Between the Lines - Issue Twelve

April 2005 marked the sad passing of Jacko Kevans. A few thoughts on a mate… Jacko Kevans was one of the first passionately involved Australian folk musicians that I had met. His efforts in seeking Chloe & myself out after hearing us sing, and the ensuing advice, encouragement, education, inspiration and friendship fundamentally changed our lives. The warm-hearted humour of his company has been a joy to us for many years. I’ve just had a look down our big list; our repertoire would literally fall apart without the songs and tunes he taught us directly and the advice on other material, and sources, that “might be worth a look”. The people, places and cultural context of the music, and the thorough and careful musicianship he introduced us to, have been an absolute inspiration. It never felt like an education – simply a good time! His carefully spoken advice on performing Australian traditions has become such a part of our lives that starting a sentence with “As Jacko would say…” seems to be a daily occurrence at times. He was also one of the finest musicians and singers we’ve ever heard with a complete and selfless ownership of the material he performed. While we might meet up at various times through the year, the Woodford Folk Festival was our guaranteed “week with Jack”. We are extremely grateful to have had a chance this year, to say thank you and goodbye, and will never forget our performances together and for each other. We will miss him, and never know how much.

Jacko Kevans Woodford 2005 / 06

Just the two songs this issue – ones that Jacko sang a couple of times at Woodford, 2004/05.


The Maryborough Miner

A mining version of the “Murrumbidgee Shearer” that was collected by A.L. Lloyd from Bob Bell of Condoblin in 1934. Jacko brought this modal song alive in the traditional, unaccompanied style. The first verse and melody are transcribed from a recording made at Woodford this year. Most memorably for us, he led it at our “Bush Songs are for Singing” session at the same festival, with the “I’ve been on all the diggings boys…” chorus ringing from the crowd.



Come all you sons of liberty and listen to my song,
I'll sing my observations and it wont take very long.
I've been all over this continent five hundred times or more,
And many's the time I might have starved but for the cheek I bore.

Chorus
I've been on all the diggings boys from famous Ballarat,
I've long-tommed on the Lachlan and I've fossicked Lambing Flat.
So you can understand me boys just from this little rhyme,
I'm a Maryborough miner and I'm one of the good old time.

I came to the Fitzroy River all with my Bendigo rig;
I had a shovel a pick and a pan and for a licence I begged.
But the assay man called me a loafer, said for work I'd no desire,
And so to do him justice boys I set his office on fire.

Oh yes my jolly jokers I've done it on the cross;
Although I carry my bluey now I've sweated many a horse.
I've helped to rob the escort of many an ounce of gold,
And the traps have trailed upon my tail more times than I've ever told.

Oh yes the traps have trailed me and been frightened out of their stripes.
They never could have caught me for they feared my cure for gripes,
And well they knew I carried it for they had often seen;
Glistening in my flipper chaps, my patent pill machine.

I'm one of the men who cradled on the reef at Tarrangower,
Anxiety and misery my grim companions there.
I puddled the clay at Bendigo and chanced my arm at Kew,
And I wound up my avocation with ten years on Cockatoo.

Chorus
I've been on all the diggings boys from famous Ballarat,
I've long-tommed on the Lachlan and I've fossicked Lambing Flat.
So you can understand me boys just from this little rhyme,
I'm a Maryborough miner and I'm one of the good old time.

The Hat Ned Kelly Wore

This is a song we’ve heard Jacko sing countless times including at Woodford this year. He made great use of his piano accordion as accompaniment with subtle and emotive chord substitutions that I have notated from a recording we made at Woodford. The “hat Ned Kelly wore” line was more likely to be spoken than sung as the song progressed, continually drawing you in to the story.

Good evening to you one and all, good luck to what I say,
I've just stepped in among you all before I go away.
I've brought with me the relics of the good old days of yore,
And I’ll sing to you a song about the hat Ned Kelly wore.

Chorus
It was made of rusty iron, the finest ever known,
It was worn in 1880 at the hotel at Glenrowan,
And it terrified those troopers, the minions of the war,
When they saw it in the morning mist, the hat Ned Kelly wore.

My name is Larry Doolan, I’m a true Australian man.
I was born of Irish parents in the township of Willan.
I can sing and dance with any man when I take to the floor,
But I curse the day they trampled on the hat Ned Kelly wore.

Chorus
It was made of rusty iron, and the finest ever known,
It was worn in 1880 at the hotel at Glenrowan,
And it terrified those troopers, who terrorized the poor,
‘Tis a relic of a hero, the hat Ned Kelly wore.

You can talk about your homburgs, your stiff brim panamas.
You may talk about your war caps all fine colours and bright stars.
You can search Strathbogie ranges, Timbuktu or Singapore,
But you’ll never find the equal of the hat Ned Kelly wore.

Chorus
It was made of rusty iron, and the finest ever known,
It was worn in 1880 at the hotel at Glenrowan,
And it terrified those troopers, who terrified the poor,
‘Tis a relic of a hero, the hat Ned Kelly wore.

If ever I return again, my native home to see,
I hope you’ll, in the old bush way, a welcome give to me,
With the songs about the Kelly gang to cheer me o’er and o’er,
And make me want to see again the hat Ned Kelly wore.

Chorus
It was made of rusty iron, and the finest ever known,
It was worn in 1880 at the hotel at Glenrowan,
And it terrified those troopers, who terrorized the poor,
‘Tis a relic of a hero, the hat Ned Kelly wore.