MAGIC ISLAND MOON
Magic moon, swinging high above,
Take me to my love,
Magic Island Moon.
Far apart, we`re so far apart,
Take me to my heart,
Take me Magic Moon.
The night will bring its own melody,
With stars to light the way;
Our joy will live in all memory;
Tell me what more I can say.
Magic Moon, will you help me now? –
Take me back somehow,
Magic Island Moon.
`ARCADIA'
The time has come, and now we go to cheer
`Arcadia` - her final cruise is nigh;
So soon those days of magic disappear,
And tears will fall as she steams proudly by.
For twenty years she marched the seas – and more,
A million happy holidays enjoy`d,
But sadly now her time is almost o`er;
How can such wonder fade into the void?
That graceful ship of beauty and of strength
Enfolds us, and a happy glow we feel -
Her sand-hued funnel`s smoke stream`d down full length,
Now fram`d by bridge, joint artistry in steel.
Yet countless souls will hold her spirit high
As she goes to her end – but not to die.
AYR
A jewel in the crown of the Burdekin,
A gem of the tropic north,
Well known for its water and sugar cane,
A town of undoubted worth.
It`s Ayr that most everyone`s thinking of,
It`s spelt just as `A Y R`,
But whoever`s lived in that paradise
Keeps thoughts that are never far
Away from that land of soft skies and sun,
With distances brown and wide;
It`s a thrilling part of Australia
Which can fill our hearts with pride.
It`s known for its people so warm and free,
Where everyone is a friend;
It`s loaded with kindness as far as you see,
And then on, beyond the bend.
So, when travelling wide in North Queensland,
Don`t pass by that Delta plain;
Your stay may seem short on that very first time,
But soon you`ll be back again.
DON`T STOP THE MAGPIE`S MUSIC (1984)
(may be sung to the tune of `Underneath the Arches`)
Through the railway arches
The Lidcombe faithful wait,
Waiting for the verdict
On Western Suburb`s fate.
Many hours they`ve spent there.
Thrilling at the sight,
As those won`drous Magpies
Played skillful
Moves which proved their might.
But big money`s hurt them,
Though skill should be enough;
Finals are won by cash!
Yet, when mem`ry`s truthful
We`ll know `the games the thing,`
And we`ll realise then,
The League had lost its way.
IS QUEENSLAND REAL?
(Something from the 1970s)
Can Queensland be for real?
I know it was – I`ve been there,
In fact admit it, that`s where I was born.
I`ve seen the canefires burn,
Felt tropic rain, mosquitoes,
Tasted paw-paw`s perfect flesh;
I loved the warmth of sun and friends
And knew the strength of mates.
But over thirty years ago –
That`s when it was. Those good days
Are now long gone and in that time
I`ve hurt when Queensland`s mentioned.
`It`s different up in Queensland,` so they say.
But `different` isn`t meant as praise;
They often laugh and joke about
The way it IS up there; that`s not the way it was.
Joh`s `easy meat` to use in fun,
So like an ageing clown;
But don`t be fooled, it`s all an act
To cover schemes and crafty tricks.
And that`s where Queensland`s off the rails.
It has a lazy pace, but nothing`s wrong with that,
For many like it slow;
But when a State that has the key to living in its hands
Allows a jumped-up pollie like Petersen to rise,
There can be only one result – good people look like fools
To all the world, and mankind weeps.
REMEMBER ME
(late 1930s)
When I am gone, will you always remember me,
When day is done and ev`ning lights begin to shine?
Think of me then, of all the hours we spent together
Before the time came when I said `Good-bye.`
Pray that one day I may return to future pleasires.
To times when you will evermore be mine;
But should I never see again your beauty,
Will you remember me?
RAINY FEBRUARY
Rainy February, take me back again,
Take me to the land I love (Oh help me!)
Rainy February, show me fields of cane
Under rainy skies above.
In your tropic splendour, somewhere waits my love,
And now day has faded from above (Please take me!)
To those northern coastlands
Where I`ll pass my time
In that rainy Feb`ry clime.
SYDNEY`S MY HOME (Words by Loftus Dun which may be sung to the tune of `I Still Call Australia Home` by Peter Allen)
I`ve lived in Gosford and West Wyalong,
I`ve tasted the juice of a Tenterfield klong,
But wherever I`ve strayed and however I roam
I`m still glad that Sydney`s home.
Red, puffy blisters on sun-bather`s arms,
Soft, golden beaches of Bondi or Palm,
Those are sights that I treasure so deep in my heart
Where Sydney`s a place apart.
Crowds from all over, Darwin to Dover,
Seeking the beauty and fun,
But there is plenty, none need go empty
Without their fair share of sun.
So, in the morning when I clear my head
I`ll still be quite certain of all that I`ve said,
But through traffic and smog, there`s one thing that`s clear:
In Sydney, the homes are dear ---
But, I`m still glad that Sydney`s home.
THE ANGELS TOLD ME SO
(late 1930s)
Listen, while I tell, what we know so well;
This is what they told to me:
Refrain:
The Angels told me so, from on high;
They said my love for you could not die;
And as the years pass`d by, you would be
So very dear and sweet, sweet to me.
Then they told me of a life of Beauty,
Beauty such as none but you could give;
And I know that such a love they spoke of,
Could not die but evermore must live.
So let me hold you, dear; do not go,
Stay with me ever, dear; they told me so.
THE BELL
(Words by L. Dun to tune of a Russian song)
From a rock near the edge of a mountain,
there`s a view which I`ll know all my life,
with the scent of the flowering gum-tips
bringing mem`ries of love – and my wife;
And that bell tolling yet in the distance
cuts the wound in my heart like a knife.
Those were days of great passion and laughter;
time slipped by like a simple, sad song;
while we lived for the day and the moment,
we both knew that it could not last long;
Even then was the bell tolling louder,
and I sensed that our world might go wrong.
Life is sweet, but that sweetness is fleeting,
and the warmth of one`s love might not last;
yet our lives grew so strongly together,
there could be never time when love passed;
Even though that grim bell went on ringing,
through her faltering health we held fast.
Though she`s gone, it`s not over or lessened,
in vast space still her spirit soars free,
and our love spreads and strengthens forever,
bringing pure peace for her and for me;
Hark that bell tolling sadly, now softly,
but remember, it tolls too for thee.
From a rock near the edge of the mountain,
there`s a view which I`ll know all my life,
with the scent of the flowering gum-tips
bringing mem`ries of love – and my wife;
And we merge in that beautiful sunset,
while the bell peals our love and her life.
The Russian song `The Bell` was included on a cassette tape produced by the orchestra on the cruise ship `Belorussiva` in 1990.
A straight translation of the words was supplied by C.T.C. Cruises:
The bell is sounding monotonously,
And there is dust over the road;
And the gloomy song of a coachman
Is spreading over the field.
So many sadnesses in that song,
So much passion in this tune,
That it evoked a flame
In my cold soul.
And this song reminded me of other nights;
It reminded me of other fields and forests,
And tears appeared in my dry eyes.
Now a free translation by Loftus Dun to suit the rhythm of the music:
While the bell seems to toll on forever,
And the dust of the road clings like chalk,
There`s a deep, gloomy song of a coachman
Spreading low o`er the fields as I walk;
And his song brings strange mem`ries of laughter,
So that hot tears rise up in my eyes.
Though those tones tell a lifetime of sadness,
It`s a chorus where passion flows free,
So intense that the flame of my being
Quickly warms up the deep thoughts in me;
And that bell, and those mem`ries of good times,
Turn my tears soon from bitter to sweet.
The words of `The Bell` on prior pages were written by Loftus Dun.
THE BURDEKIN WALK
(late 1930s)
What`s that? Why that`s The Burdekin Walk;
It`s rhythm will make the whole country talk.
Let`s try it! It`s sure to chase away care,
And you`ll be walking on air.
One! Two! Three! Four! Yes, that`s how it goes;
Swing high, swing low – now, lift up your toes!
Like it? Of course, why ev`ry one likes
To do The Burdekin Walk
THEREFORE
(late 1930s)
Verse:
I used to be a lonely one; then, everything seemed wrong;
But now I`ve met the only one, and life is just a song.
Refrain:
Therefore, there`s nothing more to say;
Therefore, it`s plain can be;
Therefore, it needs no other reason, darling;
Therefore, it`s clear to me.
They say that we cannot be sure;
True love is hard to find;
But yet, wheree`er I go, I really know,
There`s no one else would do;
Therefore, I`m in love with you.
'TIL THE SHADOWS FALL
Ev`ning is flying and day drawing nigh,
Sunshine will shortly appear;
Hold me, my darling, once more in your arms,
Tell me you`ll ever be near.
Chorus:
In your arms I`ll float on, on until the dawn;
Side by side, we`ll drift on, on throughout the morn.
Evermore together, we will always be;
Happiness for ever, just for you and me.
Day by day we`ll dream away of wond`rous times come true.
Never more there`ll ever be, else for just we two.
Till the night comes creeping slowly over all,
With our love we`ll live on, Till the Shadows Fall.
UNTIL YOU CAME ALONG
(late 1930s)
Until you came along, life seemed an empty tune
There was no `love in June` for me;
Until I found your love, the sun would seldom shine,
But now that you are mine, just see!
Love`s sunshine brought such gladness
That one would never know
There ever was such sadness before you said `Hullo.`.
You`re all I`ve ever yearned for, you made my life a song,
A song that had no meaning, until you came along.
WHEN YOU SMILE (ALL MY BLUES FADE AWAY)
Sometimes my Fate seems to urge me along,
Yet, sometimes it makes me so sad;
But ever my dream-girl smiles happily on,
So things mightn`t turn out so bad.
Chorus:
When you smile all my blues fade away,
And your hair brings the fragrance of roses;
On your lips is the freshness of May,
And you seem like an angel from heaven;
In your voice is a breath of the Spring,
And your eyes have the blue of the ocean;
Be what you may, let your kisses repay -
When you smile all my blues fade away.
AUSTRALIA
How many colours decorate Australia?
How much friendship moulds Australia`s smile?
What`s the precious charm of this togetherness?
Answer these! They make our world worthwhile.
For they create the beauty of this country,
The people, land and seas, together – one;
They give a peace which other people pray for,
A restful life beneath the warming sun.
OUR LAND
Through vistas proud in purple hue,
Framed by a rich, red range,
Beyond the plains of whiten`d gums
The heat haze shimmers strange.
This land of beauty, wide and free,
A place unbounded, vast,
Which, though we count it now as ours,
Belongs yet to the past.
A hundred tribes walked through this land,
Which was their age-old home
Before the white man conquer`d it;
Those tribes still wish to roam.
Within that vastness, closely held,
Lie rocky treasures tall,
But those who really love her
Count profits ever small.
Australia`s land is precious
To people black and white,
And each can share its beauty;
Let friendship conquer might.
QUEENSLAND OUTBACK
We wandered down the Condamine,
Drawn by the tolling bell,
The ghostly drovers passing slow
With tales for all to tell.
For they had forged a new-found land,
Had moved their stock from drought,
And men and cattle blazed the trail
When doubt was all about.
Remember too the lonely life
The women had those days;
They kept the home and family close
While men-folk went their ways.
Those women toiled, some bore the babes,
They stayed with courage calm,
And prayed to God to keep their kin
From harm and bring them home.
Some others then had moved on up
From Miles and through Taroom;
They traced the Dawson`s mighty course
Where now the great herds roam.
Soon many more had ventured out
And even further north.
New towns like Charters Towers
And Georgetown showed their worth.
They even reached the northern gulf
Where Normanton and Burke`
Remind us still of Burke and Wills
And Leichhardt`s mighty work.
Those stories are well known to all
Who travel this vast land,
But settlers now who run the stock
Are those who understand.
Today in our wide country,
We`ve built a nation true,
Where people of all races
May re-start life anew.
But always let`s remember
Those heroes, white and black,
Who opened up Australia
And settled far outback.
VICTORY MARCH OF THE AYR SURF CLUB 1939
(words by Loftus Dun, inspired by the music of the well-known march, `Blaze Away.`)
As we go marching on to victory
With our standard waving high,
We sing our song of fame and glory
For which we mean to do - we mean to do or die.
And for the Ayr Surf Club we`ll battle
Till its name shall be the highest,
Ever climbing upwards
Till we shall vanquish all the rest.
Swinging along, along with a song,
Swinging along, along with a song,
On to victory, on to victory,
To the top, and never shall we stop.
We love our work for its true greatness
And we perform it with a will;
We`re ever present on the beaches,
List`ning for the cry so - for the cry so shrill,
And when it comes, we breast the fury Of the white-capp`d waves so high -
The Ayr Surf Club is marching
And its name shall never die.
THE CENTRE
Uluru`s sun sets golden
On the stunted mulga trees;
The Olgas change to purple -
There`s a chill upon the breeze.
Then somewhere from the desert
Comes an eerie, haunting scream;
It seems part beast, part human,
Partly truth and partly dream.
Hark to those ancient wand`rers
Far across this distant land,
Where man and bush and dingo
Often perished in the sand.
Remember well their hardship
When, with Nature oft awry,
That timeless age of heartbreak
Saw brave bushmen strive, yet die.
Include a special feeling
For the aboriginee,
Who roamed this land so early
Yet is never now as free.
But don`t forget the Centre;
Tell its tale to all you meet
Of strength and dauntless courage
In that land of haze and heat.
RETIRED
Morning comes, bright, sunny day,
With time for tea and toast
While thinking of the things
There are to do.
Daily news, a daunting task
To sort the wheat from chaff;
Do headlines tell it true,
Or is truth lost?
Now the mail, some bills to pay,
More junk to fill the bin;
One day there`ll be a note,
Meanwhile I`ll wait.
Then lunch, a sparing meal;
And now to work a bit
At balancing accounts
Against the cash.
Enough now! This isn`t all
There is to spend the time.
So much to read and know -
Days will not last.
Hours rush by; life`s so, so short;
The sadness of the world
Weighs heavily on us all.
What can be done?
Bedtime soon - a wasted day
It seems, but is that so?
There`s goodness in the thoughts
Of common man.
CRICKET - SPORT, AND ALL THAT!
It`s nice to win -
but winning isn`t all there is to sport:
To merely play is what it`s most about,
And those who put such weighty store
in being at the top
Should think awhile - not jump about
and shout!
For only one can win the match,
there seldom is a draw;
It isn`t any sin to lose the game;
But shame it is to tolerate
Those faithless, harping bores
Who criticise, accuse and wildly blame.
Australia`s place in sport is sound;
We`ve played and matched the best.
There isn`t any need to criticise -
Just give out youth an Aussie `go,`
just let them find their feet,
And soon the strength of green and
gold will rise.
You`ll see a team of cricketers
who`ll match the giants of yore;
Who`ll thrill the blood with drives, and
cuts and swing,
And you who, gutless, lost your faith
will turn about and cheer,
And once again will Aussie praises
sing.
Remember - only one can win;
Their best is good enough.
The place for courage now is in the
stands.
LYLIA
She says she`s of the country,
A woman from the bush;
She cares not for the city
With all its rush and push.
She`s spent her busy lifetime
On a property near Hay;
She`s heard of city comforts;
She`s seldom been away.
Those women made Australia,
And Lylia`s such a one;
They kept the homefires burning
While men folk built the run.
A woman`s always busy
With kids and house and meals;
This country would be nothing
Except for girls like these.
So when we talk of courage
On Australia`s lonely track,
Don`t e`er forget the women
Who helped their men outback.
THURSDAY ISLAND DREAMING
Take me back to T.I., to the home I love;
Take me to the isle that I adore.
Let me smell the seashore, feel the warming sand;
T.I. is the place I`ll leave no more.
The sighing of the breezes, the sounds of rainy days,
The mem`ries of sea and sand and foam;
Those happy times of childhood stay fragrant in my thoughts,
Awaiting my return to that old home.
So – take me back to T.I., isle of golden dreams –
The place where ev`rybody is a friend;
While away my years there, days of caring warmth,
Nevermore will ever need pretend.
ARE MEMORIES ENOUGH?
I remember when our land was free;
Heads high towards the world,
In peace or war a part we knew;
A proud, young nation, small but true,
A worthy friend, a fearless foe,
With good intent, those years ago –
Alas, a memory!
I ponder stories of our race –
Our heritage, our past –
To thrill the blood and stir the heart;
We stood our ground, we played our part –
Young men and women, row on row,
To fight and win, those years ago –
Can memories keep pace?
I think to-day of what is past,
And wonder at the change!
Why our young men turn from the north?
Why volunteers do not come forth? –
But when we back a doubtful war
Good people look away, not `fore.
Could memories but last!
Our people ever brave and tough,
Though very few, but proud;
That sense of fair play, once so fond,
Dulls, and our spirit slips beyond;
Dark doubts now rot and rob our faith;
We crave to others as our strength.
Are memories enough?
ADVANCE AUSTRALIA (A slightly varied version by Loftus Dun)
Australians all, let us rejoice,
For we are strong and free;
We`ve golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is bound by sea.
Our land is rich in nature`s gifts
Of beauty, sweet and rare;
In history`s page let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
Oh God, please lead us on the way,
Advance Australia Fair.
When gallant Cook from Albion sailed
To trace wide oceans o`er,
True courage bore him bravely on
At last to reach our shore;
And later, when the settlers came
With Phillip, strong and brave,
They built a land so proud and fair
As home beyond the wave.
In joyful strains then let us sing:
Advance Australia Fair.
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We`ll toil with hearts and hands
To make our home of harmony
Renowned of all the lands.
With loyal folk from other lands,
And proud tribes, let us share;
With courage let us all combine,
Advance Australia Fair.
Oh God, please lead us day by day;
Advance Australia Fair.
