“Stringybark and Greenhide”
Description
"I sing of a commodity, it's one that will not fail yer,.. the mainstay of Australia... Stringybark and greenhide can beat [gold] all to pieces." Greenhide can hold carts together; stringybark strengthens homes; the singer praises these useful products
Notes
Andrew and Nancy Learmonth _Encyclopedia of Australia_2nd edition, Warne & Co, 1973, describes stringybark as an informal name for several species of eucalyptus, the name being given because the bark "peels off in long fibrous strips."
Allthough the song presents itself as a praise of stringybark and greenhide, Patterson/Fahey/Seal see it more as a toast to the abilities of Australians to improvise, and I incline to agree. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. 'Stringybark" (subject)
References
- Paterson/Fahey/Seal, pp. 157-159, "Stringybark and Greenhide" (1 text plus a fragment)
- Roud #8400
- BI, PFS157