Produced by Blue Trumpet for Radio 2RRR, Jove’s Pearls is a collection of verse 'chiefly in the Australian vernacular' by Jovial Mark ... painter, poet, dilettante, and ratbag, hailing from the deep south of South Australia...
The poem...
Sir Sydney Kid was a poddy dodging man
Evil twister, rotten to the core
From Oodnadatta to the Todd river sands
Hang the bastard, hang him high
Sir Sydney Kid worked his stockmen hard
Evil twister, rotten to the core
They toiled for the smell of an oil rag
Hang the bastard, hang him high
Sir Sydney Kid owed Joey Martyr money
Evil twister, rotten to the core
Refused to pay up, the welshing mongrel
Hang the bastard, hang him high
Sir Sydney Kid treated farmers like dirt
Evil twister, rotten to the core
Waited for a drought, then bought ‘em out
Hang the bastard, hang him high
Sir Sydney Kid was a pious fraud
Evil twister, rotten to the core
Made church donations, but thought he was Lord
Hang the bastard, hang him high
Sir Sydney Kid will burn in hell
Evil twister, rotten to the core
And all the dead bushmen can wish him well
Hang the bastard, hang him high
Notes...
'Sir Sidney Kidman (9 May 1857 – 2 September 1935) was an Australian pastoralist who owned or co-owned large areas of land in Australia in his lifetime.' Source: Wikipedia.
Music...
Music featured in the poem comes from 'Black & Blue' by Chain, 1971.
Credits...
Produced by Blue Trumpet for Radio 2RRR
Original verse by Jovial Mark
Adapted for radio by James Benn
With special thanks to Johnny Boxer
Poems interpreted by…
- Johnny Boxer
- James Benn
Introductions and credits by Amie Maguire