A great traditional Australian folk song about sheep shearing in New South Wales, that drives on at the pace of a ringer [master shearer] on the long blow in a busy shed. The Ward and Paine's mentioned in the song are a brand of shears. Jackie Howe likewise mentioned shore 321 wethers at Alice Downs, Central Queensland, in 1892. His record stood until 1947, when Daniel Cooper shore 325 at Glenara, Langkoop, Victoria. The tune, best known in Australia in association with the words of The Shearer's Cook, is a Scottish melody sometimes called Musselburgh Fair (It also exists in America, as The Cruise of the Bigler).
The tune does sound vaguely familiar, and Australia's cultural links to a UK folk music tradition are clear here.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
Very interesting to read about this cultural aspect of Australia. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletethat is great... a little like a time machine...
ReplyDeleteThis has been part of The Bushwackers repertoire for more years than I like to remember but - I’ve never heard it sung as clearly as this version. So I did a little digging and discovered - the singer is the late Gary Shearston (a folkie from years back). - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Shearston.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing it. . and of course the tar boy hoped there wouldn’t be too many nicks and cuts ( neither would the shearer, didn’t do too much for their reputation)
Imagine the right arm forearm muscles on those shearers who used hand blades. Opening a closing your hand hundreds of times a day. 325 is a lot of sheep with handshears - long old day.
ReplyDeleteI love it and it's a great foot tapping song!
ReplyDeleteI love this tune, I agree it is a foot tapping song. I wonder if that shearing record is broken again? Take care, have a great day!
ReplyDeletethis sounds much like the music of my youth, in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. the tune is familiar but i don't know any of the songs. I find that banjo music all sounds similar, just like jazz does. it is indeed foot tapping music
ReplyDeleteLove folk songs! This is no exception!
ReplyDeleteYour musical suggestions are great and this is no exception. Lively though a bit hard for me to catch the lyrics.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago Animal Planet had a program about Oz and sheep and shearing. It was amazing how quickly the human can get the sheep comfy and even more how quickly he shears
ReplyDeleteI liked the music too
Hugs Cecilia
Hi Yam - that was fun ... and what a singer - amazing diction. Cheers - hope it's not too 'frosty' up there?! Cheers Hilary
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