The Yarra Song
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The Yarra Song
Last night I went to the Forum to see Billy Bragg live for the first time. I’m mostly familiar with his first three albums, but last night he mainly played material from the next three after the first three of his back catalogue. Anyway, during his encore, Billy played a song I’d never heard before called the Yarra Song, in which it was revealed to me in the lyrics that even though he is a dyed-in-the-wool West Ham United fan, he is also a Sainter.
Gotta say, this was a bit of a palate cleanser after Ed Sheeran made his surprise appearance at Moorabbin recently
Sorry, I probably should dis Ed Sheeran. He’s just not my cup of tea haha
But anyway, here are the lyrics to Billy’s song, if you don’t care to hear the song, or whatever:
There's a chill tonight on the Yarra
Winter is creeping in
While far away my loved ones
Wake up in England's spring
And although delights await me
All the way to Flinders Street
It's that little piece of heaven
With which they must compete
When The Saints take on The Magpies
Someday too far away
I barrack for St. Kilda
In that funny game they play
But my heart's not really in it
My mind wanders to a town
Where The Hammers sing "I'm forever blowing bubbles"
And the rain comes pouring down
Yes, it's still raining in England
Guess that's why I like it here
There's a brolly in my hotel room
For when the skies aren't clear
'Cos it never rains in Sydney
And it never rains in Perth
Adelaide's a desert
And Brisbane's just scorched earth
So excuse me please such days as there
And send me to the town
Where the children sing when St. Kilda win
And the rain comes falling down
So wake me up tomorrow
And send me home again
To where The Hammers sing "I'm forever blowing bubbles"
In the pouring London rain
Gotta say, this was a bit of a palate cleanser after Ed Sheeran made his surprise appearance at Moorabbin recently
Sorry, I probably should dis Ed Sheeran. He’s just not my cup of tea haha
But anyway, here are the lyrics to Billy’s song, if you don’t care to hear the song, or whatever:
There's a chill tonight on the Yarra
Winter is creeping in
While far away my loved ones
Wake up in England's spring
And although delights await me
All the way to Flinders Street
It's that little piece of heaven
With which they must compete
When The Saints take on The Magpies
Someday too far away
I barrack for St. Kilda
In that funny game they play
But my heart's not really in it
My mind wanders to a town
Where The Hammers sing "I'm forever blowing bubbles"
And the rain comes pouring down
Yes, it's still raining in England
Guess that's why I like it here
There's a brolly in my hotel room
For when the skies aren't clear
'Cos it never rains in Sydney
And it never rains in Perth
Adelaide's a desert
And Brisbane's just scorched earth
So excuse me please such days as there
And send me to the town
Where the children sing when St. Kilda win
And the rain comes falling down
So wake me up tomorrow
And send me home again
To where The Hammers sing "I'm forever blowing bubbles"
In the pouring London rain
Curb your enthusiasm - you’re a St.Kilda supporter!!
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Re: The Yarra Song
1. Never heard of Billy Bragg.
2. Like Ed Sheeran even if he doesn't have your usual rock star looks.
3. Hate f****** England. Deserted us twice.
2. Like Ed Sheeran even if he doesn't have your usual rock star looks.
3. Hate f****** England. Deserted us twice.
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- Saintsational Legend
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Re: The Yarra Song
Great find Sainternist - Billy Brag any day over that Sheeran person. After hearing about him on this site the other week, I listened to a couple of his songs - struth he’s beige. I guess if Sheeran gives the Saints a bit of publicity he ain’t all that bad eh as a person?Sainternist wrote: ↑Sat 18 Mar 2023 1:01pm Last night I went to the Forum to see Billy Bragg live for the first time. I’m mostly familiar with his first three albums, but last night he mainly played material from the next three after the first three of his back catalogue. Anyway, during his encore, Billy played a song I’d never heard before called the Yarra Song, in which it was revealed to me in the lyrics that even though he is a dyed-in-the-wool West Ham United fan, he is also a Sainter.
Gotta say, this was a bit of a palate cleanser after Ed Sheeran made his surprise appearance at Moorabbin recently
Sorry, I probably should dis Ed Sheeran. He’s just not my cup of tea haha
But anyway, here are the lyrics to Billy’s song, if you don’t care to hear the song, or whatever:
There's a chill tonight on the Yarra
Winter is creeping in
While far away my loved ones
Wake up in England's spring
And although delights await me
All the way to Flinders Street
It's that little piece of heaven
With which they must compete
When The Saints take on The Magpies
Someday too far away
I barrack for St. Kilda
In that funny game they play
But my heart's not really in it
My mind wanders to a town
Where The Hammers sing "I'm forever blowing bubbles"
And the rain comes pouring down
Yes, it's still raining in England
Guess that's why I like it here
There's a brolly in my hotel room
For when the skies aren't clear
'Cos it never rains in Sydney
And it never rains in Perth
Adelaide's a desert
And Brisbane's just scorched earth
So excuse me please such days as there
And send me to the town
Where the children sing when St. Kilda win
And the rain comes falling down
So wake me up tomorrow
And send me home again
To where The Hammers sing "I'm forever blowing bubbles"
In the pouring London rain
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Re: The Yarra Song
Glad you enjoyed Billy’s song, Loris!loris wrote: ↑Sat 18 Mar 2023 5:35pm
Great find Sainternist - Billy Brag any day over that Sheeran person. After hearing about him on this site the other week, I listened to a couple of his songs - struth he’s beige. I guess if Sheeran gives the Saints a bit of publicity he ain’t all that bad eh as a person?
Yes, I really shouldn’t bemoan Ed Sheeran’s patronage of the club when his intentions are obviously good. In an ideal world we could all enjoy his music, but as long as he makes his fans happy, that’s what matters.
Curb your enthusiasm - you’re a St.Kilda supporter!!
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Re: The Yarra Song
Billy Bragg is an example of what is good from England; and perhaps we can say that about Ed Sheeran, as well.
Curb your enthusiasm - you’re a St.Kilda supporter!!
- shanegrambeau
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Re: The Yarra Song
The Japanese fandom for St Kilda is out of control.
In the version with lyrics, it is based on Max King.
They sing, (to the sound of 'how I want to be with St kilda) 'Minna de dekakeyou! Mr Max, Mr Max Mr Max' (Which means 'let's go out to, let's go to Mr. Max, which was pretty much the plan in '21 and '22)
Check it out
It is DEEP soul.
In the version with lyrics, it is based on Max King.
They sing, (to the sound of 'how I want to be with St kilda) 'Minna de dekakeyou! Mr Max, Mr Max Mr Max' (Which means 'let's go out to, let's go to Mr. Max, which was pretty much the plan in '21 and '22)
Check it out
It is DEEP soul.
You're quite brilliant Shane, yeah..terrific!
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Re: The Yarra Song
I didn't say I hated Billy, only his country ffs. Until the above post I had never heard of him. If he barracks for the saints I might warm to him.Sainternist wrote: ↑Sat 18 Mar 2023 10:48pmBilly Bragg is an example of what is good from England; and perhaps we can say that about Ed Sheeran, as well.
Last edited by saynta on Sun 19 Mar 2023 2:30pm, edited 1 time in total.
- shanegrambeau
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Re: The Yarra Song
I actually saw Bragg at the Forum in 1988 or '89. Fair dinkum true story.
I see Bragg as a St Kilda type, for sure. Or Bulldogs.
I see Bragg as a St Kilda type, for sure. Or Bulldogs.
You're quite brilliant Shane, yeah..terrific!
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Re: The Yarra Song
Sure did Sainternist, BB is the English version of Woody Guthrie. I can recall Billy once saying that Woody Guthrie was his greatest influence.Sainternist wrote: ↑Sat 18 Mar 2023 10:41pmloris wrote: ↑Sat 18 Mar 2023 5:35pm
Great find Sainternist - Billy Brag any day over that Sheeran person. After hearing about him on this site the other week, I listened to a couple of his songs - struth he’s beige. I guess if Sheeran gives the Saints a bit of publicity he ain’t all that bad eh as a person?
Glad you enjoyed Billy’s song, Loris!
My favourite version of a Woody Guthrie song sung by Billy Brag is, ‘When the Roses Bloom Again’, can always leave me with moist eyes, especially if I’m strolling through some military grave sites.
I was at a concert in London in 2018. It was an Anzac memorial concert, I happened to be seated next to Derryn Hinch ( it’s just the way the tickets fell on the night as I didn’t personally know Derryn Hinch). We got chatting and found we had some mutual acquaintances back home in Aus. At the end of the concert, he extended an invitation to me to join him at the official after concert function etc.
I declined Hinch’s invite as I was meeting friends after the concert at a different venue.
As I was making my way out of the hall I noticed Derryn Hinch walk up to Billy Brag & give him a big bear hug, they obviously knew each other quite well. Billy B walked into the official function with Hinch. I was cursing myself for knocking Hinch’s invite back. I could have met Billy Brag, I’m sure my friends would have forgiven me if I’d stood them up!!
- Bernard Shakey
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Re: The Yarra Song
Loris, I,m sure you know Billy Bragg loved Woody so much that he and Jeff Tweedy from Wilco, wrote music to many of Woody's lyrics that he had not recorded. Billy was asked to do this by Woody's daughter Nora.loris wrote: ↑Sun 19 Mar 2023 1:39pm
Sure did Sainternist, BB is the English version of Woody Guthrie. I can recall Billy once saying that Woody Guthrie was his greatest influence.
My favourite version of a Woody Guthrie song sung by Billy Brag is, ‘When the Roses Bloom Again’, can always leave me with moist eyes, especially if I’m strolling through some military grave sites.
I was at a concert in London in 2018. It was an Anzac memorial concert, I happened to be seated next to Derryn Hinch ( it’s just the way the tickets fell on the night as I didn’t personally know Derryn Hinch). We got chatting and found we had some mutual acquaintances back home in Aus. At the end of the concert, he extended an invitation to me to join him at the official after concert function etc.
I declined Hinch’s invite as I was meeting friends after the concert at a different venue.
As I was making my way out of the hall I noticed Derryn Hinch walk up to Billy Brag & give him a big bear hug, they obviously knew each other quite well. Billy B walked into the official function with Hinch. I was cursing myself for knocking Hinch’s invite back. I could have met Billy Brag, I’m sure my friends would have forgiven me if I’d stood them up!!
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- desertsaint
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Re: The Yarra Song
they'll still be playing billy bragg songs long after we've all forgotten the likes of sheeran and his bland commercial muzak.
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Re: The Yarra Song
They will still be playing Elvis long after Braggs and Sheeran are dead and buried along with their forgettable music.desertsaint wrote: ↑Sun 19 Mar 2023 3:37pm they'll still be playing billy bragg songs long after we've all forgotten the likes of sheeran and his bland commercial muzak.