Tom Wills

from Silent Boat by Todd Cook

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about

This song is about Tom Wills, the first coach of the first first X1 and the birth of AFL football. From innocent child play, learning Marngrook, he created a game that has echoed through time. Overcoming the pain of Cullin-La-Ringo massacre that brought about the largest killing of white settlers (including his father) and an untold indigenous number. Wills went on to coach the first X1 and became the main creator of Australian Rules Football.

lyrics

Tom Wills- by Todd Cook

Under blue sky red dust fills the air
Mount William homestead Marngook flows with flair
Let the boys play

Running by the creek he knew many songs
Djab wurrung lands, innocence can’t be wrong.
Hide from fathers gaze

Off to boarding school, when he was just 14.
Bat and ball in hand, 10,000 miles away
fight for every yard

He could feel it something had to change
He kept a boomerang on his shelf with dreams of blue sky play
Let the possum skin fly

Oh sing it to you now
Time to look ahead
Running with you now
Ohh, let the possum skin fly

Returned as a champion flamboyant strong.
Bat and ball in hand, sight to behold
Flock to watch him play

10 rules created 10 to stand by,
10 for the past and 10 for the future to fly.

Let the possum skin fly.

He could feel it something had to change
He kept a boomerang on his shelf with dreams of blue sky play
Let the possum skin fly

Oh sing it to you now
Time to look ahead
Running with you now
Ohh, let the possum skin fly

Cullin-la-ringo pain, then the walk-a-bout tour
If retribution is loss, then knowledge is a rock

credits

from Silent Boat, released March 3, 2018
© Todd Cook 2018

Irish Bouzouki and vocals- Todd Cook
Double Bass- Ben Franz
Alex Burkoy- Violin
Drums Danny Mckenna
Tracked, Mixed and mastered by Robin Mai @ Woodstock Studio

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Todd Cook VIC, Australia

toddcook.com.au

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