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Click Go the Shears : An Australian Ballad single work   poetry   "Out on the board the old shearer stands"
Alternative title: Click Go the Shears, Boys
Issue Details: First known date: 1954... 1954 Click Go the Shears : An Australian Ballad
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Notes

  • Textual variation between versions.
  • Ron Edwards is 'inclined to think it may date from the period 1910-20'. The Overlander Songbook p109.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

"The Bare Belled Ewe" : The Origin of "click Go the Shears" Mark Gregory , 2016 single work criticism
— Appears in: Quadrant , September vol. 60 no. 9 2016; (p. 98-100)
'Abstract: The shearers' song "Click Go the Shears" and the 1890 Tom Roberts painting Shearing the Rams have much in common. Despite their present-day acceptance as cultural icons it was not always the case, particularly for the Roberts painting.' (Publication abstract)
The Possible Range of Folk Narrative Clair Duncan , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australian Folklore , November no. 24 2009; (p. 225-230)
Click Go the Shears : The Making of an Australian Icon Keith McKenry , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australian Folklore , November no. 24 2009; (p. 52-71)
Click Go the Shears has become an iconic musical item. Yet its evolution is still associated with various persons/contexts - all still exerting pressure, making the tune one of the most loved, as well as one of the most teasing copyright issues, in the history of Australian music. (p. 52)
The Great Australian Folk Song That Wasn't Keith McKenry , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Quadrant , March vol. 53 no. 3 2009; (p. 30-36)
The article presents a history of the Australian folk song, "Click Go the Shears." The song is a parody of "Ring the Bell, Watchman," a Civil War-era song composed by American Henry Clay Work. Jack Moses, a bush poet, gave the text of the song to Catholic priest and folk song collector Percy Jones, in the early 1940s. According to the author, copyright claims to the song are in question. Work done by folk song collectors such as Burl Ives, John Meredith and Alfred Hill are also described.
The Great Australian Folk Song That Wasn't Keith McKenry , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Quadrant , March vol. 53 no. 3 2009; (p. 30-36)
The article presents a history of the Australian folk song, "Click Go the Shears." The song is a parody of "Ring the Bell, Watchman," a Civil War-era song composed by American Henry Clay Work. Jack Moses, a bush poet, gave the text of the song to Catholic priest and folk song collector Percy Jones, in the early 1940s. According to the author, copyright claims to the song are in question. Work done by folk song collectors such as Burl Ives, John Meredith and Alfred Hill are also described.
Click Go the Shears : The Making of an Australian Icon Keith McKenry , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australian Folklore , November no. 24 2009; (p. 52-71)
Click Go the Shears has become an iconic musical item. Yet its evolution is still associated with various persons/contexts - all still exerting pressure, making the tune one of the most loved, as well as one of the most teasing copyright issues, in the history of Australian music. (p. 52)
The Possible Range of Folk Narrative Clair Duncan , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australian Folklore , November no. 24 2009; (p. 225-230)
"The Bare Belled Ewe" : The Origin of "click Go the Shears" Mark Gregory , 2016 single work criticism
— Appears in: Quadrant , September vol. 60 no. 9 2016; (p. 98-100)
'Abstract: The shearers' song "Click Go the Shears" and the 1890 Tom Roberts painting Shearing the Rams have much in common. Despite their present-day acceptance as cultural icons it was not always the case, particularly for the Roberts painting.' (Publication abstract)
Last amended 9 Sep 2013 11:49:52
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