Jackeroo written by Mike Silver
Mike Silver, who along with Julie, are worth their weight in gold, wrote this song as he explains below. As with the song,The Never-Never Land, they conjure up so much of what I admire of and in Australia and they transport me back to those days of my first introduction to this wonderful land, I am indebted to Mike for writing this, a true compliment and those of you who choose to sing this beauty you too can become Jackeroos.
A Jackeroo works on a sheep and cattle station to learn all the trades that could qualify him or her to manage a sheep or cattle station in future times. A Jilleroo is the female equivalent and maybe a kangaroo the animal equivalent.
Martyn Wyndham-Read
Having known about Martyn WR for many years, first heard him sing and play in the late 60’s at Deal Folk Club, we had never actually met. That happened in the early 2000’s. It was then that he and Danni invited me to La Jeusseliniere to run a songwriting workshop. Please note that I wrote ‘run’ rather than ’tutor’. Thass cos I cum up from nuffink and lef skooool wen I wuz fifftene!
The second or third evening, after a meal at a local restaurant Martyn and I swapped a few stories and he gave me a brief history of his first visit to Oz. I wrote the bones of the lyric before going to bed and found a tune for it by the end of my week at ‘La Jeuss’. I was immensely proud that he even wanted to sing it and then he topped that by recording the song and using it as the title track for a CD.
Mike Silver
JACKEROO
The time has come to make a move my heart is not at ease
A world away is beckoning there are places that I want to see
So I’ll take a chance and give it a try who knows just what I will find
Will it be nothing or will it be gold I’ll know the answer it time
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A cold wind is blowing down rainy streets in the city where I first sang
And the England that I know so well is changing for every man
Maybe I’ll discover a place for to stop and make a home from home
And I’ll overthrow the wanderlust that set me on the road.
Chorus
Gone for a Jackeroo mum gone for a Jackeroo
Learn every trade till me bones are made
I’ll be a Jackeroo.
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Across the Mediterranean down Suez to old Bombay
All through the tropic of Capricorn to Australia I’m making my way
To work and to ride to drove and to shear come home by the light of the stars
Toil rain and shine like all me mates what more can a young man ask.
Chorus.
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And I’ll listen to the old man singing around the open blaze
Learn al the songs and the tunes I hear to ease my working day
And when the sun its sinking low I’ll write you a line or two
Did you ever think when I was born Id be a Jackeroo.
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