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The Glasgow Shipbuilder
by Wayne Millar This was the first tune that I ever wrote. I have some connections to the Glasgow shipbuilding industry and by coincidence I found out that my grandfather also worked there. I never knew him, but he inspired this tune. Continue reading
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Gabi’s Tune
by Kathleen Clarke I wrote this tune for a friend of mine who died suddenly and unexpectedly. It was a complete shock, and writing this tune helped me deal with the grief. Continue reading
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Holviken Waltz
by Lisa Christensen I was getting in Scandi tunes and just wanted to play something that sounded a little bit Swedish. At the same time I was dealing with a broken sink at home; it was from the Ikea Holuken range. Continue reading
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Easter Mourning
by Lisa Christensen Back in 1999, I was here in Canberra at the festival when I got a call that my Mum had had an aneurysm. I had to quickly pack up and head home to Melbourne and this tune was inspired by those events. Continue reading
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Born to Play
by Allye Sinclair Composed in 2023. Violin and Cello Duet Version Continue reading
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Stuck by the Road
by Jeremiah Rose Composed in 2016. Lyrics Verse 1 One morning when my car broke down Stuck by the road And the sun it shone like gold and ochre I had nothing to do for three sweet hours Apart from listen to the sound Of the sheep and of the cows And I wish that… Continue reading
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Shackled
by Ruth Hazleton This song was written for Nûdem Durak, a Kurdish musician sentenced to nineteen years’ imprisonment in Turkey for teaching young people traditional song and dance. The song also references the feminist Kurdish female fighters of the Yekîneyên Parastina Jin (YPJ) who play a fundamental role in military operations in the region. Durak… Continue reading
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The Rains
by Marcus Bornstein Composed in 2018. Lyrics Verse 1 Won’t you tell me, if or when we’ll ever see those rains again. I’ll wait for you at the main bus station with a coffee cup full of patience I’d sing to you and ease your worries I’d stick with you like sweet sweet honey You’d… Continue reading
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Norfolk Pines
by Niall Trainor A song about a young man migrating to a coastal town called Port Fairy in Victoria. Originally performed in Ab with a capo on the 1st fret. Composed in 2021. Lyrics Verse 1 Roving trail carved by you Winter is gone and the flowers start to bloom Well I’ve go a Jon on… Continue reading
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Later on in Life Love
by Marni Sheehan Many couples get together after previous marriages and divorce. This song paints an optimistic picture. Composed in 2005. Lyrics Verse 1 We got together. What a classic You were cretaceous and I’m Jurassic We got another chance, later on in life romance On the weekend, in the camper Snuggled up drinkin’ tea… Continue reading
About Melbourne Tune collection
Melbourne Tune Collection records and publishes original folk tunes and songs from around Australia.
I started this project after realising that I barely knew any Australian folk tunes, even though I’ve been playing the fiddle for almost two decades. It wasn’t that Australians weren’t writing tunes, it’s just that there was limited publishing opportunities for them.
I thought maybe if I collect these tunes and put them together, they would have a better chance of getting played. So in early 2019 I set off with my camera and recorder, first around Melbourne, then across Australia.
This site is the result of these travels. Its purpose is to make Australian folk music as accessible as possible and promote the incredible music that’s being written today. I genuinely believe that there’s something special happening in the Melbourne and Australian folk music scenes right now.
I hope you enjoy playing through these tunes as much as I have!
Katherine Oleinikov
Melbourne Tune Collection 