Over the last year I have put together an album, some old songs with Kate plus some new material. There are 17 songs on the album titled Dave Clark Australian Folk Singer..Travelling Man. My best wishes to Everyone. Dave Clark July 2025
Written 1972 when I left my teaching job to become a travelling folk performer. How the years have flown. I still live by the words of the song. Thanks to Derek Bruce Mandolin and Chico Czikowski on piano.
Written 2001 . on a trek in Himachal Pradesh, Northern India. Conversation with Hindus, Tibetans and fellow hikers. One song from my David in India album recorded at Barvia Studios Himachal . Kate sings with me. Do a Bollywood dance as you listen.
Written 2020. Ukulele to the fore, a special song for my kelpie. He has become a favourite at the Singing Gazebo concerts.
Written 1992 as part of as part of an exhibition The Shearers Dream. Probably the most sung song on the album. Lovely violin playing from Chris Rawlinson and piano Kate Townsend
Words Louis Esson (1879-1943) Born in Edinburgh Scotland and lived in Australia. I wrote the music in 2000. A sad, reflective poem that I put to music about the hard life of a shearers wife, Thanks to Andrew McNicol for N'goni playing...West African Harp.
Words John Neilson Senior. South Australian poet (1844-1922). Not sure where the tune came from but considered traditional and sung by many, Thanks Derek Bruce for voice and mandolin. Great last verse -
So Boss bring out the bottle and we'll wet the final flock
These shearers here may never meet again
Some may meet next season and some not even then
And some they will just vanish like the rain.
One of the great Australian Bushranger ballads. Not sure if Ben Hall was a good or bad guy but this song makes him a hero. Shot by police 5th May 1865 and his body was paraded through the Streets of Forbes, NSW.
A chance to sit by the bend on the river, make a cuppa, listen to the concertina and make some Johnny Cakes in the coals of the fire. A traditional Australian song as far as I know.
Words Harry Breaker Morant. Born Somerset England 1864. Came to Australia. Famous for horsemanship and poetry. North by West, one of my favourite pieces. Anyone who has travelled in the Australian bush will love the words. I put the tune to it. Morant was executed by the British in South Africa's Boar War 27th Feb 1902. It was a cover up and should never had happened. Thanks to Chris Rawlinson, violin, Philip Taylor, log whistle and Chico, piano.
Written 1972 in my final year of teaching on the West Cost of SA adjacent to the Nullarbor Plain. Recorded on the Rough and Ready Album in the '80s with Derek Bruce. Full of life and energy. How did we do it..a direct live to tape recording with minimum rehearsal. Brian Porter violin, Trev Warner banjo.
Written 1976 l I took pity on a stray cat from the Adelaide Hills. He moved in with us in the the city. He loved pinching food from my German Shepherd and became a hit in our tiny street, All the family join me on this song. It's become one of the favourites.
Written 1990 Ist verse -
I'm reflecting on my land
Trying to understand
The changes that have come and gone
The good and the bad the right and the wrong
Reflecting, just reflecting.
Written 2022 Possibly the most important song on the album. So all the words are here.
Cast your thoughts back 200 years in the state we now call South Australia. This song tells the story of the people who lived at the mouth of Australia's longest river..The Murray. Thank Andrew McNicol didgeridoo
Ramindjeri man by the Lake fishing net in hand
Women weaving, children playing members of the clan
Been this way since time began way back in history
These are the water people in the Lands of the Ngarrindjeri
Country gave them everything, spirit life was strong
Governed by the Tendi everyone belonged
An evil wind blew from the East to change their destiny
Life would never be the same in the Lands of the Ngarrindjeri
Small Pox spread like wild fire, the invasion had begun
The English Crown took possession land for everyone
No one owns this country we can take it for free
No respect for the water people in the Lands of the Ngarrindjeri
The land was cleared so quickly, sheep and wheat grew well
This heaven for the Ngarrindjeri it turned into hell
This proud race of people in their sacred country
Well they became homeless in the Lands of the ngarrindjeri
Everyone knows the story, it's been told a thousand times
But in this World of power there's one thing on my mind
Yes we have said sorry but there's so much to do you see
We must listen to the Elders in the Lands of the Ngarrindjeri
If we join with the Elders we'll find the stories never died
The rich culture of the Ngarrindjeri is very much alive
And as a white fella in Australia I would like to see
A shared future with the water people in the Lands of the Ngarrindjeri.
Kate played a mean piano to the song As Time Goes By while I sang the words. I will never forget it. My words say it all..
Love will never die
As Time Goes By.
Written 2024 Ist verse -
He was a man 80 years old
Hi wife had passed on love was so cold
Little did he know what was in store
When Love Came Knocking at the Door
Written as part of Save the Franklin Campaign. I am happy that this song is sung by many singers and has become part of the folk tradition. It has a beautiful chorus - everyone loves to sing
Roll on Wild Rivers down to the sea.
Roll on Wild Rivers for you and for me
Your beauty is special, your beauty is free
Roll on Wild Rivers down to the sea
The whole family sing this song including Kate. Remixed from ABC recording.
Best wishes to all.
Please buy my CD.
Dave Clark