ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Good luck Zondra at your Uke festival - disregard the nay-sayers and just have fun



DON’T NUKE THE UKE


Well she played the Ukulele and she yodelled as she sang
and across the fields and valleys green the mournful echoes rang
The timbre of her voice made every love song poignant, sweet
and her nimble fingers on the strings they never missed a beat

And she yodelled Ukulele ,Ukulele ,Uka Oh,
Ukulele, Uka Uka Uka Oh.

She had music in her fingers she had music in her soul
and to play the Ukulele was this poetess’s goal.
For years she practised diligently, joined with all the best
and the time had come for two hundred to put it to the test.

And she yodelled Ukulele ,Ukulele ,Uka Oh,
Ukulele, Uka Uka Uka Oh.

There were some who cast aspersions on this fiddle playing throng.
Ones who had neither the ear to hear the beauty in their song.
Some claimed a scalded cat would sound much better as we speak
and yet the Uke has its own charm – played right it does not shriek.

And she yodelled Ukulele ,Ukulele ,Uka Oh,
Ukulele, Uka Uka Uka Oh.

So when you hear those four gut strings playing sweet harmony
and listen to the music from this tiny jumping flea
that conjures from the memory visions of foreign lands
and hula dancers swaying ‘neath palm trees on ocean sands.
Close your eyes, go with the melody, and let your heart rejoice
that our Zondrae writes great poetry. But can you hear her voice
as she yodelled Ukulele ,Ukulele ,Uka Oh,
Ukulele, Uka Uka Uka Oh.


Maureen Clifford © 09/12

You're a legend Maureen

I just had visions of 200 hundred people " In the key of D, all together now "

Tiptoe through the tulips, through the tulips, th......AAAAAH

I was a bit bored yesterday Neville Glad you enjoyed the silliness though

Did you know Maureen that a person who repairs stringed instruments is called a luthier.This is derived from the name of the old medieval instrument the lute, which in turn derives its name from al ud, a stringed instrument of muslim culture adopted into Europe.

Thank goodness she didn't play the Sitar, Maureen. That would be one very long poem!

One of my friends, Ian Noyce, is a Luthier near Ballarat, Nev. He makes guitars for players worldwide. It is an absolute joy to watch them ply their craft. I have had an electric he made for over thirty years. I thought the Lute came into calculation with the name but had no idea on the al ud part. Thanks for that. Quite interesting. I will go and put a burqa on my guitar.

Cheers

Neil

... burqua ?? Will there be chips with that??? ...

Goodo Neil. You mention the sitar. I notice that the word sitar and guitar are very similar especially if one were to pronounce the first letter of guitar as the g in gentle. I don't know, but I wonder if both these stringed instruments have a common heritage way back in , say, ancient Persia. I'm a wierdo nerd that way, that a fascinating thought to me


As for Zondrae and Maureen with their ukeleles. The ukelele seems to me to be unable to be "expressive", which is why I can't find interest in it. However if Zondrae gets pleasure out of a small string thing with the added pleasure of being part of a friendly society. It's all good stuff.