Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: Fergie
Date: 04 Sep 11 - 07:49 PM

Hi all

It is my understanding that the phrase "in storms the riders rattle" refers to the method of construction of corrugated metal roofs that were used in bush homesteads at the time. Riders was the term given to the battens that were nailed horizontally across the rafters to which the sheets of corrugated iron were then nailed. The fasteners used nowadays are designed to hold securely to the riders, but back then ordinary galvanised nails were used and the wind would over time cause the nails to lift and required regular tightening down with a hammer to ensure that in storms the metal sheets of the roof didn't rattle and vibrate and create an infernal din.

To reduce confusion and to make this beautiful song more accessible, when I sing the song I change the phrase to "in storms the roof it rattles"

Fergus Russell

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Sep 11 - 06:46 PM

Phyl's Past Carin' MP3

Subject: Lyr Add: PAST CARING
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 04 Sep 11 - 06:39 PM

G'day zozimus,

Re yours of 28 Aug 11 - 08:04 PM, another really heart-rending poem (and, of course - in several settings - song ...) is below: Past Caring:

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 from the ground,
The tank's clay bed is glarin',
But from my heart no tear nor sound,
For I have gone past carin' —
Past worryin' or carin',
Past feelin' aught or carin';
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,
And slavery and starvation;
Through childbirth, sickness, hurt, and blight,
And nervousness an' scarin',
Through bein' left alone at night,
I've got to be past carin'.
Past botherin' or carin',
Past feelin' and past carin';
Through city cheats and neighbours' spite,
I've come 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'.
I've grown to be past carin',
Past worryin' and wearin';
I've pulled three through and buried two
Since then, and I'm past carin'.

'Twas 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'.
I've grown to be past carin'
Past lookin' for or carin';
The girl that waited long ago,
Has lived 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'.

This is most widely known in a setting by Steve Ashley ... recorded by the Bushwackers (~ 1970 to present 'folk-rock' band ... not the Bushwhackers that founded the Australian Folk Revival (and the Bush Music Club) in the mid 1950s. I prefer the version by Phyl Lobl ... except I would prefer to sing the full Lawson words, with a refrain modified from the last line(s) of each stanza, rather than (the, admittedly easier to remember!) 'standardised refrain!

If you are interested in alternative tunes, I can set up a simple MIDI version of Phyl's tune and post that to the Mudcat.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: The Doctor
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 06:23 AM

Martyn Wyndham-Read has recorded quite a number of Lawson songs, including 'Andy's gone with cattle', which he put on four different LPs, one of which, Emu Plains, has been re-released on CD. He has also produced 'Down the Lawson Track', which has been performed at various venues, including the Royal Festival Hall, and Canberra, where it was recorded by ABC on 8/04/09 and subsequently broadcast. I don't know if it's still available, but if anyone wants to PM me I can give them more details.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 02:28 AM

reply from my Lawson expert

There are a couple of websites that provide most if not all of Lawson's poems in full, eg

lawson on poemhunter.com

lawson on famouspoetsandpoems.com


sorry, I can't help you with particular songs by Lawson, I don't have the knowledge, but I have asked another expert!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: zozimus
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 08:04 PM

Hi Sandra,
If you check out thewildbeesnest.ie web page you'll find a new song written called "Carolyn Chisholm, The Emigrants Friend", which attempts to dissociate the work of Chisholm from the Earl Grey Scheme, whereby young females were taken from the workhouses in Ireland to meet the needs of a female shortage in Australia in the 1830s. Whilst the work of Chisholm is applauded by many in helping to populate Australia in those early years, it is apparent that many of the marriages were mismatched in years, many young girls being married to men 20 or 30 years older. I find Lawson's song "I'll Wait Til The Children Come Home" really nails down the problems of this quick fix solution. Has he any other songs on this theme or are there other songs that touch on it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 09:30 AM

the book is a revised enlarged edition with 45 extra songs plus the original 230

The Folk Federation of NSW, publisher of book & CD, has copies of the CD (& book) for sale & take credit cards, tho not on-line

However both book & CD can be purchased online here - Trad and Now

I've sent your question re abbreviated songs to one of the coordinators of the book.

sandra







This new edition of The Songs of Henry Lawson is designed with the needs of performers, teachers and students in mind, being spiral-bound and easy to prop on your music stand. Singers and musicians will find in it inspiration for their own performance and composition.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: zozimus
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 08:06 AM

Hi Sandra,
I have the old copy of the book. Are there any additional songs in the new version? A number of songs/poems in the origional were abbrieviated versions. Where can one find the origionals? Finally, Chris Kempster made a double CD of some of the songs. Is this still available and where could I get a copy.
                                  Many thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 12:05 AM

Gidday, Gerry

how to buy 2nd ed of Chris Kempster's Songs of Henry Lawson - info & sample pages

It's a heavy book, & would probably cost a lot to post to Ireland, so if you know anyone traveling to Australia they might be able to bring it back to you, if they have space in their luggage!

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: Helen
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 07:50 PM

Hi Gerry,

I think the "riders", which is a term I have never heard in relation to gates, would be a part of the farm gates which are loose and rattling in the storms. The gates would have been made of wood in Lawson's time, and would have looked a lot like these wooden farm gates in New Zealand

If the gates were not being maintained the joins would have loosened and they would rattle. That's my best guess.

As Jeff B has said, and according to
Wikipedia's defiinition of squatters is: In Australian history, squatting and squatter referred to those who occupied large tracts of Crown land in order to graze livestock. Initially often having no legal rights to the land, they gained its usage by being the first (and often the only) Europeans in the area.

You may be interested in a book by Chris Kempster called The Songs of Henry Lawson. There are often different tunes used by different performers for the same poems. It is a treasure trove, not only of the poems of Henry Lawson, but also of the musical interpretations of his poems.

Helen
in Newcastle, Australia

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: JeffB
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 03:13 PM

Squatters weren't actually landlords. They were (still are, although I don't know if they are called squatters much nowadays) the big landowners in the Outback, grazing their stock over many thousands of acres. In the USA they would be called ranchers. Originally a lot of them didn't have legal title to the land but simply claimed it and "squatted" on it.

In the harsh conditions of the Outback, these big graziers often resented the Selectors, or Free selectors (another term you will come across in Australian folksong.) These men selected and bought small plots of Crown Land up for offers and set up as small-time graziers raising sheep and cattle. But there was competition for grass and water, and the squatters would often give their smaller neighbours a hard time over such things as water rights, or stock straying through broken fences.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: maeve
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 06:56 AM

rid·er (rdr)
n.
1. One that rides, especially one who rides horses.
2. A clause, usually having little relevance to the main issue, that is added to a legislative bill.
3. An amendment or addition to a document or record. Also called allonge.
4. Something, such as the top rail of a fence, that rests on or is supported by something else.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: zozimus
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 05:22 AM

The squatters were the landlords who rented out their plots to the workers,very similiar to Ireland in the good old days. There is quite a collection of the works of both Lawson and Patterson that can be downloaded free from an Australian e-book site. As for "Around the Boree Log", that brings back memories. It was very popular in Ireland about 50 years ago, probably because it was written by a priest, and was safe. My mother used to teack me to read with that book.
"Andy's Gone With Cattle" was so popular and touched the hearts of so many that Lawson subsequently wrote "Andy's Return", one of his few happy poems.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Andy's gone a-droving? / ...with Cattle
From: GUEST,Gerry Doyle in Ireland.
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 04:11 AM

I'm an Irish fisherman who loves poetry and have loved Australian bush poetry since my wife bought me a copy of 'Around the Boree Log'. Since then I have been sent presents of Lawson's poetry and Patterson's poetry by our daughter, when she spent four or five years as a nurse in Australia.

"The gates are out of order now , In a storm the riders rattle." And
"Oh, who shall cheek the squatter now , When he comes us snarling".

I don't understand what the 'rider' on a gate would be, and who is the 'squatter'? Is he some sort of rent collector? Can anyone out there explain please, because When I am telling the story I find it is easier to remember what I understand. So here's hoping that there is someone out there who will take the trouble.

Subject: RE: andys gone a droving
From: dreoilin
Date: 16 May 00 - 11:38 AM

thanks!!

Subject: RE: andys gone a droving
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 16 May 00 - 09:27 AM

Priscilla Herdman's beautiful version of "Andy's Gone With Cattle" is on her first LP (now CD) THE WATER LILY (Philo).

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: andys gone a droving
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 16 May 00 - 09:23 AM

It's in the Digital Tradition called "ANDY'S GONE WITH CATTLE". Go to the box and type in the search words "Andy" and "droving". Or just click here.

Subject: Lyr Add: ANDY'S GONE WITH CATTLE (Henry Lawson)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 16 May 00 - 09:22 AM

G'day Dreolin,

This is a Henry Lawson poem written in 1888. Chris Kempster's The Songs of Henry Lawson gives 8 different traditional and recent tunes - it is quite popular!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

ANDY'S GONE WITH CATTLE

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?
0 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.

0 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.

Later version of verse one:

Our Andy's gone with cattle now - our hearts are out of order -
With drought he's gone to battle now across the Queensland border.
Etc....

Subject: RE: andys gone a droving
From: GUEST,Paul Burke
Date: 16 May 00 - 08:08 AM

This was on a record by Salmontails (a Coventry (UK) band )of about 1975. Eddie Murphy (not that one) sang it and Clive (surname?) played Northumbrian Pipes. Julian Badcock has my copy, along with all my other vinyl, and he's gone off to live on a narrowboat in Shropshire somewhere, so finding it may take some time.

Subject: andys gone a droving
From: GUEST,dreoilin
Date: 16 May 00 - 08:01 AM

Looking for the lyrics of this lovely Australian ballad ; not sure if this is the title but the chorus has this line in it