AUSTRALIAN SONGS PUBLISHED IN THE AUSTRALIAN MELODIST SONGSTERS

DSM7848/A AUSTRALIAN MELODIST SONGSTERS Containing the most popular songs as sung at the theatres and concert halls by the several minstrel troupes which have visited the colonies. Bound as three hardcover volumes containing issues 1-18 Not dated, circa 1870-80s. Published by the Australian Journal and J. Massima of Melbourne. Issues 20/21 were a later deposit at the Mitchell Library however they have been misplaced. This series of songsters is particularly interesting as they contain some surprising selections including many songs not previously thought to have entered our musical world. For example 'Dame Durden' an English rural song popular in Australia through the recordings of the British traditional singers, the Copper Family, and Hot Corn, a typical American 'old timey' and bluegrass favourite. There are also some several songs that have been 'collected' in Australia including two recorded from Simon McDonald and featured on the wattle NLA reissue of Traditional Singers and Musicians of Victoria. Note: I have * all titles with an Australian connection. SONGS in VOLUME 1 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT Dear mother, I have come home to die The picture on the wall Babylon is falling Marching through Georgia Come into the garden Maude Battle cry of Freedom When Johnny comes marching home   * Tramp, tramp, tramp  * I'm lonely since my mother died Break it gently to my mother The flying trapeze Fashionable Fred (Tomahawking Fred)  * Tomahawking Fred/Tambaroora Ted etc) Of me you may have read, I'm Fashionable Fred Obviously this was the origin of the bush skite song that entered the Australia bush tradition. A fascinating song journey from London city swell to boastful Lachlan River shearer. Interesting to see how the words got twisted around and around and back again. Of course, the most important aspect is that this song travelled the bush. I collected a bush version in 1973 from Joe Watson (refer his AFU file). SONGS in VOLUME 2 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT Gentle Annie    * Write a letter home to mother Under the weeping willow tree Under the willow she is sleeping Charge of the light brigade Star spangled banner The minstrel boy Scots, wha hae w'i' Wallace bled There's many a slip betwixt the cup and the lip Goodbye Nelly dear SONGS in VOLUME 3 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT The hurdy gurdy lad Act on the square, boys   * The tailor and the crow Stonewall Jackson Dublin bay Widow Malone St Patrick was a gentleman The death of nelson   * Low Backed car Norah, the pride of Kildare Molly Bawn   * Exile of Erin Crookshen Lawn Ten Little Lovers (Parody) SONGS in VOLUME 4 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT The Waggoner I am one of the good old time The rare ould Irish Gentleman On board the kangaroo   * Watercress's   * Annie Laurie The Wonderful Crocodile   * Sweet Jenny on the Moor   * One morn for recreation, as I strayed by the seaside My Native land so green Paddy Malone Speculation   * The Calico Printer's Clerk   * In Manchester, that city Of cotton, twist, and twills, Guy Fawkes The Handsome Page SONGS in VOLUME 5 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT Woodman spare that tree Never push a man when he's down the hill The Drum Major Moet and Chandon Ye mariners of England Kit The Cobbler Lannigan's Ball She Sleeps Beneath The Daises on the Hill Trap! Trap! The Monkey's Courtship Caller herrin' Banks of Allan Water SONGS in VOLUME 6 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT I'd Choose To Be A Daisy   * Bonnie Dundee   * Hard Times Come Again No More I Found It WAS Only A Dream There Was A jolly Miller   * Up A Tree Brigham Young It's Not The Miles we Travel, but The Pace That kills SONGS in VOLUME 7 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT Balaclava Biddy Magee The Harp That Once Through Tara's halls Tom Bowling The Cork Leg The Poacher The Army & The navy   * Villikens and his Dinah   * To The west! To The land Of The Free   * A Man's A Man For All That Jock O'Hazeldon The Bould Sojer Boy Huntingtower The Irish emigrant   * Laird of Cockpen SONGS in VOLUME 8 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT The Blighted Gardener My Yella Girl General Jinks Bold Fisherman Tooral-ooral-ooral-lee   * Cheer Boys Cheer   * If I Were Lord mayor The hallelujah Band The Roast beef Of Old England   * Old Bob Ridley Ben Bolt   * God Save The Queen Rule Britannia Johnny, I Hardly Knew You   * Some Girls Do Bay of Biscay A pilgrim of Love   * SONGS in VOLUME 9 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT The Blighter's Husband Paddle your own Canoe   * The Sailor's Grave   * Whiskey Drink Divine Shannon bells Garryowen SONGS in VOLUME 10 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT Ten Thousand Miles Away * Singing oh for a brave and gallant barque, Sung by Miss MAGGIE MOORE and BILLY EMEREON Rosin the Beau   * Dame Durden The Beggar Billy Barlow   * Paddy's wedding Hearts of Oak My Mary Ann. SONGS in VOLUME 11 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT Silver Threads Gypsy's warning Song of the haymakers Mrs McLaughlin's Party Cherry Ripe Little Willie's Grave SONGS in VOLUME 12 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT The Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane Mulligan's Guards Don't Put The Poor Working man Down Johnny Sands Shan van Vaugh The Cricketer 'Tis Nice To Do The Block   * Saur Kraut   * Walking on the Esplanade   * Bologna Sausage Boy   * The watercress   * Shonnie Was a Nice Young man   * Billy Stutters SONGS in VOLUME 13 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT The Grandfather's Clock   * McSorley's Twins Nancy lee   * The Old Man's Drunk Again Bound To Be a Row   * Sammy Stammer The Stuttering Stammer So early In The Morning   * The Spider and the Fly Carry Me Back To Old Virginny See That My Grave Is kept Clean SONGS in VOLUME 14 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT All 'Round My hat   * Bryan O'lynn (has no coat to put on)   * Noah's Ark When Jones Ale Was New   * Come landlord Fill The Flowing Bowl   * SONGS in VOLUME 15 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT Eighteen pence   * The Parson and The Clerk   * Our Jacks Come Home today   * The Country Carrier's Cart SONGS in VOLUME 16 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT Down Went The captain   * Mrs Hooligan's Christmas cake Three Young men SONGS in VOLUME 17 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT Ship that never returned   * Botany bay   * Two bad Mutton Pies Hot Corn (banjo song) The Maid and The Magpie SONGS in VOLUME 18 TUNE FIRST LINE COMMENT Castles in the air   * Poor Old Dad (Parody) The Farmer's boy