From the recording Caught in the Middle
THE GARDEN SWING
Written by Aly Cook, Graham Bidstrup & Kay Bidstrup
Lead Vocal, Vocal Whistle & Acoustic Guitar - Aly Cook
Acoustic Guitar - Dean Ray
Violin - George Washingmachine
Percussion & Guitarlele - Buzz Bidstrup
Backing Vocal - Aly Cook, Kay Bidstrup & Buzz Bidstrup
This song is one that was inspired by a story told to me by a friend . From that story I created a version in my mind visually of a young couple in Ireland , in love and in poverty, who had a secret place by the sea. Together we wrote this traditional sounding song. Her boyfriend built a garden swing out of old branches lashed together and that swing was on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. They would take food and water there and cuddle together as they gazed out across the ocean. One day she stole a loaf of bread, as they were poor and hungry. Her intent was to take it to the Garden Swing, however, she was caught in the act and shipped to Australia as a convict. A few months later her boyfriend, broken hearted, broke the law purposefully so that he too would be shipped to Australia. They take a lifetime to find each other and finally marry in their later years. He then gathers branches from Gum Trees and builds her a Garden Swing in the Blue Mountains in Australia on a peak overlooking the bush. This is my version of a traditional bush ballad, but very Irish. The one thing I love about Australian Country music is the uniqueness of the Irish heritage that infiltrates the sound of the bush ballad...The sound of the early pioneers to the great southern land.