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Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat
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Subject: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: GUEST,PoohBear Date: 04 Sep 04 - 12:07 AM I have been looking - obviously not in the right places, for the lyrics to this song. I think the recording I have is off an Irish Rovers album, which I haven't been able to get my paws on either. Anyone with lyrics/chords? I am missing lines from at least 2 verses. Chorus is: We've got a pi-eyed aborigine Playin' on his digeree Do you hear the captain whistling the blues? A banjo pickin' bosun And a crew that hates the ocean On the Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Loaded up with booze. Help, please and thank you. PoohBear |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Bob Bolton Date: 04 Sep 04 - 05:28 AM G'day PoohBear, I think the Irish Rovers must have made this one up themselves ... I never heard it here in Sydney - although there are a few good songs about the local ferries. I thought there was a request for a song of similar description - if a different set of quoted lyrics a year or two back ... but a 3-year search on "Sydney Harbour Ferry Song" ... ditto on "Ferry" and "Sydney", uncovered nothing that vaguely related. Regards, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Hrothgar Date: 05 Sep 04 - 05:18 AM Wayfarers in Brisbane used to sing this. I'll have a hunt around. Won't be so easy with Stan Arthur gone. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: GUEST,celtaddict at work Date: 05 Sep 04 - 09:37 AM I heard one actually while riding the ferry in Sydney Harbor; it was quite funny, and I recall parts of the tune (useless unless I can hum it to you) and practically none of the lyric, but there was something recurring involving "on a Sunday afternoon" and also a bit about, I believe, "let's go to the beach and take off our clothes, and then we'll see who's Manly." The pun sticks in my mind of course. It was a lively recording with a band of probably four or so players and a young-sounding male singer with backup on the chorus. (That doesn't narrow it down much, does it?) |
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Subject: ADD: SYDNEY HARBOUR FERRY BOAT From: Shimbo Darktree Date: 05 Sep 04 - 08:37 PM Hrothgar has been in touch, and so here I am, with the lyrics of said song (taken from the extensive song files accumulated by Stan Arthur during his time in this vale of tears). I have explained to Hrothgar that my time is valuable, and so I charge by the minute. He responded that this was small-minded of me ... small-minded ... oh, please yourself! Yes, OK, I'm getting on with it. Stan did not record the author, so I can't help with that info. SYDNEY HARBOUR FERRY BOAT Chorus: We've got a pie-eyed aborigine playing on a didgeridoo, And our captain is whistling the blues, A banjo picking bosun and a crew that hates the ocean, On a Sydney Harbour ferry boat loaded up with booze. Now the captain is a man to go down in history, For mastering his vessel through that alcoholic sea, So his passengers can't drown he's gave orders all around, "Not a drop of water on this bloody boat for me." "Won't you come home son", cries his dear old mum, As she stands there on t'jetty where they store the ferry's rum, "It's been nearly twenty years since you left your family dear, For a Sydney Harbour ferry boat that's never left the pier." The cook's in the kitchen sipping rum thick and black, The mate's up in the crow's nest, he's flat out on his back, And down in the engine room's our brilliant engineer, Who's converted every piston head to pump the ice-cold beer. There you are ... a wonderfully uplifting number, with meaningful historical and cultural reflections on the Australian people (us). Shimbo |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: JennieG Date: 05 Sep 04 - 09:18 PM But does it have a toon we can sing it to? Such genius songwriting needs to be celebrated and acclaimed by performing said song.. Cheers JennieG |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Bob Bolton Date: 06 Sep 04 - 12:25 AM G'day celtaddict, The one you heard was different - Take Me Down The Harbour - an old popular song (from the early 20s ... ?) that was collected by John Meredith from the repertoire of Ina Popplewell, a little old lady who sold crumpled bunches of flowers about the Sydney coffee shops in the early 1950s. I suspect that the recording was a Canberra-based group - whose name currently escapes me. I can supply words and tune if you are interested ... but I can't help with Shombo's scurrilous offering! (And how did Hrothgar sabotage my reply of last night ... that should be straight after his posting?!?) Regards, Bob Bolton |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Hrothgar Date: 06 Sep 04 - 06:07 AM I never touched you, Bob. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Bob Bolton Date: 06 Sep 04 - 09:33 AM G'day Hrothgar, I still think you have a familiar among the demons of the Internet ... well my initial reponse seems to have sunk without trace! I think my dodgy ISP is probably the real villain ... but it was worth having a shot at you anyway! Regard(les)s, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: PoohBear Date: 07 Sep 04 - 10:19 AM Shimbo - thank you, thank you, thank you! You have filled in the gaps in my brain - at least in this instance. I think the version I've heard varies a bit from what you've provided, but not by much! And JennieG, if I can get my act together and transcribe what I hear on the record I'll post the notes. Cheers! and thanks again! PB |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: PoohBear Date: 07 Sep 04 - 10:23 AM Bob - I'd love to see the rest of the other songs referenced by celtaddict. The more great songs I stuff into my head the less room there is for irrelevant junk! Cheers PB |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Bob Bolton Date: 08 Sep 04 - 10:27 AM G'day PoohBear, I can't find the words on my current computer ... but I do have them ... and my transcription of the Skedaddle version of the tune ... in my music book. I'll dig them out and post them - but the impending Illawarra Folk Festival plus the Bush Music Club's Golden Jubilee Festival and another issue of Mulga Wire to edit and publish are all conspiring to make that a little bit off ... like next month! Regard(les)s, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: JennieG Date: 09 Sep 04 - 07:08 AM I'm pretty sure I have words, dots and chords to the Skedaddle song (neatly filed in alphabetical order in the appropriate song book), but I don't know this one. Cheers JennieG off to Canberra this weekend for their Colonial Ball |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Shimbo Darktree Date: 11 Sep 04 - 09:41 PM Look, Bob, I don't wish to know about relationships between your good self and Hrothgar ... too much information! And yes, JennieG, it has a tune ... but I cannot post it for two reasons: 1. I don't know it (good reason, you must admit). We will wait for PoohBear (another winner ... or should that be winnie?). 2. I have not found out how to post tunes to the Mudcat. I haev followed links, and instructions, but contacting links for more info has proved fruitless. Offered help has not eventuated, and so I have been unable to provide tunes when posting. And I must admit that this has decreased my interest in posting, as I would like to supply tunes. Hey, 'Catters, how broad a hint would you like? Regards to all (except people who call me "scurrilous". I'm not; I'm Tasmanian, currently Queenslander.) Shimbo |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Shimbo Darktree Date: 11 Sep 04 - 09:47 PM OK, after the thread list refreshed, I see, two down from this thread, one about abc. Fine, consider me slapped down without anyone doing anything. It looks very well put together, so I will endeavour to overcome my natural inclination to indolence, and follow it through. Thank you for providing the information in anticipation of my question ... that would have to be the fastest possible response. Shimbo |
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Subject: Lyr/Tune Add:Take me Down the Harbour From: Bob Bolton Date: 13 Sep 04 - 10:25 AM In answer to PoohBear's request for the words and music to Take Me down the Harbour, here are both the 'original' (1908 or earlier) popular song words - and the version remembered by Ina Popplewell and collected from her in 1953 … and an ABC version of the tune sung by Ina Popplewell. Take me Down the Harbour from the 199(?)7 Jacaranda Publication The GI Years, where the song is attributed to The Imperial Songster No 83 of 1908. TAKE ME DOWN THE HARBOUR Now Gertie's a girl, a sweet little pearl. She works down in the city; And she has a beau, his name it is Joe, So handsome and so witty. On each Saturday, when he gets his pay, A message soon he's reading, I feel so alone, ring me up on the 'phone, You're just the one I'm needing." CHORUS Take me down the Harbour On Sunday afternoon - To Manly Beach or Watson's Bay, Or round to Coogee for the day; Call around to Clifton., Or Mosmans, it will do. Dear old Harbour, Sydney Town, They can't beat you. Way over the tide, how softly they glide, Out on the Harbour Ferry, Whilst music so sweet makes life feel complete, Their hearts are light and merry. Then homeward once more, they part on the shore, And Joe says to his girlie, "If you feel alone, ring me up on the 'phone, And call me quick and early." CHORUS Take me down the Harbour On Sunday afternoon - To Manly Beach or Watson's Bay, Or round to Coogee for the day.' Call around to Clifton, Or Mosmans, it will do. Dear old Harbour, Sydnev Town, They can't beat you. TAKE ME DOWN THE HARBOUR As collected by John Meredith, from Mrs lna Popplewell (1953) Take Me down the Harbour on a Sunday afternoon To Manly Beach or Watson's Bay Or round to Coogee for a day. Call around at Clifton, or Mosman, it will do; Good old Harbour Sydney Town, They can't beat you. CHORUS Way over the tide, how softly they glide, Out on a Harbour ferry. If you feel alone,. ring me up on the 'phone, You're just the girl I'm needing, Take me down the Harbour on a Sunday afternoon To Manly Beach or Watson's Bay Or round to Coogee for a day. Call around at Clifton, or Mosman, it will do; Good old Harbour Sydney Town, They can't beat you. This is the version sung by Skedaddle on their 1994 CD Take me Down the Harbour. They treated the verse and chorus as simply an "A" part and a "B" part of the song tune. They obviously thought Ina's words were a bit short, so they wrote four more modern verses (I had better try to explain some of the local Sydney references!: TAKE ME DOWN THE HARBOUR As collected by John Meredith, from Mrs lna Popplewell (1953) Take Me down the Harbour on a Sunday afternoon To Manly Beach or Watson's Bay Or round to Coogee for a day. Call around at Clifton, or Mosman, it will do; Good old Harbour Sydney Town, They can't beat you. Way over the tide, how softly they glide, Out on a Harbour ferry. If you feel alone, ring me up on the 'phone, You're just the girl I'm needing. Whenever you're near, come up for a beer, You'll find your friends are waiting. We'll say to the man: "Come, we'll drink all we can 'Cos you're the one who's shouting!" The hydrofoil's fun, you can sit in the sun And bring along the family. We'll all sit in rows, and we'll take off all our clothes And then we'll see who's manly! We'll gather at lunch and we'll all take a bunch Across to green Taronga. We'll all sneak away ,when we've had a nice day - But leave the kids for longer! Glossary: Manly Beach, Watsons Bay, Coogee, Clifton and Mosman's (Bay): are (were) all beaches or pleasure gardens reachable by Harbour Ferry. Shouting: paying for this round of beers Hydrofoil: A more modern Sydney Harbour Ferry Take off all our clothes: … Well, it (Manly / manly)is a beach … of a pun! Taronga: Sydney Zoo Here is the ABC (extracted from the no longer Mudcat-supported MIDItext program): ABC format:
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: GUEST,cookieless celtaddict Date: 16 Oct 04 - 11:30 PM Bob, I missed the followup in this thread. Thank you! Obviously the one I heard was the latest, with the "We'll see who's manly" line. Your erudition dazzles once again! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 17 Oct 04 - 05:09 AM Bob, et al, FYI: MidiText (mf2t) - PC version - still exists on the web see thread Macs, Music and MIDI. I have downloaded it, but haven't had time to test it properly yet. Robin |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Bob Bolton Date: 18 Oct 04 - 12:43 AM G'day Robin, I just downloaded the ~.zip file. I'll fire it up at home and see if it works on the "MudCat tweaked" version's files. The date of this one could suggest that it may be what Alan kludged up to deal with specific Mudcat problems ... but that could be just coincidence ... we'll find out! Regards, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: freda underhill Date: 18 Oct 04 - 06:21 AM I can't help with any of this, except to say.. before there were ferries, there were tugboats on Sydney harbour, and they were brought there from Scotland by my great grandfather, James Wallace. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Bob Bolton Date: 18 Oct 04 - 09:09 AM G'day Freda, I understand that our first ferries also steamed out from Scotland ... an interesting thought for those quivering at the prospect of traversing the Heads in a strong easterly! Regards, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 18 Oct 04 - 08:11 PM When you consider that the size of those ferries, were not much different from The Endeavour, it's not that remarkable... :-) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: GUEST,marjan_ca Date: 30 Apr 07 - 09:23 PM The Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song is sung by the Irish Rovers on the "Party Album" 1982. I just haven't been able to find it in stores or on the internet. Thanks for the lyrics as I have been looking for them as well. Hope this helps. :) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat Song From: Jim Dixon Date: 01 May 07 - 11:28 PM Here's the catalogue entry from The National Library of Australia: Record ID: 3048376 Author: Slater, Joe. Title: Take me down the harbour [music] / words by Gray & Bennett ; music by Joe Slater ; arranged by Bert Rache. Publisher: Sydney : Albert & Son, c1908. Description: 1 score ([2] p.) ; 36 cm. Series: Albert's 6d pops ; 159 Notes: Cover title. For voice and piano. "Can be localised for any country or place". "Albert's 6d pops'. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat From: GUEST,PoohBear Date: 14 Feb 09 - 05:03 AM I finally found the Irish Rovers album with Syney Harbour Ferry Boat - it's on their Live in Australia album. I think I got it from CD Baby. . . it's been a while. Still haven't had time or brains to work out chording to post. It's on the 'to do' list Cheers! PB |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat From: GUEST,Daisy Date: 07 Jun 12 - 08:03 PM I'm looking for the "Where are we going today mr worthington, Where is it going to be. Don't turn right, turn left down the harbour and out to the roaring sea" version.......is that the Irish Rovers one. I know my lyrics are incorrect but its how I sing it in my head.....would love to know the correct words to take into my dotage. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat From: GUEST,Gerry Date: 07 Jun 12 - 08:27 PM Daisy, Daisy, the one you're asking about is Rose Bay Ferry, by Bernard Bolan. |
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Subject: ADD: The Rose Bay Ferry (Bernard Bolan) From: Bob Bolton Date: 30 Jul 12 - 11:30 PM G'day Guest Daisy (& Gerry), I just checked my travelling hard disc and this was, indeed there. I seem to have an MP3 file, but no MIDI file (the song is long embedded in my brain ... and I sing it unaccompanied - so I don't need dots (and I can 'lug' it quite successfully on any of the instruments I play!). I do have the tune transcribed ... and a PDF file of the first stanza and the music, in the key of C. Anyone (well, any 'Catter') after the dots' can PM me and I'll email the PDF (A4 format ... but that squeeze down to US letter ...).: THE ROSE BAY FERRY (Words & Music by Bernard Bolan) Every morning at eight twenty-five, Down to the Rose Bay wharf I drive - Park my Humber underneath a tree, Pop along the gangplank and then I'm free. Free says you; "well how can that be When you always finish up at Circular Quay?" So Doubting Tom I shall explain - When I get on board I sing this sweet refrain: Where are we going today Mr. Nicholson? Where is it going to be? Don't turn left, turn right down the harbour And out to the open sea. Throw away your compass, right hand down, And it's out through the heads we'll go. Yo ho lads, be merry, on the Rose Bay Ferry - If we run out of petrol, we'll row yo ho, If we run out of petrol, we'll row. Monday Java, Tuesday Spain, Wednesday it's Tokyo and back again. The only trouble is, there isn't any Gents - But what do you want for 20 cents? Off with me raincoat and me woolly vest, See the naked ladies on my chest. Today is Friday, so hold on tight For we're off to Trinidad and back tonight. Where are we going today Mr. Nicholson? Where is it going to be? Don't turn left, turn right down the harbour And out to the open sea. Pull up your anchor, pull your finger out And wave goodbye to your home. We're off to Nantucket, so give that man a bucket - It's choppy when you're out on the foam, heave ho, It's choppy when you're out on the foam. Now, sometimes if I get up late, I only reach the jetty at half past eight - But that doesn't ruin my world-wide trip, 'Cause the eight thirty-seven is a battleship! Off on the dot with our guns on high - Mince up Manly as we pass by. We need another rocket, so pop upstairs … You can get them from the chappy who collects the fairs. Where are we going today Mr. Nicholson? Where is it going to be? Don't turn left, turn right down the harbour And out to the open sea. 'Cause though we look like dudes and doctors, At heart we are men of the sea. Yo ho lads, be merry, on the Rose Bay Ferry … Until we get to Circular Quay, you see - We finish up at Circular Quay! On the MP3, supplied by a friend (who had also saved a copy of my PDF of the music sheet) Bernard has altered the final chorus - sometime in the late '90s, from that I have sung for nearly 35 years. I think this was for some rally to defend Circular Quay from the appalling "Toaster" building! (But … now …) A left turn is right, today, Mr. Nicholson, Trouble in town you see! Let's hear three cheers, we're free buccaneers, The saviours of Circular Quay With patch on high and brollies to the sky, Every pollie from his folly must flee. With knuckle and chuckles, we'll swash their buckles … If they bugger up Circular Quay, then we'll heave two… (… Or three) at Circular Quay. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat From: Bob Bolton Date: 30 Jul 12 - 11:34 PM Oh ... I forgot to add: as I have the dots ... somewhere in my music program... I can run of the ABC - if anyone wants that. Regard(les)s, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat From: Bob Bolton Date: 30 Jul 12 - 11:40 PM Aaaarghhh!!! Good God! I'm back again!!! I just dug out the earphones ... and the version of The Rose Bay Ferry, on my drive, is the later version, as in my post above - complete with protests at defacing Circular Quay. Optional for those who haven't the faintest idea of Sydney Harbour ... or the New South Wales Parliament!) ... but all good fun and singing. Regard(fully), Bob |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat From: Ross Campbell Date: 31 Jul 12 - 11:34 PM (It would be) good to see you, Bob! I recall seeing Bernard Bolan on my first trip to Sydney, at John Warner's fortieth? birthday party, when Bernard sang "Not Many Fish in the Harbour Today". Somehow missed him on subsequent trips, though I suspect there were occasions when we were in the same place at more or less the same time. Ross |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat From: Bob Bolton Date: 01 Aug 12 - 12:07 AM G'day Ross, I'm not sure how far back that was (John Warner's 40th ...) but I bought Bernard's LP in 1970 ... just after I had moved back home from Tasmania - with my new, apple-cheeked bride, Patricia. I note that I have two of Bernard's tracks on my drive as MP3 audio: "Rose Bay Ferry" (the later 'Circular Quay protest version) and another of my favourites "Not Many Fish in the Harbour Today". These would have come via an old friend ... and each is around 2.5 - 3 KB. If you don't have them, I could email them (one at a time ...) ... to an address left in my PM box. Regards, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sydney Harbour Ferry Boat From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Aug 12 - 03:50 AM John is a year older than I am! |
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