A Town Called Lonely

This is the place I’ve been to visit
Many times before,
But, I thought the time it had arrived
When I would return here no more,
Yes, I’m in a town called Lonely
I’ve stopped off to visit once again,
Each time I journey back here…
My heart is wracked with pain.

When you told me that you loved me
All my loneliness did subside,
The happiness within my soul
There was no way to hide,
I left the town called Lonely
In the distance far behind,
With a smile engraved upon my heart…
And with you, wholly on my mind.

It was only for a short while
But time enough to identify,
That the love we found with each other
Could not be termed a lie,
The despair that followed your letter
Your letter I call… “If only”…
Quickly had me returning,
To this Town called Lonely.

Yes, I have reached the town called Lonely
Again, I have arrived,
The town of Lonely has always been
A big part of my life,
Here, I guess I will remain
Until another love comes to pass,
And the town of Lonely gives me leave…
To repair the damage done… to my heart.

Billy Strings At The Old Forcett Hall

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.

"Pick a Box"

Hi there, this is a verse I put together at the request of Hobart DJ Brett Marley a few years back. At the time I was reciting over the airways on a Friday morning and Brett asked me to put something together for his old mate Dennis, the Funeral Director up the valley. It is written as if Brett is telling the story. Hope you enjoy.

PS...Marles should not get outa this one, hey?

"G’DAY, ITS OLD MAN MARLEY HERE..."

I’D BEEN FEELIN PRETTY CROOK YOU KNOW
SHAKING LIMBS, LOSS OF VISION, GOUT, YES THE FLAMIN LOT
SO I RANG MY MATE DENNIS MURPHY
TO SEE JUST WHAT HE HAD IN STOCK
MURPH SAID “DROP IN MARLES AND HAVE A LOOK –
AND BE SURE TO WEAR YOUR SOCKS”
HE SAID I SOUNDED LIKE DEATH ON LEGS
“SO COME ON DOWN AND PICK – A – BOX! “

MURPH SAID THE TIME WAS RIGHT
ONE SHOULD NOT LEAVE IT TOO LATE
IF I LEAVE THE DECISION ANY LONGER
IT COULD BE MY LIFE’S BIGGEST MISTAKE
SO INTO THE SHOWROOM I WAS USHERED
TO BE SURROUNDED BY LOTS OF WOOD
THE COLOURS AND DESIGNS WERE MOST CONFUSING
TO PICK – A – BOX…..I WAS NOT SO SURE I COULD.

DENNIS RECKONED PICKING A BOX WAS VERY EASY
JUST CLIMB IN AND TRY ONE OUT
IT’S THE LENGTH – BREADTH – AND WIDTH THAT MATTERS
IT’S NOT THE COLOUR OR THE COST YOU WORRY ABOUT
SO IT WAS OFF WITH MY BOOTS AND INTO A BOX
WHERE I LAID MY TIRED OLD BODY DOWN
AND WHEN MURPH CLOSED THE LID SO GENTLE
I IMAGINED MY SOUL WAS HEAVEN BOUND.

YEAH, I MET UP WITH AN ANGEL
STANDING AT THE PEARLY GATE
SHE SAID “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN MARLEY? “
“YOU ARE RUNNING AWFULLY LATE –
WE EXPECTED YOU SOME TIME BACK
YES, THE DAY AFTER YOUR JOUST WITH DOUG
YOU WERE NOT EXPECTED TO SURVIVE
WHEN YOU STAGGERED HOME FROM THE PUB! “

NOW THIS ANGEL WAS ABOUT TO UNLOCK THE GATE
BUT MY SUBCONSCIOUS WAS STILL ALERT
DENNIS COULD NOT BELIEVE HIS EYES
WHEN FROM THAT ROSEWOOD BOX I BURST
OUT THE DOOR AND DOWN THE ROAD
THE GROUND NEVER IN CONTACT WITH MY SOCKS…..
AND NOW I DARE NOT ANSWER MY PHONE
JUST IN CASE IT’S MURPHY – WANTING ME TO PICK – A - BOX.

PENNED AT THE REQUEST OF BRETT MARLEY
FOR HIS MATE DENNIS MURPHY
“FUNERAL DIRECTOR EXTRAORDINAIRE”

Law of Location

"No matter where you go..... there you are!"

Living with the Angels

NO, I DON’T WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY
AND I DON’T WANT TO LIVE DOWN BY THE SEA,
AND I DON’T WANT TO HAVE ANY NEIGHBOURS
TO HAVE A CONFLICT WITH ME,
SO I LIVE UP ON A MOUNTAIN
WHERE MOST PEOPLE... THEY JUST PASS ON THROUGH,
I LIVE UP HERE WITH THE ANGELS
UP HERE, IN KALANGADOO.

I NEVER FEEL ANY LONELINESS
CAUSE THERE’S ALWAYS SOMEONE BY MY SIDE,
AS I SIT OUT ON MY VERANDAH
AND WATCH THE EAGLES SOAR UP HIGH,
I WATCH THE SUN ILLUMINATE THE DAY
AND I WATCH THE MOONBEAMS DANCE UPON THE LAKE,
I HAVE NO ONE TO ANSWER TO
FOR WHATEVER MY IMAGINATION MAY CREATE.

EACH DAY UP HERE ON THE MOUNTAIN
ALWAYS DELIVERS SOMETHING NEW,
BE IT ONLY A NESTING SWALLOW
OR A CHEEKY KANGAROO,
IT COULD BE A POSSUM ON THE ROOF
THAT NEEDS MY IMMEDIATE ATTENTION,
OR MAYBE A BRAISED WILD RABBIT, WITH RED WINE
THAT PERHAPS I SHOULD MENTION.

I MOSTLY LIVE A SIMPLE LIFE
AND FROM THE ANGELS, I DON’T TRY TO HIDE,
I GET OUT AND WALK THE TRACKS…..
IT’S THE CALL OF THE BUSH THAT I ABIDE,
WHEN I FLICK A FLY UPON THE LAKE
OR REPOSE WITH OLD FATHER TIME,
GOOSEBUMPS GATHER UPON MY SKIN
AND CHILDHOOD MEMORIES SPRING TO MIND.

BUT LIVING UP HERE WITH THE ANGELS
IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT YOU MAY THINK,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LOCAL WATERIN HOLE
EXHAUSTS ITS SUPPLY OF MOUNTAIN DEW TO DRINK,
THIS SORT OF LEAVES THE PATRONS
SOMEWHAT BEMUSED, AND IN FROWN,
BUT WHEN THE COASTAL CARRIER ARRIVES
THEY RECKON IT WAS MY ANGELS THAT GUIDED IT TO TOWN.

SO THERE YOU GO, THAT’S WHY I DON’T LIVE IN THE CITY
WHY I DON’T LIVE DOWN BY THE SEA,
WHY I DON’T HAVE ANY NEIGHBOURS
TO HAVE A CONFLICT WITH ME,
THAT’S WHY I LIVE ON A MOUNTAIN
WHERE MOST PEOPLE ...THEY JUST PASS ON THROUGH,
THAT’S WHY I LIVE UP HERE WITH THE ANGELS
UP HERE.....IN KALANGADOO.

Rain

All this rain, it has inspired me to create a short verse. It has been some time since I compiled a verse of this nature, I hope it reflects the current situation around the country.

Rain

The day is becoming dark as night
As the clouds roll in from the west,
There is excitement… surrounding all about
As anticipation is no longer suppressed,
The fight surely will be over
When this black doona… looming overhead
Relinquishes a flood of emotion
And irrigates our earth… its bed.

Yes, today the rain comes tumbling down
Transforming every street into a running stream,
The raging torrent soon disappears
But the sediment reminds us of where it has been,
No one shows sign of anguish, nor has any complaints
Not even those void of insurance,
Because we all look up into Gods house…
And give thanks… for his providence

“May there always be a rainmaker”

Kalangadoo...Just the Other Day

WELL I HEADED OFF TO CAMPBELLTOWN
JUST THE OTHER DAY,
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH KALANGADOO
WHEN I NOTICED A SIGN TO SAY
“ ROO BURGERS AT THE ROADHOUSE
EAT IN OR TAKEAWAY “,
SO I STOPPED OFF AT KALANGADOO
JUST THE OTHER DAY.

THROUGH THE SWINGING DOORS I STRODE
JUST THE OTHER DAY,
THE SMELL THAT ONE COULD SMELL
WAS ROASTING ROO.....I’D SAY,
“ TWO ROO BURGERS TO GO
OR... MAYBE I SHOULD STAY,"
YES, I STOPPED OFF AT KALANGADOO
JUST THE OTHER DAY.

THE BLOKE BEHIND THE COUNTER, HE SMILED,
JUST THE OTHER DAY,
HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS MIKE
SO I SAID G’DAY,
HE SAID THE ROO HAD NO WORMS
THEY HAD COME FROM DOWN THE BAY,
YES, I STOPPED OFF AT KALANGADOO
JUST THE OTHER DAY.

THERE WAS ALSO A LADY THERE
JUST THE OTHER DAY,
I RECKONED SHE WAS THE BOSS
AND I’M SURE I HEARD HER PRAY,
“ GEEZ’’S, I HOPE THESE ARE THE LAST
OF THESE BLOODY BURGERS TODAY ",
YES, I HAD ROO IN KALANGADOO
JUST THE OTHER DAY.

SO, IF YOU EVER HEAD FOR CAMPBELLTOWN
ON ANY OTHER DAY,
WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH KALANGADOO
YOU WON’T FIND A SIGN TO SAY,
“ ROO BURGERS AT THE ROADHOUSE
EAT IN...OR TAKEAWAY “
CAUSE YVONNE’S TURNED THE GRILL PLATE OFF

AND IT’S PIES AND PEAS TODAY.

My Boomerang Shot

I once played a bit of golf, back in my younger days..
I could hit that little ball in so many different ways,
Right to left – left to right, I’d give it a mighty whack
But when I played my boomerang shot…the ball would come rebounding back.

My balls, they took some punishment, they rarely survived a round,
No doubt caused by the time they spent rolling along the ground,
Yes, I carried more than one or two; my pockets were fully stuffed;
With every known brand of ball…awaiting the scrubby rough.

I’d been to every Pro Shop attempting to squarely hit the ball
But there was not one left in this town who would even take my call
I had offered twice the going fee but they refused to meet me on the track
They were concerned about my boomerang shot… and the ball rebounding back.

No, I could not find a colleague who would play and score my card
And now I have been banned from playing, any improvement will be quite hard,
Yes, when they saw me on the tee they would cringe and stand well clear…
When I play my boomerang shot – their hearts fill up with fear.

Yes, it was my boomerang shot that caused me much anguish and pain
Injuries to fellow players caused blight upon my name,
Now I have moved to Kalangadoo where I can give the ball one mighty whack…
And not be concerned one iota…should the ball come rebounding back!