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SONG OF THE WETLANDS

by Maureen O'Brien

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helencummings
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helencummings All of Maureen’s albums are good because, although she flies under the radar she is an extraordinary talent and a beautiful human being as well. I have all her CD’s
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1.
In Love with a Magpie Goose 03:03
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many songs about love , on the wings of a dove just don’t make much sense at all For the wings on a dove are the size of a glove On love’s scale, that’s rather/a trifling small But a big bird I am, with a lengthy wing span I’m at home on a mighty blue spruce Or a Wollemi pine rare and strong suits me fine (I’ll) trade a dove for a Magpie Goose .......Chorus 1..... have feelings profuse So you may well deduce I’m in love with a Magpie Goose well these creatures, I’m told, mate for life, ‘til they’re old they’ve a wingspan 8 times of a dove And their love they express by a hug with their neck Their kisses are nibbles and pecks They’ll build a home of their own where they won’t be windblown for two maybe 4 or 5 more For protection and care, there is no better pair It’s the magpie goose I adore ........Chorus 2 ....Just don’t try to seduce me, no don’t be obtuse I’m in love with a Magpie Goose
2.
The Wetlands Rhapsody 04:56
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(begins with 4 bars of gentle breathing, over morning birdsong) PART A RISE , Greet the new day (and) RISE This Glor - ious Gift awaits your pres -sence, RISE RISE Greet the new day (and) RISE for every breath begins renewal ..... RISE PART B Play and sing Let the earth and let the air Ring with joy every day’s a new Begin- ning Begin again Because you can Dance and prance Take your best chance Enhance , romance the day and all Who share - it ..... with you, with you with you with you PART C (begins with slowed breathing for 4 bars) Hush Hush Hear the earth Hust Rest, restore, renew sweet and lo star-shine kis’d the earth Below giving thanks ....to the after glow Hush - Another day begins and ends and life revolves around again...... RISE. greet the new day and Rise Rise Rise
3.
Feathered Promenade 02:16
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Well here they come and there they go Struttin’ their stuff, heel to toe Tail feathers twitching so In the Feathered Promenade Steppin’ out to and fro’ A little feathered dos-ey do Waddling’, toddlin’ hey-de-ho In the Feathered Promenade Chorus 1.....Let’s assemble The ensemble Wing to wingtip ‘n Short to tall Slip-step here, two-step there Make a circle make a square Downy plumage everywhere It’s a Feathered Promenade Forward back, a reel and jig Step-swing, tinikling Bow and bob, it’s pardon me In the Feathered Promenade Chorus 2.....Such commotion, this rendezvous What a fracas, a hullabaloo Ducks ‘n geese ‘n swans are whooping Cygnets ducklings herons too Gathered in their tufted queue For the Feathered Promenade Huddlin’, puddlin’ muddlin’ dancin’ Clatterin’ chatterin’ doggerel Huggable lovable magical prancin’ It’s the Feathered Promenade Chorus 3.....Dancing all On the esplanade Cosmopolitan…Promenaaade TAG ….. It’s a flock-feast, at the quack-pond In the wetlands every day Don your feathers, and your pomade Join the Feathered Promenade ……..
4.
Nature's Waltz 03:35
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5.
Gettin' Along 03:25
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We’re gettin’ along, settling back and watching the passing throng Lock’d in our |own .micro- world, sharin’ a song and Gettin’ along It’s just you ‘n me ……along with a million winged refugee’s Escapin’ the world’s cruelty … livin’ free CHORUS; Our human counterparts Could learn a thing or five ‘bout getting’ on together to survive Cos here in the Wetlands every living creature has to rely on each other for stayin’ alive We’re getting’ along just great We know how to co-operate no need for greed. hate is a waste we just accommodate our mates Together we’re cool, ‘tho we ain’t nobody’s fool Some of us are other’s tasty fuel that’s something we learned about in school! BRIDGE: We’re rather partial to the skin we’re in We Depend on collaboration A shared community Is our reality We know how to do co-habitation We’re in one accord…….just living a day at a time No need for reward …..what can’t be undone can be ignored We’re teaching Nature’s Paradigm… ......... We think the Human way’s a crime… ……….We think the Wetland way’s sublime, ……..Why don’t you try it sometime
6.
The Creature Chorus 03:00
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There’s a party going on when the sun goes down But y’ ain’t gonna hear it anywhere around town There’s an orchestra playing , got their groove going on `they’re tuning up for a symphony of sound… Chorus 1: it’s the creature chorus they’re striking up the band no sound checking needed ….for the Music of the Land the chorus majors are the crickets on the ground they call the chime to make this magic sound cicadas in the trees invite us all to hum while the frogs on their logs are the cymbals and drums … Chorus 2: yeh it’s the creature chorus ‘n they’re dancin’ up a storm With their boogie boots on It’s the dickens of a swarm well the Creature Chorus plays every single night away from the city where the sky’s a pure delight just turn off the telly, close your eyes to hear ‘n breathe in the air so crisp clean and clear (because) The Creature Orchestra in perfect key Creates the perfect tune and it plays for free So when life becomes drab ‘n makes y’ feel down Head on out to creature country, get outta town! Chorus 3: ...Yeh, the creature chorus They’re performing every night No need to buy a ticket The price is just right feel the rhythm stirring Resounding ‘round the universe Every evening tis the heartbeat of the earth
7.
The Black Swan 02:36
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She is Weightless … on the surface calm, and Stately … in command observing her world… conveying an image of peaceful …….tranquility Claimed by some …. Yet owned by none Tho’ human boundaries ….she’ll yield to obey No chains confine …..her dauntless spirit Composed, reposed …..the essence of serenity Once labelled “the impossible bird” A Black Swan could never be true Yet here she is ….. she’s a survivor Defying the odds ….. like me, like you …………………..what lies … beneath the guise? ……………………perhaps a life of compromise? ……………….yet in her heart, her spirit soars …….beyond the skies (….beyond the skies) Tho’ she may seem….quite unperturbed A cloak she wears ….for confidence Below the surface …the black swan is swimming mak – ing her own way ….. she’s on her own path …. To live her own life …. This bird is free
8.
Rozzie the Mozzie 03:04
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She’s a big tough broad with a ferocious Rep She’s got a sting in her bite and a spring in her step She’ got a buzz like a drone goin’ off like a jet They call her Rozzi the Mozzi she's a femme soubrette HOOK: she’s Rozzi the Mozzi... A down-under aussie… Rozzi the Mozzi...Anyone’s a prey for the Hexham Gray She does an eagle-eyed scan through the swamp day ‘n night She’s thirsty for blood ‘n wants to share a love bite She ain’t too fussy where she does alight They call her Rozzi the Mozzi ..-..she’s no socialite (repeat the hook) CHORUS: She’d say she’s much maligned and Misunderstood [but] She’s the aggravating terror of the Neighbourhood ‘n try as you might you can’t evade That irritating Mama of the everglades She prowls for her victims and she prowls for her beau’s You can spray all your skin you can spray all your clothes From your head to your toes this big broad knows She’s Rozzi, she’ll give ya…. th’ Hexham Gray woes…(repeat the Hook) pre-dinner cocktails are Rozzi’s measure soakin up a skinful is her guilty pleasure she’ll dance around and tease you so you better take care I tell ya flirtin’ with Rozzi is a deadly affair (repeat the hook with alt line: she’s the queen of the wetlands cabaret)
9.
Bertl the Turtle 03:59
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Down by the pond it’s been a beautiful day, now all the pond’y critters have come out to play ‘n There’s this rather fetching fellow, he’s got all the cachet But Bertl the Turtle’s wants a fiance Bertl's got a buddy and they call him Flappin’ Jack They said he was a goose and they were right about that This goose-steppin’, feather-flappin’ buddy had a quack Guaranteed to be the loudest in the land Now Jack with his quack is the singer in the band ‘n Bertl croons a tune that’ll make the ladies swoon But it’s Gertl in her feathers that the audience demands When she’s dancing up her famous Saraband CHORUS: Well the Wetlands Supper Club, Speakeasy, Nightclub, Honky Tonk, Discotheque, ……Call it what you will It’s the nightspot, cabaret, the place to while your cares away Sip a little, woo a little, …..Get your thrill Bertl he is smitten, says “I want to make her mine!” I love the way she moves she’s sending shivers up my spine” But Gertl she’s a girl who’s playing very hard to get she says “A Turtle? Well … that’s where I draw the line” See Gertl ‘s got her eye on that buddy Flappin Jack She doesn’t want a fella with a home upon his back But Flappin Jack’s attracted to his buddy with the stack ….A love triangle… that’s a fact (REPEAT THE CHORUS) ..So Gertl says “here boys, you’ll have to duel for my hand” “I love a little woo-ing, a little bill and coo-ing “ “sweep me off my feet with a little hot canoodling” “carry me away to fairyland” Flappin’ Jack bristles and his feathers have been ruffled Bertl’s lost for words… his voice is barely muffled There’s quacking, there’s honking and assuredly no bonking While the band begins to play (REPEAT THE CHORUS) TAG:….slows Sad to say today, Gertl packed her bags and went Her passion for romancing has received a deadly dent Flappin’ Jack and Bertl have decided they’re content To be the harmonizing buddies in the Wetlands Band (REPEAT THE CHORUS X 2)
10.
Tadpoles Playing Tag 02:42
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11.
Nature's Waltz Instrumental (Bonus Track) 03:35
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about

SONG OF THE WETLANDS is an 11 track album and part of a commisioned Arts/Music project, based on the Hunter Wetlands. It is the inspiration for a Fibre Art exhibition opening in January in Newcastle, with some 26 local, national, and international artists exhibiting their work based on the music.
In this project I wanted to create music that depicted the vast diversity of wildlife contained in that setting, the symbiosis that exists, and the playful characteristics displayed. You can’t help but be transported into a lighter frame of mind and a more joyful sense of being when you spend time in nature.
In keeping with the organic nature of the Wetlands environment, I have tried to keep an organic feel and process to this production.
**9 original tracks + 1 collaborative work; Feathered Promenade see credits below + 1 bonus instrumental track

credits

released November 10, 2023

All original works except for Feathered Promenade - music by David Spira guitarist, lyrics by Maureen O'Brien. On the recording, music is played by Sydney duo "Cap In Hand" comprising David Spira on guitar and Nigel Walters on Octave/Cello Mandolin.
Other Participating musicians:
* Concertina - Julie Castles *Guitar and Drums - Zac Limon *Bass - Nigel Limon *guitar [Natures Waltz] - Steve Cowley *Mandolin - Rob Long
Primary Studio engineering: Robbie Long - Funky Lizard Studio

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Maureen O'Brien Newcastle, Australia

Novocastrian, award-winning songwriter, crossing multiple genres. Professional musician with 10 albums released and multiple singles recorded. New album due in December 2023.

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