Some years ago I would drive from Kalangadoo to Hobart once a week and do a recital at the Country Music Halls. This expanded to attending the Forcett Hall fortnightly and performing my poems to song up on stage in front of an eager and excited audience. The format was for all in attendance to hop onto stage and sing a song, or play a tune, or just tell a joke if that be the case, but the priority was for all to have fun, have a dance, a wonderful supper at half time, and in general enjoy the night, and I can assure you all we did that on a regular basis. Here follows one of my poems which I had put to music, and sang often to the patrons of the Forcett Hall.
Billy Strings At The Old Forcett Hall
Well I headed out from Kalangadoo when the sheds they petered out,
The shearing here on the mountain was over... due to the drought,
So I loaded up my yella Ute and threw in a case of wine,
And with Billy Strings by my side…I left the mountain far behind.
I headed down the coast road lookin for a change of luck,
I’d heard that when one door closes another door opens up,
I’d reached the Arthur Highway, my mind in total recall,
When a country music sign I saw …outside the Old Forcett Hall.
Now there was much activity…the car park was filling fast,
I found a spot beside a Merc and my anchor I did cast,
It was the second Thursday of the month and the winter’s night was cold,
Yes, The Old Forcett Hall… was a sight to behold.
So I grabbed my Billy Strings and sauntered through the door,
There were blokes and sheila’s hugging, as they waltzed around the floor,
There was a band of merry men…hangin to a tune,
I could feel a lot of fellowship all around the room.
Well, soon it became my turn to sing these folks a song,
I’d only played a few bars; I knew it wasn’t long,
Before they’d ceased their dancin and sat down to hear me sing,
That’s how I ended up at Forcett, strummin my mate Billy Strings.
Yes, the old Forcett Hall…that’s the place to be,
The old Forcett Hall…the place for you and me,
Where there’s a crowd, and the music’s loud, and a decent cuppa tea,
The old Forcett Hall …that’s the place for you and me.
If you are driving past the Forcett Hall and see a country music sign,
Pull into the car park…the yella ute you see is mine,
Leave your troubles outside, come on in a have a ball…
You may become a top performer in the Old Forcett Hall.
The shearing here on the mountain was over... due to the drought,
So I loaded up my yella Ute and threw in a case of wine,
And with Billy Strings by my side…I left the mountain far behind.
I headed down the coast road lookin for a change of luck,
I’d heard that when one door closes another door opens up,
I’d reached the Arthur Highway, my mind in total recall,
When a country music sign I saw …outside the Old Forcett Hall.
Now there was much activity…the car park was filling fast,
I found a spot beside a Merc and my anchor I did cast,
It was the second Thursday of the month and the winter’s night was cold,
Yes, The Old Forcett Hall… was a sight to behold.
So I grabbed my Billy Strings and sauntered through the door,
There were blokes and sheila’s hugging, as they waltzed around the floor,
There was a band of merry men…hangin to a tune,
I could feel a lot of fellowship all around the room.
Well, soon it became my turn to sing these folks a song,
I’d only played a few bars; I knew it wasn’t long,
Before they’d ceased their dancin and sat down to hear me sing,
That’s how I ended up at Forcett, strummin my mate Billy Strings.
Yes, the old Forcett Hall…that’s the place to be,
The old Forcett Hall…the place for you and me,
Where there’s a crowd, and the music’s loud, and a decent cuppa tea,
The old Forcett Hall …that’s the place for you and me.
If you are driving past the Forcett Hall and see a country music sign,
Pull into the car park…the yella ute you see is mine,
Leave your troubles outside, come on in a have a ball…
You may become a top performer in the Old Forcett Hall.
