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Lyr Req: Ballad of Varischetti (John Callaghan?)

04 Apr 09 - 07:50 AM (#2604443)
Subject: Lyr Req: 'Ballad of Varischetti'
From: nic6027

Hi,
I'm trying to find some missing words in "The Ballad of Varischetti". I am also trying to find out who wrote it. The words I have are below:

Ballad of Varischetti

Coolgardie folk, remember how the torrent from the sky
Westralia's tunnels took the flood, men were forced to fly.
It chilled the blood to have to hear the wailing whistle blow
As miner Varischetti lay a thousand feet below.

And it's down in the gold mine, underneath the ground
Floods are apt to fill the mine, men are apt to drown.
Dare the dark and the dreary water, send the diver down,
Deep down in the gold mine, underneath the ground.

They heard the hammer down below and ran to break the news,
To tread the gloomy catacomb, they sent for diver Hughes,
It's hard to hope for certain death, how far you're game to go.
As miner Varischetti lay a thousand feet below.

Fremantle found the diving gear, the train began to roar,
The engine began to ride away, a hundred mile or more,
He hit the track at 65 and set the night aglow,
As miner Varischetti lay a thousand feet below.

A million gallons rolls above the captive in the cave,
'Til diver Hughes he brought him up, and he left an empty grave,
And like that (MISSING WORDS HERE) we are game to go
As miner Varischetti lay a thousand feet below.

Thanks

07 Apr 09 - 10:18 PM (#2607042)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ballad of Varischetti'
From: Jim Dixon

Here's a Wikipedia article about Modesto Varischetti. It has links to other articles, the best of which is this one from The Sydney Morning Herald.

John Callaghan sings THE BALLAD OF VARISCHETTI on his album "Callaghan's Gold" (1992). I can't find any lyrics or sound samples or evidence that anyone else has recorded it. You might try contacting John Callaghan through ShoutLife.com.

04 May 09 - 07:49 PM (#2624268)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of Varischetti (John Callaghan?)
From: nic6027

Thanks - I've got it. The line is

And life can keep a lamp alight if we are game to go

All the best