Australian railway songs
David Bromage
archives or on deja.com.
Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs? Off the top
of my head I can think of:
Indian Pacific, by Joy McKean. Recorded by Slim Dusty (ARPA song of the
year and top selling country song of 1978.) Recently re-released by The
Bushwackers.
The Ghan, by Ted Egan.
Jolly Green Giant, by Johnny Ashcroft.
3801, by Ray King and Ron Russell. Did they write any others?
A heap by the late Alan Rowe.
- The Puffing Billy Song
- The Beechie
- The Deepdene Dasher
- Riding in the old Z van
- The aren't and they shan't 'cos they can't.
Queensland Railway Line (trad?)
Morningtown Ride, by The Seekers.
The Train Song, by Nick Cave.
Cheers
David
Rob Kearey
> Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs? Off the top
> of my head I can think of:
My father used to have a 45 single called "Southern Aurora"; I seem to
remember it was a guitar instrumental, and ended with the sound of a
receding train and a mournful whistle. No idea who it was by, or where
it is now.
> David
Phil Joel newboys Type Dude
David Bromage wrote in message ...
not sure if it qualifies but busses and trains by bachelor girl
Chris Stratton
news:XKYW5.32$1p4....@news0.optus.net.au...
Kempsey Mail, by The Flying Circus
--
Regards,
Chris Stratton
Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Remove NOSPAM to reply
David Bromage
> A heap by the late Alan Rowe.
> - The Puffing Billy Song
Mike Brady of Up There Cazaly fame also wrote a song about PB, but I can't
remember what it's called.
Cheers
David
David McLoughlin
> Morningtown Ride, by The Seekers.
>
Which line, where, were they singing about? There was a line to the
Mornington peninsula in Melbourne but the spelling is different. I have
wondered from time to time if the song was about a real place.
David McLoughlin
Auckland New Zealand
David Bromage
> David Bromage wrote:
> > Morningtown Ride, by The Seekers.
> Which line, where, were they singing about? There was a line to the
> Mornington peninsula in Melbourne but the spelling is different. I have
> wondered from time to time if the song was about a real place.
The Seekers formed in Melbourne, but the song isn't about a real place.
It may have been inspired by Mornington.
Cheers
David
whitehat
> >I think this has been discussed before, but I can't find the thread in
the
> >archives or on deja.com.
> >
> >Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs
You could always add some of the irreverent student songs:
e.g.
"To stop the train in cases of emergency
please pull the chain.
Penalty for improper use 10 pounds"
(sung as a 4 part round)
"Passengers will please refrain
from using toilets while the train
Is in the station or while passing through ..."
umpteen verses including references to colonel Light
sung to the tune of Dvorak's Humoresque
whitehat
Rob Kearey
> "To stop the train in cases of emergency
> please pull the chain.
> Penalty for improper use 10 pounds"
> (sung as a 4 part round)
As part of an inrreverant student choir, I'd like to know the tune for
this one. Do you know what it is?
> "Passengers will please refrain
> from using toilets while the train
> Is in the station or while passing through ..."
> umpteen verses including references to colonel Light
> sung to the tune of Dvorak's Humoresque
This sounds cool as well - do you have the full version?
> whitehat
--
Rob K (As I was walking by St Paul, a curate grabbed me by the ...)
http://members.optushome.com.au/mammal
David Bromage
> You could always add some of the irreverent student songs:
> e.g.
> "To stop the train in cases of emergency
> please pull the chain.
> Penalty for improper use 10 pounds"
> (sung as a 4 part round)
> "Passengers will please refrain
> from using toilets while the train
> Is in the station or while passing through ..."
> umpteen verses including references to colonel Light
> sung to the tune of Dvorak's Humoresque
IIRC, both of these songs originated in the UK.
Cheers
David
Tell
group, still one of the great Aussie train songs.
It is an instrumental.
....Tell
David McLoughlin
I wondered that. After I shifted over here to World's End, a number of
people claimed, fatuously, it was named after Mornington in Dunedin...
... Which never had a train service to the suburb of Mornington, though
it had a real, live, San Francisco and Melbourne style cable tram to
Mornington until 1957, 16 years after Melbourne's last cable line
closed.
New Zealanders are such losers they didn't even realise in 1957 what an
attraction a genuine cable tram line was... despite it being several
years after San Francisco woke up.
James C.
dbro...@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage) wrote:
> I think this has been discussed before, but I can't find the thread
in the
> archives or on deja.com.
>
> Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs? Off
the top
> of my head I can think of:
>
> Indian Pacific, by Joy McKean. Recorded by Slim Dusty (ARPA song of
the
> year and top selling country song of 1978.) Recently re-released by
The
> Bushwackers.
>
> The Ghan, by Ted Egan.
>
> Jolly Green Giant, by Johnny Ashcroft.
>
> 3801, by Ray King and Ron Russell. Did they write any others?
>
> A heap by the late Alan Rowe.
> - The Puffing Billy Song
> - The Beechie
> - The Deepdene Dasher
> - Riding in the old Z van
> - The aren't and they shan't 'cos they can't.
>
> Queensland Railway Line (trad?)
QR also had a song for Kuranda train. It was printed on QR timetable in
the early 90s.
--
Cheers
Railway Rasputin
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Trevor Edmonds
> Kempsey Mail, by The Flying Circus
They also had a song called '3667'.
Trevor
james...@my-deja.com
David McLoughlin <davemcl@NO***damned***SPAMiprolink.co.nz> wrote:
> <SNIP>
> New Zealanders are such losers <SNIP>
The only reason God created New Zealanders was so that Tasmanians would
have someone to laugh at.
Oh, I suppose we should be grateful for the cast-off locos they've sent
across to Tassie though.
Getting back on topic, I recall that Patsy Adam-Smith in her book
"Folklore of Australian Railways" in the early 70s reproduced the
lyrics of various poems and songs. One of them was about the end of
steam on the QR, and included a verse describing how the local vicar
had the measels, meaning he couldn't bless the stinking diesels.
Unfortunately the book is archived on the other side of the world in my
parent's house (in Tassie) so I can't provide any more than that.
James
John Garaty
C16. It was on a 10" record of folk songs released for the Queensland State
Centenary (1958?), artists unknown. The tune was to the "Casey Jones" melody
and the end result was the same - boiler explosion while trying to make up
time. The song ends with the widow telling her kids "Your next old man will
be a guardian of lambs". Anyone out there heard of this one?
Regards, John Garaty
James C. <jame...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:90iafp$kt9$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <XKYW5.32$1p4....@news0.optus.net.au>,
> dbro...@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage) wrote:
> > I think this has been discussed before, but I can't find the thread
> in the
> > archives or on deja.com.
> >
> > Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs? Off
> the top
> > of my head I can think of:
> >
> > Indian Pacific, by Joy McKean. Recorded by Slim Dusty (ARPA song of
> the
> > year and top selling country song of 1978.) Recently re-released by
> The
> > Bushwackers.
> >
> > The Ghan, by Ted Egan.
> >
> > Jolly Green Giant, by Johnny Ashcroft.
> >
> > 3801, by Ray King and Ron Russell. Did they write any others?
> >
> > A heap by the late Alan Rowe.
> > - The Puffing Billy Song
> > - The Beechie
> > - The Deepdene Dasher
> > - Riding in the old Z van
> > - The aren't and they shan't 'cos they can't.
> >
> > Queensland Railway Line (trad?)
>
> QR also had a song for Kuranda train. It was printed on QR timetable in
> the early 90s.
>
> --
> Cheers
>
> Railway Rasputin
>
>
Paul Hambleton
The words go something like this:
"The rest of the world can go to hell
I'm changing trains at Camberwell,
For the Alamein train"
From the Pete Best Beatles' song, "Alamein Train".
Paul Hambleton
"James C." <jame...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:90iafp$kt9$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <XKYW5.32$1p4....@news0.optus.net.au>,
> dbro...@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage) wrote:
> > I think this has been discussed before, but I can't find the thread
> in the
> > archives or on deja.com.
> >
> > Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs? Off
> the top
> > of my head I can think of:
> >
> > Indian Pacific, by Joy McKean. Recorded by Slim Dusty (ARPA song of
> the
> > year and top selling country song of 1978.) Recently re-released by
> The
> > Bushwackers.
> >
> > The Ghan, by Ted Egan.
> >
> > Jolly Green Giant, by Johnny Ashcroft.
> >
> > 3801, by Ray King and Ron Russell. Did they write any others?
> >
> > A heap by the late Alan Rowe.
> > - The Puffing Billy Song
> > - The Beechie
> > - The Deepdene Dasher
> > - Riding in the old Z van
> > - The aren't and they shan't 'cos they can't.
> >
> > Queensland Railway Line (trad?)
>
James C.
"Paul Hambleton" <P.Ham...@bom.gov.au> wrote:
> What about the big one? :)
> The words go something like this:
>
> "The rest of the world can go to hell
> I'm changing trains at Camberwell,
> For the Alamein train"
>
> From the Pete Best Beatles' song, "Alamein Train".
Hmmm .... a great song to increase patronage on Alamein line:-)
Would be interesting if everytime when train approach Camberwell and
they play this song on PA :-)
Chris Brownbill
an instrumental electric guitar tune announced as 'Southern Aurora' was played
over the PA as the train pulled out. I thought it was by 'The Shadows', or at
least it sounded like them. Is this the Joy Boys tune or is it a Shadows
original? Whatever - it was a great send-off for the old girl.
Chris Brownbill
night to Morning Town.
Lets see if I can remember -
Sandman at the engine,
Fireman rings the bell,
All bound for Morning Town,
Many miles away.
All the little children are warm and snug inside.
etc etc
jsh...@westpac.com.au
Chris Brownbill <cbrn...@enternet.com.au> wrote:
> Surely its just a lullaby which uses the analogy af a train ride
through the
> night to Morning Town.
>
> Lets see if I can remember -
>
> Sandman at the engine,
> Fireman rings the bell,
> All bound for Morning Town,
> Many miles away.
> All the little children are warm and snug inside.
> etc etc
Train whistle blowing, makes a sleepy noise; underneath their blankets,
go all the girls and boys. Rocking, rolling, riding, out along the Bay.
All bound for Morningtown, many miles away.
or something like that
Barry Campbell
Chris Brownbill wrote in message <3A2CD9CC...@enternet.com.au>...
>Surely its just a lullaby which uses the analogy af a train ride through
the
>night to Morning Town.
>
>Lets see if I can remember -
>
>Sandman at the engine,
>Fireman rings the bell,
>All bound for Morning Town,
>Many miles away.
>All the little children are warm and snug inside.
> etc etc
>
the video for this song on a Victorian narrow gauge line which I assume must
have been Puffing Billy.
Barry Campbell
David Bromage
> I well remember the final run of the Snora. On departure from Sydney Central,
> an instrumental electric guitar tune announced as 'Southern Aurora' was played
> over the PA as the train pulled out. I thought it was by 'The Shadows', or at
> least it sounded like them. Is this the Joy Boys tune or is it a Shadows
> original? Whatever - it was a great send-off for the old girl.
All the instrumental groups tried to sound like the Shadows back then.
Cheers
David
David Bromage
> In article <3A2CD9CC...@enternet.com.au>,
> Chris Brownbill <cbrn...@enternet.com.au> wrote:
> through the
> > night to Morning Town.
> >
> > Lets see if I can remember -
> >
> > Sandman at the engine,
> > Fireman rings the bell,
> > All bound for Morning Town,
> > Many miles away.
> > All the little children are warm and snug inside.
> > etc etc
> Train whistle blowing, makes a sleepy noise; underneath their blankets,
> go all the girls and boys. Rocking, rolling, riding, out along the Bay.
> All bound for Morningtown, many miles away.
For those whose memories have failed them, I have obliged at
http://www.railpage.org.au/mp3
Since this is highly illegal, I'll only leave them there for a few days.
Cheers
David
Lindsay Hope
Lindsay hope
Bridgewater SA
David Bromage <dbro...@fang.omni.com.au> wrote in message
news:XKYW5.32$1p4....@news0.optus.net.au...
Chris Stratton
The song is about going to sleep, which is why there is a sandman in the
song. It goes to Morningtown because you wake up in the morning.
David Bromage
Russell and performed by the group Chullora Junction.
The "video clip" of the song is on the ABC video 3801: A legend in steam.
I also saw them perform it live on platform 1 at Spencer St during
Austeam'88.
Did Chullora Junction ever release an album/CD? Did they have any other
railway related songs?
Cheers
David
David McLoughlin
> The only reason God created New Zealanders was so that Tasmanians would
> have someone to laugh at.
Love it! Love it!
I might use it as a sig in the nz.* newsgroups to wind them up.
James C.
This is getting OT now....so who will laugh at us aussies???
--
Cheers
Railway Rasputin
keith malcolm
> In article <3a2d...@news.iprolink.co.nz>,
> David McLoughlin <davemcl@NO***damned***SPAMiprolink.co.nz> wrote:
> > james...@my-deja.com wrote:
> >
> > > The only reason God created New Zealanders was so that Tasmanians
> would
> > > have someone to laugh at.
> >
> > Love it! Love it!
> >
> > I might use it as a sig in the nz.* newsgroups to wind them up.
> >
> > David McLoughlin
> > Auckland New Zealand
>
> This is getting OT now....so who will laugh at us aussies???
>
>
The rest of the world, Irish and New Zealanders eccepted.
Dave Malcolm
RUBARB John
Jimmy McFarlane wrote and recorded a song called "The Camden Train" -
this song was also recorded by Buddy Williams - have played both
versions on my radio show.
Johnny Ashcroft in addition to 'Jolly Greeen Giant' did a song calle
"I dreamed I Was A Railroad Man' that mentions such trains as Silver
City Comet, Sunlander, Tea and Sugar Train. On this same album there
is a soundtrack of 6032 on Hawkmount recorded 0330 Dec 16th 1967.
Country artists Rob Breese and Doug Rowe have also recorded a song
called Kempsy Mail.
John Broomhall has recorded a song call 'Silver City Comet'
Buddy Williams recorded one called "Wingie the Railway Cop'.
I may come up with some others as well not forgetting Toorak Tram by
Bernard Bolan.
John
On Wed, 6 Dec 2000 00:43:09 -0800, "Lindsay Hope"
<enpo...@chariot.net.au> wrote:
>The Abalinga mail sung by Slim.
(please remove RUBARB to be able to reply)
Bill Bolton
> Surely its just a lullaby
Exactly, it has the same relationship to anything real as "Puff The
Magic Dragon".
Cheers,
Bill
Peter and Susan
>I think this has been discussed before, but I can't find the thread in the
>archives or on deja.com.
>
>Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs? Off the top
>of my head I can think of:
There was a compilation of Australian railway songs, prose and poetry produced about 10 years ago.
The name of the album is 'Sleepers and Rails', produced by Matthews Music Pty Ltd, but has been
unfortunately since deleted from the HMV catalogue.
Tracks on the album include, those marked * are songs -
Indian Pacific* (J Haynes),
The Roaring Days (R Hannah/J Haynes) ,
Eight Bob A Day (B Bill & Co),
Navvy On The Line* (J Haynes/R Hannah/J Dengate/G Petersen),
The Sandy Hollow Line* (K Baker),
The Strike of 1917 (R Hannah/J Haynes) ,
Janet Okeden* (J Small),
The Guard and the Canary (R Hannah/J Haynes),
On the Queensland Railway Lines* (R Ilott/P Davies),
Please Refrain* (J Haynes/R Hannah/J Dengate) ,
Sgt Small* (T Morton),
Upper or Lower (J Haynes/R Hannah),
The Great Triple R* (J Haynes),
Perhaps I'm Sentimental (J Haynes),
Leaving Nancy* (E Bogle),
Roll and Sway* (J Broomhall) ,
Battler's Ballad* (A Scott),
Second Class Wait Here( J Haynes),
Train Trip To Guildford* (J Dengate),
Back To Alice On The Ghan* (T Egan),
The Social Club on Wheels* ( J Small),
Silver City Comet* (J Broomhall),
The Bus To Broken Hill (J Dengate),
Sleepers and Rails* (J Haynes).
Its a great album.
Peter and Susan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter & Susan Cokley
petan @ powerup.com.au
http://www.welcome.to/petan
For personal replies to this message, remove NOSPAM from our address to avoid bounced mail.
Ben
kids that we had in Primary school, The song I thought was called the
"Dorrigo Line".
Sure enough I went to the stack of Music that sits on top of the piano and
found a copy of the 1987 "Sing it" book which as I correctly remembered has
a song called the Dorrigo line by P Shaw.
The Chorus is:
Clickety clack down the dorrigo track, Rickety rack up to Dubbo and back,
Oh, Oh, whistle blew sparkle and shine the mighty garret train down the
Dorrigo line.
Does "The Loco-Motion" as sung by Kylie (the singing budgie) Minogue count?
I know its not Australian and not really about trains but hey what can I say
a defining moment in the 80's on the Australian music scene . :-)
Ben Smith
David Bromage
> Johnny Ashcroft in addition to 'Jolly Greeen Giant' did a song calle
> "I dreamed I Was A Railroad Man' that mentions such trains as Silver
> City Comet, Sunlander, Tea and Sugar Train. On this same album there
> is a soundtrack of 6032 on Hawkmount recorded 0330 Dec 16th 1967.
And I thought I was the only other person to have a copy of this album. :)
Cheers
David
David Bromage
> Navvy On The Line* (J Haynes/R Hannah/J Dengate/G Petersen),
This song appeared in one of the ARHS(Vic) videos.
> Sgt Small* (T Morton),
Fairly loose railway connection. :)
As to the others, does the album list the composers as well as the
performers?
Cheers
David
Rob Kearey
> > Johnny Ashcroft in addition to 'Jolly Greeen Giant' did a song calle
> > "I dreamed I Was A Railroad Man' that mentions such trains as Silver
> > City Comet, Sunlander, Tea and Sugar Train. On this same album there
> > is a soundtrack of 6032 on Hawkmount recorded 0330 Dec 16th 1967.
> And I thought I was the only other person to have a copy of this album. :)
Nope!
> David
David Johnson
Yes.
--
David Johnson
trai...@ozemail.com.au
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~trainman/
------------------------------------
These comments are made in a private
capacity and do not represent the
official view of State Rail.
C.O.W.S. Page 11.
David Johnson
> On Tue, 05 Dec 2000 02:51:35 GMT, dbro...@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage) wrote:
>
> >I think this has been discussed before, but I can't find the thread in the
> >archives or on deja.com.
> >
> >Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs? Off the top
> >of my head I can think of:
>
> There was a compilation of Australian railway songs, prose and poetry produced about 10 years ago.
> The name of the album is 'Sleepers and Rails', produced by Matthews Music Pty Ltd, but has been
> unfortunately since deleted from the HMV catalogue.
Published by Festival Records - D 30696
Try them on mailto:in...@festivalrecords.com.au and see if they can help you.
Tell
Very fitting that tune was played on the Roarers final
run. Sigh, great train, great song. ;)
....Tell
>Chris Brownbill <cbrn...@enternet.com.au> wrote:
> I well remember the final run of the Snora. On departure from Sydney Central,
> an instrumental electric guitar tune announced as 'Southern Aurora' was played
> over the PA as the train pulled out. I thought it was by 'The Shadows', or at
> least it sounded like them. Is this the Joy Boys tune or is it a Shadows
> original? Whatever - it was a great send-off for the old girl.
>
>
> Tell wrote:
> >
> > The Southern Aurora was put down by Col Joys backing
> > group, still one of the great Aussie train songs.
> >
> > It is an instrumental.
> >
> > ....Tell
> >
> >
> >
> > >Rob Kearey <mam...@optushome.com.au> wrote:
> >
> > > David Bromage wrote:
> > >
> > > > Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs? Off the top
> > > > of my head I can think of:
> > >
Daniel Bowen
Parties Anything's "Under the Clocks" yet? (More about Melbourne in general
than just Flinders Street Station).
Daniel
--
Daniel Bowen, Melbourne, Australia
dbo...@custard.REMOVE.net.au
http://www.custard.net.au/bowen/daniel/
Peter and Susan
>Peter and Susan (pe...@powerup.NOSPAM.com.au) wrote:
>
>> Sgt Small* (T Morton),
>
>Fairly loose railway connection. :)
Maybe, but the album cover states this it is trying to give an overview of railway history.
'Jumping the Rattler' was certainly part of Australian Railway history during the depression. Could
you suggest any other song, poem or prose which would fit this era?
Patsy Adams-Smith in her book 'Hear the Train Blow' also gives an insight into Jumping the Rattler.
David McLoughlin
You mean Puff is a myth?
Poor Johnny Paper.
You'll be the Grinch who killed Christmas next.
John Kerley
> I think this has been discussed before, but I can't find the thread in the
> archives or on deja.com.
>
> of my head I can think of:
>
> year and top selling country song of 1978.) Recently re-released by The
> Bushwackers.
>
> The Ghan, by Ted Egan.
>
> Jolly Green Giant, by Johnny Ashcroft.
>
> 3801, by Ray King and Ron Russell. Did they write any others?
>
> A heap by the late Alan Rowe.
> - The Puffing Billy Song
> - The Beechie
> - The Deepdene Dasher
> - Riding in the old Z van
> - The aren't and they shan't 'cos they can't.
>
> Queensland Railway Line (trad?)
>
>
>
> Cheers
> David
On a modern note, and I use the terms advisedly, there is a song called
Columns o' Steam by a group called The Lucksmiths in their album "A Good
Kind of Nervous" and released by Candle Records in 1997. The lyrics were
apparently written after the songwriter had a trip from Belgrave, although
behind Decauville 869, rather than an NA.
Cheers,
John Kerley
Chris Brownbill
I always wondered if this song wasn't a metaphor for dope smoking - you know
puffing magic dragons, jackie (roll your own) paper, etc etc.
Anyone but the Seekers and it wouldn't be hard to believe. The Beatles and
Norwegian Wood I can believe but Judith Durham and Athol Guy? Nah.
Robert Bushby
inch LP. I've got a copy of it somewhere in my collection. The tune is the
tune of the well known Casey Jones song - but this is a graet QR yarn - "he
drove a C16 faster than the Spirit of P" etc etc.
Top yarn and song, we used to sing it on ARHS tours many years ago
especially late at night on overnight tours (some of us did, anyway!!)
--
Rob Bushby
South Coast Extended (HO - NSWGR)
(under construction)
Queenstown, Tasmania.
roma...@tassie.net.au
--
"John Garaty" <jkga...@1earth.net> wrote in message
news:97601025...@ns2.1earth.net...
> Greetings all, Also another Queensland song was about Billy Sheen and the
> C16. It was on a 10" record of folk songs released for the Queensland
State
> Centenary (1958?), artists unknown. The tune was to the "Casey Jones"
melody
> and the end result was the same - boiler explosion while trying to make up
> time. The song ends with the widow telling her kids "Your next old man
will
> be a guardian of lambs". Anyone out there heard of this one?
> Regards, John Garaty
>
> James C. <jame...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
> news:90iafp$kt9$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> > In article <XKYW5.32$1p4....@news0.optus.net.au>,
> > dbro...@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage) wrote:
> > > I think this has been discussed before, but I can't find the thread
> > in the
> > > archives or on deja.com.
> > >
> > > Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs? Off
> > the top
> > > of my head I can think of:
> > >
> > > Indian Pacific, by Joy McKean. Recorded by Slim Dusty (ARPA song of
> > the
> > > year and top selling country song of 1978.) Recently re-released by
> > The
> > > Bushwackers.
> > >
> > > The Ghan, by Ted Egan.
> > >
> > > Jolly Green Giant, by Johnny Ashcroft.
> > >
> > > 3801, by Ray King and Ron Russell. Did they write any others?
> > >
> > > A heap by the late Alan Rowe.
> > > - The Puffing Billy Song
> > > - The Beechie
> > > - The Deepdene Dasher
> > > - Riding in the old Z van
> > > - The aren't and they shan't 'cos they can't.
> > >
> > > Queensland Railway Line (trad?)
> >
> > QR also had a song for Kuranda train. It was printed on QR timetable in
> > the early 90s.
Barry Campbell
Chris Brownbill wrote in message <3A2F647D...@enternet.com.au>...
>Little Jackie Paper wasn't it?
>
>I always wondered if this song wasn't a metaphor for dope smoking - you
know
>puffing magic dragons, jackie (roll your own) paper, etc etc.
>
>Anyone but the Seekers and it wouldn't be hard to believe. The Beatles and
>Norwegian Wood I can believe but Judith Durham and Athol Guy? Nah.
>
also.
Barry Campbell
steamfreak
> "Folklore of Australian Railways" in the early 70s reproduced the
> lyrics of various poems and songs. One of them was about the end of
> steam on the QR, and included a verse describing how the local vicar
> had the measels, meaning he couldn't bless the stinking diesels.
> Unfortunately the book is archived on the other side of the world in my
> parent's house (in Tassie) so I can't provide any more than that.
The poem (not sure if it is a song as well) is called "The Blessing of the
Fleet". From memory it went something like this (my copy is also half a
world away, but for some reason I remember this poem. The second stanza
wasn't quite as reproduced below, not sure what classes the original poem
mentions) -
One Sunday at the shed I find
A truly wondrous vision.
The depot's locos are aligned
With military precision.
Those N's and K's are spic 'n span
And those 4 lovely S's
Are shining much more brightly than
Die Lorelei's gold tresses.
The railwaymen in Sunday best
Have started an invasion.
And the numbers who attend suggest
A wonderful occasion.
So why do all these rail blokes meet,
No charge made for admission,
Well it's the Blessing of the Fleet
A fine old railway tradition.
Just then a fireman says in jest
"T'would be a damn sight quicker,
In getting all these engines blessed,
If we could find the vicar"
A truth, they hear the fireman say,
Which makes the meeting shiver,
"The vicar can't be here today,
He's sick at Little River"
The meeting over, incomplete,
For the vicar's on a sickie.
And so the railwaymen decide
To go and have a quickie.
And as the railwaymen are plied
With alcoholic liquor,
They'll send, I hear the men decide,
Get well cards to the vicar.
Most railwaymen have good intent
But draw the line at writing.
On their behalf this card is sent,
To make your life exciting.
We hope that you may soon
Recover from the measles,
And come again some other day
And bless the stinking diesels...
jsh...@westpac.com.au
"steamfreak" <steamf...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Getting back on topic, I recall that Patsy Adam-Smith in her book
> > "Folklore of Australian Railways" in the early 70s reproduced the
> > lyrics of various poems and songs. One of them was about the end of
> > steam on the QR, and included a verse describing how the local vicar
> > had the measels, meaning he couldn't bless the stinking diesels.
> > Unfortunately the book is archived on the other side of the world
in my
> > parent's house (in Tassie) so I can't provide any more than that.
>
> The poem (not sure if it is a song as well) is called "The Blessing
of the
> Fleet". From memory it went something like this (my copy is also
half a
> world away, but for some reason I remember this poem
> Those N's and K's are spic 'n span
> And those 4 lovely S's
> Are shining much more brightly than
> Die Lorelei's gold tresses.
>
> A truth, they hear the fireman say,
> Which makes the meeting shiver,
> "The vicar can't be here today,
> He's sick at Little River"
>
That's the poem! Good memory.
But I gather it refers to VR, not QR as I errantly recalled, what with
Ns and Ks, and lovely Ss, and with the vicar at L'l River... J
Michael McDonald
news:bNkX5.125$UI4....@nsw.nnrp.telstra.net...
Nah, us NZ'ers will still laugh at those living across the ditch. After
all, you Aussies treat your national emblem as vermin and eat it (must admit
it tastes quite nice! IIRC it was on the menu of the Westlander - that's
where I had my first and only taste of crocodile).
Cheers
Michael ;-)>
David Bromage
> "David Bromage" <dbro...@fang.omni.com.au> wrote in message
> > RUBARBJohn (jt...@bigpond.com) wrote:
> > > Johnny Ashcroft in addition to 'Jolly Greeen Giant' did a song calle
> > > "I dreamed I Was A Railroad Man' that mentions such trains as Silver
> > > City Comet, Sunlander, Tea and Sugar Train. On this same album there
> > > is a soundtrack of 6032 on Hawkmount recorded 0330 Dec 16th 1967.
> >
> > And I thought I was the only other person to have a copy of this album. :)
>
> about trains" which has 3801 on the cover, is this the same one.
That's the one. Anybody if he's still around and whether he made any more
albums?
Cheers
David
RUBARB John
Another song that comes to mind is 'Trains' by Troy Cassar Daley. His
mother used to be a dining car worker on the North Coast. This song is
up for a listeners choice award in Tamworth in January.
Elizabeth Lord from Lismore area has recorded a song called 'Ryleighs
Last Run' loosley based on the last run of a driver called Cecil on
the North Coast Line.
Tony Johns from the Newcastle area has recorded a song called 'Train
Ride 3801'
Regards
John
On Tue, 05 Dec 2000 02:51:35 GMT, dbro...@fang.omni.com.au (David
Bromage) wrote:
>I think this has been discussed before, but I can't find the thread in the
>archives or on deja.com.
>
>Has anybody made a canonical list of Australian railway songs? Off the top
>of my head I can think of:
>
>Indian Pacific, by Joy McKean. Recorded by Slim Dusty (ARPA song of the
>year and top selling country song of 1978.) Recently re-released by The
>Bushwackers.
>
>The Ghan, by Ted Egan.
>
>Jolly Green Giant, by Johnny Ashcroft.
>
>3801, by Ray King and Ron Russell. Did they write any others?
>
>A heap by the late Alan Rowe.
> - The Puffing Billy Song
> - The Beechie
> - The Deepdene Dasher
> - Riding in the old Z van
> - The aren't and they shan't 'cos they can't.
>
>Queensland Railway Line (trad?)
>
>Morningtown Ride, by The Seekers.
>
>The Train Song, by Nick Cave.
>
>Cheers
>David
(please remove RUBARB to be able to reply)
RUBARB John
the late 80s - it's about the Eureka stockade etc. Hasen't done much
since then.
John
(please remove RUBARB to be able to reply)
Brown Family
wrote:
>I just got the album out and found it is called "The Flying Circus 'Steam
>Trains & Country Days' (an anthology)" and it has a third song about trains
>called "The Last Train". In the sleeve notes "Kempsey Mail" is described as
>"another of Jim's majestic train songs" (Jim is Jim Wynne). The notes also
>say that the band's fourth train song "Train Ride" could not be included
>because of contractual barriers.
From what I remember, "Flying Circus" had at least one rail fan at the
time - James Wynne. I believe he wrote "3667" on the "Prepared In
Peace" Album of 1970. Flying Circus's first album (which featured
"Hayride" and "La La" also included a couple of railway-related songs;
"The Last Train" and "Twilight Journey". This album came out in 1969.
The group went over to Canada in 1971 and I haven't heard much about
them since.
Les Brown
canetram59
old Queensland song - "Billy Sheen and His C16" sung by the Moreton Bay
Bushwackers in the Queensland Centenary Songbook in 1959.
I am showing my age!!!
Regards
David Mewes
RUBARB bigpond.com (John) <jtas@> wrote in message
news:3a32f71...@news.bigpond.com...