Die Trein – Richard Black (Next Stop Maatjiesfontien)
Richard Black - Skadu Dans
Not only was Richard Black involved with McCully Workshop, he was involved when they recorded one of their seminal anthems, ‘The Buccaneer‘. Not a bad thing to put on your Rock CV. However, given that the Workshop isn’t always open, Richard needed to find other ways of letting off some musical steam.
In 1999, he released a solo album ‘Skadu Dans’ (Shadow Dance) which was influenced by the 50’s guitar bands like the Ventures and The Shadows and on it, we hear Richard laying down some fine guitar licks. Die Trein is one of the tracks (yeah, I know that sounds weird) on the album and bounces along in a relaxing manner with just a hint of the, clickety-clack rhythm of a train rattling along.
It may not rock in quite the same way that McCully Workshop did, but it has its own rock and roll rhythm. Also, it’s always good to hear an instrumental track in Afrikaans.
Tully McCully is an relatively unsung hero of South African music. Apart from his work with McCully Workshop, his name appears on numerous South African records sleeves as producer or writer. His Spaced Out Studios are also a popular place for South African music to be recorded.
In 1965 Tully and his brother Mike formed the Blue Three with Richard Hyman. A few name and personnel changes later and McCully Workshop was born. They enjoyed a lot of success and critical acclaim. Then in 1977, they released the album ‘Workshop Revisited’ which featured ‘Buccaneer’ a song about pirates, hidden treasures, yardarms and
betrayal. The song quickly climbed to the top of the South African charts and not surprising as it is a great rock track, complete with sing-a-long chorus and imagery that had most school boys swashbuckling with air guitars up and down the country.
The song made its way into the psyche of the country and has remained a firm favourite for many. If you can find it, there is a cover version by a group called Moyawetu. Also look out for the harder edged re-recorded 1988 version featuring Jethro Butow on guitar.
Where to find it:
The Best Of McCully Workshop – McCully Workshop, (2005, re-issued 2010) Fresh Music, Freshcd177 Buccaneer (1998 re-recording) – McCully Workshop (1998) Micmac Sound, MS001 Live! (2008 live version) – McCully Workshop (2008) McCully Music SA Rock Gold (3cD set) – Various Artists (2010) Universal, TUMGCD100
Lyrics:
Sixteen men on a dead man’s chest
Will I see you tomorrow
Sixteen men and I’ll see the rest
I won’t beg, steal or borrow
I won’t beg, steal or borrow
Well we sailed into the beach
And we were just out of reach
Of the forty-second squadron
When I heard the captain screech
Get down on the sand
Don’t you waste no time
‘Cause we gotta get that gold inside
Before it turns after nine
And the Buccaneer said I’ll see you dead
I’ll see you swinging from the yard arm
The buccaneer sang in a nasal twang
There’s enough gold here to start on
There’s enough gold to get high on
Well the Captain he’d been told
Where they hid away the gold
And he told us to go dig it up
So that he could get it sold
But somebody had taken it
Before his very eyes
And he turned around and looked at me
And much to my surprise
And the Buccaneer said I’ll see you dead
I’ll see you swinging from the yard arm
The buccaneer sang in a nasal twang
There’s enough gold here to start on
There’s enough gold to get high on
Save me! Whoa, oh, oh, save me
Save me from
The Buccaneer
Save me! Whoa, oh, oh, save me
Save me from
The Buccaneer
Well I had to get away
So I swam into the bay
And I could hear him coming up
And I could hear him say
When I get hold of you
You won’t even cry
Cause I’ll string you from the yardarm
And all you’ll do is die
Well they got me on the deck
Put the rope around my neck
And I could feel the sweat break out
And I could feel it stick
But the Royal Navy frigate came
And rescued me at last
She put one across the bow
And fired one into the mast
And the Buccaneer said I’ll see you dead
I’ll see you swinging from the yard arm
The buccaneer sang in a nasal twang
There’s enough gold here to start on
There’s enough gold to get high on
And the Buccaneer said I’ll see you dead
I’ll see you swinging from the yard arm
The buccaneer sang in a nasal twang
There’s enough gold here to start on
There’s enough gold to get high on
