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10 Apr 23 - 03:29 PM (#4169633) Subject: Lyr Add: The Spider by the Gwydir From: Monologue John THE SPIDER BY THE GWYDER Author Unknown By the sluggish river Gwydir lived a hungry red-backed spider, Who was just about as wicked as could be; An’ the place that he was camped in was an empty Jones’s jam tin In a paddock near the showgrounds, at Moree. Near him lay a shearer snoozin’, he had been on beer an’ boozin’ All through the night and all the previous day; An’ the rookin’ of the rookers an’ the noise of showground spruikers Failed to wake him from the trance in which he lay. Then a crafty-lookin’ spieler with a dainty little Sheila Came along, collectin’ wood to make a fire. Said the spieler, “He’s a boozer, an’ he’s goin’ to be a loser; If he isn’t you can christen me a liar.” “Hustle round and keep nit, honey, while I fan the mug for money And we’ll have some luxuries for tea.” But she answered, “Don’t be silly; you go back and boil the billy, You can safely leave the mug to little me.” So she circled ever nearer till she reached the dopey shearer With his pockets bulgin’, fast asleep and snug; But she didn’t see the spider that was ringin’ close beside her For her mind was on the money an’ the mug. The spider sighted dinner. He’d been daily growin’ thinner; He’d ben fastin’ an’ was hollow as an urn. As she eyed the bulgin’ pocket, he just darted like a rocket An’ bit the spielers Sheila on the stern). Then the Sheila started squealin’ an’ her clothes she was unpeelin’, To hear her yells would make you feel forlorn. One hand the bite was pressin’ while the other was undressin’ An’ she reached the camp the same as she was born. Then the shearer, pale an’ haggard, woke, an’ back to town he staggered Where he caught the train an’ gave the booze a rest; An’ he’ll never know the spider that was camped beside the Gwydir Had saved him sixty smackers of the best. |
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10 Apr 23 - 04:59 PM (#4169639) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Spider by the Gwydir From: Nigel Parsons This page attributes it to W T Goodge (1976) |
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16 Jul 25 - 03:27 AM (#4225728) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Spider by the Gwydir From: GUEST,Stephen Masters Hi, I would love to know who wrote this. Two possibilities are R.J.Blumer of Clyde - suburb of Lithgow and Ernie Sibley of Mudgee. Also any idea when it was written at all. Thanks. Best wishes. Lastly is it possible to get a copy of the verses about the spieler's sheila. Million thanks. |
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16 Jul 25 - 04:55 AM (#4225729) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Spider by the Gwydir From: Sandra in Sydney Ernie Sibley was collected by John Meredith in 1956 -Alice Flanagan, Ernie Sibley, Duke Tritton and Tom Blackman interviewed by John Meredith in the John Meredith folklore field recordings, 1953-1961 Ernie Sibley, recitation: Snakes check out the Related thread above this one - Origins: Spider from the Gwydir (trad. Australia) https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=34277 for Bob Bolton's posts for more information |