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Robby the Whistler

by Slim Jim Dinkum

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about

‘Robby the Whistler’ is a song about an overlooked/misunderstood country town character, who usually blends into the everyday monotony of the local R.S.L. comings and goings. But on certain fringes, he's legendary. If you know, you know. Now you do!

lyrics

There's a hearty old tradition
that seems to be disappearing
The longer I go livin out my days
you can do it while you're fishing
maybe on a solo mission
while working or just getting on your way
it's the good old art of whistling
that more and more is missing
but I used to hear good whistlers all the time
back when whistling was in fashion
and some called it their passion
but so rare now you'd think whistling was a crime

So I started hearing rumours
in old bars and dark corners
of a whistler trickling on the grapevine
they say he's a bit of a lone ranger
and to many just a stranger
startling local folks from time to time
then I heard it from a rambler
late night tab type gambler
he'd once met a man who fans the whistling flame
in a hushed voice stale and groggy
whispered of a male named Robby
The most gifted in the whistling kind of game

when I first met whistling Robby is a tale I love to tell
it was a Friday night at the grand old R.S.L.
I was there for the unwinding
of some business I'd been minding
And in general just taking 5 and havin a spell
Then at 6pm came silence for the diggers sacrifices
Coz freedom isn't free and war is hell
then I heard collaboration
when the last post started playing
chiming along with the trumpet and doin it well

He was humble in appearance
and he almost got the clearance
from my roving eyes searching for the sound
there in the flesh stood whistlin Robby
He was standing with a scoowy
In the good old Rissole part of G.I. town
So I waited with some patience
through the full minute of remembrance
to go and shake his hand and say me name
I said 'how long you been whistling?
Coz if I'm not mistaken
you must be a veteran of the whistling game'

He said 'Whistling ain't no hobby
it's why they call me Whistling Robby
it's not just what I do it's in my DNA
and I've never been a drifter
I'm just me, Robby Whistler!
And a whistling man I always shall remain'
He said 'The pride of a whistler
can't be expressed through words
so we just whistle on while father time flies past
on whatever horse we're riding
with our eyes on the horizon
not needing any hot air up the arse'

So if you hear old Robby Whistle
you might think you heard a missile
Or a V8 Holden goin for a spin
And if you hear that whistle blowin
I'll forgive you for not knowin
If you heard a bird or an angel on the wind

credits

released January 17, 2023
Written and recorded by Slim Jim Dinkum
upon a heavy gust of inspiration from Robby the Whistler

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Slim Jim Dinkum Melbourne, Australia

Slim Jim Dinkum was born and raised in the rural NSW town - Glen Innes. Currently stuck in Melbourne yearning for a scewy at the Glen Innes Railway Tavern

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