“Young Les Darcy”
Description
The singer notes that everyone wants to roam. One who falls victim to this is boxer Les Darcy, who wants "to fight at the Golden Gate." (He goes to the U.S. and died), leaving his family to mourn.
Notes
Les Darcy was an Australian boxer of whom great things were expected. He did not live long, and so his major bouts were few, but the Australians made him one of their great heroes. When he died in 1917, the Americans gave the cause of death as pneumonia; Australians claim he was poisoned.
Two songs about Darcy are found in the tradition; this one, more literary, has eight lines per stanza and begins "We all get a craving to roam, Far from home, o'er the foam...." The other, based on "Way Down in Tennessee," begins, "In Maitland cemet'ry (or "Way down in Tennessee") lies poor Les Darcy...." - RBW
Historical references
- May 24, 1917 - Death of Les Darcy in Memphis, Tennessee
Cross references
- cf. "Les Darcy" (plot, subject)
References
- Meredith/Anderson, pp. 75-76, "Young Les Darcy" (1 text, 1 tune)
- BI, MA075