Eric Bogle

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Biography

Eric Bogle Order of Australia|AM (born 23 September 1944, Peebles , Scotland ) is a Folk music|folk singer-songwriter . He emigrated to Australia in 1969 and currently resides near Adelaide , South Australia . On 25 January 1987, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his work as a singer-songwriter. In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association|Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) , as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named his song, " And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda ", as one of the APRA Top 30 Australian songs|Top 30 Australian songs of all time.

Early years

Eric Bogle was born on 23 September 1944 in Peebles , Scotland. His father was a woodcutter who played bagpipes . Bogle started writing poetry when he was eight-years-old. After attending school until 16-years-old, Bogle worked in various trades: labourer, clerk and barman. In 1969, Bogle emigrated to Australia and initially lived in the capital, Canberra , where he worked as an accountant. He had an interest in politics and by 1980 had moved to Queensland before settling in Adelaide.

Career

Eric Bogle taught himself to play guitar and joined a skiffle and rock band. He was the leader of Eric and the Informers in Scotland. His early influences were Lonnie Donegan , Elvis Presley and Ewan MacColl . He turned to folk music prior to emigrating to Australia – his first written songs concerned his parents. When living in Canberra he joined the local folk music scene and performed occasionally.

Several of his most famous songs tell of the futility or loss of war. Prominent among these is " And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda ", written in 1971. The lyrics tell of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) experience fighting in the Battle of Gallipoli . It has also been interpreted as a reaction to the Vietnam War . Another of his best-known songs, " No Man's Land (Eric Bogle song)|No Man's Land ", is also World War I-themed. This song is commonly known as "The Green Fields of France", a title it was first given by The Fureys , and which has subsequently been used in many further cover version s. The song refers to the traditional Scottish song " Flowers of the Forest " being played over the grave of a World War I soldier. This song has been remade by Alec Beaton (with a Scottish soldier from "The Water is Wide"), Plethyn ("Gwaed ar eu Dwylo" (Blood on their Hands), sung in Welsh language|Welsh from "Blas y Pridd"), and Hannes Wader ("Es ist an der Zeit" (It is the Time)). American folk singer Charlie Zahm also has a version on his album Festival Favorites , as does American Folk Singer Robert Marr on his 2011 album "Celticism".

Another notable song on a similar theme, but with a more contemporary setting, is the The Troubles|Troubles -inspired "My Youngest Son Came Home Today", with its tale of a young man killed during factional fighting in Northern Ireland . Notably, the song does not take sides in the conflict; it does not mention whether the title character is Irish people|Irish or British people|British .

Bogle's songs cover a wide range of subjects and themes, including comedic songs ("The Aussie Barbecue|Bar-B-Q "), satire s ("I Hate Wogs") protest song s and serious songs about the human condition such as "Now I'm Easy". His song "Safe in the Harbour" is an homage to Stan Rogers . "Katie and the Dreamtime Land" is a tribute to American folk singer Kate Wolf , who died from leukaemia in 1986. Other well-known songs, with lighter subject matter, include two homages to departed pets, "Little Gomez" and "Nobody's Moggy Now" and an acknowledgment of his folk music fans with "Do You Sing Any Dylan? ".

Touring

Bogle has undertaken an extensive concert tour of the UK (sometimes including dates in Europe as well), every three years since 1985. These tours have usually included a supporting cast of Australian-based singers and musicians, most regularly John Munro (musician)|John Munro and Brent Millar . Bogle said that his 2009 tour, with John Munro, would be his last. This featured a Saturday Night Special on 27 June with Martyn Wyndham-Read, Johnny Collins and Les Sullivan in Watford , the only London venue.

Bogle was a prominent artist at the National Folk Festival (Australia)|National Folk Festival in Canberra over Easter 2011.

Tributes

On 25 January 1987, Eric Bogle was appointed a Order of Australia|Member of the Order of Australia , "In recognition of service to the performing arts as a song writer and singer".

Many of Bogle's songs have been covered by other artists; including John Schumann , June Tabor , The Men They Couldn't Hang , The Clancy Brothers , The Dubliners , John McDermott (singer)|John McDermott , Liam Clancy , Mike Harding , The Pogues , Robert Lawrence (folk singer)|Robert Lawrence , De Dannan , Dropkick Murphys , The Corries , Billy Bragg , The Bushwackers (band)|The Bushwackers , Slim Dusty and John Williamson (singer)|John Williamson . In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association|Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) , as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named his song, " And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda ", as one of the APRA Top 30 Australian songs|Top 30 Australian songs of all time.

In 2000 a five CD collection was released called Singing The Spirit Home . His first and only live performance DVD was released in May 2009.

Notes

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1. The Men They Couldn't Hang 2. Waltzing Matilda) 3. Clancy Brothers 4. Hannes Wader 5. Kate Wolf 6. Pogues

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