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#56 PERCY MUMBULLA

by Peter Kearney

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NOTES on PERCY MUMBULLA the song and the man:
The song is my musical setting of words by Christine Smith. Christine's poem is a fine flight of words about Aboriginal elder Percy Mumbulla (1907-1991). Here is the opening paragraph of a piece she wrote about her friendship with Percy:

"Percy Mumbulla was an elder of the South Coast Aboriginal people. I was also told that he was a clever man of the tribe. He lived the culture as strongly as any Aboriginal person in a remote area of Australia, and his cultural life was lived even amidst the commercial developments of the South Coast, so close to Sydney. It was as if he lived in a parallel universe and the Western ways didn't touch him. He had a mystical consciousness which he delighted in sharing".

To read the full text of Christine's piece, visit the following page on my website and go the the 'Files for free download' section at the bottom of the page. LINK: peterkearneysongs.com.au/song-posts
*******

lyrics

PERCY MUMBULLA
Words: Christine Smith / Music: Peter Kearney

Percy Mumbulla, wee willie nie old man
Wee willie nie old man, Percy Mumbulla
Hit the sky now, hit the sky, Percy Mumbulla

Percy Mumbulla, wee willie nie old man
Spring in rejoicing celebrating being
Pulsate your murmerings from your mystical humming heart
How I love you, with the secret of the heart
that rejoices and laughs
We can dance together, you and I
Percy Mumbulla

Percy Mumbulla, wee willie nie old man
Wee willie nie old man, Percy Mumbulla
Hit the sky now, hit the sky, Percy Mumbulla

Wee willie nie old man alone in intimacy with the world
As you hum and echo the throb of life, Percy Mumbulla
You talk to yourself, you whisper
you mutter, you know, you sing
Percy Mumbulla, wee willie nie old man
Hit the sky now, hit the sky, Percy Mumbulla

You are full of the love
that makes this tired old world go spinning round
You are full of the love that makes this tired old world
Go spinning round and round and round
Percy Mumbulla

Percy Mumbulla, wee willie nie old man
Wee willie nie old man, Percy Mumbulla
Hit the sky now, hit the sky, Percy Mumbulla

“Hey! Old man are you mad”?
That’s what the young ones say
“Hey old man are you mad”? Percy Mumbulla
Mad? Yes mad with love and knowledge
Hidden deep in the land and felt in your heart old man
Yours is the smile of the master, Percy Mumbulla

Percy Mumbulla, wee willie nie old man
Wee willie nie old man, Percy Mumbulla
Hit the sky now, hit the sky, Percy Mumbulla

In your frailty, in your stature, with your white, white hair
You’re a whole world of beckoning holiness
You’re the message some call mad
But to sit a while with you is to touch a world of meaning
Listening to your random love-words
Your young heart murmuring

Percy Mumbulla, wee willie nie old man
Wee willie nie old man, Percy Mumbulla
Hit the sky now, hit the sky, Percy Mumbulla

Percy Mumbulla, wee willie nie old man
Wee willie nie old man, Percy Mumbulla
Hit the sky now, hit the sky, Percy Mumbulla
Hit the sky now, hit the sky, Percy Mumbulla

credits

released November 6, 2020
RELATED RESOURCES available through Peter's Online Store:
1. AUDIO-CD. A GIFT OF SONG. Contains Percy Mumbulla plus 14 other tracks. Available here: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/356137
2. CD-ROM. A GIFT OF SONG - Music, lyrics, chords, background notes etc for whole album, fifteen songs including 'Percy Mumbulla'. Available here: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/553819

RECORDING:
Recorded at the Little Portion Studio, Welby NSW.
Produced, engineered and mixed by Peter Kearney
Piano, bass & synthesized flute - KEVIN HUNT
Voice and guitar - Peter Kearney

COPYRIGHT © 2006 by Christine Smith and Peter Kearney.
This song is registered with One License, APRA and AMCOS.
Church and school licences through 'One License'.
E: info@onelicense.net

PHOTOGRAPH in track-image by John Wong.

PREVIOUS SONG-POSTS - See all songs posted so far: peterkearney.bandcamp.com

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Peter Kearney Mittagong, Australia

Peter Kearney is an Australian songwriter and singer. His early folk-hymns 'Fill My House' & 'The Beatitudes' are internationally known. He has written many other songs of justice and peace, songs for children, and a musical-narrative on St. Francis of Assisi. His published recordings include 153 original songs.

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