Many years ago, at least thirty, I heard the actor, Peter O'Shaughnessy, recite the following piece of convict poetry. I was fascinated with the idea, the humour and the fact that it was written by Frank Macnamara. Macnamara was known as 'Frank the Poet' and he was quite likely the author of 'Bold Jack Donahue'. I eventually went on to script and produce a 16 part series for ABC radio called 'The Great Australian Legend', and Peter and the late Declan Affley became the main voices in telling those epic tales. Peter now lives in England and I regularly correspond with him and this piece is still in his repertoire and still a popular piece. I have recently added it to my own repertoire and find it quite thrilling to recite. It has been difficult to locate so I am including it on this site for easy access. The late John Meredith wrote a detailed history of Frank Macnamara that is well worth chasing up.
The Convict's Tour of Hell
By Frank The Poet (Frank Macnamara)
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The Political Songster
1790,
Birmingham.6th edition.
Published J. Freeth
I was digging around in chapbooks and songsters published in Britain at the time of the commencement of transportation when I found this rare hardcover book with two songs that tell of the transportation program. I had not seen these two ballads previously. [FM4/8189]
The Convicts Departure
(Tune: Early One Morning A Jolly Brisk Tar)
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Botany Bay
(Tune: A Cobbler There Was)
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This next song comes from a photocopy held by the Melbourne Argus, dated 19th August 1950.
Ron Edwards published this with his own musical setting however a tune is specified in the library copy. The thing that really jumped out at me when typing up this song was the last verse which, obviously, A L Lloyd has reworked to use as a chorus in his re-fashioning of 'The Morning of The Fray', a song about Frank Gardiner and based on the bushranger's own poem. I have included Lloyd's chorus as a comparison.
Bushranger Jack Power
(Tune: Erin Go Bragh)
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