An Australian Folk Song A Day: Damper And Tea

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Damper And Tea

Words: PS Raphael
Tune: Trad (The Maid of Llangollen)

Though torn is my tent and my bed is a sack
I pity that cove with a swag on his back
From rush to new rush away scampers he
While I'm here snugly taking my damper and tea
While I'm here snugly taking my damper and tea

At morn to my work as I go I oft think
What a great many duffers 'tis my fate to sink
And wonder if ever a nugget there'll be
To afford me aught else with my damper and tea
To afford me aught else with my damper and tea

That red-belted coon found a nugget close by
He cuts it fat with sardines, and drinks porter when dry
But with book or pen no pleasure has he
So i'd rather have only my damper and tea
So i'd rather have only my damper and tea

From Small's Colonial Songster (1857).

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The Idea

This blog was inspired by John Boden's "Folk Song A Day" blog, featuring mostly unaccompanied renditions of English folk songs.

I thought that Australia Day was a good time to start an Australian version*. While some of the songs will be previously-recorded songs, most will be recorded for this blog. I plan to use a variety of arrangement styles and recording approaches. While I will attempt to record versions of these songs which are pleasant to listen to, this is more of an archiving project than a recording venture.

I'm hoping that this will be a site where new and old songs can be gathered and where the visitors to the site will share in the rich history and texture of the lovely conglomeration that is Australian traditional song.

*Australia Day is January 26. My blog accounts time was set to UK time when I started the blog. This explains why the first entry is now marked January 27. Changing the time in February is also the reason there are 29 entries for February. You can't have too much of a good thing!