Lyr Add: Sunshine Jack (NZ drover song)

Subject: Lyr Add: SUNSHINE JACK (M Moroney, W Brosnan)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 03:26 AM

Many thanks, Michael. I have contacted the official website of the band as you suggested and had a response with corrections to the words I had struggled with. This song is on The Pioneer Pog 'n Scroggin Bush Band's "Southern Bred" video, which shows the historical places and the landscapes of beautiful Otago, New Zealand. Stunning backdrops to the superb vocals, a folk video I can watch over and over and always enjoy.
Anne

SUNSHINE JACK (New Zealand song)
Tune by Mike Moroney, words by W. Brosnan.

As Jack McTavish I was born,
With Sunshine Valley as my home,
Estrangement left me all alone,
And I became a drover

CHORUS: So it's on your horse and away we'll go
In summer's heat or winter's snow
There's whisky at the Dunback Inn
For any Kyeburn drover (x2)

The first war came, knocked us around,
As I recall, we stood our ground,
Depression days, no work around,
Not even for the drover

Then Hitler caused the next affray,
I soldiered till peace came our way,
So our fair land would be okay,
Sod the cliffs of Dover! CHORUS

The Rock and Pillars looking spry,
And my red blood youth has long gone by,
And I've had my fill of Shepherd's Pie,
Still I am the drover.

And if you hear the idle drop,
Of hooves as through the mist they clop,
Comin' from the shrouded tops,
It's the ghost of Jack the Drover. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Drover- NZ tune-some help please
From: Uke
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 03:22 AM

Hi Anne

Unless anyone else can help - I'd say if you contacted the Pog 'n Scroggin Bush Band, they'd be able to help. Their website is Pog Website and has contact info.

Looks like Mike Moroney is still in the band.

Good luck
Michael

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Drover- NZ tune-some help please
From: GUEST,Guest-Anne
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 11:49 PM

A correction - this tune is actually called Sunshine Jack.

Subject: Lyr Add: The Drover- NZ tune-some help please
From: GUEST,Guest - Anne
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 01:51 PM

Not certain if I have all the words right in verses 2, 3 and 5.
Can anyone correct any errors? The song is about a New Zealand drover (high-country sheep herding).


                                                 THE DROVER
tune by Mike Moroney, words possibly Bob Brosnan

As Jack McTavish I was born,
With Sunshine Valley as my home,
Estrangement left me all alone,
And I became a drover

CHORUS:
        So it's on your horse and away we'll go
        In summer's heat or winter's snow
        There's whisky at the Dunback Inn
        For any skiving drover (x2)

The first warm-up to pass around,
As I recall we stood our ground,
Depression days, no work around,
Not even for the drover

Then Hitler caused the next affray,
I soldiered till peace came our way,
So out-there land we'd be okay,
Sod the cliffs of Dover !

CHORUS

The Rock and Pillars looking spry,
And my red blood youth has long gone by,
And I've had my fill of Shepherd's Pie,
Still I am the drover.

And if you hear, the eye will drop,
And who's this through the mist they clop,
Comin' from the shrouded tops,
It's the ghost of Jack the Drover.

CHORUS