Fellow Diggers Side by Side

 

by Graham Dodsworth

mp3

This song was written specifically for a song writing competition created to inspire songs about the 'Monster Meeting' near Chewton in Victoria, a nineteenth century event that preceded and most likely inspired and encouraged the Eureka Stockade uprising and therefore perhaps the foundation stone of Australian independance. This song didn't even make the top twelve and so is quite noteworthy in it's 'lack of noteworthiness'.
I haven't sung it since recording this version for the competition. My intention (and perhaps the song's downfall) was to write it in the style of the era while attempting to ensure it could never be mistaken for a song that was written at the time of the event, now or at any time in the distant future (to avoid messing with history), - a delicate operation which I both succeeded and failed in pulling off.

   
   
  I put a fair bit of research and time into the song but haven't dealt with it much since. Although song writing competitions are designed to encourage song writing, they often have the opposing effect. At least one person is encouraged, the others, of which there are often quite a few, are not. However . . . just now after listening to my song again, I think the song has merit. Perhaps that's only because I wrote it.
Dodsworth-songsmith
This mp3 will most likely never be released

Graham Dodsworth - arrangement, vocal & guitar