Lyr Req: Mines of Australia

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mines of Australia
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 05:59 PM

John Thompson (of Cloudstreet) has a nice recording of this on his Australian Folk Song a Day Website.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mines of Australia
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 10 - 05:44 PM

Does anyone know any tablature or chords for this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mines of Australia
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 05:34 AM

G'day GUEST (05 Jul 06 - 02:35 AM ),

The great circle route had been established by the times suggested by this song ... but it did depend on factors like relations with the South Africans.

I seem to remember that the"First Fleet" in 1787/8 sailed first to Argentina... stocked up on, inter alia "rum" (really aguardente, roughly "firewater") - then sailed south to pick up the Roaring Forties to whiz them eastward. Don't hold me to it ... but the route depended on a lot of seasonal factors ... before steam and oil motors.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mines of Australia
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 02:35 AM

Interesting that he "sailed to the West" to get from England to Australia when the conventional route has always been to go eastwards.

cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mines of Australia
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 12:20 AM

On Kate & Ruth's album "Swapping Seasons" the notes for THE MINES OF AUSTRALIA say "Trad. arr K.Burke, L. Plumb & R. Hazleton. Collected by Warren Fahey from Cyril Duncan, 1973, Queensland."

--from here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australian. I sailed to the west
From: Patart
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 12:03 AM

Thank you so much. and that was really quick, I'm glad you also know/like a good story and tune.   p@

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Australian. I sailed to the west
From: GUEST,Phil
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 11:18 PM

Try Kate Burke and Ruth Hazelton's album Swapping Seasons. I think the song you want is called The Mines Of Australia

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MINES OF AUSTRALIA (I'M GOING BACK)
From: Amergin
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 11:15 PM

THE MINES OF AUSTRALIA (I'M GOING BACK)

I sailed to the west with a schoolmate of mine
And together we shared the hard toil.
It was hard times at home that caused us to roam,
No work for the sons of the soil.
So I bade me old father and mother goodbye,
And I said I'll not be long away;
For ten years have passed, fortune's favoured at last
And I'm leaving Australia today.

I sailed to the west with a dear pal of mine,
Each having a share in one claim
And taking bad luck as it came with the rest,
And working on just the same
Til a cowardly blow struck my poor pal low,
Who struck him I never could tell;
But the share of his gold placed close to my heart
For mother and dear sister, Nell.

Well I'm going back to my dear old home
That's far away over the sea
Right back to the scenes of my childhood
Where there'll be a welcome for me
Well many's the year it has passed away
Since I left old England's shore,
And may God speed the vessel that carries me back
To my dear old home once more.

I sailed to the west with a schoolmate of mine
And together we shared the hard toil.
It was hard times at home that caused us to roam,
No work for the sons of the soil.
So I bade me old father and mother goodbye,
And I said I'll not be long away;
For ten years have passed, fortune's favoured at last
And I'm leaving Australia today.

Subject: Lyr Req: Australian. I sailed to the west
From: Patart
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 11:02 PM

Can anyone help me with the lyrics, I learned it years ago from the singing of [I think] The Larrikins.

I sailed to the west with a good friend of mine, each having a share in one claim.
And taking good times as they came with the rest and working on just the same.
So I bid fare well ...

It is a song of leaving the UK and traveling to Australia to seach for gold, his mate gets killed and he carries the earning back the his mates family. The song has a gentle melody and I'd like to sing it some times but then the words aren't there .   
Thanks in advance folks.   p@