“Oxeborough Banks (Maids of Australia)”

Description

The singer settles under a tree to watch the girls bathe. One catches his eye -- and he hers. She calls him to rescue her from sinking. (He then "entered the bush of Australia.") Nine months later she bears a son whose dad "nowhere could be found"

Notes

The Hawkesbury River reaches the sea north of Sydney at Broken Bay, NSW. - PJS

Recordings

• Harry Cox, "The Maid of Australia" (on FSB2, FSB2CD)
• Unidentified Mississippi singers "The Fair Maids of Australia" (AFS 15014 A3, 1930s)

References

1. Fahey-Eureka, pp. 44-45, "Maids of Australia" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Paterson/Fahey/Seal, pp. 269-270, "Maids of Australia" (1 text)
3. Peacock, pp. 276-277, "The Gay Maid of Australia" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Kennedy 183, "The Maid of Australia" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Logsdon 27, pp. 163-166, "The Banks of My Native Australia" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Roud #1872
7. BI, FaE044