My uncle, Robert Cardan Hammond, was buried today at age 62. He was a man of a different era, more of a knockabout type from the ’20′s and 30′s. He worked on fishing trawlers, down in mines, knew the bush like the natives and built skyscrapers. This song by John Williamson is the perfect match for Uncle Robert.
TRUE BLUE
Words and Music by John Williamson
Hey True Blue, don’t say you’ve gone
Say you’ve knocked off for a smoko
And you’ll be back later on
Hey True Blue, Hey True Blue
Give it to me straight
Face to face
Are you really disappearing,
Just another dying race,
Hey True Blue.
True Blue, is it me and you?
Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo?
Is it standing by your mate
When he’s in a fight?
Or will she be right?
True Blue, I’m asking you…
Hey True Blue, can you bear the load?
Will you tie it up with wire,
Just to keep the show on the road?
Hey True Blue, Hey True Blue, now be Fair Dinkum
Is your heart still there?
If they sell us out like sponge cake
Do you really care?
Hey True Blue.
True Blue, is it me and you?
Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo?
Is it standing by your mate
When she’s in a fight?
Or will she be right?
True Blue, I’m asking you…
True Blue, is it me and you?
Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo?
Is it standing by your mate
When he’s in a fight?
Or will she be right?
True Blue … True Blue.
True Blue
Steadfast loyal Australian who displays the Aussie ideals of a fair go for all, mateship, having a go, and solving problems.
Smoko
To ‘knock off for a smoko’ is to have a break for a coffee, tea or cigarette.
Fair Dinkum
Virtually the same as True Blue – honest, reliable, trustworthy, dinki-di; someone who has embraced the Aussie attitudes to everything, especially mateship. ‘Are you fair dinkum?’ means ‘are you telling the truth?’
Thank you for allowing me to post my tribute….
Leonida, Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate them. I agree that my article is not necessarily true for everyone but I believe it is worthy to keep in mind the step beyond your next.
Ventia, Thank you for making the effort to write.
Interesting! But you should check your comment plugin more often. You seem to be taking on some spam comments. I had the same conflict myself. So nowadays I go over everything with extra care.
Hi, not sure if I said thanks – so thanks – I am getting a lot of spam, I have several filters – not sure what else to do. Also being very careful from now on. Take care,