Lyr Add: Shearing at Castlereagh (Banjo Paterson)

Subject: Lyr Add: SHEARING AT CASTLEREAGH (Banjo Paterson
From:
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 12:30 AM

SHEARING AT CASTLEREAGH

Now the bell is set a-ringing and the engine gives a toot
There's five-and-thirty shearers here, a-shearing for the loot
So stir yourselves you penners-up, shove those sheep along
For the musterers are fetching them a hundred thousand strong
And make your collie dog speak up what would the buyer say
In London if the wool was late this year at Castlereagh

Now the man that runs the Tubbo shed he's not the ringer here
That stripling from the Cooma could teach him how to shear
They ring 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 a stop nor stay
They're racing for the ringer's place this year at Castlereagh

Now the man that keeps the cutters sharp is growling in his cage
Always in a hurry, he's always in a rage
You clumsy-fisted mutton-head you'd make a fellow sick
You pass yourselves as shearers you were born to swing a pick
Another broken cutter here that's two you broke today
In my young day you'd never of made the shed at Castlereagh

And the youngsters picking up the fleece enjoy the merry din
They throw the classer up the wool he throws it in the bin
The presser's standing by the rack a-waiting for the wool
There's room for just a couple more, the press is nearly full
So jump up on the lever lads and heave, heave away
Another bale of golden fleece is branded Castlereagh


By Banjo Paterson. Sung and recorded by Gerry Hallom

Subject: RE: Add Lyrics-Castlereagh
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 07:07 AM

G'day Jacko,

It may just be a typo (I certainly can cast no stones!), but the line should be:
Now the man that "rung" the Tubbo shed he's not the ringer here
.

That is "rung" in the same sense as line 6 of this stanza:
They're racing for the ringer's place this year at Castlereagh
.

For those not familiar with antipodean shearing terms, the "ringer" is the top shearer in that shed, the one who shears the most sheep in a given period.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Add Lyrics-Castlereagh
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 09:25 AM

Bob or Jacko, I've never heard this sung. Got a tune? Regards, John

Subject: RE: Add Lyrics-Castlereagh
From:
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 05:03 PM

gidday Bob

It was no typo so thank you.
John, I can't do midi tunes or the like, but catch me on HearMe and I'll be happy to sing for you

Subject: RE: Add Lyrics-Castlereagh
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 10:27 PM

G'day Guest,

I don't have it written down anywhere, even less in MIDI &c. I have been familiar with with Gerry's tune since I bought his record, early 1980s (?). Most of that record is on a Musica Pangaea release in their (very short) series of Australian sensitive songs (or romantic ... or whatever - the other one is by Martym Wyndham-Read).

I bought the CD hoping to hear what Gerry sounds like tese days (having heard good things - even comparisons to Ewan MacColl!) but was disappointed that it was really old stuff. I knew Gerry in the '70s, when he was in Sydney. I negotiated with him to use the Turner Hall at the Institute of Technology - but did not have him on the concert bill because I did not know that he sang ... very well.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Add Lyrics-Castlereagh
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 02:37 PM

Thanx, Jacko