The Fair Dinkum Matilda Denis Gibbons
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The Fair Dinkum Matilda Denis Gibbons SONGS OF THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH INCLUDING THE FIRST-EVER RECORDING OF THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF WALTZING MATILDA ere’s a collection of Australia’s 1 CLICK GO THE SHEARS original manuscript which appears in finest bush songs. They Collected in “the sheds” by the late Dr. Richard’s book “Fair dinkum Matilda”. comprise but a small portion of Percy Jones and recorded by Burl Ives on H 5 a library that has been pieced together his first visit to Australia in 1952. The ANOTHER FALL OF RAIN by dedicated collectors over the past 45 tune is an adaptation of an old English A great shearing song written by John years. song “Ring the bell watchman”. Shaw Nielsen who was born in Penola Australia’s folk songs are a in 1872. His father John Nielsen also bit like a farmer’s dog. They come 2 THE DROVER’S DREAM wrote poetry. Shaw Nielsen (as he was from origins that are varied and often Of mysterious origin this is a true known) wrote poetry for much of his mysterious, but perfectly adapted to Australian song with dry Australian life. His sight failed before his 40th their environment. humour. birthday and from that point on his The songs have an honesty and writings were dictated. The song is set roughness that give them an enduring 3 REEDY RIVER to an adaptation of an old American quality. ‘Tarted up’ in 20th century garb One of the three Henry Lawson song “Little Old Home on the Prairie”. they’re as fresh as they were a hundred poems set to music in this collection. years ago when Henry Lawson wrote, Having read Lawson’s own tragic life 6 THE OLD BULLOCK DRAY “The world was wide.” I’m sure Reedy River is at least part It was on a Sunday morning in 1952 And wide it certainly was! A autobiographical. that I first became aware that we vast land dotted with lonely farms or had a folk song tradition. The ABC stations. Tiny hamlets separated by 4 WALTZING MATILDA were playing a selection of folk songs endless miles of deserted almost virginal This has become a typical folk song in it collected by Dr. Percy Jones and bush tracks. exists in many forms. When one reads recorded by Burl Ives. The old bullock Along these tracks were places where Richard Magoffin’s book “Fair Dinkum dray set me on a path of discovery. In people (mostly bush workers or bush Matilda” it seems logical to accept 1952 I was a budding announcer on (the out-of-workers) would meet — grog Magoffin’s theory that Banjo Patterson then) 3UL Warragul. Having to pay four shanties, road junctions, waterholes and wrote lyrics to fit the Scottish tune pounds ten board ($9) out of a salary of river crossings. Craigielea which Christina Macpherson ($10) left no cash for trips to Melbourne These were the places where (who was also a guest at Dagworth and Burl Ives concerts. It was to be people caught up with the latest gossip, station) had heard some months before 35 years before I met this great actor, swapped yarns and sang what we now at a race meeting in Warrnambool, performer and character in person. call folk songs. Victoria. Magoffin, who spent 20 years Many of these bushmen were researching the story even found a copy 7 DENIS O’RIELLY technically illiterate but were possessed of the original handwritten manuscript According to notes in Bill Scott’s, with extraordinary talent. They had no and had the authenticity verified by the “Complete Book of Australian Folk Lore” idea that they were leaving us with a Victorian Police forensic laboratory. We there are many songs like Denis O’Rielly priceless cultural heritage. recorded this version from a copy of the in the English language. I’m sure that you’ll recognise the familiar theme. to the local dump. Any bushman will tell many lost everything — including their Mother’s (perhaps now more than ever) you that there is only one way to make lives! The tune was borrowed and you’ll worried about a headstrong daughter a good cup of tea. recognise it as the theme for the ABC running off with a questionable man. television series “Rush” which George qs THE BILLYGOAT OVERLAND Dreyfus so brilliantly adapted. 8 WALLABY STEW The goat, whether it be “billies” or Another traditional song that could only “nannies” played a vital role in settling qh THE GUM TREE CANOE come from Australia. When I first sang Australia. But boy, did they smell!! To see the Murray River swirling this song in public it was considered silently past under a full moon is one quite risque. How times change! qd BOTANY BAY of life’s greatest and most unforgettable This song is far too light hearted and experiences. Gum tree canoe originated in 9 LAZY HARRY’S happy to be an authentic convict song. America ..... but so what? So did many This song has always been a favourite I’m sure that many of you will not be of our great pioneers. of mine. Perhaps it’s because I was surprised to hear that Botany Bay was brought up in a pub. I’ve always had the written for a popular stage show called qj THE WILD COLONIAL BOY feeling that the shearers heading back “Little Jack Shepherd”. The convicts in This is one of the most popular songs to Sydney, pockets bulging, may have real life had little to sing about! in my repertoire. A true folk song that ‘camped’ at Lazy Harry’s for some time. originated here in Australia and then “Lazy Harry” remains a mystery, but the qf THE BROKEN DOWN SQUATTER became popular in Ireland. No one pub must have been something else! Droughts and floods are as much a part really knows his true identity, but even of farming in Australia as the seasons a hundred years later we can all identify q0 THE BUSH GIRL — although nowhere near as reliable. with him and even ‘hero-worship’ The There is no song that conjures up the When a farmer called Charlie Flower Wild Colonial Boy. loneliness of the Australian bush in the was reputed to have written this song 18th century better than this poem by in the last century, Australia was to face qk THE MELODY OF THE RAIN Henry Lawson. It was a hard place for years of drought. Sheep and cattle died This is not an authentic folk song but women, both old and young. in thousands, the banks foreclosed their listen to Richard Magoffin’s words. I first loans and many banks were forced to heard this song while holidaying with qa BILLY OF TEA close themselves. So what hope for the the Webb brothers in Queensland in the My father was always a gadget freak. poor horse? 1970’s. The dams and tanks were low; He’d travel to exotic lands on business feed was almost non-existent and rain and return with the most amazing qg THE OLD PALMER SONG had not fallen for months. Suddenly, devices. One of the most interesting The hopefuls heading off for the despite a forecast for stable hot dry was a combination alarm clock and tea goldfields on the Palmer River in far weather, the skies opened up! Julia maker. The novelty soon wore off and north Queensland had no idea what Webb invited the neighbours and we the tea-maker was eventually consigned was in store. A few made a fortune, had the party to end all parties. Upper Widgee will never be the same! sold the rights to his lyrics to an Guitars: Andrew Pendlebury advertising agency who used the song Recorder: Ade Monsbourgh ql THE LIME JUICE TUB as a commercial for “Billy Tea”. It then Autoharp, guitar and vocals - The immigrants coming to a strange became a popular marching song during Waltzing Matilda (Traditional land were shown no sympathy by the the 1914-18 World War. version) Alan Hawking old hands. The ships were called “Lime Waltzing Matilda (Queensland juice tubs” because passengers and wd WALTZING MATILDA version) arranged: Lorraine Milne crew were served regular doses of lime (Queensland or Buderim version) who also played percussion with juice to prevent scurvy. This is a perfect example of how folk Charlie Gauld guitar. The whistling songs change. In fact many people was provided by the late Bill Ackfield w0 ANDY’S GONE WITH CATTLE prefer this version to the well-known Effects: Jail door slammed by Peter Another Henry Lawson classic. Lawson one. Certainly its easier to sing!!! Kiely at the old Wentworth Jail. wrote both poems and stories about the By the way the guitar on this track is Bullock driver, Rusty Richards, loneliness of bush life. Particularly when played by Charlie Gauld, the whistling Scottsdale, Tasmania. the wife was left at home to look after provided by the late Bill Ackfield and the Preparation for CD: Martin Wright the farm and perhaps several young percussion by producer and arranger children. She’d have no idea where the Lorraine Milne. © 1995 MOVE RECORDS drover was, when he’d be home or even www.move.com.au if he were alive. P wa SOUTH AUSTRALIA Front cover photograph: This prize P It was the discovery of gold in California winning photograph was taken by and later Australia that created the need the Adelaide Advertiser photographer The songs in this collection were for sailing ships that were big and fast. John Miller during the State’s 150th recorded for a Radio Australia The “clipper” ships halved the sailing birthday celebrations in 1986 when program called “Understanding time from England.