general topic. I see we do have a mention of Van Diemenslandt. Are there specific parts of New Holland that we are missing but that are worth mentioning songs for? Bye Mysha |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Aug 20 - 08:21 AM The Top End is the pointy bit! Northern Territory & the northern part of Queensland. Darwin has a Top End Folk Club which used to meet in the Gun Turret I've never been there & now I can see why the Gun turret was such a great venue. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST,Mysha Date: 20 Aug 20 - 08:04 AM Which end of Australia is its top? Bye Mysha |
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Subject: Lyr Add: MY DEAR DARWIN (Paul Lawler) From: rich-joy Date: 20 Aug 20 - 07:36 AM The late Paul Lawler's observations of the changing face of tropical architecture in the Top End of the Northern Territory, after Cyclone Tracy (not necessarily for the better), are immortalised in his song "My Dear Darwin", popular with so many folkies who have visited or lived in Australia's Top End - it's very singable! MY DEAR DARWIN © Paul Lawler, 1983 Time was, when people in harmony With nature understood, That freedom for living things went without saying And life’s simple pleasures were good. Asymmetrical, practical, buildings of yesterday Made from lattice and lace, But louvres and shutters and the wide open spaces Now have concrete blocks in their place. Chorus My Dear Darwin Oh what have they done to your face, Since Tracy blew, your tropical hue Has somehow fallen from grace. Call it green season, then build without reason These homes from latitudes far, Creating hot boxes, visually obnoxious On Darwin’s horizon, a scar. Government platitudes, old-fashioned attitudes Building suburbs of gloom, Breezes are few, in your tropical igloo You’ll never enjoy the monsoon. Caravan window, breeze adagio Air condition the room, Depend when you’re hot, on one thousand watts Sealed in a suburban tomb. But make the correction and opt for convection Let the nor-wester in from the sea, Airing your dwelling and bonus that’s telling The wind and the breezes are free. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bueF-1abr_s Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Joe Offer Date: 20 Aug 20 - 04:06 AM Oh, this is fun. Thanks, Gerry. Anybody else ready to propose and manage a chapter? |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: rich-joy Date: 20 Aug 20 - 03:56 AM Stewie, do you perchance have an MP3 of Smokey's (et al) version of Lawson's "The Outside Track" (music by Gerry Hallom)??? I always thought his rendition was beautiful and needs to be known outside of The Top End. Same with his singing of the "Northern Gulf" (was that with the early Tropical Ear perhaps?), using MacColl's "North Sea Holes" as a base. I'd be happy to put them up on Paul's YT channel if you like. Cheers, R-J |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BROKEN-DOWN SQUATTER (Charles Flower) From: Stewie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 11:35 PM Below is my transcription of a Martyn Wyndham-Read rendition: THE BROKEN-DOWN SQUATTER (Charles Flower) Come, Stumpy, old man, we must shift whilst we can, Your mates in the paddock are dead We must bid our farewell to Glen Even's fair dell The place where your master was bred Together we'll roam from our drought-stricken home Seems hard that such things have to be, And it's hard on the horse when he's nought for a boss But a broken-down squatter like me Chorus: And the banks are all broken they say And the merchants are all up a tree When the bigwigs are brought to the bankruptcy court What chance for a squatter like me? No more we will muster the river for fats Nor speed on the fifteen-mile plain Nor rip through the scrub by the light of the moon Nor see the old homestead again Leave the slip-panels down, they don't matter much now, There's none but the crows left to see, Perching gaunt on a pine, as though longing to dine On a broken-down squatter like me. Chorus When the country was cursed with the drought at its worst The cattle were dying in scores Though down on me luck, I kept up me pluck Thinking justice might soften the laws But the farce had been played, and the government aid Ain't extended to squatters, old son; When me money was spent, they doubled the rent And resumed the best part of the run Chorus 'Twas done without reason, for leaving the season No squatter could stand such a rub And it's useless to squat when the rents are so hot That you can't save the price of your grub And there's not much to choose 'tween the banks and the screws When a fellow gets put up a tree There's no odds how I feel, there's no court of appeal For a broken-down squatter like me Chorus Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SAILOR HOME FROM THE SEA (Dorothy Hewett) From: Stewie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 10:48 PM My apologies, the transcription that I posted above of 'Sailor home from the sea' needs severe correction. I copied and pasted it from a Mudcat thread. Martyn's version varies a little from Hewett's original, but this is what he sings: SAILOR HOME FROM THE SEA Oh cock of the morning with a dream in his hand, My love has come home to this beautiful land He bursts through the door with his eyes like the sun And his kit bag crammed full with the treasures he's won A coral from Broome and a tall Darwin tale, A pearl and a clam and the jaws of a whale, My kitchen is full with the smell of the sea And the leaping green fishes my love brings to me Oh tumble your treasures from Darwin and Broome, And fill with your glory this straight little room With the sun of the morning ablaze on his chest My love has come home from the north of northwest And deep in our bed, we'll lie and we'll be We'll kiss and we'll listen to the rain on the sea Warm as the summer, we've lived winter long My love has come home like King Solomon's song Poem --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BARE LEGGED KATE (John Dengate) From: Stewie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 10:16 PM BARE LEGGED KATE Words: John Dengate: "Written for my mother, Born Kathleen Mary Kelly, Gundagai, NSW, 1914." Tune: Bare-legged Joe First Verse and Chorus: Bare-legged Kate with your natural grace, The big, big sad eyes in the Irish face. A poor bush girl when the summer is high In the stony hills of Gundagai. Bare-legged Kate why do you weep When the men ride by with the travelling sheep? Does the sight of the drover make you sad? Do you think of the father you never had? CHORUS: Bare-legged Kate why do you run, Down to the creek in the setting sun? Down where the eyes of the world cannot see - Run Kate, run, from poverty. CHORUS: Bare-legged Kate, there is gold in the hills But you know that the cyanide process kills. Poisons the miners and cuts them down In the mean little homes below the town. Bare-legged Kate, when the floods come down, It's the poor on the creeks are the ones who drown: When the great Murrumbidgee is thundering by Through the haunted hills of Gundagai. The above is a transcription by Bob Bolton. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WEEVILS IN THE FLOUR / WHERE I GREW TO... From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Aug 20 - 10:11 PM Dorothy Hewett's Weevils in the flour http://unionsong.com/u140.html - lyrics "Weevils in the flour" + original poem "Where I grew to be a man" On an island in a river How that bitter river ran I grew on scraps of charity In the best way that you can On an island in a river Where I grew to be a man. Chorus For dole bread is bitter bread Bitter bread and sour There's grief in the taste of it There's weevils in the flour There's weevils in the flour And just across the river Stood the mighty B.H.P., Poured pollution on the waters, Poured the lead of misery And its smoke was black as Hades Rolling hungry to the sea. In those humpies by the river Where we lived on dole and stew, While just across the river Those greedy smokestacks grew, And the hunger of the many Filled the bellies of the few. On an island in a river How that bitter river ran It broke the banks of charity And it baked the bread of man On an island in a river Where I grew to be a man. Last chorus: For dole bread is bitter bread There's a weevils in the flour But men grow strong as iron upon Black bread and sour, Black bread and sour. Notes Many thanks to Dorothy Hewett and Mike Leyden for permission to include this song in the Union Songs collection Weevils in the Flour was published in Australian Tradition, November 1965 and is sung here by Declan Affley, from the 1987 memorial LP 'Declan Affley' here is the original poem: Where I Grew To Be a Man On an island in a river, How that bitter river ran! I grew on scraps of charity In the best way that you can, On that island in the river Where I grew to be a man. For dole bread is bitter bread, Black bread and sour, There's grief in the taste of it, There's weevils in the flour. And just across the river Stood the mighty B.H.P., Poured pollution on the waters, Poured the lead of misery, And its smoke was black as Hades Rolling hungry to the sea. In those humpies by the river, We lived on dole and stew, And just across the river Those greedy smokestacks grew, And the hunger of the many Filled the bellies of the few. Oh! Winter on the river Was a time of bitter cold, A time of hungry bellies And children growing old, And men with nothing else to do But watch the river roll. For dole bread is bitter bread, Black bread and sour, There's grief in the taste of it, There's weevils in the flour. Oh! cats on the river, And men on the tide, They all became a commonplace On our river side, And even mothers couldn't weep When new-born babies died. Oh! black was the steel town, And black was the smoke, Cold-black the river water That can gag a man and choke, Till he dreams up a furnace fire Of his own to stoke. We met beside the river With the ghosts of good men drowned, We picketed the steel mill And we banked our hunger down With words that stung and deeds that hung Like live things on the town. For dole bread is bitter bread, There's weevils in the flour, There's rage in the taste of it. Black bread and sour! On an island in a river, How that bitter river ran! It broke the banks of charity, It baked the bread of man, On that island in the river Where I grew to be a man. For dole bread is bitter bread, There's weevils in the flour, But men grow strong as iron upon Black bread and sour! |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SAILOR HOME FROM THE SEA (Dorothy Hewett) From: Stewie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 10:00 PM Dorothy Hewett's poem 'Sailor home from the sea'. In Darwin, we always called it 'Cock of the north'. It has been put to several tunes, but the one used in the NT was by Martyn Wyndham-Read. SAILOR HOME FROM THE SEA Oh cock of the morning with a dream in your hand, My love has come home, come ashore to the land As he walks through the door with his eyes like the sun And his kit bags crammed full of the treasures he's won. There's a pearl shell from Broome and a tall Darwin tale, Coral and clam and the jaws of a whale, And our kitchen is full of the smell of the sea And the leaping green fishes my love brings to me. Oh tumble your treasures from Darwin and Broome, And fill with your glory my straight little room With the sun in the morning ablaze on your chest, My love has come home from the north of northwest. 4. And deep in these beds we will love and we'll lie, We'll kiss and we'll listen to the rain in the sky, Warm as the summer, we'll hive winter long, My love has come home like King Solomon's song. A recent video by Martyn: Cock of the north --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Aug 20 - 09:59 PM Phyl Lobl has written so many great songs. lyrics Antiwar songs In 1968, Phyl released her own E.P. (remember them?!) titled "Dark Eyed Daughter". It was a significant political statement by an Australian folk singer as it was dedicated to the political issue of Aboriginal Rights at a time when Australia's Aboriginal people were disenfranchised. Phyl recorded two of her own songs for the EP, the title song "Dark Eyed Daughter" and "Will You Fight, Will You Dare?" As well, Phyl recorded the song "Whose Hand" written by Ian Hills and Kath Walker's poem "No More Boomerang" to which she and her friend, later to be her husband, Geri Lobl had composed a tune and arrangement. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 09:33 PM Bob Randall's classic song about the stolen generation: Brown skin baby A beaut cover and video by Tom Reid, an Irishman who spent time in Oz: Tom Reid's rendition --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: HEY RAIN (Bill Scott) From: Stewie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 09:02 PM HEY RAIN (Bill Scott) CHORUS: Hey rain, rain comin' down On the cane, on the roofs of the town. There's rain on me hands and rain on me face, Oh muddy old Innisfail's a muddy wet place, Hey rain, hey rain. And there's rain in me beer and rain in me grub, And they've just fitted anchors to the Garradunga pub, Hey rain, hey rain. Chorus........ There's a Johnstone River crocodile livin' in me frig' And a bloody great tree on the Jubilee Bridge Hey rain, hey rain. And the monsoon sky has sprung a leak From Flyin' Fish Point to the Millstream Creek, Hey rain, hey rain. Chorus..... And the storm clouds are so black and big There's an old flyin' fox in the Moreton Bay fig, Hey rain, hey rain It's the worst wet season we've ever had, And I'd swim down to Tully, but it's just as bloody bad Hey rain, hey rain. Chorus..... Youtube clip Mudcat thread --Stewie. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WHERE THE CANE FIRES BURN (Bill Scott) From: Stewie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 08:48 PM WHERE THE CANE FIRES BURN (Bill Scott) I've wandered east, I've wandered west, From the Hamersley Range to the Snowy Crest, From the Lachlan Plains to the Broken Hill, But my heart's at the Johnstone River still. Now the time has come when I must return Where the vine scrub grows and the cane fires burn. Where the vine scrub grows and the cane fires burn. By the Yarra now the cold rain falls And the wind is bleak from the Bass Strait squalls, I stand and wonder in the chill Has the season started at Mulgrave Mill? For Autumn comes and I must return Where the harvesters chug and the trash fires burn - Where the harvesters chug and the trash fires burn. The smog is thick and stings the eye Where the Harbour Bridge fills half the sky And the sirens wail through Sydney town.... But I dream of Tully when the sun goes down Where the rainforest covers the hills with green The cane grows tall and the air is clean - The cane grows tall and the air is clean. I've been wandering South and West On land and sea, but the north is best. Now Autumn comes with its hint of snows And I must follow where the egret goes To watch the evening's first faint star From Flying Fish Point or Yarrabah- From Flying Fish Point or Yarrabah. Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 08:37 PM Rabbit Trapper Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 08:21 PM Another fine song from Hulett's days in Oz: Suicide town Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 08:04 PM Alistair Hulett's excellent song relating to Wittenoom mine in Western Australia. He fades away Youtube clip --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: John MacKenzie Date: 19 Aug 20 - 02:44 PM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c80UR3PtGuQ Where the Brumbies Come to Water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhH0r-0YbFo Reedy Lagoon |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GUEST,Mysha Date: 19 Aug 20 - 08:07 AM Is there a separate chapter on New Zealand songs? Or else, where does By the Dry Cardrona go? Bye Mysha |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ONE OF THE HAS-BEENS (Don Henderson) From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Aug 20 - 02:12 AM https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=6510 - Don Henderson's re-writing of this classic Australian folksong + original song both on this thread & below One of the has-beens by Don Henderson I'm one of the has-beens A folk song I mean. In oral transmission I once was serene. Illiterate agrarians my worth would avow, but you may not believe me 'cause they don't do it now. Chorus I'm as awkward as a new one, much more cap and gown, than a blithe air of arcadia; I've been written down Eluding the Banjo, Vance Palmer, Bert Lloyd, Jones, Durst and O'Connor I did likewise avoid. Manifold, Meredith, Tate, de Hugard, both Scotts, all found finding me was too hard. One day while engrossed in making a whip, my current custodian let his version slip. Ron Edwards was on hand and wrote down all that, while feigning description of the sixteen strand plait. Oh, it's no use complaining, I'll never say die, though the variant days for me have gone by. Now captured in MS, stave and magazine, I merely have told you just what I have been. Don Henderson 1937 - 1991 collectors of Australian Folk song Banjo Paterson, Vance Palmer, Bert Lloyd, Percy Jones, Joy Durst, Norm O'Connor, John Manifold, John Meredith, Brad Tate, Dave de Hugard, brothers bill Scott and Alan Scott Ron Edwards collector, folklorist, artist, storyteller, craftsman ... ================== ONE OF THE HAS-BEENS. It's an Australian shearing song and is from the point of view of an old man who used to be the best shearer in the sheds, i.e. the ringer, but now he is old and has lost most of his shearing prowess. The tune is PRETTY POLLY PERKINS OF PADDINGTON GREEN, and this tune and lyrics are in the DT database if you search for [Polly Perkins]. I probably found this on an Australian folk music site. I posted these lyrics in a thread called "Feedback please" a while back. I'll check where I got it from and post the site address. Helen ONE OF THE HAS-BEENS I'm one of the has-beens a shearer I mean I once was a ringer and I used to shear clean I could make the wool roll off like the soil from the plough But you may not believe me for I can't do it now CHORUS: I'm as awkward as a new chum and I'm used to the frown That the boss often shows me saying keep them blades down I've shore with Pat Hogan, Bill Bright and Jack Gunn Tommy Leighton Charlie Fergus and the great roaring Dunn They brought from the Lachlan the best they could find But not one among them could leave me behind It's no use complaining I'll never say die Though the days of fast shearing for me have gone by I'll take the world easy shear slowly and clean And I merely have told you just what I have been Notes - Printed in Stewart and Keesing Old Bush Songs with the note: "From Mrs G.L.Ginns, of Merrylands, NSW". (Written by Robert Stewart) From the singing of A.L.Lloyd, who writes on the notes for Across the Western Plains that he heard it in Cowra, NSW when he was working there in the 1920s. Tune 'Pretty Polly Perkins' |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SERVICE SONG (Harry Robertson) From: JennieG Date: 18 Aug 20 - 10:00 PM Yes - a great choice, Helen. I quite like "Service song" by Harry Robertson. SERVICE SONG Lyrics and Music: Harry Robertson Arranged by Evan Mathieson When I was a boy on my daddy’s farm, he sometimes used to say, Take the brown cow out for service, son, to the farmer down the way. Each time I took the cow down there, the farmer he would say, Just leave the cow with me my boy, and come back another day. For years it had me puzzled — what did this service mean? ’Til one day I decided that this service must be seen, Through a knot hole in the barn door — with a youthful naked eye, I saw what they’ve been doing to us in the years that had gone by. We hear a lot of talk these days, from companies big and small, What would we do without them, they’re a service to us all, We’re here to serve the people — just buy from us once more, For years we’ve really served you — but we’d love to serve you more. When you hear a politician say, “I’ve served my country true.” I don’t know what he means by that, so I’ll leave that one to you. We’re here to serve the people — elect us just once more, For years we’ve really served you — but we’d love to serve you more. So in the next election friends, when you put your cross on the dot, Be sure you elect a proper man — or you’ll get what the brown cow got! We’re here to serve the people — elect us just once more, For years we’ve really served you — but we’d love to serve you more! (Repeat last two lines — with great gusto — for final chorus) Any of Harry Robertson's songs would be good. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Helen Date: 18 Aug 20 - 08:53 PM One of my favourite Henry Lawson songs is Do You Think That I Do Not Know? The song is performed by Priscilla Herdman to the tune that Chris Kempster set it to, as shown in The Songs of Henry Lawson which CK compiled. I like this song because a lot of HL's poems or songs are about people striving to make a living in the bush, some are funny like The Loaded Dog, some are sad, some are about the hard life on the land, but Do You Think ... is different. It seems more personal to HL. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Stewie Date: 18 Aug 20 - 08:11 PM Battler's ballad --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Joe Offer Date: 18 Aug 20 - 06:52 PM Certainly, the chapter should include something from Henry Lawson, like The Outside Track. Lots of ideas in John Thompson's Australian Folk Song a Day |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Mysha Date: 18 Aug 20 - 10:41 AM "Now I'm easy"? |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: GerryM Date: 18 Aug 20 - 06:06 AM As the Mudcat Songbook is intended to be a follow-up to Rise Up Singing and Rise Again, here is a list of the Australian songs that are already in those two books. No point in posting these songs to this thread (unless it's to make corrections/additions to the entries in those books). Rise Up Singing contains Kookaburra Mothers Daughters Wives No Man's Land Safe in the Harbor South Australia Waltzing Matilda Rise Again contains Down Under Rattlin' Bones The Band Played Waltzing Matilda Leaving the Land The Court of King Caractacus Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport All For Me Job If It Weren't For the Union One Voice in the Crowd Until |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ANDERSON'S COAST (John Warner) From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Aug 20 - 11:00 AM John Warner Singer Songwriter Poet and good bloke 4. ANDERSON'S COAST © John Warner 8/5/93 Old Bass Strait roars like some great millrace, And where are you, my Annie? And 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 where are you, my Annie? And from Van Dieman's we north did steer, Till Bass Strait's wild waves wrecked us here. A mile inland as our path was laid And where are you, my Annie? We found a government stockade Long deserted but stoutly made. 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. We hail no ships 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 Dieman'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 remain. |
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Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Jeri Date: 16 Aug 20 - 10:22 AM John and Debra sing Anderson's Coast on YouTube John DOES sing "our chain gang roll". |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ANDERSON'S COAST (John Warner) From: GUEST,henryp Date: 16 Aug 20 - 04:14 AM Anderson's Coast by John Warner Old Bass Strait roars like a great mill race And where are you, my Annie? And the same moon shines on this distant place As shone that night on my Annie's face. Chorus (after each verse): And Annie dear, don't wait for me, I fear I'll never return to thee. There's naught to do but endure my fate And watch the moon, the lonely moon, Light the breakers of wild Bass Strait. We stole a vessel and all her gear And where are you, my Annie? And from Van Diemen's north did steer Till Bass Strait's wild waves, they wrecked us here. A mile inland as our path was laid And where are you, my Annie? We found a government stockade, Long, long deserted, but stoutly made. And somewhere's west port Melbourne lies And where are you, my Annie? Through swamps infested with snakes and flies And the fool who walks there, the fool he dies. We hail no ships, though time it drags, And where are you, my Annie? For our chain gang roll and government rags, They mark us out as Van Diemen's lags. We fled the lash and the chafing chain, And where are you, my Annie? We fled starvation and brutal pain, But here we are, and here remain. John Roberts and Debra Cowan sing Anderson's Coast. Words from Mainly Norfolk. Recording by Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, It's also in the DT: Here |
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Subject: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia From: Joe Offer Date: 15 Aug 20 - 10:32 PM
This thread will be edited by GerryM. -Joe Offer- |
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