'Seven Miles from Sydney and a Thousand Miles from Care'.
Photo credit John Darroch
Composed especially for Baritone Martin Cooke, this contemporary art song is suitable for either Baritone or Mezzo-Soprano voice ranges.
The song was premiered by Martin Cooke in association with composer/pianist
Margaret Brandman at a concert held in the Recital Hall East, at the Conservatorium of Music, Sydney University, in Sydney on the 3rd of September 2016. The DVD of this concert performance is now available.
Martin writes: 'Your songs are beautifully composed for a singer'.
CONCERT DVD including a performance of 'The Baragoola Sails to Manly' sung by Baritone Martin Cooke.
THE MUSIC OF MARGARET BRANDMAN SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2016 CONCERT VIDEO MMP 8101
The Baragoola Sails to Manly Lyrics by Margaret Brandman
Seven miles from Sydney,
A thousand miles from care.
The Manly ferry steaming,
Across the harbour, past the heads,
Looking out to the Tasman Sea,
That's where I want to be.
The wind and the waves rolling through the heads,
On a grey day,
With misty spray.
Then golden sunbeams light the way.
The Baragoola sails past Watson's Bay,
The children laughing soaked in spray.
Sailboats dancing on the bobbing waves,
As the Baragoola makes her way
Past Sydney's might heads,
And north to Manly pier.
Memories of my childhood flow,
Of sailing 'cross the harbour to my home.
Rolling, forging through the swell,
O'er the deep blue harbour water
That once was part of my life.
Dolphins swimming past Manly Cove,
Through the heads and out to sea.
The children diving from the pier,
Fetching coins and long lost keys.
Strolling down the Corso, to the beach,
On our way to Fairy Bower.
Picnic lunches, fish 'n chips
While watching surfers ride the waves.
Sea-gulls stealing bread from our hands,
While we are building castles in the sand.
Tanning in the golden summer sun,
Dipping in the cooling water,
Under bright Australian skies.
Now we are seven miles from Sydney,
Under dappled shade of the Norfolk Pines,
We are a thousand miles from care,
And the Baragoola steers southwards,
Past the tall ships in the lee,
Returning to Circular Quay.
