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Buckley's Chance

from Been Away by The Kellaways

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about

Experiencing a total aversion to all fiction, the visual media and generally towards all matters of artistic and imaginative endeavour, the field was reduced to reading biography and history. The Middle Ages, Ireland, the Sub-continent and Australia became the focus. Out of this emerged the astonishing life of William Buckley. A man who had no chance of survival, not only did so, but thrived. He returned and lived a fairly long and unremarkable life back in colonial Victoria and later Tasmania. The degree to which his tale is history or exaggerated romance is disputed, but it’s true that relatively little was really learned from him about the secrets of living in harmony with Victoria’s first people (though a fair bit was recorded as a sort of quaint history).

Buckley is, of course, credited with being the source of that quintessential Australian saying ‘you’ve got Buckley’s and none’. However, even this is disputed. That’s what makes history interesting – everything can be disputed

lyrics

BUCKLEY'S CHANCE

I'll spin you a yarn, I swear that it's true
'Bout a man who lived as few others do, Buckley's chance
Transported from England for stealing some cloth
To Port Phillip Colony, slaving for broth, took his chance
Made a dash, into the bush
With some mates, they took to the bush

The food didn't last long, the others lost heart
Buckley said now then: it's clear we must part, Buckley's chance
He disappeared that day, not seen again
He must have starved, been speared or eaten, took his chance
Wanted to dance, but did he dance?
With new mates? Buckley's chance?

Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none,
Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none
He's got Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none
He's got Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none
He's got Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none

Over thirty years later, he walked into sight
Dressed as a Koori, but massive and white, Buckley's chance
He had lived there in peace, chose not to return
Preferred to stay silent, so little was learned, wasted chance
Buckley's chance, made 'em dance
Buckley's chance, yeah, took his chance

A failed supervisor and guide, he retired
To simpler pursuits, with silence required, Buckley's chance
He died in Tasmania, mainly seemed sad
Of life in the bush, so little was had, one more chance
Buckley's chance, mmm- made 'em dance
Buckley's chance, yeah, took his chance

Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none,
Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none
He's got Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none
He's got Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none
He's got Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none
Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none, Buckley's and none

credits

from Been Away, released June 1, 2006

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The Kellaways Melbourne, Australia

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