I wrote the words to a song for our local uke group, extolling the virtues of our location for holidays and retirement. The song is loosely based on "Toes" by Zac Brown
I will put the lyrics under the video, for those, most of you, I expect, that need a translation, because it is area specific.
Chorus:
I got my toes in the water, my towel on the sand
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
Life is good today... life is good to-day
Well I hopped in the car and left the big smoke (in this case Melbourne)
Leaving the work year behind
Days on the beach danced in my head
And I was still on that West Gate climb (West Gate Bridge is the main traffic exit to this side of the city)
I’ve looked forward to this, nothing will spoil it
You know I’m not going to ab-stain
Now I’ve crossed thru the Narrows, (an isthmus, through which you pass to get to Queenscliff)
I'm surrounded by water And I don’t want to go back a-gain
Repeat Chorus
Point Lonsdale & Queenscliff, I’m coming to play
And it’s the cappuccinos and glasses of vino,
the reasons that I want to stay
Oh Queenscliff and Lonnie, (Lonnie is a local name for Point Lonsdale)
I'm arriving to-day
Gonna lay in the hot sun, crack open another one,
and grab my ukulele and play
Gonna drink me some coffee Over at Lonnie
And look out over the Rip (The Rip is the opening from Bass Strait to Port Phillip Bay, and is the entry to the Port of Melbourne)
Then have a swim Down at the Nun’s beach. (A local bayside beach near Santa Casa, a spiritual retreat for the Sisters of Mercy)
Then next day’s a ferry day-trip (a ferry runs hourly to the other side of the bay entrance)
I want to dive out at Pope’s Eye, (Pope's Eye is a man-made, bluestone boulder, semi-circular construction sitting out in the mouth of Port Phillip Bay)
Eat a prize winning dog’s eye, (rhyming slang for meat pie)
In the arvo, a tour of the fort (Queenscliff is home to a Fort Queenscliff where the first allied shots in WW1 were fired as a German ship tried to leave the bay)
We’ll catch a squid off the pier, (a popular passtime here is jigging for squid)
Chase it down with a craft beer (and we have a local brewhouse)
This place is a top resort
Repeat Chorus
Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff,
Are you ready to sway?
On a train with a Blues band (a train called the Blues Train runs every saturday night with 4 carriages with a different band in each carriage - patrons swap carriages at intervals to hear them all)
and eat at the Vue Grand (historic guest house in the main street)
and check out the rockpools by day (low tide at the rip uncovers the rockpools)
Oh Queenscliff and Lonnie,
I’m arriving to-day
I’ll go down to the harbour,
see the boats for the couta (boats for catching the barracouta in past times, now a hobbyist pursuit)
I'll take my ukulele & play
The three weeks flew by, the curtain was drawing
The summer break came to an end Then I was back on the road
and over the bridge again As I bid fare-well to my friends
It’s a long time ‘til Christmas, but we still have the Easter break
I’m looking forward to that
Can’t wait til I’m older, I know I’m wishing my life away
But put out the welcome mat
Well time’s moved along, And I’ve pulled the pin
I can’t believe my luck
I’m staying forever, throw my ashes wherever
Long-as they stay in Short-land’s Bluff (original name for queenscliff at settlement)
I got my toes in the water, my towel on the sand
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
Life is good today... life is good to-day