What to make of Captain Logan?

[Stephen Whiteside]

Yes, it was a coincidence. It is a beautiful song. I remember my father singing it to me when I was a child. I think it was one of his favourites. You'll find it on YouTube without any difficulty.

[manfredvijars]

Agree Stephen a great song, one of my favorites .... Here's a great version (done by a 'lefty')
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz1aN3MoLsk

Enjoyed your piece too Mate a great treatment and POV ...

[Stephen Whiteside]

POV?

[manfredvijars]

POV? It's a TLA for Point of View ...

[Stephen Whiteside]

Ah!

[Dennis N O'Brien]

As a matter of interest in connection with "Moreton Bay" - Boolavogue - beautiful place, beautiful song.

[Dennis N O'Brien]

Should have mentioned above that both songs are set to the old Irish tune "Eochaill" or Yougal in English which is the name of a coastal town in County Cork, Ireland. As regards Logan I suppose he was a product of his time and a very hard man - can't judge him by today's standards, but by all accounts he wasn't missed.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Thanks for this, Dennis. Very interesting. Apparently Logan was involved with defamation proceedings against the editor of a local paper at the time of his death. A letter highly critical of Logan had been published by this editor. (I'm not quite sure if he also wrote it. I don't quite get that bit.) It would seem possible that Frank McNamara read this letter, and based the song on it. He was never a prisoner at Moreton Bay himself. Also, interestingly, Logan died (1830) two years before McNamara arrived in Australia (1832).

[Dennis N O'Brien]

Sounds plausible Stephen, Frank the poet arrives in Australia, hears all the news about Logan and writes lyrics to the tune
"Eochaill" with which he would not doubt have been familiar. Since this was an air it may not have had any lyrics previously so "Moreton Bay" may have been the original song as it was well before "Boolavogue". Hey this would make a great play! Both beautiful songs though, I have heard none better.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Good thought, Dennis. I'll check 'Eochaill' out.