NZ FOLK SONG * Down The Hall on a Saturday Night

Peter Cape spent his 1930s childhood with his parents as they traveledthrough Northland
selling item from door to door, and he witnessed many of these back-country dances.


          G   C     G
  I got a new brown sports-coat,
          G   C            D
  I got a new pair of grey strides,
          G    C    G
  I got a real Kiwi haircut,
    D                               G     C G
  A bit off the top, an' short back and sides.

  Soon as I've tied up me guri,
  Soon as I've swept out the yard,
  Soon as I've hosed down me gumboots,
  I'll be living it high and hitting it hard.

  I'm gonna climb onto me tractor,
  Gonna belt 'er out of the gate,
 'Cause there's a hop on down at the hall,and
  She starts sharp somewhere 'bout 1/2 past 8.

  Look at the shielas cutting the supper
  Look at the kids sliding over the floor
  An' look at the great big bunch of jokers
  Hanging 'round the door.
 
  We've got the teacher to bash the pianna,
  And Joe from the store on the drums.
  We're as slick as the Orange* in Auckland
  For whooping things up and making them hum.

  I had a schottische with the tart from the butchers
  Got stuck for a waltz with the constable's wife
  Had a beer from the keg on the cream-truck
 And the cop had one too, you can bet your life

  Yeah, it's great being out with the jokers
  When the jokers are sparking and bright,
  And it's great giving cheek to the shielas
  Down the hall on Saturday night

The Orange

Paul Howarth writes (Sept 2000) that..

..the Orange Ballroom is still on Newton Road, Auckland, significantly at the opposite end of Newton Road to the Irish Society. It is not a commercial ballroom anymore but I think it can still be hired out for 'functions.'

And James McGee adds..

..the Orange Lodge Ballroom is on Newton Road, opposite St Benedict's Street and just a short walk from the PowerStation. I believe that following an increase in membership during Ulsters 'troubles' in the 70's, the building is now in use most nights, and no longer available for public use.

Down The Hall on Record

45s: Cape 1960,
Tarriers Three 1960s,
Merseymen 1960s,
LP and cassette: Cape 1975.
CD: When the Cat's Been Spayed 1990s