My favourite of Eric's songs, even though it still brings a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat every time I hear it. Eric and I lived in the same street in Peebles but he was a few years older than me. I remember his mother Nancy very well which is probably why the song has such an effect on me
It is my mother Nancy's birthday today, she would have been 85. This song always has me sobbing. My mother was born in the Irish boarder town of Monaghan the year of partisan, died the year of the good Friday agreement. My Irish parents and us 6 kids lived in London in the mid 60's and like Eric we migrated to Australia. My grandmother and one of my Aunts came to the railway station as we boarded the train to take us to the airport to go to Australia for ever. It was a sad day and my mother cried buckets. Life was very busy in Australia for my mother as she had more children and never seemed to have time for herself. Letters from home became less and less and phone calls were expensive so rare. We had been in Australia for 10 or more years and one day my cousin came for a visit, he told my mother her mother had passed away about 18 months earlier. I don't think she ever got over the guilt, This beautiful song sung by a great poet, reminds me so much of that day, and of course my mother Nancy. Thank you Eric for your great understanding of the heartbreak of immigration.
i always remember reading a letter that my Gran sent to my dad, he had moved us to Auustralia, she wrote " i guess I will never see you again my Billy Boy" that has haunted me since I was about 10.. I am 62 and it still makes me cry.. II couldnt imagine never seeing my kids again
Left my family at 17 to join the Canadian Military and my Moum took me to catch the Bus and this song always reminds me of the awakard moments before the bus arrived. I loved her and my Dad very much rest in peace both I am doing well!!
Who else can be so blatant and stark and get away with it? Wishes were fishes, Reason for it all, Gift of years and Now i'm easy to name a few. No one. Everyone else has to be subtle about it but Eric is like... Fkn take this!
A brilliant songwriter/ singer. Saw him many times live. Once, in Euroa, l took my two girls to listen to this guy, and they were mesmerized. Definitely one of the best songwriters. Keep on going, Eric.
Simple tune Simple words. But stunning. I think of my mum, gone 10 years now, when I hear this song. Like Eric she emigrated but came back or I'd be American not Scottish.
I can never listen to that song without a tear coming to my eye,My friend Tony and I were on a trip in Germany, and to pass the time away, I tried to teach him to sing it,but to no avail,Tony died of cancer a few months after the trip, and I lost one of the best mates I ever had. (so thanks for the memory).
My mum was Nancy and what a special person she was. I remember when my kids both moved to New Zealand how hard I found it. I had what's app and messanger so I don't know how hard it must have been for you at the time!!! I am Ric Collin's sister and I love your music😀
Dallas Nyberg you are indeed blessed and enriched by his presence, maybe an Aussie on paper, but Eric Bogle is Scottish from the bottom o his feet tae the tap aw his heid, slange.
Wonderful music, strong message, great duo, thank you. When I first heard this I had not heard Eric's explanation of the "inspiration" for this song. I thought he was singing about a soldier going to fight in WW1. When I played the Stoneyfell Winery DVD version I realised he was emigrating , probably on the £10 passage scheme. When I then realised the strong emotions were generated by both acts it makes one wonder on the value of money and the possible sacrifice made in pursuit of it. Sorry about that. I'mm sorry I was not able to see/hear them live. What a powerful creation.
Glasgow Central Station was, in those pre-airflight days, a sea of grieving families, all convinced they were seeing each other for the last time. Nancy did fly to Oz a couple of times &, of course, Eric did a few tours of Scotland.
Never knew till this week that Nancy was my grandmother's friend. I shared a photo asking if anyone could tell me who the other person was. They came from the same area, and both moved to Peebles. I remember my Nan looking out her window and exclaiming Eric's home! I had no idea who Eric was. It would have been mid 70s. Eric now has a copy of the photograph, and everything makes sense. ❤
It's funny. He cant really sing at all, but at the same time, he can sing anything. He really carries a tune. Always loved this bloke! Been listening to him my whole life, and never lost interest, i am now almost 18! :)
Oh Eric... How do you sing them without breaking down? I sing in a small choir and would love to do "No Man's Land", but I know what would happen... Thank you for all the beautiful words and music. Phil (Bendigo VIC)
He hasn't retired but if you want to see him you'll have to go to Australia! He just isn't doing any more long-haul tours. But who knows? Perhaps he could be persuaded to come to the UK just once more!
reminds me of when i left ireland for new zealand ,all the little details' of avoidance .Now i,m back in ireland have sons mokopuna in nz ,it worked out well
So true about British partings. Mother has tough upper lip until the last second and the father with zero emotion. lol. Great song though. Thanks for posting :-)
how do I contact Eric im looking for a album he made for the A.M.S.W.U in the seventy's which was a song about public transport with the lyrics part of was the 20 past 4 doesn't run any more its now the quarter past 5 any 1 help out ???
This song was written by Eric Bogle when he emigrated to Australia in 1969. I very much doubt he was inspired to pen it on his arrival by a 12 year old Portuguese schoolboy. It has travelled the world since then and been sung by many people, from many countries, some more famous than Eric. It's not even that similar anyway.
My daughter my son myself and my brother all love this song❤️ My brother emigrated to Australia in the mid seventies . Our mother is also called Nancy. Such a song 🎶❤️🎶
