Songs at the Bar
Slim Dusty was not the first but certainly our most famous songwriter to include Aussie Pubs in his music.
Some artists write to pay homage to a particular Pub or an event that happened there. Some because the characters they talk about are well found in a front Bar. Some just because it works well in the lyrics.
What we enjoy are the songs that are claimed by more than one Pub. Lets hope the artists keep their secret. Makes for lusty bar debate.
If you can think of a song that mentions a Pub please let us know. There are probably hundreds but here is a start.
PUB WITH NO BEER
We reckon the king of Pub Songs. The Taylors Arms Pub is where Gordon Parsons either wrote the ditty or revamped a piece written by farmer Dan Sheahan. Recorded by Slim Dusty in 1957. Which Pub was it about? The Taylors Arms Story is that it refers to the time the cosmopolitan Hotel (Now the Taylors Arms "Pub with no beer") was cut off by floods and no beer could get through. The Lee's Hotel claims that it refers to the time that beer was rationed during the war and the American servicemen had drunk the bar dry the night before Dan Sheahan rode 20 miles to town for a beer at the Day Dawn Hotel in Ingham, now Lee's Hotel Ed - The claim by The Taylors Inn is that the song was actually written about their Pub. Slim in his book says its about the Day Dawn Hotel, Parsons who wrote the song from hearing a poem says the song is about Taylors Arms. So you could say that the poem which gave lyrics to the song was about one Pub from which a song was written about another. All good for the hot debate to continue and at one stage yes both Pubs had no beer. Heres a great article on it from a US magazine: Mountain Gazette |
DUNCAN
I love to have a beer with Duncan; Phot0 20/07/2007 submitted by Jon Graham, Many Thanks |
STAR HOTEL
Photo 2004, Jon Graham. Now Closed Written about the riot Wednesday the 19th September 1979. The riot was outside the hotel however Police entered the hotel to close down the music to quieten the street scenes which focused the attention around the Star and escelated it into a riot. Submitted By Glenn Ryan. Many Thanks |
DREAMWORLD
"The Breakfast Creek Hotel is up for sale Submitted By Glenn Ryan. Many Thanks |
ROARING DAYS
'Oh take me down to Young and Jackson's Also the home of Chloe our most famous Pub oil painting. Submitted By Glenn Ryan. Many Thanks |
THE GAME
Who's that on the telephone" And as the evening fell Submitted By Glenn Ryan. Many Thanks |
JIMMY SHARMANS' BOXERS
"For Jimmy Sharman's boxers Informed by Glenn from a source from the horses mouth that it was the First and Last at Circular Quay, Sydney. Well done. Submitted By Glenn Ryan. Many Thanks. |
JOE MAGUIRES PUB
photo Jopn Graham, many Thanks |
THREE RIVERS HOTEL
Aussie country song about the country Pub that Stan and his mates frequented whilst helping the Theiss brothers workforce build the long railway line between Townsville and Greenvale in northern Queensland. Also covered by Slim Dusty and recently released as part of a 3CD set. Located in Greenvale near Charters Towers |
PLAZA
I've been living at the Plaza Hotel Submitted By Glenn Ryan. Many Thanks |
ROMA
'I met her at the disco of the School of Arts Hotel' Submitted by Glenn Ryan Many Thanks |
MENINDEE
Burke and Wills camped at the hotel in 1860, prior to their ill-fated trip to Coopers Creek and the Gulf of Carpenteria. The Neil Murray song 'Menindee' makes mention of the Pub and Burke and Wills, with the line 'I'd much rather stay at Menindee with a cold beer sloshing down my throat'. Submitted by Glenn Ryan Many Thanks. Photo Glenn Ryan |
Diesel and Dust
The old cottage from the Album cover. Not a Pub but a nice piece of Australiana. Photo 06/04/2008 |
God drinks at the Sando
Hi John, Lyrics: "'Cause God drinks down at the Sandringham these days It refers to both the Sandringham Hotel, Newtown, and the Coopers Hotel (formerly the Shakespeare) - Caroline Duncan. Pic Sando Hotel |
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