ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

This might be of interest - my son found it for me - a totally different outlook, might be a good performance piece for somebody perhaps. The singers name is Mick Thomas but don't know if he wrote the lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjcFJ5GN ... 1&index=13

He also has another you may like called "Gallipoli Rosemary"

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... -27GiqZ5jU

Here are the lyrics to -

Scorn of the Women

Well I remember respectfully
Like others before me
All those folk who fell in the war
And I heard you singing songs of lamentation
But I don't wish to hear them no more
"And what did you do in the time of the war?"
Is a question asked by everyone
Well I stood in the line
My screwdriver in hand
Making aircraft out at Laverton

SO don't sing no songs about Waltzing Matilda
Don't tell me I tried, don't tell me I failed
'Cos all I recall is the scorn of the women
And the white feather that I received in the mail

Well I remember the day
I went down to enlist
And they said, "Read this chart on the wall"
And I remember the tone
Of the voice of the doctor
As he said to me
"That will be all thank you very much"
And riding home slowly, I sat on my tram
Not sure if to laugh or to cry
For to train in the camps
A man needs his lamps
And a good soldier
Must have good eyes

Well it takes more than bullets
To murder, to maim
Whether worn down or beaten
A death's still a death
And you know sometimes
When I think back to the forties
I pray for my very last breath
Oh you know, I have nothing
Against those who fought
But for Christ's sake
We do what we can
There's more than one way
That you can skin a cat
And there's more than one way
You can cripple a man

I thought he was pretty good Matt - glad you knew of him I confess to ignorance prior to this, but I enjoyed watching and listening to his work.

Yeah Matt, one of my all time favourites too, The Roaring Days.

Great on YouTube or DVD, but yep . . . They were better live

He's punched out some true gems over the journey, Maureen . . and got that quintessential Aussie nasally wine

Marty

Yes, he's a Melbourne boy, Maureen. He started a band called 'Weddings Parties Anything'. He's had other bands as well. Also does solo work, writes plays, etc. Does some work with Paul Kelly, with whom he has a lot in common - both wonderful songwriters and wordsmiths. He also did some work with Billy Bragg. Hang around Fitzroy often enough and you'll see him buying a sandwich some time.

Here's a bit of trivia. At the age of 15, Mick played in a bush band with my brother-in-law!

well that almost makes you a star by default Stephen and I love Paul Kelly's work - I am enjoying listening to Mick's music.

Two degrees of separation, eh?

One of the most memorable concerts I've been to was Weddings Parties Anything when they played on the back of a truck outside the Pier Hotel in Port Hedland, WA . . . many many years ago - supported by The Waifs.

A fine wordsmith indeed is Mick Thomas.

Hey Stephen........is that '2 degrees separation' thingy the scientific principle for the percentage of likliehood that we may all meet each other one way or the other? I've been blathering on about this marvellous equation & can't recall what it's actually called. (Also is it possible to s t r e t c h the 2 degrees towards never meeting up with some? )

The original theory was 'six steps of separation', and a film was made about it - with that title.

In this case, I only needed two, so I've got four spares. You can have them if you like.

Oh ta Stephen. Now I'll sound like I actually do know what I'm babbling about. I'll pass on the 4 'extras', thanks anyway. I've got enough trouble handling the 6 I've got.