Lyr Req: Give Me a Home among the Gum Trees

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Helen
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 07:45 PM

Hi Bob,

This is what your link address looked like. A simple cut-&-paste error, I would say. Elementary, my dear Watson.

http://http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?ThreadID=23573

Helen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 03:14 AM

G'day all,

Helen: Thanks for patching that up ... I thought I just filled in the areas in the formula that (Joe Offer?) posted a week or two back - apparently I missed or doubled up somewhere - I will analyse that one when I get finished with this issue of Mulga Wire.

Callie: I have seen the Sensitive New Age Cowpersons twice but not heard their national anthem ... National anthems are pretty fair game!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Helen
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 12:18 AM

Bob, your blue clicky didn't work because there was repetition of the first part of the address.

This one should work (I hope)

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?ThreadID=23573

Helen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Callie
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 03:28 AM

I've never had the pleasure of hearing that one. By the way Bob, I guess you've heard the Sensitive New Age Cowpersons' National Anthem? (excuse the thread creep!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 02:45 AM

G'day yet again,

Callie: No problem ... other than that my mind was still reeling from the song requested by PoohBear in the Lyr/Chords Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat thread a few days back. The offending song turns out to be an Irish attempt to write something atmospheric about a Sydney Harbour Ferry ride ... I am still shuddering!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Callie
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 02:28 AM

Hi Bob (or is that "hi Bob!" in italics?!)

No bad intention: you're just one of the fountains of knowledge on Australian music. Thought you'd be able to provide the words at the drop of a hat (whether you liked them or not!)

I had to miss John's performance on Saturday night unfortunately. I particularly wanted to hear Sue Gee. Oh well ... I'll have to be content with another playing of "Follies for Pollies" when I get home!

cheers (cobber!)

Callie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 02:15 AM

G'day again,

All right ... the blue clicky refuses to work for me and I realise I have been mean to Callie ... she only referred this thread to me!

And my html stills leaves out the odd (vital) character ...!

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 02:11 AM

G'day All,

I reckon that Callie's preferences are very like mine. (I am reviewing a re-release to CD of one of John Warner's older collections The Sea and The Soil as well as his Yarri song cycle in the next issue of Mulga Wire.

I published the first book of John Dengate's song and verse (My Shout back in (~?) 1984 and enjoyed his performance at The Loaded DogThe Fagans (senior, at least) were in the audience and Us Not them are on in a concert later this month.

I guess that Give me a home amongst the gumtrees is not as bad as it could be (I used to introduce it, when we were into "potboilers" as "A plea for tradional elements among Australian native gardens - Give me a gnome amonst the gum trees ... Er well ...) Anyway, have a look at this horror that appeared on a recent thread (now, we hope, slowly sinking in Sydney Harbour. (and Callie referred it towards me!)

My 1st Blue Clicky!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Callie
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 01:32 AM

KT: I have to tell you I'm probably not yer typical Aussie. Also, a lot of the grass-roots folk remains widely unknown outside a small and devoted circle.

Instead of hearing the cheery "Road to Gundagai", i'd rather hear John Dengate's "Bare-Legged Kate", about his mother, who was born in Gundagai the same year that the cheery one was written. There's also John Warner's "Yarri" song cycle about the floods in Gundagai which are funny in parts without being glib.

It's all in the ear of the beholder, but here are some of my favourite Australian folk singers (let me know if you're interested in hearing samples - happy to post you a tape if recordings are too hard to find):

John Warner and Margaret Walters (and their group the Roaring Forties); John Dengate; The Fagans; John Benuik; Us Not Them (although a few kangas do creep in there occasionally!); The Creel; the songs of Paul Spencer; the list is endless (but I'm at work and I must end this thread!)

Callie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: KT
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 12:49 AM

Callie, what more meaningful songs would you suggest? I know just a few Australian folk tunes, but would love to learn some that Aussies would be happy to hear when they are not in their own country.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 08:01 PM

Well I'm for Marmite rather than Vegemite of course. But I think I can spot a tongue in a cheek. Doesn't mean it's not a sincere tongue in cheek - what I mean is, whoever wrote the song is aware that he's putting on a bit of an act. I don't mean he's knocking the icons he mentions.

Can't see it as in any way jingoistic, in itself. A sentimental self-mocking bit of nostalgia I'd call it. A pity if it gets sung in a jingoistic context, but a song can't help the people who sing it.

But for modern Australian songs that noone could call jingoist or shallow Enda Kenny is the man! (And I betcha he'd put a different perspective on that song if he ever sung it! And I wouldn't put that past him either.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Callie
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 07:19 PM

No - sadly, it's not tongue in cheek. At least I've never heard it performed that way. And audiences don't respond to it tongue in cheek either.

I think it's a real shame that such jingoistic, shallow songs are widely known to the exclusion of more meaningful songs which tell you a lot more about the culture in question.

Callie (in irritation that real songs about Australia aren't more widely heard)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: alison
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 12:39 AM

Bullamakanka sang a version of it as the theme tune for "Burkes Backyard".. an Aussie gardening/ lifestyle/ infotainment type program.....

but many others have done it too

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 11:50 AM

I thought you might mean something like that. By the time Aussies get over to England, they mostly seem to turn out a little bit that way. I think it happens en route. I used to live near Earls Court.

But without listening to the song, it reads is if it's pretty tongue-in-cheek - vegemite on toast and all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: robroy
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 10:56 AM

Never heard the Bushwackers sing it. But perhaps you meant BULLAMAKANKA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Callie
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 04:45 AM

You know - like we're all fair dinkum and have roos in the backyard and drive Holdens. And drink a shitload of beer. That's Aussie Aussie. i don't know anyone like that (except the beer bit).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Helen
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 04:20 AM

McGrath,

If I say Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi! will it mean anything to you? (sorry, not relevant at all, but couldn't resist)

Think I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen compared with one of the really authentic Irish songs. I would call it a "manufactured" song, e.g. The Spice Girls are a "manufactured" band, and so were The Monkees - manufactured by someone who saw a niche in the market and created a band and songs to fit it for the purpose of making money rather than for the purpose of making music for music's sake.

Helen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 08:47 PM

Aussie Aussie?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: alison
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 04:01 AM

doesn't work for me either Joe,.. I've just sent Alan the MIDI .. it'll appear at Mudcat MIDIs soon

slainte

alison

Subject: Lyr Add: (GIVE ME A) HOME AMONG THE GUM TREES
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 03:36 AM

"(GIVE ME A) HOME AMONG THE GUM TREES"

Written by W. Johnson/B. Brown (Mushroom Music)
Reprinted by permission

---

This site best heard with . . . (click to play) (doesn't work for me)

---

1	I've been around the world
  	A couple of times, or maybe more,
  	I've seen the sights, I've had delights
  	On ev'ry foreign shore,
  	But when my friends all ask me
  	The place that I adore,
  	I tell them right away. 
  
  CHORUS
  	Give me a home among the gum trees,
  	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.
  
  
  2	You can see me in the kitchen
  	Cooking up a roast,
  	Or vegemite on toast,
  	Just you and me, a cup of tea.
  	Later on, we'll settle down, 
  	And  mull up on the porch
  	And watch the possums play. 
  
  CHORUS 
  3.	There's a Safeway on the corner
  	And a Woolworths down the street,
  	And a New World's just been opened
  	Where  they regulate  the heat,
  	But I'd trade them all tomorrow
  	For the simple bush retreat
  	Where the kookaburras call.
  CHORUS 
  
  4	Some people like their houses
  	With fences all around,
  	Others live in mansions,
  	And some beneath the ground,
  	But me, I like the bush, you know,
  	With rabbits running round
  	And a pumpkin vine out the back. 
  CHORUS.
  CODA
  	And an old rocking chair.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: alison
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 01:38 AM

every bush band that has done a recording of Aussie songs has probably done it........

I usually get the job of doing the action while the others play.....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: GUEST,John
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 01:30 AM

The "Bushwhackers" made it famous in the land of OZ.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Helen
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 09:08 PM

Here are the lyrics and a midi for Give me a Home among the Gum Trees

It's used as the theme song for a television programme here (in Oz) about gardening - I'm not sure who sings it - could be John Williamson but it could be a band.

http://www.att.virtualclassroom.org/vc98/vc_14/gingin/gumtrees.html

Helen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: Callie
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 07:38 PM

I think it's by John Williamson. I don't know the words. It's a bit 'Aussie Aussie' for my liking. Maybe Bob Bolton can help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: to an australian song
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 04:04 PM

You could try this Australian song site. If you don't find the one you're looking for, you will find lots of songs you'd be looking for, if you knew they were there to look for.

Subject: to an australian song
From: GUEST,katie
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 11:44 AM

i was just in australia and learned a couple lines to this song, but i'd like to have the rest of the lyrics as well as the title and artist... here are the lines i do know: (and I'm not sure if they're absolutely correct)

"i want a home beneth the gum trees with lots of plum trees, a sheep or two and a kangaroo a clothes line out the back, and an old rocking chair.. "

if anybody can help i'd rreeeeeaaally appreciate it.. you can also e-mail me at: [e-mail]