Eric Bogle Lyrics And Chords
From One Of The Finest Songwriter Of All Time. Here Are Some of Eric's most popular songs. Most of Eric's songs were recorded by The Fureys and also by The Dubliners. Ronnie Drew was a hugh fan of him having recorded Leaving Nancy and The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. My system of displaying the guitar chords are in Chordpro format.
songwriter
Introduction
Eric Bogle is a renowned singer-songwriter from Scotland, known for his powerful and moving folk songs that have touched the hearts of millions. His music has been covered by numerous artists and has become an integral part of the folk music scene in both his home country and internationally. Bogle’s songs have a unique ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences, making him one of the most respected and influential artists of his time. In this thesis, we will explore the life and music of Eric Bogle, delving into his background, his songwriting style, and the impact he has had on the folk music genre.
Early Life and Musical Influences
Eric Bogle was born on September 23, 1944, in Peebles, Scotland. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a working-class family. Bogle’s parents were both immigrants from Aberdeen, Scotland, and instilled in him a deep love for his Scottish heritage. His father also had a fondness for music and would often play traditional Scottish songs on the harmonica, which sparked Bogle’s interest in music from a young age.
As a child, Bogle was also exposed to American folk and country music through the radio and records his father would bring home. He was particularly drawn to the music of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Hank Williams, who would become major influences on his songwriting style.
Bogle’s Musical Journey
At the age of eight, Bogle began learning the guitar and started writing his own songs. He would often perform at local talent shows and events, honing his skills as a musician and songwriter. After completing his education, Bogle worked various jobs, including as a factory worker and a teacher, but his true passion remained in music.
In 1969, Bogle made the life-changing decision to move to Australia, where he settled in Adelaide. It was here that he began his professional music career, playing at local clubs and venues. He quickly gained a following with his powerful and emotive songs, and in 1971, he released his first album, ‘Now I’m Easy’. The title track became an instant hit and remains one of his most well-known and beloved songs.
Songwriting Style and Themes
Bogle’s songwriting style is deeply rooted in the folk tradition, with a focus on storytelling and capturing the human experience. He has a talent for crafting poignant and thought-provoking lyrics that address a wide range of topics, from war and social justice to love and family.
One of Bogle’s most notable songwriting techniques is his ability to take historical events and turn them into powerful and emotional songs. His song ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ is a prime example of this, depicting the horrors of war through the eyes of a young soldier. He also draws inspiration from his own personal experiences, such as ‘Leaving Nancy’, a song about leaving his homeland and the loved ones he left behind.
Impact and Legacy
Eric Bogle’s impact on the folk music scene cannot be overstated. His songs have been covered by countless artists, including Joan Baez, Mary Black, and Billy Bragg, and have become staples in the folk music repertoire. He has also received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Order of Australia Medal in 1987 for his services to the Australian music industry.
Bogle’s music has also had a profound impact on his listeners, with many describing his songs as thought-provoking, moving, and deeply touching. His ability to capture the human experience and connect with his audience has solidified his place as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of his time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Eric Bogle’s contributions to the folk music genre are immeasurable. His powerful and emotive songs have touched the hearts of millions and have become a vital part of the folk music canon. Through his music, Bogle has captured the essence of the human experience, creating a lasting impact on his listeners and securing his place as one of the most respected and beloved artists in the folk music scene.
Introduction
Eric Bogle is a renowned singer-songwriter from Scotland, known for his powerful and moving folk songs that have touched the hearts of millions. His music has been covered by numerous artists and has become an integral part of the folk music scene in both his home country and internationally. Bogle’s songs have a unique ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences, making him one of the most respected and influential artists of his time. In this thesis, we will explore the life and music of Eric Bogle, delving into his background, his songwriting style, and the impact he has had on the folk music genre.
Early Life and Musical Influences
Eric Bogle was born on September 23, 1944, in Peebles, Scotland. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a working-class family. Bogle’s parents were both immigrants from Aberdeen, Scotland, and instilled in him a deep love for his Scottish heritage. His father also had a fondness for music and would often play traditional Scottish songs on the harmonica, which sparked Bogle’s interest in music from a young age.
As a child, Bogle was also exposed to American folk and country music through the radio and records his father would bring home. He was particularly drawn to the music of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Hank Williams, who would become major influences on his songwriting style.
Bogle’s Musical Journey
At the age of eight, Bogle began learning the guitar and started writing his own songs. He would often perform at local talent shows and events, honing his skills as a musician and songwriter. After completing his education, Bogle worked various jobs, including as a factory worker and a teacher, but his true passion remained in music.
In 1969, Bogle made the life-changing decision to move to Australia, where he settled in Adelaide. It was here that he began his professional music career, playing at local clubs and venues. He quickly gained a following with his powerful and emotive songs, and in 1971, he released his first album, ‘Now I’m Easy’. The title track became an instant hit and remains one of his most well-known and beloved songs.
Songwriting Style and Themes
Bogle’s songwriting style is deeply rooted in the folk tradition, with a focus on storytelling and capturing the human experience. He has a talent for crafting poignant and thought-provoking lyrics that address a wide range of topics, from war and social justice to love and family.
One of Bogle’s most notable songwriting techniques is his ability to take historical events and turn them into powerful and emotional songs. His song ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ is a prime example of this, depicting the horrors of war through the eyes of a young soldier. He also draws inspiration from his own personal experiences, such as ‘Leaving Nancy’, a song about leaving his homeland and the loved ones he left behind.
Impact and Legacy
Eric Bogle’s impact on the folk music scene cannot be overstated. His songs have been covered by countless artists, including Joan Baez, Mary Black, and Billy Bragg, and have become staples in the folk music repertoire. He has also received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Order of Australia Medal in 1987 for his services to the Australian music industry.
Bogle’s music has also had a profound impact on his listeners, with many describing his songs as thought-provoking, moving, and deeply touching. His ability to capture the human experience and connect with his audience has solidified his place as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of his time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Eric Bogle’s contributions to the folk music genre are immeasurable. His powerful and emotive songs have touched the hearts of millions and have become a vital part of the folk music canon. Through his music, Bogle has captured the essence of the human experience, creating a lasting impact on his listeners and securing his place as one of the most respected and beloved artists in the folk music scene.
And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
All The Fine Young Men
A Reason For It All
The Ballad Of Henry Holloway
The Cocky Farmer
The Dreamer
Glasgow Lullaby Lyrics And Chords
If Wishes Were Fishes
Leaving The Land
My Youngest Son Came Home Today
The Green Fields Of France
Singing The Spirit Home
Safe In The Harbour
All The Fine Young Men
A Reason For It All
The Ballad Of Henry Holloway
The Cocky Farmer
The Dreamer
Glasgow Lullaby Lyrics And Chords
If Wishes Were Fishes
Leaving The Land
My Youngest Son Came Home Today
The Green Fields Of France
Singing The Spirit Home
Safe In The Harbour
Eric Bogle singer songwriter
Eric Bogle is internationally recognised as a powerful and well-crafted
songwriter and performer. His songs have been accepted by singers, fellow songwriters and all those who appreciate songs that tug at the heart-strings and tickle the funny-bone. The prestigious British industry magazine New Musical Express hailed him as 'one of the most important songwriters of the decade.
1 A Reason For It All
This song is unfortunately based on a true story. Clare lived and died in Sydney, Australia. There are so many isolated and lonely people in our society, many of them old and sick, a fact which I become more uncomfortably aware as I slide down towards 50 years of age. One of the main yardsticks by which any society must be judged is how that society cares for the disadvantaged, ie, the people who cannot care for themselves, mainly the young, the old, the sick, the poor. I wonder if my society measures up? I don't think so.
3 Hard Hard Times
The plight of Aboriginals in Australia is a sad one, and one which is reflected in the native minorities in many countries. It is not official neglect which is destroying the culture of these gentle people, nor deliberate policy, just the over-powering-weight of the white man's culture. There are no easy answers to the problem, but answers must be found, or Australian Aboriginals and all other native minorities like them will eventually vanish forever.
4 Scraps Of Paper
From the day I was born to the day my father died we were strangers to each other. After he died, I was clearing out his room and found a bundle of papers upon which he'd written little poems setting out his hopes, dreams, his love for his family, etc. I felt angry and cheated, because here in my hand was one line of communication between us. Too late, too late.
5 If Wishes Were Fishes
When I was a wee boy in Scotland this was one of my mother's favourite sayings. She was full of them unfortunately. I thought it deserved a song.
6 Front Row Cowboy
This song was written for Roy Rogers.
7 And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
An attempt to try and express on one hand, my revulsion of war, and on the other, my genuine admiration for all the brave men who fought at Gallipolli, Turkey, volunteers to a man!
8 Little Gomez
I wrote 'He's Nobody's Moggy Now' in 1982 which alienated every cat-lover in the Southern Hemisphere, and a fair proportion in the Northern Hemisphere as well. Greedy sod that I am, I could not rest till I'd alienated all the dog-lovers as well. This did it!
9 Aussie Bar-B-Q
The Aussie barbie is a much loved Pagan rite which takes place all over the country each summer. To those bewildered Pommies who just cannot grasp the subtle enjoyment of this cullinary extravaganza this song is humbly offered. "Snags"-sausages; "Dunny"-toilet; "Aerogard" - insect repellent; "Mozzies"- mosquitoes; "Bull ants"-a gigantic ant which bites big toes; "Esky"-polystyrene container which keeps the beer cold and therefore ranks in Australia as an invention equalling if not surpassing the electric light.
10 When The Wind Blows
This song was inspired by the book of the same name by Raymond Briggs. It's a chilling little book. I'd like to lend a copy to the world leaders, it might frighten them. It certainly frightened me, and this song is the result.
songwriter and performer. His songs have been accepted by singers, fellow songwriters and all those who appreciate songs that tug at the heart-strings and tickle the funny-bone. The prestigious British industry magazine New Musical Express hailed him as 'one of the most important songwriters of the decade.
1 A Reason For It All
This song is unfortunately based on a true story. Clare lived and died in Sydney, Australia. There are so many isolated and lonely people in our society, many of them old and sick, a fact which I become more uncomfortably aware as I slide down towards 50 years of age. One of the main yardsticks by which any society must be judged is how that society cares for the disadvantaged, ie, the people who cannot care for themselves, mainly the young, the old, the sick, the poor. I wonder if my society measures up? I don't think so.
3 Hard Hard Times
The plight of Aboriginals in Australia is a sad one, and one which is reflected in the native minorities in many countries. It is not official neglect which is destroying the culture of these gentle people, nor deliberate policy, just the over-powering-weight of the white man's culture. There are no easy answers to the problem, but answers must be found, or Australian Aboriginals and all other native minorities like them will eventually vanish forever.
4 Scraps Of Paper
From the day I was born to the day my father died we were strangers to each other. After he died, I was clearing out his room and found a bundle of papers upon which he'd written little poems setting out his hopes, dreams, his love for his family, etc. I felt angry and cheated, because here in my hand was one line of communication between us. Too late, too late.
5 If Wishes Were Fishes
When I was a wee boy in Scotland this was one of my mother's favourite sayings. She was full of them unfortunately. I thought it deserved a song.
6 Front Row Cowboy
This song was written for Roy Rogers.
7 And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
An attempt to try and express on one hand, my revulsion of war, and on the other, my genuine admiration for all the brave men who fought at Gallipolli, Turkey, volunteers to a man!
8 Little Gomez
I wrote 'He's Nobody's Moggy Now' in 1982 which alienated every cat-lover in the Southern Hemisphere, and a fair proportion in the Northern Hemisphere as well. Greedy sod that I am, I could not rest till I'd alienated all the dog-lovers as well. This did it!
9 Aussie Bar-B-Q
The Aussie barbie is a much loved Pagan rite which takes place all over the country each summer. To those bewildered Pommies who just cannot grasp the subtle enjoyment of this cullinary extravaganza this song is humbly offered. "Snags"-sausages; "Dunny"-toilet; "Aerogard" - insect repellent; "Mozzies"- mosquitoes; "Bull ants"-a gigantic ant which bites big toes; "Esky"-polystyrene container which keeps the beer cold and therefore ranks in Australia as an invention equalling if not surpassing the electric light.
10 When The Wind Blows
This song was inspired by the book of the same name by Raymond Briggs. It's a chilling little book. I'd like to lend a copy to the world leaders, it might frighten them. It certainly frightened me, and this song is the result.
Our National Pride
I wrote this song as a tribute to the five members of Geelong West Brigade of the Victorian CFA who died in a bushfire in South-East
Victoria in December 1998. Most Australians would know the names of our champion olympic athletes. Few, if any would remember the names of those five brave men who died in that fire. For the record, they were: Matthew Armstrong, Stuart Davidson, Christopher Evans, Jason Thomas and Garry Vredeveldt. If we have to create heroes, then let us at least create worthy ones.
Lyrics
1. You ask me if I'll feel pride when our country's flag is raised
Above the winner's rostrum and our national anthem's played While
the winners stand with flowers in hand and medals round their necks
We can all share in their glory, but not their sponsors' cheques
And the press will call them heroes, we'll puff out our
collective chest For living in a land that breeds the fastest and the best
And while I dip my old Akubra to their talent and their skill
I can't call them heroes, and guess I never will
Chorus:
But t you asked me the question so I'll tell you no lies
I'll feel many, many things, but I won't feel pride
2. You see last year in Victoria down a smoke-filled forest track
Some real heroes and real heroines tried to turn a bushfire back
All through the day they fought the blaze, exhaustion, heat and fear
Ordinary Aussie men and women, C.FS. Volunteers
But the fire turned like a cornered snake roaring down the
mountainside
And in that choking, smoking hell,
five brave men died
Not for medals, not for money, not
for glory, not for fame
And tell me who amongst you now remembers their names?
Chorus:
But I want to run to a mountain- top, and shout their names out loud
They made me feel Australian, and that made me feel proud
Now the volunteers got lots of press who said the tragedy had shown
Australians still would give their all to save their neighbours' homes
They got thanks and praise and eulogies for their true-blue Aussie pluck
They got everything but money to buy new and safer trucks
For every gold olympic medal that we won four years ago
Someone worked out each one cost fifty million dollars or so
Seems like a hefty price to pay just to flaunt our pedigree
Somewhere our values have gone to hell, but maybe it's just me
Chorus:
Black smoke for their funeral pyre, white ash for their shroud Feel anger,
grief and pain and loss -but feel proud
Not for medals, not for money, not for glory, not for fame
They don't see themselves as heroes, and wouldn't answer to the name
It's been much abused and over- used but I use it nonetheless
For every man and woman in the Australian C.FS.
Chorus: No fist raised in fleeting triumph above a cheering crowd
Just years of quiet courage, that should make us feel proud
Yes I want to run to a mountain- top and shout their names out loud
They made me feel Australian and that made me feel proud
The Sign
A true story. I saw the sign on a wall in Christchurch N.Z. a couple of years ago.
Someone keeping the flame alive.
Lyrics
1. In the summer of last year in a city far from here
That stands on the shores of the fair Pacific Sea
I walked its pleasant streets, no view in mind, no-one to meet
Content to wander where my aimless feet led me
A few streets from my hotel I passed an old stone wall
Where three words had been scrawled by an unknown hand When
I read them I stopped dead, in disbelief I shook my head
For the words on that wall read, "Free Bobby Sands"
Chorus:
As the sun began to fall And the day began to die
Thought I heard the wild geese call
From a dark and empty sky 2.
For long minutes I stood there in that busy thoroughfare
While the past rose sharp and clear in my mind's eye
I saw it all again, the passion, hate and pain
The indifference and the shame
as a young man died
But it was all so long ago and who
now cares or knows
Why Bobby Sands chose his lonely death?
But to the one who wrote that
Sign, it seems that Bobby's light still shines
The words rang from another time, but the paint was fresh
So I went down to the sea to let it's wild song comfort me
But my thoughts would not let me be and unchecked they ran
Through my future, present and past, not for the first time or the
last I heard them ask, "Could you be the kind of man
Who would gladly sacrifice everything, even life
And put no price on a cause or an ideal?"
No answer echoed in my heart, so I turned and
I walked back Through the twilight's deepening dark to my hotel
Just Here For The Money
A tragic tale of envy, failure and faded rhinestones.
Lyrics
1. Well I'm just here for the money, don't need no
Gold Guitar Don't need somethin' of painted tin to prove that I'm a star
Don't need an award to tell me what I already know
And acknowledgement don't pay the rent, I'm just here for the dough
Don't want to further my career, the time for that's long past
Don't want to raise my profile, just want to raise some cash
So I'll stand aside and stay aloof while everybody else competes
The only prize I recognise is lots of bums on seats
Now I've never been to Nashville, never been to where it's at
I don't look cute in a cowboy suit, don't wear a big black hat
Don't sing, "Y'all," in an American drawl, how
lurv is a painful thang I sing how it is, with no show-biz in a
Scottish-Aussie twang But look the awards are bein' announced, I wonder who will win?
God dang my eyes, what a surprise, it's John and Gina, Lee and Slim!
Makes a pleasant change from
last year, I'm sure you will agree If I remember right, the winners that night were John and Gina, Slim and Lee!
Well I'm just here for the money, laughin' all the way to the bank
Don't care too much for awards and such, they're all just a total waste of time
You can sign your life away or be independent just like me
But you'll get no awards unless you record with EMI or ABC So I'll say goodbye to Tamworth,
Gold Guitars and all that jazz The root-tootin' and boot-scootin',
the hype and the razzamatazz Go back to my lonely bedroom, gaze on my empty shelf
If I don't win a Gold Guitar next year I'm gonna kill myself
If I don't win a Gold Guitar next year I'm gonna kill myself
Jingle Jangle
A couple of years ago in my local paper, I read the
obituary of an Adelaide woman whose life had been full
of charitable good works, and who had contributed
much to her country and her community. The obituary
noted that she had never married,
but when she was younger she had been engaged to a
captain in the Anzac corps who had been
killed in action in France in
1917. My imagination took
over and this song is the result.
Lyrics
1. She once had a sweetheart, a
handsome young man
Who was born to the saddle and raised on the land
He courted her gently for 12
months and more
Then one night, on his bay, he rode up to her door
Chorus:
And his spurs went jingle jangle Their music made her heart sing Jingle jingle jangle
She rose up and she let him in
2. And all through that night as the stars rose and fell
They slept in that place only first love can dwell
But he dressed with the dawn,
rode off down the track
She did not call out, and he did not look back
Chorus:
But his spurs went jingle jangle Ringing through the grey dawn
Jingle jingle jangle
She stood there until he was gone
3. He enlisted in Sydney, was shipped off to France
He fell in some futile, forgotten
advance
And though his face is now a shadow from a far-away time
Sometimes, in her dreams, a
sound still haunts her mind Chorus:
Jingle jingle jangle
Echoing down through the years His spurs go Jingle Jangle And her pillow is wet with her
The Road To El Dorado
Lyrics
El Dorado does not exist. I tried to go there anyway
1. On the road to El Dorado I stopped to smell the flowers
I lay content amongst their sweet scent as minutes turned to hours
Around me birds were singing, a song as pure as an angel's tears
Time slipped away, hours turned to days, and days turned into years
2. I had searched for El Dorado nearly all my life
With little thought to whom or what I'd have to sacrifice
To drink deep from the Holy Grail on the alter of success
I thought if I could sup from that golden cup, I'd find peace and happiness
3. But the road to El Dorado is a steep and slippery track
For every yard I climbed I would find I'd slip two yards back
Never found my El Dorado or walked it's golden streets
Though it still gleamed deep in my dreams, it was always out of reach
4. On the road to El Dorado I
looked only straight ahead
Deaf and blind to the truth behind
the dreams inside my head
Until I saw the sunshine dancing
in the morning air
And I realised El Dorado lies around us everywhere
River Of Time
A wee bit of light-hearted fluff to help you get over the preceding song. There's a nice jolly jaunty fade...
Lyrics
1. When I was a wee-bitty boy
Greetin' on my Mammy's bony old knee
She'd call me a disgrace
And a total waste of space
She'd say, "Shadda-up your face."
And then she'd sing to me Chorus:
We're all adrift on the river of time
As it flows and it winds to the endless sea
We'll never reach the other side
So don't swim against the tide
- just enjoy the ride
And let your heart run free
2. Now I am a dirty old man
Enticin' young women to sit on my
knee
They giggle and blush
Call me a pervert- or worse
So I sing them this verse My Mammy sang to me
I wrote this song as a tribute to the five members of Geelong West Brigade of the Victorian CFA who died in a bushfire in South-East
Victoria in December 1998. Most Australians would know the names of our champion olympic athletes. Few, if any would remember the names of those five brave men who died in that fire. For the record, they were: Matthew Armstrong, Stuart Davidson, Christopher Evans, Jason Thomas and Garry Vredeveldt. If we have to create heroes, then let us at least create worthy ones.
Lyrics
1. You ask me if I'll feel pride when our country's flag is raised
Above the winner's rostrum and our national anthem's played While
the winners stand with flowers in hand and medals round their necks
We can all share in their glory, but not their sponsors' cheques
And the press will call them heroes, we'll puff out our
collective chest For living in a land that breeds the fastest and the best
And while I dip my old Akubra to their talent and their skill
I can't call them heroes, and guess I never will
Chorus:
But t you asked me the question so I'll tell you no lies
I'll feel many, many things, but I won't feel pride
2. You see last year in Victoria down a smoke-filled forest track
Some real heroes and real heroines tried to turn a bushfire back
All through the day they fought the blaze, exhaustion, heat and fear
Ordinary Aussie men and women, C.FS. Volunteers
But the fire turned like a cornered snake roaring down the
mountainside
And in that choking, smoking hell,
five brave men died
Not for medals, not for money, not
for glory, not for fame
And tell me who amongst you now remembers their names?
Chorus:
But I want to run to a mountain- top, and shout their names out loud
They made me feel Australian, and that made me feel proud
Now the volunteers got lots of press who said the tragedy had shown
Australians still would give their all to save their neighbours' homes
They got thanks and praise and eulogies for their true-blue Aussie pluck
They got everything but money to buy new and safer trucks
For every gold olympic medal that we won four years ago
Someone worked out each one cost fifty million dollars or so
Seems like a hefty price to pay just to flaunt our pedigree
Somewhere our values have gone to hell, but maybe it's just me
Chorus:
Black smoke for their funeral pyre, white ash for their shroud Feel anger,
grief and pain and loss -but feel proud
Not for medals, not for money, not for glory, not for fame
They don't see themselves as heroes, and wouldn't answer to the name
It's been much abused and over- used but I use it nonetheless
For every man and woman in the Australian C.FS.
Chorus: No fist raised in fleeting triumph above a cheering crowd
Just years of quiet courage, that should make us feel proud
Yes I want to run to a mountain- top and shout their names out loud
They made me feel Australian and that made me feel proud
The Sign
A true story. I saw the sign on a wall in Christchurch N.Z. a couple of years ago.
Someone keeping the flame alive.
Lyrics
1. In the summer of last year in a city far from here
That stands on the shores of the fair Pacific Sea
I walked its pleasant streets, no view in mind, no-one to meet
Content to wander where my aimless feet led me
A few streets from my hotel I passed an old stone wall
Where three words had been scrawled by an unknown hand When
I read them I stopped dead, in disbelief I shook my head
For the words on that wall read, "Free Bobby Sands"
Chorus:
As the sun began to fall And the day began to die
Thought I heard the wild geese call
From a dark and empty sky 2.
For long minutes I stood there in that busy thoroughfare
While the past rose sharp and clear in my mind's eye
I saw it all again, the passion, hate and pain
The indifference and the shame
as a young man died
But it was all so long ago and who
now cares or knows
Why Bobby Sands chose his lonely death?
But to the one who wrote that
Sign, it seems that Bobby's light still shines
The words rang from another time, but the paint was fresh
So I went down to the sea to let it's wild song comfort me
But my thoughts would not let me be and unchecked they ran
Through my future, present and past, not for the first time or the
last I heard them ask, "Could you be the kind of man
Who would gladly sacrifice everything, even life
And put no price on a cause or an ideal?"
No answer echoed in my heart, so I turned and
I walked back Through the twilight's deepening dark to my hotel
Just Here For The Money
A tragic tale of envy, failure and faded rhinestones.
Lyrics
1. Well I'm just here for the money, don't need no
Gold Guitar Don't need somethin' of painted tin to prove that I'm a star
Don't need an award to tell me what I already know
And acknowledgement don't pay the rent, I'm just here for the dough
Don't want to further my career, the time for that's long past
Don't want to raise my profile, just want to raise some cash
So I'll stand aside and stay aloof while everybody else competes
The only prize I recognise is lots of bums on seats
Now I've never been to Nashville, never been to where it's at
I don't look cute in a cowboy suit, don't wear a big black hat
Don't sing, "Y'all," in an American drawl, how
lurv is a painful thang I sing how it is, with no show-biz in a
Scottish-Aussie twang But look the awards are bein' announced, I wonder who will win?
God dang my eyes, what a surprise, it's John and Gina, Lee and Slim!
Makes a pleasant change from
last year, I'm sure you will agree If I remember right, the winners that night were John and Gina, Slim and Lee!
Well I'm just here for the money, laughin' all the way to the bank
Don't care too much for awards and such, they're all just a total waste of time
You can sign your life away or be independent just like me
But you'll get no awards unless you record with EMI or ABC So I'll say goodbye to Tamworth,
Gold Guitars and all that jazz The root-tootin' and boot-scootin',
the hype and the razzamatazz Go back to my lonely bedroom, gaze on my empty shelf
If I don't win a Gold Guitar next year I'm gonna kill myself
If I don't win a Gold Guitar next year I'm gonna kill myself
Jingle Jangle
A couple of years ago in my local paper, I read the
obituary of an Adelaide woman whose life had been full
of charitable good works, and who had contributed
much to her country and her community. The obituary
noted that she had never married,
but when she was younger she had been engaged to a
captain in the Anzac corps who had been
killed in action in France in
1917. My imagination took
over and this song is the result.
Lyrics
1. She once had a sweetheart, a
handsome young man
Who was born to the saddle and raised on the land
He courted her gently for 12
months and more
Then one night, on his bay, he rode up to her door
Chorus:
And his spurs went jingle jangle Their music made her heart sing Jingle jingle jangle
She rose up and she let him in
2. And all through that night as the stars rose and fell
They slept in that place only first love can dwell
But he dressed with the dawn,
rode off down the track
She did not call out, and he did not look back
Chorus:
But his spurs went jingle jangle Ringing through the grey dawn
Jingle jingle jangle
She stood there until he was gone
3. He enlisted in Sydney, was shipped off to France
He fell in some futile, forgotten
advance
And though his face is now a shadow from a far-away time
Sometimes, in her dreams, a
sound still haunts her mind Chorus:
Jingle jingle jangle
Echoing down through the years His spurs go Jingle Jangle And her pillow is wet with her
The Road To El Dorado
Lyrics
El Dorado does not exist. I tried to go there anyway
1. On the road to El Dorado I stopped to smell the flowers
I lay content amongst their sweet scent as minutes turned to hours
Around me birds were singing, a song as pure as an angel's tears
Time slipped away, hours turned to days, and days turned into years
2. I had searched for El Dorado nearly all my life
With little thought to whom or what I'd have to sacrifice
To drink deep from the Holy Grail on the alter of success
I thought if I could sup from that golden cup, I'd find peace and happiness
3. But the road to El Dorado is a steep and slippery track
For every yard I climbed I would find I'd slip two yards back
Never found my El Dorado or walked it's golden streets
Though it still gleamed deep in my dreams, it was always out of reach
4. On the road to El Dorado I
looked only straight ahead
Deaf and blind to the truth behind
the dreams inside my head
Until I saw the sunshine dancing
in the morning air
And I realised El Dorado lies around us everywhere
River Of Time
A wee bit of light-hearted fluff to help you get over the preceding song. There's a nice jolly jaunty fade...
Lyrics
1. When I was a wee-bitty boy
Greetin' on my Mammy's bony old knee
She'd call me a disgrace
And a total waste of space
She'd say, "Shadda-up your face."
And then she'd sing to me Chorus:
We're all adrift on the river of time
As it flows and it winds to the endless sea
We'll never reach the other side
So don't swim against the tide
- just enjoy the ride
And let your heart run free
2. Now I am a dirty old man
Enticin' young women to sit on my
knee
They giggle and blush
Call me a pervert- or worse
So I sing them this verse My Mammy sang to me
