The Aussie Way Of Greeting

There's a great tradition still taking place on Australian country roads that has been around for many years, and long may it continue to be so. This tradition involves the practise of acknowledging complete strangers (but fellow travellers), as you cross the nation's highways.

This acknowledgment takes the form of a slight raising of the fingers of one hand just as two vehicles travelling in opposite directions pass each other. It is almost like a mini salute. You rarely have to take your hand completely off the steering wheel to execute this manouvre, and it can be so fleeting that if you are not paying attention, you could easily miss it.

I was delighted to see this practise still in use on my recent trip to Port Lincoln to attend the Stinky Creek Folk Festival (a round-trip distance of around 1300kms).

I don't know if this is a uniquely Australian practise, but it must surely be in danger of dying out as the years go by, and more and more cars take to our national highways. At some point it becomes impossible to acknowledge every driver you pass during a long trip. There are just too many travellers to greet. But it was not always so.

Back in the day, when we went on an extended drive through Australia's bush, there were far fewer travellers on our country roads. Back then, before the nation's major highways were even sealed, we would often stop and chat with fellow travellers to learn about the road conditions which lay ahead. Back then, you could travel, literally for many hours without seeing another vehicle on the road. So when you did encounter another car, you would always stop for a brief chat with the other driver.

Now of course, it is completely different. It is very rare to travel anywhere, along our national highway system, and not encounter a continuous stream of fellow travellers. Now, too, amost everyone carries a mobile (cell) phone with them, and you are never more than a few hours between country towns, roadside truck stops, and other forms of human contact.

I was thinking about all of this on my trip to Port Lincoln, when I began writing what I thought might be a song on the subject. In the end, it seems to have turned into a poem, but all it takes is the addition of a melody to turn it into a song, which I may yet do. Anyway, here it is...

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THE AUSSIE WAY OF GREETING
© 2006, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.

When you're driving on the highway,
And you want to say, "G'day"
To a stranger that is driving
Down the road the other way.
Just lift a coupl'a fingers,
Point them up towards the sky.
It's the Aussie way of greeting,
So go ahead, say, "Hi".

It's the Aussie way of greeting,
Nothing flashy, nothing grand.
Nothing over ostentatious,
Like the waving of a hand.
Nothing Regal; nothing Papal,
Never coarse, and never rough.
It's the Aussie way of greeting,
Understated - but enough.

It's the Aussie way of greeting,
From the people of the land.
If you ever need assistance
They will always raise a hand.
They will never leave you stranded
They will help you share the load.
It's the Aussie way of greeting,
And you will find it on the road.

It's the Aussie way of greeting,
May it live forever more.
May you never be too busy
Fellow travelers too ignore.
May you take the time to send one,
May it brighten up your way.
It's the Aussie way of greeting,
So raise your hand, and say, "G'day".

Quote of The Day...

The saying "Getting there is half the fun" became obsolete with the advent of commercial airlines. ~ Henry J. Tillman

--o0o--

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Does SoundExchange Owe You Money?

Fred Wilhelms, an attorney in Nashville, has been battling SoundExchange on behalf of recording musicians. SoundExchange has appointed itself the collector and distributor of royalties for digital media such as satellite radio, internet streaming, etc. These royalties have been payable since February 1, 1996. If your music has been played on the Internet since that date, you are entitled to a share of the royalties.

The problem is, SoundExchange has done a FEMA-quality job of distributing funds or locating musicians due money, effectively abandoning the task. Royalties not claimed by December 15 will be forfeited.

Thanks to Fred's pressure, SoundExchange has finally published a list of almost 9000 artists they have not yet located. You read it correctly -- 9000 musicians, many of whom you will know.

You can look through the list here on the SoundExchange page, and alert artists, artist managers, labels, or artist heirs with whom you have contact. The list is a veritable Who's Who of World, Canadian, Cuban, Hawaiian, Brazilian, Tex Mex, blues, traditional, jazz, Americana, songwriters, and folk music. It'll leave you breathless, in fact SoundExchange claims to not have found a way to locate the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Cesar Rosas from Los Lobos, or Richard Thompson, for example.

Please also look at the Copyright list on the SE website; you or someone you know is on this list and is due copyright money, until December 15.

If you, as an individual or as a member of a recording group, are not registered with SoundExchange by December 15, 2006, you will lose all rights to your royalties earned before March 31, 2000.

There are thousands of identified artists who will lose these royalties unless they act before the deadline. SoundExchange has listed these "unfound" artists on their website.

Go to the SoundExchange Unpaid Artists page and search through the list for your name...

Take the time to read the list. If you are on it, follow the instructions for filing a claim. It costs you nothing and it does not take much time. If you register now, you will receive the unclaimed royalties and will received future royalties automatically.

Friends and families of recording artists should also check the list. If you know anyone on there, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW IMMEDIATELY. You will note that there are a number of deceased performers on the list. If you know any surviving relatives, let them know about this.
This money belongs in the hands of the artists who created the music.

Thanks to Susan Martinez for alerting me to this issue.

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