Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)

Subject: Australians True (1901)
From: aussiebloke
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 05:03 PM

G'day all

Posted on behalf of a mate of a mate o' mine, feller from over Coffs Harbour way...

This bloke is after 'very simple verse and chorus music, nothing elaborate', but does not specify a recording, or chords tabs whatever.

Australians True (1901) also known as the Federal National song.

A couple of web-searches yields only this passing reference to its existence:
http://www.music.unimelb.edu.au/about/CSAM/events.html

In the late nineteenth century the development of inter-colonial relations sparked the move towards economic and social integration of the colonies. Beginning in the 1880s, the federation movement was led by the 'Father of Federation', the politician Henry Parkes, amidst the growth of organisations such as the Australian Natives' Association and the Federation Leagues established to push the cause within the colonies. Edmund Barton, the future first Prime Minister of Australia and dedicatee of this song (Star of Australia), was the driving force in the development of the leagues, and members were active in the 'yes' campaigns for the referendums. The Star of Australia was featured at a public meeting of the Federation League of Northern Tasmania on 17 July 1899 at the Albert Hall, Launceston. It was performed by Mr A L Wells amidst a program of organ music, other songs such as Australians True ... to the 1897—98 Federal Convention.

Any pointers to lyrics or recordings?

aussiebloke

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 08:06 AM

G'day Aussiebloke,

I just caught your direct e-mail on this. I can't place the specific Federal National Song (and, after having to learn the whole original version of Advance Australia Fair for a League Of Jewish Women's gig some years back ... I don't know that I want to!) ... but I might run it past a JC Vaughan (mainly a vexillologist ... or vexillographer, apparently these days) but otherwise into this area of would be anthems.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 08:10 AM

G'day again,

(Esprit de l'escalier ...)

BTW: I seem to remember a book called Australian National Songs that gathered all the contenders form the last century, or so, into one turgid volume. It should still be mouldering wherever remaindering shops deposit their remaindered remainders ... ?

(OK, I will check out Da Capo, in Glebe.)

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 04:46 PM

Bob-

Where, of course, you'll find some other interesting songbook to add to your modest collection.;~)

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 08:53 PM

G'day again Aussibloke,

I had a look at the Booksearch on Da Capo's web site and could not find any trace of that book. I seem to remember it was published in the '80s - either as a run up to the Bicentenary (1988) ... or, more likely, back when Gough Whitlam was talking about holding a referendum on a new National Anthem. If it was the second ... we are looking for something published about 20 years ago.

I might be able to nip round to Da Capo as I walk home tonight and see if they have copies in the scrap box ... or stashed away against the chance someone might want a copy one day.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: aussiebloke
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 01:33 AM

Good on yer Bob, as always, I appreciate your assistance. The song certainly exists, and everything has to be somewhere...

aussiebloke

PS: 32nd Top Half Folk Festival this weekend - yee-ha!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 02:16 AM

G'day Aussiebloke,

Your Top Half Folk Festival is probably going to be a tad warmer and dryer than the Albion Park Folk Gathering ... but a hell of a lot longer drive! (For me, anyway ...)

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 08:20 AM

Don't want to rain on Bob's parade but give me a yell if you can't find it - [e-mail]

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: GUEST,Guest (lostmacookie) Tony in Darwin
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 08:28 AM

G'day Bob,

I don't know about warmer, we've been suffering a cold snap here...it got down to 15C the other night...brrr!

BTW, Lovely photo of Bloodwood in front of the Uluru backdrop...although it's got Aussiebloke thinking about microphones for lagerphones!

Cheers anyway,

Tony
PS Have a great time at Albion Park...isn't that where the greyhounds used to race?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 08:35 AM

G'day,

Tony: ... no greyhounds down there now ... might have been the big patch that is now a Woolworths-based shopping centre ...?

Aussiebloke: I found the book I was thinking of - but no luck ... this one was (Songs of Australia,(ed Frank Hinz, Bayside Press, Frankston, Victoria, 1977)mainly covers the unsuccessful contenders in Gogh Whitlam's National Anthem quest of the 1970s. (Pretty turgid stuff, too!)

I think we are going to have to take up John in Brisbane's rash offer.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: aussiebloke
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 11:55 AM

he he - go John... the game is afoot...

Subject: Lyr Add: A FEDERAL SONG (Sampson, Evans)
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 09:24 AM

Well my first try yielded a song from 1899 titled 'A FEDERAL SONG', music by George Sampson and words by George Essex .

"In the greyness of the morning we have seen the pilot star
In the whisper of the morning we have heard the years afar,
Shall we sleep and let them be
When they call to you and me?
Can we break the land asunder God has girdled with the sea?

Chorus For the flag is flying oer us, from the desert to the sea,
March shoulder firm together to the days that are to be;
The flag is flying o'er us and the Star of Hope we see,
Uplift the mighty chorus for Australian Unity!

There are two similarly uplifting verses which I won't transcribe for the moment. No mention of 'Australia(ns) True', hence very unlikely to be the song you seek.

For the sake of posterity 'A Federal Song' is notated in 6/8 in the key of D. Performance recommendation 'With Spirit'. (I think I'd need several to sing this one in public). The front page is adorned with a flag depicting the Union Jack placed in the top left quadrant of the Eureka Southern Cross - not too bad a look, except for the Union Jack.

I have a couple of other options yet to try. I'll be in touch.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: aussiebloke
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 09:26 PM

Thanks John - I'll pass this on to the bloke looking for the song, and he can give the yeah or nay - I'm just a go-between.

aussiebloke

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: aussiebloke
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 04:53 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: GUEST,John in Brisbane
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 05:09 AM

Drawn a complete blank in Sydney. I'll try Melbourne next - they have a great collection of early Australian sheet music, but a lot of it is not electronically catalogued.

My last resort would be the National Library in Camberra. They have an excellent collection but will not allow you to copy sheet music of any type.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: aussiebloke
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 10:02 PM

Thanks for that John - I have passed this link along to the bloke who wants to know this stuff - hopefully we will have a new mudcatter on the team...

aussiebloke

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: Hrothgar
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 12:06 AM

Tony, That's Albion Park in Brisbane where the dogs race - Thursday nights.. The red hots are on there too, on Saturday nights.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: aussiebloke
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 09:02 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Jul 02 - 07:24 AM

Well, I know it's nearly a hundred years later he wrote it, but Enda Kenny's song Colours of Australia is the best openly patriotic song about Australia I've ever heard. (Patriotism meaning open-eyed and critical love of country.)

Subject: Lyr Req: AUSTRALIANS TRUE: THE FEDERAL NATIONAL...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 11:39 PM

From the sheet music at The National Library of Australia:

AUSTRALIANS TRUE: THE FEDERAL NATIONAL SONG
Words, Hume Cook. Music, Henry Walton.
Melbourne : Allan & Co., [1899?]
"Adopted by the Australasian Federation League"

1. Up, brothers, up, and sing. Shout about with glee!
Down with divisions wrong. One blood are we!
Ring out the chorus wild. Join hand in hand.
Up for the commonwealth. Long may it stand.
Strive for the union strong. Strike for it now.
Beat back the traitors all: that be your vow.

CHORUS: Up for Australia, land of the free.
Strike now in glory's name. One race are we!
Fight for Australia. Fight to be free.
Strike home for unity. One blood are we!
Ring out the chorus wild. Join hand in hand.
Up for the commonwealth. Long may it stand.

2. Come then, Australians all. Join in the fray.
March on to victory. Godspeed the day!
Quit ye like man and leal, loyal and true.
Stand for the nation's cause. Gain all her due.
Up, then, and onward go, staunch in your right.
Dare all at duty's call. Honour is might!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 02:37 AM

Strive for the union strong. Strike for it now.

=========
promoting unions & strikes? must be an old song.

The National Library site is a treasure trove.

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 05:19 AM

G'day Jim (& Sandra) ... and aussiebloke ...

I've PMed aussiebloke: "Your Australians True/Federal National Song is ready".

(After a mere 5¼ years ...) The National Library's Collection is much more accessible than John in Brisbane had found it in 2002!

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australians True (1901)
From: aussiebloke
Date: 14 Sep 07 - 08:56 PM

Thanks Jim and Bob

After all this time (and after a hard drive crash) I have lost track of the person who was chasing this song!

As I recall he never responded to me back when he asked me to try to find the song.

The next time someone hunts for the song, it will be here.

Cheers all

aussiebloke