I have been both a creative writer and a musician since infancy, following the many writers and musicians in my family before me. My first published story (a legend) was written when I was 11 years old, and was a prize-winner in the Sun Herald’s children’s pages. The legend was too short to show much skill, although it did demonstrate a facility with written expression and style, plus marked originality. My first documented musical composition was written on my 12th birthday, after receiving an organ as a birthday present. The composition, as I look back on it now, still astonishes me. I had had, at that time, no training in melodic composition or harmony. All I knew was how to read music (and therefore how to notate it), and that I heard harmonies in my head when I listened to melodies. The composition incorporated melody and chords, a change of time signature, a melodic mood shift, and two distinct motifs as well as a coda. With the benefit of a decade of theory training since, I can truly say that despite my lack of musical knowledge at the time there were no fundamental flaws in the piece.
My years of musical instruction – covering recorder, clarinet, flute, guitar, piano, voice and music theory – and my originality of style and expression have driven me to write many songs since. Some were merely new words to an older melody (eg. in my teens I penned a complete re-working of the words of the M*A*S*H theme, with a Christian flavour, for my local church youth group). Others were parodies (6 verses of “While Shepherds Washed Their Socks By Night”) or ballads (“The Ballad of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf”, showing my love for Harry Potter). Others were original songs of grief and pain arising out of my own inner struggles. Some, such as the aforementioned M*A*S*H theme song adaptation, were written by request to fit a particular occasion. In this current decade, much of my personal songwriting has been on themes of acceptance and reconciliation, particularly between faiths. My exploration of universal myths has been a journey all the way from the 11-year-old inventing a new legend to the something-year-old telling life melodies that I am now.
As you can see from browsing the songs listed below, I’ve written quite a few songs to order. If you have an occasion you’d like to celebrate in song, but don’t have a compositional bone in your body, I can write what you need. You might want a lullaby to sing to your newborn child, or a love song to sing to your partner, or a remembrance song for a memorial service. You might want a song that tells a story – of your life or your travels, perhaps – or a song that captures your emotions. You might want a song to inspire a community or action group. Whatever you’re looking for, I can listen to your journey and turn it into song.
Below are links to some of my own songs. They are copyrighted, and may be used with permission (licensed through APRA-AMCOS) except where otherwise specified. Click on the email links at the foot of each song page to request a lead sheet (melody, words and chords).
Two Great Journeys a song about the potential for enriched spirituality when we honour the intersection between indigenous spirituality and Christianity.
Fatal Paradigm A post-apocalyptic song looking back on the ’20s decade if we fail to address the climate emergency.
Family Treaty A song about the importance of passing down knowledge from generation to generation, and the relationship between knowledge and acknowledgement.
Christmas Itinerant (the nativity story, to the tune of ‘Waltzing Matilda’; ideal for community singing, as a bridge between church and secular audiences)
Dark Emu one part of a song cycle about indigenous constellations. The Emu constellation is seen in the darkness between the stars, rather than in the stars themselves.
Rolling Solo Women (exclusive to Rolling Solo members and functions)
Jingle Bells (additional verses) Because, you know, singing one verse over and over while you’re waiting for Santa to arrive gets pretty boring 🙂
Walk A Mile In My Shoes (I’m looking for an indigenous musician willing to collaborate with me on this one)
Outback Dreaming – a campfire melody
Song of Ceres – an autumn song
.
Protest chants – assorted. All public domain.
.
Comedic songs
The Slippery Slope – a C&W ballad for the ageing
Parodies, assorted
.
Poems, assorted
Dadirri Life Melodies 