The Beggar's Opera

Cut off all my yellow locks.

2011-12-31T05:57:00.000-08:00

Roz and Viola mostly. We play guitar, viola and violin. A lot of people sing or drum along. Calypso and Shell admire the bodhran; Jilly - the tin whistle and recorder. Mannie used to play a few hymns and she's not the only one here who likes god bothering music. We love the eerie and unsettling early Anglo-Saxon folk that was so perfectly preserved in that living museum of music: the Southern Appalachians as it was early last century. We have a weakness for Irish-Australian transportation ballads. We are curious about gender travesty especially women in mens' dress a cutting off their yellow locks and why polly never seems to learn not to get herself murdered.

Projects.

2011-01-19T04:53:00.000-08:00

1. Musician's Version: Extended with many instrumental breaks to inspire musicians

2. Commercial Version: Hmmmmm.... Maybe just as it is with a different cover, but I would much prefer a decent band version. Perhaps the first step is the existing cd commercially available, that might inspire my sultry band of strumpets....

Original Music Online

2011-01-19T04:24:00.000-08:00

If I can figure it out, I plan to post our songs here, in locked posts, with a password.

Don't call me, I'll let you know. How that goes.

Anyway. We've made a cd and we're happy with it. So, that's .... fabulous!

Happy New Year.

Sandy sandfire Soltice

2010-12-22T04:30:00.000-08:00

Lulu was there, all the way from the other side, and I played some songs in between courses of vegetarian treats, and all my favourite people were there too, I played "must I go bound" specially for you. And it was all just fine, I played fiddle too and Blue Boy praised the way I lean, observant fellow.

Traveling guitars are weird.

2010-08-24T03:36:00.000-07:00

Nobody needs THAT much practice.

A capello

2010-08-24T02:45:00.000-07:00

Around a fire. Thea & Bruce. Snowgoose.

Led to an offer by a professional standard singer to sing my songs. Hmmmmm....

Nostalgia Lane.

2010-08-14T20:06:00.001-07:00

Played all my songs at Nostalgia Lane, then two of my new ones at the Club. That was nice.

Windy weekend

2010-06-28T06:12:00.000-07:00

... and I played all my songs. It was great.
Methodical. All but the easiest three.

Now I just need to start at the beginning of my covers again...

Spoken, word. End.

2010-06-11T02:14:00.000-07:00

Well, that was difficult.

The rock came over and that was great.
If only I wasn't so highly strung.

On the upside; we played Oh Marlene. It sounded lovely.
I like the rock's new song a lot.
And Sweet William even complimented me on my viola playing. Rare.
We worked on my performance piece.

If only I could feel something, I'm sure it would feel good.

Forest Fiasco...

2010-06-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

The day began well with fine weather. Omi & I got the fires going and I started chopping wood which is something I really enjoy doing and have done for 5 winters now... when A.Man. arrived and immediately rushed towards me and wanted the axe and then wanted to tell me a version of;
Yr Doing It Wrong...

So, I lost my temper. Yes. It doesn't happen often. I don't think he understood much of what I was saying.. I don't remember very clearly what I said but some phrases stand out;
"why did you have to come over here and assert your masculinity"
"do you patronise all women like this?"

It's not even as if he's a particularly bad example of the genre. He does at least know what he's talking about, and it's (vaguely) conceivable that he might have dealt with a man this way .. err, no it's not. There's no way he would have spoken to a man like that, he would have just left me chopping as I am completely competent and besides which the job was almost done! Enough excuses for this unreflective chauvinism.

I've lived in this town so long now that I've become numb to it, a little. I think my trip away, the blessed relief of not having to listen to non stop gender policing the way I have to in this little town... maybe the trip away reminded me of how peaceful it is to be able to be my complicated self and not be continually policed into being feminine.

Why do these villagers talk about it so much? I don't get it. Women are actually really strong here, they run the place. Plenty of them chop wood and drive tractors as well as bake the world's best food and raise their children brilliantly.

It just makes me so tired. I want to go home to my hometown friends.

Anyway, that wasn't what I was her to blog about.
Later, after the bbq and the working bee... I played guitar.

First was "Bridge Graft", then "Ragamuffin Shanty", then "Sigh No More".

That was really cool. I loved how my songs came straight back to me.

5th Sunday blues.

2010-06-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

Mannie loved her 5th Sunday sing, especially New Commandment.

Woodcutter's Stew.

2010-06-01T05:56:00.000-07:00

On the weekend just past, Kis made one of her amazing meals some kind of woodcutter's stew, and we played music (guitar).

So that's something.

New songs.

2010-04-22T01:11:00.000-07:00

The favourite is "David Hume" and god it's good.

I played it for my coffee date & she didn't know who David Hume was. *sigh*

Youth of today etc.

And because she didn't know who David Hume was. I'll wait right here, go on, you can look him up.... Here, I'll make it easy for you.

Anyway, she didn't know either.

So she thought I was talking about some local guy called David Hughes.

And the song made no sense.

Still it was great.

Girls in our Town...

2010-04-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

Girls in our town, they just haven't a care
You see them on Saturday floating on air
Painting their toenails and washing their hair
Maybe tonight it'll happen

Girls in our town they leave school at fifteen
Work at the counter or behind the machine
And spend all their money on making a scene
They plan on going to England

Girls in our town go to parties in pairs
Sit 'round the barbecue, give themselves aires
Then they go to the bathroom with their girlfriend who cares
Girls in our town are so lonely

Girls in our town are too good for the pill
But if you keep asking they probably will
Sometimes they like you or else for the thrill
And explain it away in the morning

Girls in our town get no help from their men
No one can let them be sixteen again
Things might get better but it's hard to say when
If they only had someone to talk to

Girls in our town can be saucy and bold
At seventeen, no one is better to hold
Then they start havin' kids, start gettin' old
Girls in our town...
Girls in our town

By Margaret Roadknight

Fairbridge...

2010-04-14T16:43:00.001-07:00

... was brilliant. Fiddle chicks were the best. It was wonderful. The Chapel was beautiful.

5 strings, held together with a bolt & spiderwebs.

2010-04-05T01:01:00.000-07:00

On a wooden verandah, a beach house.

I played Paul Kelly "Listen to me", and a bit of the RBT song, and Sigh No More.

It was lovely. I need to get some more friendly covers to add to my friendly cover collection.

Full moon pizza oven.

2010-03-30T15:55:00.000-07:00

I played a few of mine just on the nylon string, no capo, so that was a good shift. I found when I reached back in my memory for old songs I came up short. It's definitely time for a big practice session. Maybe over the holidays I'll just have a few days of going through all my songs one by one until they're fixed again.

It would be great to record them too.

Yes.
That would be fine!

Reflected in the Marri sap.

2010-03-28T02:41:00.000-07:00

Three olives, two glasses of wine, two musicians reflected in the glossy painting that looked like Marri sap.

It is always good to overcome the whole performance anxiety thing... and play, and be seen as a musician in front of people in a public place and not just a lounge room. Although, the music is usually a lot better in a lounge room.

The acoustics were great!

Little fish.

2010-03-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

Gray's regional boss & her lovely family, at Tideline; marron and food around the fire.

I played mostly my own songs.

Dinner & Music Night.

2010-03-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

At the usual place... dinner with our favourite family... I played Cardwell and Galmarra.
It was lovely.

Farewell to the milkmaid.

2010-03-06T18:39:00.000-08:00

Excuse these nicknames! I am attempting the bare minimum of subterfuge.

So... it was farewell night, we had a viola, a violin, two guitars and a stack of tin whistles.

It was just lovely. Sheela made her brilliant bright green pasta.

Farewell sweetie.

Sour Cherries.

2010-02-17T15:22:00.000-08:00

The Sour Cherry Mocktail will probably be described elsewhere.

The music night was great. Two milker musicians, flute, viola, violin, guitars (5 guitarists, three guitars) and a few percussive elements. It was wonderful.

Five tin whistlers at the table.

2010-01-31T07:40:00.000-08:00

There's been two major music events in January.

Number 1. Dinner/music night at a friends house down the road. Diving for things that shine...

Number 2. The night we ended up with five tin whistlers at the breakfast table.

That's it.

There's a music evening planned, involving sour cherries.

And music.

Not a squeak.

2009-12-05T03:01:00.000-08:00

Not a squeak out of Galmara or Cardwell. However, last Monday Roz and Francesca did sing and a couple of HC at least attended a drumming workshop and have made a companion for Titania.

So that's something. Two somethings.

My fingertips are soft. My left hand might as well be my right.

There's dust on my guitar... etc.

Three somethings, Miss Moodle flush with the joy of having won her right to attend church albeit rarely, called upon us with the voices to sing also, last Sunday.

Dust on my guitar...

2009-11-08T04:56:00.000-08:00

still. And my fingertips are soft.

Never mind. I watched a doco on Morissey. Genius lyricist.

I love him. Still.

Soft fingertips.

2009-10-04T06:36:00.001-07:00

"there's dust on my guitar"

Welcome to the Beggar's Opera.

2009-07-09T03:05:00.000-07:00

I don't understand sometimes why I couldn't have had my own life. Is it overpopulation - are there so many souls to be born that we just must learn to share bodies to save the planet?

Roz.

Sister Act.

2009-07-03T05:37:00.001-07:00

Poor Kate. Maxwell's Silver Hammer is not a begin guitar song.

What a Feis.

2009-05-21T02:23:00.000-07:00

Shamefully we still do not have our songs recorded. And we'd best get playing or we'll lose them from our memory.

News: Feis & Ceilidh

My god. What a place. What a culture.

live from my loungeroom

2009-01-18T05:55:00.000-08:00

sooon we'll have our music recorded, and online.

that's the plan anyway

Christmas Jam

2009-01-16T00:39:00.000-08:00

Music was great over Christmas.

Fellow musician our lovely friend is wonderful.

Voice is stronger.

New songs coming.

All good.

Rhythmn note.

2008-07-30T03:43:00.000-07:00

Note this similarity.

"Boom chicka boom chicka"

Dum Tek Ka (Dum tekka tek tek tekka dum tek, dum, dum, tek.....)

Note to self:

Transpose all middle eastern rhythms into the more familiar boom chicka form..
it's a kewl idea.

Love Songs for Wednesday.

2008-06-19T02:33:00.000-07:00

Love Songs for Wednesday

1. "Pretty Little Princess."
2. "I think it's the ears"
3. "My girl is so sweet."

Derivative influences?
Why, yes, I admit there are some similarities to our previous work "Love Songs for Friday".

"My girl is so sweet" recalls the blues influences of a Love Songs for Friday song "I've never had a dog like you before."

In Friday's song;
"I've never had a dog like you before, good dog!, good girrrrl!"

and Wednesday's song;
"My girl is so sweet, she's as sweet as sweet can be."

both employ brevity and a breezy counterpoint to get their point across.

However, song 2 of Love Songs for Wednesday "I think it's the ears" is a clear departure in our Dog Adoration Oeuvre.

In this playful analysis of Wednesday's genetic heritage;
"She's two parts chihuahua,
she's one part Jack Russell,
and one part pooooooooooodle,
I think it's the ears"

the 6/4 time is employed for maximum effect.

"Pretty Little Princess" is, it must be admitted, very similar to "Best Dog in the World" which was a popular hit of our previous work "Love Songs for Friday".

However, in "Pretty Little Princess" the chorus is "Woo, Woo!" as opposed to "Foo Foo".

Yet another new song order.

2008-05-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

We've tried so many variations. There's a baker's dozen songs.
How to arrange them?!

Here's one old version:

1. Earthbound (Earth)
2. Bridge-graft (Water)
3. Snowgoose (Air)
4. Medley (Charming/Who will know me when I'm gone)
5. Run away with me
6. Fifth
7. Thea and Bruce
8. Low Tide
9. Bird of Time
10. Between the gasps of memory
11. Silver Trident
12. Hearts Hathaway

(That was before we wrote Song Thirteen)

We've been working hard to find the order of songs. Then we need to finish the hard brain work - notate them (we've started this process) and harmonies and possibly drum suggestions.

Another version is

1. Fifth
2. Snowgoose
3. Earthbound
4. Lowide
5. Thea and Bruce
6. Between the gasps of memory
7. Charming
8. Bridge Graft
9. My Mother, My Self
10. Bird of Time
11. Apples
12. Little Fishy
13. Sigh No More

Finger picking gooood.

2008-04-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

I know. But she brings it out in me.
Ain't nobody here but us chickens.

Jam packed.

2008-04-13T22:58:00.000-07:00

Last night Trouble was very cross trying to do zir best to organise stuff for us here at The Beggar's Opera ie. musical US, ie. me, definitely and viola too, but also others like francesca and many Hinchinbrook House people such as Lowena, Oceana, Heartness, Frond and Skink who are all very into music apparently, which I didn't know intellectually but I've always felt the presence of others with me when I play. I see myself more as the technician. And I wish I was a better one. Mannie too is quite musical in a very left brain way and once played piano and could sight read alongside Viola. We have plans in that direction.

Trouble's crossness is just that it's so hard to be there, then flee, be there, then flee. The need to be there then flee be there then flee is very irritating, and perhaps we could overcome it with another three years of deep psychic work but we resent it when it is for such a stupid cause as this. Stupid cause being that we seem to have been sucked into organising "giving input" volunteering to help set up etc. It is frustrating because none of our musical people are permitted (by our own edicts) or wish to play that role at all and don't have the necessary knowledge or memories. And we don't WANT to fill up their minds with politics, details, facts, decisions, committees. We suspect that were we to do that then they would not be able to create.

Last night was a performance by some amazing musicians, followed by a FANTASTIC Jam session with Helen Barley and our new musical friend Mary. WONDERFUL. Then this morning was a committee meeting followed by a music workshop. Oh so good. So exciting.

So thank you Trouble, and I am sorry that you had such a stressful two days of rushing in to answer questions and to do stuff and then fleeing so we could stay here and be musical.
Thank you.

Roz.

Heaven is this afternoon on my verandah.

2008-04-03T06:07:00.000-07:00

see, people (jody, just jo, shell, mannie, thea) took a while to differentiate between the me and Francesca and Calypso and Viola even tending to see us all in terms of things we have in common from their perspective such as "might not know where the car is parked" or "won't remember that today is Wednesday" or "may not recognise Mrs Chalk" etc. These are the kinds of pragmatic classifications that occur in our collective life due to the pressure of performing the illusion that may or may not be necessary (still I support it as a life skill rather like first aid that we may well NEED it one day you know, risk is debatable but consequences are serious etc. we could be here all day in any case here we are with our decisions and this is where we've arrived...) so... those pragmatic classifications don't define differences that are significant to us (me, viola, francesca and calypso) Here they are then so it's plain, for once;

Roz (me) and Viola play the music. Yes we do.
Others do compose songs, participate in lyrics etc. But it's me, Roz here now and that's because I just went to heavan for a few hours on the verandah with a musician call Mary and I loved our musical connection and oh my god she plays the dobra. Viola was there too. It was great.

Francesca and Calypso go to art class but it's mostly Francesca, with Calypso humming along about colour as she does (she's got a great sense of colour that girl). Calypso is the dancer.

Got it? Music, Art and Dance.
So many artists, so little time.

*beams*

Lowena says she's often helping all three. And I believe her.

Thea and Bruce get back together.

2008-02-19T00:11:00.000-08:00

And Angelata's broken-hearted.

(These events are unrelated)

Our gorgeous songs - so long we've waited for them to arrive.
Now they're here just as we asked and lovely and elegant and we're proud of them and ... what??

What now???
Nothing.

Nobody falls from the sky to help us record them and most of our friends don't even really want to listen except out of duty which is dumb because if they did just listen they would probably LIKE them but short of anonymously recording them somehow (magic is involved) and having them accidentally hear them (this involves technical skills as well as magic and probably breaking and entering) and declare "how wonderful" BEFORE they realise they're THOSE SONGS... how will anyone ever except God know if they would have liked them without knowing me.

And would it really matter if they didn't?

No.
I had assumed there would be some kind of clear next step.
Instead I'm stuck obsessing on the key shift in the trickiest song and waiting for something to happen to me. At some point that niggling problem will be resolved and I expect I'll just pack them up and not bother with them again (note: dramatic effect, do not worry, we are far too in love with our songs for this to be a genuine possibility at this stage).

And there's a whole new world of human anguish to plunder in recent events...
Misery - that's a treasure trove for song writers, isn't it?

Music List.

2007-11-25T06:15:00.000-08:00

1. Theme song from Angel.
2. Those hymns my nana used to play that mum played too.
3. That song A. likes me to accompany her on.
4. Book of scales and arpeggios

Also Mannie wants in a bit. See 2. I'm not going to play piano. I already have too many instruments. Still if she learnt those few god-bothering songs she wants to learn and some scales and arpeggios on the piano it wouldn't hurt. I could look over her shoulder. It might help me with my *cough* reading music project.

(I'm Roz. I can't read music. Viola can. But she is not here, you see, off on some security mission.)

Which reminds me. It must be time for LuLu to return.
She is on loan to a potential buyer.

A group of finches is called a Charm.

2007-11-25T04:04:00.000-08:00

We thought we might write here, or there.
Roz is a friend of Hinchinbrook House, sometime dweller there. And Calypso is welcoming.

But there are some of us with unpleasant things to say and we think we'll take over this place instead.

Galmara, last night.

2007-11-03T22:46:00.000-07:00

Look, I thought Galmara was great last night.

I don't get feedback. Nobody says a thing.
Then I get paranoid = and think = shit, what if I'm crap. Then I have to go full circle again to the "It's okay if I'm crap" place and keep playing.

One day somebody will tell me I'm okay (on viola) and I will believe them.

I hope that day comes soon, but I guess it's okay if it doesn't. I'll still play.

That's what it's come to for me. I have to just give up on any approval for my viola playing. I will never be even a mediocre orchestral viola. I'm just not good enough. I am good at improvisation and playing along by ear (similar but not identical skills) and if I work hard my technique and my overall sound quality will improve. That's it.

Setting aside all that stuff - it was good to play with Pete who I really love very much, and I feel as if we'll be friends for a long time. Maybe forever. And we'll gradually come to know each other's styles with music and I'm here, so that's in my favour.

I miss Niall and I miss Brian. I know they miss me.

I played my newly improved song - the changing of one word (can't to won't) made the song So. Much. Better. I also let Pia (coming through Molly via Hannah, gosh, those girls are such beautiful singers) sing "Varfor?" which is their very own version of a Swedish song. I thought it sounded really lovely. The lyrics are gorgeous and sad, and it doesn't matter that they're in Swedish.

So. That was a great musical evening last night.

Events in Gray's career life have been very tumultuous. I'll remember this night for the indecision (decision made today, Sunday after the Saturday night) and the music. It was a little uncertain space, like a plane ride, a transition, a little place out of chronology.

Music was the cure for what couldn't be said.
I don't understand sometimes why I couldn't have had my own life. Is it overpopulation - are there so many souls to be born that we just must learn to share bodies to save the planet?

Roz.

Galmara and Lulu.

2007-10-29T00:52:00.000-07:00

It's been an eventful month of music, here at Polly HQ.

Galmara lost a sound post in the first few days, on the way to our holiday house visit with Sam and Luciano, and didn't sound very well. It was disheartening. Mannie's chicken curry was also awful so for the two of us the visit wasn't all we had hoped - still, there might be reasons for these domestic details of our lives, karma works in whatever ways it can get its steady hands on, and I don't rule out anything. Perhaps I felt a flush of pride that needed to be doused with a bucket of cold well water?

Clear as mud?

Well, this is just a memory prompt for us, and a little insurance in case we have some kind of front/political coup/communication system breakdown and are left with some poor little dungeon mite like Gruesome in charge. Hi Gruesome! We could do worse, I'm sure you'd take good care of our life until we were able to get back to it. My own flaws during my time were insensitivity and failure to fully realise that oh-so-hard-to-grasp fact "This is Not My Life" (not mine, alone). I decisions swiftly, burnt bridges, threw away things people loved. I didn't mean to. I didn't realise. I thought it was my life, see. Easy mistake to make what with it being my mezzo soprano booming out of these lungs.

Galmarra is our new viola. Gorgeous, gorgeous man. The luthier called Bruce fixed the sound post and in the process Gray learnt how to do it for Lulu. Lulu is now greatly improved and on loan to a prospective buyer. He has a month. Then he might buy her, or return her.

So, Gruesome, if you do find yourself wondering what's going on with the instruments, now you know. Lilla needs a new violin blank, but is otherwise fine and staying with us, Lulu is on loan for a month, and may return to us, and Galmarra is staying. Needs playing too, if i'm away. Please fetch viola if need be, at least once a week. Hopefully I'll be here.

I planted some ruby chard today, and three little seedlings I'm not sure what they are but Shell bought them for me, thank you, and I've made little shishkebab stick flags for them so that G. won't weed them by misake. I weeded around the tomato and feverfew and lemon balm. One day might we have a garden? I hope so.

Things are cooking in the kitchen and I've had plenty of time for guitar. I wrote a couple of new songs too but they're not brilliant.

roz

Big news.

2007-09-30T01:12:00.001-07:00

We bought a new viola.
It sounds gorgeous.

We are of course, wracked with guilt about our old viola.
We are neurotic musicians.

(There is another kind, surely, even if I haven't actually met one.)

Flamenco

2007-09-22T23:34:00.000-07:00

Calypso was gracious and let me attend the guitar workshop (running at the same time as the dance workshop) thank you Callippy.

Ole!

Roz

Swing.

2007-08-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

I even have a swing song now.

Finished songs: 7 or the 8 from Before The Trip plus 3 new ones
Unfinished songs: 4/5 (one song, the one from Before the Trip, might be two songs, it hasn't told me yet)

Baker's Dozen

2007-08-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

Our songs will be 13 in number I think, for this collection.
That's all going brilliantly.
Apparently I'm a mezzo soprano.

So, now I know.

Roz

Song Nine.

2007-07-23T06:14:00.000-07:00

Francis and Leafy Jo love their new job and I was glad to be there too, with I think it was Francesca filling up the hut with her voice and singing the mysterious Song Nine that has been eluding me (I'm Roz) for the entire trip away. It's beautiful! I love it.

As soon as I got home I recorded it on the mp3 player and also notated it using my violin which is still the instrument I'm best at using that way - at playing a tune out so I can notate it.

So, although I didn't bother attempting to impose any kind of timing or even bars on it, it's there as a sequence of notes. With words underneath. I'm a jack of all trades, master of none, I know, but I don't care. It's caught.

*beams*

Song Seven.

2007-05-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

We're on song seven of 'the song collection'.

We've been using a 2/3 capo - new to us - and such a pretty trick. It's great to be writing songs. Calypso is miserable because her dancers are being major Pains In the Arse, Trouble is busy working, working, thinking, thinking. The rest of Castle seem okay, not here much. I'm here a bit, mostly playing guitar and Not Fighting With The Fellow.

So that's good.

Seven songs!

Photo.

2007-04-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

There's a photo of me.
Not terrible.
Also, I have just figured out some chords to Science Fiction and to Bloody Rotten Audience.

I've taught Erin my new song. She can sing it. She has a stronger voice and she likes performing.

That's how we kept what we gave away.

2007-03-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

There comes a time for a Neil Young song. Now is not that time, relax.

I taught one of Calypso's dancers (who is also a singer) my new song and she said she loves it and will sing it with her band. We have another date to meet again, a week later, see how she's going learning it. It's only got two chords, but there is some tricky hammer on. She sang it very well. It made me happy to give the song to her. She'll sing it, people will listen.

If she really likes it, I'll see if I can't keep writing more songs for her.

Guitar is good. I have been shamefully neglecting viola. Viola (the person) is never here these days so our violin is very lonely. I should take them both out occasionally, and at least run some scales along their strings.

The day is done, song is sung.

2007-03-18T02:05:00.000-07:00

Well that ... is over.

I need a busker's amp.
That or a quiet audience.

Now that it's over, I'm not sorry.
But I won't do it again,

There will be photos of Roz! In the local paper.
I may cut them out and send them to you.
If I like you.

St Patrick's Day (Recovery) Songlist.

2007-03-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

Ugh.

I will be cheerful, I will, and friendly, and glad to have the chance to play (a day late, dammit) a St Patrick's Day gig. Here's the songlist I've come up with. I'm scared.

The Banks of the Roses
The Holy Ground
The Greenland Whale Fisheries
Moreton Bay
The Foggy Dew
Muirsheen Durkin
Back Home in Derry
The Exile of Erin (aka The Plains of Emu)
Hills of Connemara
Fields of Athenry
Belfast Mill
Black Velvet Band
Mountain Dew (err, I know, I know)

and if I am asked for more, ie. encore

Love is Pleasing

It's a Baker's Dozen plus encore.

Otherwise known as 14.
Oh god, why oh why did I say YES?
And, why oh why am I a person who once having said Yes, cannot say No.

Well, now that wailing is done, I'm ALMOST looking forward to it.
Wish me luck, audience.

Roz.

New song sung.

2007-03-11T22:33:00.000-07:00

I sang a perfect rendition of my new song at the Bugsplat IWD evening. People seemed to like it.

Calypso performed at the IWD afternoon earlier in the week and felt a bit pissed off with the organisers as they videotaped her without permission. I must remind Trouble to go sort that out and get that tape destroyed. Why should their need to document take precedence over our privacy and comfort? It was very annoying. I expect just a misunderstanding - the person with the camera probably assumed the organisers had already got permission. Calypso won't be agreeing to any more of that style of performance. We need to be in charge of the audience, venue and our image from now on. It's not as if there is anything in it for us other than generating goodwill.

I too regret having said yes when I should have said no - to this Day After St. Pat's Day performance of a dozen Irish songs that I've agreed to. After that there are no commitments I'm aware of. We'll try and keep it that way for a while.

I guess I'll be okay on Sunday. It's just a chore and nobody here to play with me and I don't want amplification and I hate attention. I know, what sort of musician AM I? A moody, shy sort, that's what.

New song!

2007-02-17T05:06:00.000-08:00

It's always a great day when we write a new song.

This one first arrived three days ago and I got the last verse today.
It's beautiful!

I really like it. It's about pre-menstrual tension. But nobody could possibly know that without being told.

:)
Roz.

World according to Roz.

2007-02-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

There's been a lot of interest and encouragement with the bellydancing thing. Calypso will run a class for Mums with a creche at the Family Centre. Looks like Trouble will be alright to drive - otherwise I'm happy to support that, and I know Dan would too. I'd better start thinking about schedules. I'm glad we seem to be getting time to play guitar.

I know (because Francis and I are pretty close) that a lot of Hinchinbrook Chicks want to see us rebuilding our physical strength after the knee thing and want us to start walking again. I'm pretty sure bellydancing is compatible with all that even if it's just from a fitness perspective. It's not as if we can ever box or run or do any kind of serious impact sports ever again with the knee. And some styles are out of the question now but there's still plenty of low impact stuff. I like the sound of Suhaila style belly dance.

We're going to sell our boxing bag. I know Trouble is sad about it, but there's no way we'll be able to do the skipping or stamping feet stuff that is part of it and in any case, Rocky is not likely to teach again after The Unfortunate Incident. So that's out.

Tomorrow I'll swim. Friday I might go walking. Tuesday I will go walking. I need a big hat. I'm feeling pretty positive about our life - it's a good change. I hope to keep playing guitar. Sometimes I think I'd like us to quit viola and violin altogether but then I think I just haven't found the right people for viola & hmmm whoever else plays viola here, to play with. We had a good thing going with Iian. That was a musical conversation. I miss that. I hope to find something like that again.

I liked that twelve string I picked up the other day. Hmmm. I think I could be persuaded to trade my six string for a twelve string. Twice as much tuning annoyance, but worth it. Also, it mangles fingers. This is good. My willingness to suffer will set me apart from the rest.

*nods cunningly*
That's it. World according to Roz.

Less grumpy but still a bit disgruntled.

2007-02-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

We went to the beach with our friend Naomi and her children, and met up with some friends - a wonderful extended family all musical, and I might, might, might have a mandolin back up for the "Was Supposed to be St Patrick's Day" gig at the Worker's Club. I'm annoyed that they moved it.

I should have just said - if it's not on St Patrick's Day, it's not on at all. Unfortunately he came to see 'me' at work, and it was Trouble and she didn't realise (understandably) that I didn't want it unless it was on the day, and she was very busy training the New Manager so she just smiled and nodded as we do, sometimes, and that's how I'm stuck with it. I am more cheerful now that there's the possibility of mandolin backing me up.

Roz.

So, it's not St. Patrick's day.

2007-01-29T05:36:00.000-08:00

They've got a 21st. So. They've moved me to the following day. A Sunday. Okay, whatever.

It doesn't bother me. I've lost interest anyway.

Roz

Got a gig.

2007-01-27T00:59:00.000-08:00

Day after St Patrick's Day.
Acoustic GUITAR at the Bugsplat Worker's Club afternoon session.
Irish songs.

Hah.

4pm - 6pm.

Stalkers welcome.

Helen Barley.

2007-01-21T22:05:00.000-08:00

So, Nadia and various Polly (including, rather surprisingly, Mannie) went swimming this morning at Storm Cove. I'm usually ~about~ during that kind of thing... I don't know why - maybe in case we stand on a fish - I can be trusted not to scream. I'm usually there, and I like the water, but I try not to get in the way - there are people here who only feel at home in the sea. I figure they need it more than me.
Then, when we went to Lola's for a visit, a musician I deeply admire, Ms Helen Barley, was there and I clumsily gave her a hug. I've been hoping she really did enjoy the time we played together at Snooty Winery. It's the obvious hope for musicians in this area - to get a job at Snooty Winery where they pay actual cash ($200 an afternoon!) and it's a pleasant gig with good acoustics and a polite audience. I was just the guest (no pay) which is just how I like it because I can't cope with the stress of dealing with other musicians in any kind of band-like relationship that might involve hauling equipment and/or banter. I need to be free to flee, usually straight to the ladies, man that I sometimes am, to stare deep into my own green eyes and steady myself.
In that 'little talk' with Gray he told me a few home truths about my musicianship.
Like most truthful things people tell each other, they hurt and they were surprising.
I never realised how obvious my anxiety is. And I didn't realise how serious my paranoia about music is either. I usually assume people don't want to play with me because I'm a crap musician but apparently, it's because I'm so 'highly strung' (I can't deny this - so many people have told me) and over-sensitive and paranoid and anxious. Actually none of that was surprising really, I have known it at heart. And Gray was talking about a specific musician.
So, to sort out the truth from story here;
1. I have had some very good musical collaborations - especially with Iian, the Irish Guy. That was great. Perhaps because he was as moody and paranoid and sensitive as I am.
2. SheOak breaking up was Not My Fault.
3. Helen Barley really did like playing with me. She told Nadia, Nadia said, completely unsolicited, and sounded really keen to play again and praised my skills at improvisation (my strength) and my taste. So. That's a fact.

Some other facts, loosely assembled. I'm dispensing with lists.
~ because not all polly (and apparently, I'm dispensing with punctuation too) can actually PLAY and because some polly are tone deaf and because of those polly who have a voice, our ranges vary, and because viola (the person) is the only one who can play fast fiddle and I'm the only one strong enough to hold the viola (the instruemnt) properly and because nobody other than Mannie can play the piano and because ... well, that's enough, you get the idea ... we need complete freedom to come and go as we please (yes, some would call it dissociation) and we can't be being asked "What did you have for dinner last night?" just as we're about to play because that will fuck it up for us totally.
These are all impediments to us ever becoming comfortable performers.
Still, just as Just Jo, Thea, Shell and Francesca still wish to write despite their intense hatred of the actual process of writing... we still want to perform.
Where was I?
Oh, I give up. Yes, I'm a horrible musician to work with. I'll accept that. That doesn't mean I need to stop trying. I can improve my social skills during this process (tricky) or find musicians who are just as bad or perhaps too drunk to care. Hmmm. I don't know.
Helen Barley seems to let me be, and she's said yes to a St. Patrick's gig.
Partly because Helen doesn't really do small talk much. I like that!
Only trouble - she only wants me for my fiddle. She won't like it if I play guitar and sing (that is her territory) but she might like viola (the instrument). This is all very complicated, I know. I don't imagine anybody is actually reading this though so that's fine.
Hmm.
To solve the other musician's ettiquette that I breach (other than the paranoia, over-sensitivity, anxiety and inability to make small talk etc.) I need to buy a little tuning machine. A tuning fork just doesn't do the job for me. By the time I've made it to the third string the first is gone. It's okay on my fiddle - I have fine-tuners, but on the viola... well, it's like a dog chasing its own tail trying to get that right. I need to buy and install some fine-tuners for the viola and not care about the slight tinniness that sometimes causes, and I need to buy a shoulder rest. That thing is HEAVY. And while I'm spending pixie bucks in the Music Shop in CitySplat, i may as well buy a tuning machine.
Any recommendations, non-existant readers?

Ugh.

2007-01-18T00:02:00.000-08:00

G. and me had a hideous conversation last night about musicians and musician's etiquette which apparently I have been in heinous breach of forever but he told me about it last night.
Aargh.
So, I'm recording it here. So I'll know.
I won't forget it.
Ugh.
Roz (who cannot spelL)

Big squeeze.

2007-01-10T22:48:00.000-08:00

My heart. Box. Melody.
Small key. Shiny. Breathing.

Two new verses.

2006-12-31T06:17:00.000-08:00

We wrote a couple more verses to the River Song.
Once we arrange them, I think the song will be done.
This is excellent.

At this rate, by the time we're 70 or so we'll have a dozen or more originals.

Lets see.. songs from the years gone past.

1. In childhood, a parody of those magnificent men and their flying machines.
Very. Embarrassing. Still.

2. "Oh dear I've trodden on a woman, hope I don't get any on my shoe".
*sigh*
Round about the same time as we thought throwing tampons at an audience was really quite clever.

3. The Train Song (set in Ingham)

That was a good but scary song. I hope I remember it.

4. The medley thing "Calophyllum Tree"

A beautiful song, I think.

5. "Love conquers all but the trivial." (a kitchen lament, I guess)

It was okaaay. I know at least one person who really liked it.

6. The River Song

This is a GOOD song.

By Neil Diamond

2006-12-18T17:10:00.000-08:00

Song sung blue
Everybody knows one
Song sung blue
Every garden grows one

Me and you are subject to the blues now and then
But when you take the blues and make a song
You sing them out again
Sing them out again

Song sung blue
Weeping like a willow
Song sung blue
Sleeping on my pillow

Funny thing, but you can sing it with a cry in your voice
And before you know it, start to feeling good
You simply got no choice

Song sung blue
Everybody knows one
Song sung blue
Every garden grows one

they just want one thing

2006-12-05T23:11:00.000-08:00

I whinge.

Still, I'm there, on the program as a composer.
And although my voice got axed, my fiddle and my viola are still there.
:)

Lost horse.

2006-11-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

Voice gone.

Dammit.

Two out of the three songs done and they are good, but the last one is not working.
And now I have lost my voice.

The cold I've been fighting finally got me.

I'm eating pickled ginger.

lyrics from knifey

2006-11-16T16:35:00.000-08:00

He posted some lyrics today.
I must find this song.
Sometime when I have more time.

What Becomes of Us- Holly Throsby, from the album 'Under the Town'.

It is early
You are dead
There are crows in our bed
But I won’t come undone
We are done, we are done
There is air still
In my lungs
I will get up and get on
With the other mouths and tongues
And the work there is to be done
This is what becomes of us
There are dim things in the pond
There is dust under the rug
And I don’t ever know
What’s below what’s below
But I am up!
I am above!
I have a new love!
And it’s warm like a gun
Or a knife that I fell on
This is what becomes of us
I was not ready
You won’t be back
I was not ready.

Butterflies.

2006-11-10T17:46:00.000-08:00

The viola and violin tracks are both laid down, now it's just voice left for me.
Gray's tin whistle will probably go last.

I have butterflies.

*shiver*

O.M.G.

2006-11-01T07:21:00.000-08:00

I am not one to use the latest jargon.
I'm not one to try to be cool/kewl/down/up/hot/cold with it.
With anything.

I am a very bad musician who cannot pick an instrument (boom boom), who was kicked out of orchestra for indecision (viola? violin? viola? violin? viola? violin?) and only made it to grade three piano before.. actually, let's not go there. If I told you the Series of Unfortunate Events that are my music teachers - you'd wonder (like we did) if we were cursed... and infectious.

One remark stands out:
"I thought I was highly strung!"

Boom. bloody Boom.

Anyway, suffice to say, the road to musical greatness has been as rocky as the Dublin.

Tonight was one of those amazing nights that fellow(sister) musicians will know.
Everything was right.

Five songs!!!!!
FIVE.

How's that?

Capo-itulated.

2006-10-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

*bleats weakly*

Finally, after years of resisting Iian's excellent advice;
"For god's sake woman, use a capo."

I have gone through my song list fiddling with keys and am probably half way through.

I started this project in Hometown, fooling myself with idle talk about how I'd just see how it went etc. etc. because I know that one thing that was stopping me do it was the sheer magnitude of the task, and the knowledge that once committed we'd become some kind of remorseless Capo Discernment Team mercilessly capable of playing "Back Home in Derry" thirty times before finally choosing between capo 5 and capo 6. (Capo 6)

It is begun, it is well begun.

3/2

2006-10-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

In childhood I learned a corrupted version of Barbary Ellen in 4/4 time and it's really HARD to make the shift to 3/2 time now. I know I'm probably just suffering some kind of sideways effects of other people's misery here at Polly HQ but I'm feeling short bursts of anger about stuff like that - it's so infuriating that we can't share musical knowledge easily. Why musical knowledge has been attached to our episodic memory and not to some other more generous plane I do not know but it pisses us off.

Mum on the verandah made an extraordinary claim about our 'impeccable sense of timing' which might have been true in childhood when we were musical stars of a sort, but is not true any more, or at least not for me. (Timing is one of my weaknesses as a musician now) And it made me so angry.

It's all here, in this brain. Surely??? All the things different people learned at school and in orchestra and through practice and some gifts. Why can't we just have them? Why do we have to learn everything all over again, as individuals?

On the verandah.

2006-10-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

On the verandah, two years ago, we played (mostly Irish) with Brian and Sylvie and Gray, while Andrew was up in Watkins and Cairns, visiting people. Our sister, Megan complained bitterly about Brian;
"He doesn't talk like that normally."
on account of Brian's Irish accent, which has an algebraic relationship to the degree of sentimentality of the ballad and the number of glasses downed. Mine's a bit like that too.
But I was playing the fiddle then, so it's (sorry) harder to pick.

No fiddle this time, just our sister Fiona's lovely lad's guitar on loan.
I played guitar every day, Friday sitting on my feet, Mum doing the crossword at the table.

Up in Watkins, I played "Sandy's song" to Sandy, and the River song, and she recorded them on her hand-held cam-corder. (I think that's what she called it.) I didn't get time to see it, but I heard later, from Stan's girlfriend that it was 'lovely'.

Sandy called me by my old name, and I liked it very much, and realised with fresh anguish how very little say I personally have had in the new directions we've taken, and how dreamlike the last few years feel to me personally, and how vivid the time up there in Watkins is, by contrast.

It was wonderful in the milky turquoise coloured pool.

Money for jam.

2006-09-09T22:53:00.000-07:00

Stan used to say "money for jam" when work was easy money, or if he sold a bit of an old engine he'd got for nothing and pulled apart in his backyard. If it were just me and I could play music all day I think I'd like to earn my living that way, that there'd be something very sweet about being paid to play music that would make all the lugging of equipment, dealing with drunks, sexual harrassment, smoke and egotistical musicians worth it. Money for jam. I'd even take a bottle of wine for an afternoon and feel pretty pleased with myself. Or even, a glass. Maybe, a bit of cheese.
:)
I'm cheap, I know.

Ain't nobody here but us chickens.

2006-08-20T07:07:00.000-07:00

*squawk!*

We made it to Snooty Winery.
We played fiddle.
Details later.
It was okay.

Stage fright.

2006-08-19T05:10:00.000-07:00

Jesus. We're ill. Not something we can just pull ourselves out of either.

What terrible timing. Musicians have such dreadful reputations for unreliability - it's death not to show to a gig, our first gig. Dammit. They won't make the offer again. I hope we get well tomorrow. Our darling is off celebrating, the angel, we're home alone.

I hope we get better tomorrow. I won't cancel. I'll just see how I am tomorrow.

Damn it. It must be food poisoning. It has all the symptoms of it.

Performance anxiety.

2006-08-19T00:13:00.000-07:00

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.

's tomorrow.

Guest fiddle spot.

On Ilkla Moor Baht Hat

2006-08-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

All this sharky business reminds me of worms.

On Ilkla Moor Baht Hat

Where hast thou been since I saw thee?
On Ilkla Moor baht hat
Where hast thou been since I saw thee?
Where hast thou been since I saw thee?
On Ilkla Moor baht hat
On Ilkla Moor baht hat
On Ilkla Moor baht hat

Thou's been a courtin' Mary Jane
On Ilkla Moor baht hat
Thou's been a courtin' Mary Jane (2x)
On Ilkla Moor baht hat (3x)

Thou'll go and get thy death of cold
Then we shall have to bury thee

Then the worms will come and eat thee oop

Then ducks will come and eat up the worms

Then us will come and eat up ducks

Then us will all have eaten thee

That's how we get out loved ones back

Two trees. Roz is...

2006-08-08T00:28:00.000-07:00

the Hazel tree.

The html was messy. And it printed the pictures all over the place!
So, sorry, you'll have to hop over to Gypsy to get a hold of this meme.

Which Celtic Tree are you?

And Viola had to take a tie-breaker between the Birch and the Elder.

You only want me for one thing.

2006-08-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

Wails the fiddler who aspires to sing and play guitar.

Bloody hell, a gig.

2006-08-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

Well I never.
*looks suitably chuffed*

We have a GIG.
With Helen Barley's band, as a guest fiddler.
At a Semi-Snooty Vineyard.
Actually, pretty darrrrrrn snooty, now I come to think about it.

*beams*

That's the good news.
The not sad, but *sigh* news - she doesn't seem interested in anything other than our ability to improvise to almost anything on the fiddle. Our mediocre guitar playing does not impress, and she doesn't seem to think much of our voice. We weren't in perfect voice, being a bit too fiddly for that - coz I think we need to summon up singers to actually sing, though it's us, the musicians, who ~steer~ them. I think Francesca can sing, and maybe we need that ocean presence, I don't know. We weren't in perfect form. And I mean, Helen Barley SINGS and plays GUITAR, so it's not really surprising she's more interested in us as fiddle players.

I know I know but I still want to play guitar and sing.

Anyway, enough of that, the good news is :
Guest Fiddler GIG!
HELEN BARLEY's BAND!
SNOOTY VINEYARD!

Jam on.

2006-07-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

This is Miss Calypso reporting to you two, that your jam with Helen Barley is ON.
Tomorrow. Here at our place. From 4.30pm onwards.

*beams*

ps. I like my link!
yours truly,
Calippy gets lippy.

Roz got the blues.

2006-07-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Tuesday jam got cancelled. Coz of our knee. Coz we couldn't even stand. Zil came over and cooked dinner instead. I felt really bad about letting Helen Barley down and got one of my (usually quite rare) moments of anger with my life. There's all these amazing musicians coming and I still haven't restrung my viola. That poet that Just Jo and Thea were talking to - he's a cellist. I wish I had my own life, could jump out of here, grab my viola and play, play, play. I'd take my guitar too. Oh, I know I'd never be a really good musician, but I'd find a niche somewhere.
I know I'm not the only one of us feeling this way right now.
As Frieda Kahlo said once, on our behalf;
"I drink to drown my sorrows, but the bastards have learned to swim."
Conscious of the tenacity of sorrow, we are are drinking lots of ginger tea.
At least it's good for the voice.

What happens when you get what you want?

2006-07-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

Scared.
Scared we're not going to accept the good fortune coming our way.

Helen Barley is great. She sings good songs. She plays great guitar. We like but don't know each other's songs. This is A Good Thing. Much better than the other configurations such as liking each other's songs and knowing them thus having definite ideas about them, or not liking each other's songs.

All we have to do to make this work is not fuck it up.
Tuesday, next jam, Tuesday.

Helen Barley

2006-07-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

Guitar is ready, violin is ready.

We're going to Helen Barley's house at Storm Point for a play!

Yay!

Unfortunately we're in the middle of (and have been 'in the middle of') re-stringing our viola so it will just be fiddle. S'okay. Can't play them both at once anyway.

*beams*

Roz and the Penny Drops.

2006-07-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

If these hands where mine, and all mine, I would still be a bad musician.
I'd not be able to choose between violin and viola.
I would play mandolin, guitar, piano, tin whistle, bodhran AND sing.
Probably a lot better than I do now, but I would STILL be a very bad musician.
Hmm. There's the oboe, cello and all those amazing lute-like medieval ones.
I've always been drawn to those too.
See, I might even be a WORSE musician.
*giggle*

Just as well I play music for the love of it, then.

So tell me - Roz and the Penny Drops?
Good band name?
Hah!

I am enjoying my husband (I'm happy to claim him as mine, right now) playing the Goldberg Variations. Variation Thirteen. Bach.

My favourite.

At the Bugsplat Food Co-op, a cappella.

2006-07-01T02:15:00.000-07:00

So we took his insults in silence,
For this was the period when,
We lived in the Great Depression,
And nothing was cheaper than men.

The acoustics are wonderful at the Bugsplat Food Co-op.

Floppy hair boys with piano hands...

2006-06-29T02:27:00.000-07:00

tend to like me.

I was the girl in high school they fell for.
A lot of musicians never really forget their floppy hair boy days.

Do I look bothered by that?

roz

:)

Catfish blues

2006-06-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

by B.B. King

Well, I wish I was a catfish
Swimmin' in the deep blue sea
I'd have all you women
Fishin' after me
Fishin' after me
Fishin' after me

Well, I'm broke and I'm hungry
Ragged and I'm dirty too
Well, if I clean up, baby, can I
Stay home with you
Stay home with you
Stay home with you

If I can't, can't come in
Let me sit down front of your door
I'll leave so early, your
Mom won't know
Won't never know
Won't never know

Oh, I know, know my baby
Well, she's going to jump and shout
When my train pulls in and I
I come walkin' out
Come walkin' out
Come walkin' out

Yes, I'm goin', babe I'm goin'
And your crying won't make me stay
Oh, the more you cry, baby
More I'll go away
More I'll go away
More I'll go away

Well now I know, I know you don't want me
Why in the world won't you tell me so?
Then I won't be caught, baby, 'round
Your house no more
Your house no more
Your house no more

The flag of stars.

2006-06-16T22:48:00.000-07:00

Roz: The flag of stars mentioned in the last line is the Eureka Flag. It's blue with white stars marking the points of the Southern Cross. I think it's a beautiful flag. But then I'm often accused of being an Irish-Australian republican so that's not so surprising.

Redgum wrote the lyrics to the last song I posted, quite recently.

francesca: I think I prefer Moreton Bay - the politics are older.
Roz: oh, I agree.

You're better off dead.

2006-06-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

Poor Ned, you're better off dead
At least you'll get some peace of mind
You're out on the track, they're right on your back
Boy they're gonna hang you high

Eighteen hundred and seventy eight was the year I remember so well
They put my father in an early grave and slung my mother in gaol
I don't know what's right or wrong
But they hung Christ on nails
Six kids at home and two still on the breast
They wouldn't even give her bail

We sing - Poor Ned, you're better off dead, at least you'll get some peace of mind
You're out on the track, they're right on your back, boy they're gonna hang you high

You know I wrote a letter 'bout Stringybark Creek
So they would understand
I might be a bushranger but I'm not
A murdering man
I didn't want to shoot Kennedy
Or that copper Lonnegan
He alone could have saved his life
By throwing down his gun

(Chorus)

You know they took Ned Kelly
And they hung him in the Melbourne Gaol
He fought so bravely dressed in iron mail
And no man single handed
Can hope to break the bars
It's a thousand like Ned Kelly
Who'll hoist the flag of stars.

(Chorus twice)

Poor Ned.

2006-06-12T01:59:00.000-07:00

We watched the relatively recent Ned Kelly movie last night, and as usual, the actors were fabulous (Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Joel Egerton) but they couldn't save it. And Naomi Watts should have refused that travesty of a role - as if this story needed a tawdry little love interest inserted into it. But I digress.

The exciting thing about watching Ned Kelly last night was the gorgeous little three piece Irish band playing a beautiful version of Moreton Bay. God that's a brilliant song. And it is very likely that Ned's Jerrilderee Letter was influenced by the lyrics of Moreton Bay.

So here it is:

"Moreton Bay" or "Banished from my native shore."

One Sunday morning, as I was walking, down Brisbane waters I chanced to stray,
I heard a prisoner his fate bewailing as on the river banks he lay.
I am a native of Erin's island, and banished now from my native shore,
They tore me from my aged parents and from the maiden whom I do adore.

I've been a prisoner at Port Macquarie, at Norfolk Island and Emu Plains,
At Castle Hill, and at cursed Toongabbie; at all those settlements I've worked in chains.
But of all the places of condemnation and penal stations of New South Wales,
To Moreton Bay, I have found no equal, there excessive tyranny each day prevails.

For three long years I was beastly treated, and heavy irons on my legs I wore,
My back with flogging, is lacerated, and often tainted with my crimsom gore.
And many a man from downright starvation, lies mouldering now underneath the clay,
And Captain Logan, he had us mangled at the triangles of Moreton Bay.

Like the Egyptians and ancient Hebrews we were oppressed under Logan's yoke,
'till a native black, lying there in ambush, did give our tyrant, his mortal stroke.
My fellow prisoners be exhilerated, that all such monsters such a death might find,
And when from bondage we are liberated, our former suffering shall fade from mind.

Might get a play, someday.

2006-06-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

Nadia picked us up and we went to dinner at Castenada's last night to celebrate a fellow art student's birthday. And at dinner there was a local guitarist singer songwriter Helen Barley who suggested that we get together for a play!
I hope I wasn't too puppy-like in my enthusiasm!

It's just that... since Sheoak broke up I haven't had a musical buddy.
I don't play that well with Gray.
Even after all these years.
We're just not a good match there.
Roz.

Victor's Piano Solo.

2006-06-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

Have you seen "Corpse Bride"?
(Tim Burton's beautiful anime movie?)

Yes?

Then you might remember the young man playing piano as his parents discuss dowry?
Yes?

Well....
My lovely Gray is playing Victor's Piano Solo right now!

Peacock eyes.

2006-06-03T18:05:00.000-07:00