Singabout - Journal of Australian Folksong, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956

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1.  Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956 - cover (drawing of Brian Loughlin)

2. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.2 - Contents, Editorial - Will "Singabout" share the fate of the little magazines mentioned in a recent ABC broadcast?  The broadcast stated that of 37 little magazines published ia Australia since 1923, only 5 succeeded in lasting for more than 10 issues - few reached the third, or even the second issue. Although sales have not been up to expectations we are determined that "Singabout" will not share the fate of the little magazines that failed to make the grade.
As a measure of our confidence we are still printing 1,000 copies; as a proof of our confidence we are going to enlarge our next issue by 4 pages; to justify our confidence, you, our readers can build our sales. We feel that the many performers and songwriters who are concerned with the future of songs that are essentially Australian need this magazine.
Finally there is a selling point to remember. "The Bushwhackers" have found that when audiences have heard the songs performed, they will buy "Singabout" by the dozens.
Singabout  - issued quarterly, Editor John Meredith. Orders & subscriptions Karin Grivas. Artwork & Layout Gil Small. Published by Alan Scott.

3. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.3 - The Stranger by John Manifold

4.  Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.4 - Folk Songs and the Festival by E. Lancaster

5.  Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.5 - Mrs. Beth Schurr is a young Sydney folk singer whose first record will be released this month by Wattle.   Mailbag - letter from David Martin about Lament for the Gordons, continued on p.18.

6. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.6 - Chips off the Old Block The Tricky Sixpence written and sung by Dick Hackett during the recent wharfies' strike. Dick "The Singing Wharfie" is well known to Sydneysiders for his earlier song "Ten and Four". The Tricky Sixpence is sung to the tune of "The Worried Man Blues"   Eight Bells by Merv. Lilley - tune Ring the Bell, Watchman.

7. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.7 - The Cornpicker's Lament words; John Meredith, Air; Lady Munro

8.  Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.8 - New Books - Irish Songs of Resistance by Patrick Galvin, review by E. Lancaster.  Bandicoot Ballads review by J.M. (John Meredith)

9.  Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.9 - The Outlander, Bandicoot Ballad no. 12

10. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.10 - The Hut That's Upside Down as sung by Mrs Byrnes and her brother-in-law Mr. Tom Byrnes of Springside and collected by John Meredith.

11.  Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.11 - A Man of the Earth  words: Jock Graham, Music John Arcott

12. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.12 - The Rabbiter words & music by Stan Wakefield

13. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.13 - The Rabbiter words & music by Stan Wakefield (cont)  Ad for Songs from the Kelly Country, available from the Bush Music Club and most bookshops. 

14. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.14 - Introducing ...  John Manifold ... lives in Queensland where he edits Bandicoot Ballads, instructs the Recorder Group of Qld. Uni. Orchestral Soc., and the Uni. Bush Music Club, plays guitar and recorder with Morton Bay Bushwhackers, is Qld. editor pf OVERLAND and a founder member of Brisbane Realist Writers' Group.  Stephen Spain composed the music for "The station houseboy" written by his father. Stephen is 11 years old ... and hopes to be a musician or a boiler maker, or perhaps both. He also intends to write more songs about Australian life.  Stan Wakefield - Came from England to Australia in 1923 ... 20 years in the bush ... stockman, horse breaker, teamster, gold digger, wattle bark stripper, fencer and shooting rabbits, water rats, kangaroos and foxes ... composed several songs during his travels in the bush, and is represented in this issue by "The Rabbiter"

15. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.15 - The Station Houseboy, words; Ron Spain, music; Stephen Spain

16.  Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.16 - Best foot forward. The Armatree; Brown Jug Polka. This simple, fun-provoking dance was discovered by the Editor while holidaying in the north-west of N.S.W. last Christmas, when he saw it performed at a Boxing night dance at Armatree, near Gulgargambone. It can be danced by couples, or as a progressive community dance. Ad for Wattle Recordings - Beth Schurr (The Green Rushes + Andy's Gone with Cattle) & The Bushwhackers (Nine Miles from Gundagai + The Old Bullock Dray)

17.  Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.17 - Victory at Bowen, words; Ross Tracie, Music;  John Arcott

18. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.18 - Mailbag - cont. letter from David Martin, letter from Gil Small about Lament for the Gordons, letter from Arthur Rudkin re E. Lancaster's letter about unison singing.

19. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.19 - Boulavogue from Irish Songs of Resistance by Patrick Galvin. This tune is used for the Australian Convict ballad "Morton Bay".

20. Singabout, Volume 1(2), Autumn 1956, p.20 - Australia's on the Wallaby. Traditional. Versions of this song have been collected from Cairns and Collinsville, Q; Wallerawang & Surry Hills, N.S.W.; & Yallourne, Vic.  In the Townsville, Q., district, Henry Lawson's "Freedom on the Wallaby" is sung to a variant of the Winton version of this tune.

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Singabout - Journal of Australian Folksong, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956

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Compilation - Singabout, 1956-1967 - links to Singabout articles


1. Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - cover

2. Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Contents, subscription details, Editorial John Meredith, Published by Alan Scott.

3. Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Cane Killed Abel, words Merv. Lilley, music Chris Kempster

4.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Bullockies' Ball, lyrics & music

5.   Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Our First Singabout Night, photo of Alec Hood, Brian Loughlin, Jack Barrie & "The Bushwhackers" singing "Ho Give a Fair Go"  Next Singabout Saturday 11th February, 36 Pitt St

6.   Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Lament for the Gordons, words David Martin, music John Arcott.

7.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Introducing -  Merv. Lilley, David Martin, Chris Kempster, Wally Goodbody, Mick Lawson

8.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - The Rueful Rabbit words & music by Stan Wakefield.

9.   Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Best Foot Forward- directions and music for a folk dance. The Circassian Circle.

10.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956  - Chips off the Old Block - Parodies:  The Farmer Up a Tree by Merv Lilley, tune "Jimmy Riddle."  Widgeegeewra Joe - 2 new verses by Stan Wakefield
Swish goes the Crane by West Australian Wharfy Victor Williams, from "Ring the Bell Watchman" & "Click Go the Shears".

11.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 -  Swish goes the Crane, (cont)  West of the Mountains, tune Galway Bay, from anon in Lithgow.  Another version of We Gave a Fair Go! by Merv Lilley.

12.   Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - It's Lovely Down the Pit My Lad, words Mick Lawson,  Tune John Arcott.

13.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Wally the Weatherman by Wally Goodbody set to an Old Bush Tune

14.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Singing Folk Songs by E. Lancaster.

15.   Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Bound for Darling Harbour by Merv. Lilley. A new songs to an old shanty tune.

16.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956  - The Old Bullock Dray, from Stan Wakefield who remembers it from his youth.

17.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - The Bush Music Club and You. The Bush Music Club was formed in 1954 with the aim of repopularising Australian folk songs, and encouraging the composition of new songs, contemporary in theme and traditional in style. Membership 5/- for individuals and 10/- per 50 members for affiliation. "Findatune" competition results.  First Annual Conference 11th February followed by 2nd Singabout night.
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8. Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - News from the Groups - Sydney People's Choir.  Lola Troy of the South Coast Group. Billabong Band, Melbourne.  Newcastle Group. Bush Band in Brisbane.

19.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Editorial ... Our folk song literature is rich in songs about shearers, bullock-drivers, stockmen and drovers, and after being almost forgotten for half a century, they are beginning to enjoy a popularity approaching that which they must have enjoyed in the 90s. These songs about the men who built our country came into being when development was centred about the rural industries, and the interior was still being opened up for farming and grazing. We are no longer a nation of shearers and drovers. The majority of workers are now employed in industry, and that us where we must look for our new kind of song - the modern Australian folk song - the industrial ballad. Miners, seamen and wharfies have already shown themselves capable of producing songs that reflect the reality of their lives and work. Soon we hope to print songs by truck-drivers, riggers, fitters, bricklayers and carpenters, and you, our readers, are the people we expect to provide them.

20.  Singabout, Volume 1(1), Summer 1956 - Catalogue, Bushwhacker Ballads, Other Publications,  Recordings. Publications are available from the Bush Music Club & progressive bookshops.  Recordings available from the Bush Music Club & all music shops.

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From the Archives - Ben Hall Book - Fuller versions of several established songs.

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Origins for some of these songs couldn't be located.


1. Cover - Ben Hall Book is probably the original title.  The label is in Bob Bolton's handwriting.

2.   The Morning of the Fray, sometimes attributed to Frank Gardiner.  "Come on boys, "says the Darkie, with the devil in his eye;

3.  My Name is Ben Hall. My name is Ben Hall, from Murrurundi I come: The cause of my turn-out you all know the same

4.  Ballad of Ben Hall's Gang (anon)  Come all you wild colonials and listen to my tale

5.  Frank Gardiner - Oh Frank Gardiner he is caught at last, He lies in Sydney gaol.  This version was collected by John Meredith and Nancy Keesing from the singing of Mrs Popplewell. The tune seems to be a variant of 'The Shan Van Vocht'.

6.  The Maids of the Mountains  (anon)  In the wild Weddin mountains there live two young dames

7.  The Death of Ben Hall - Will  H. Ogilvie, page 1.

8.  The Death of Ben Hall - Will  H. Ogilvie, page 2

9.  Death of Ben Hall  Come all Australian sons with me For a hero has been slain

10.  Streets of Forbes.  Come all you Lachlan men And a sorrowful tale I'll tell  Collected by John Manifold from Mrs Ewell of Bathurst.

11.  Death of Ben Hall. Come all you young Australians and everone (sic) besides, I'll sing to you a ditty that will fill you with surprise   Collected from Sally Sloane by John Meredith

12.  The Diverting History of John Gilbert  (anon)  John Gilbert was a bushranger of terrible renown For sticking lots of people up, and shooting others down.  Author - Banjo Paterson

13.  Ballad of Fred Lowry. Come all you young maids and gentlemen and listen to me, While I relate the cruel fate of one both bold and free  - Probably a draft for publication. This song has not been found in any of our early songsheets.
Handwriting - top left - TITLE  BALLAD OF FRED LOWRY  COLLECTED  TUNE
bottom right - Tom byrnes of parramatta     Johns

Ballad of Fred Lowry is not included in this recording - Tom Byrnes, Mary Byrnes and Alf Fuller interviewed by John Meredith for the John Meredith folklore field recordings, 1953-1961 [sound recording]

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