Eric Bogle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eric Bogle
Bogle during the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2016
Background information
Born	(1944-09-23) 23 September 1944 (age 80) Peebles, Scotland
Genres	Folk
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Associated acts	John Campbell Munro

Eric Bogle is a famous Australian folk singer and songwriter. He was born in Scotland on September 23, 1944. When he was 25, he moved to Australia and settled near Adelaide, South Australia. Eric Bogle is known for writing many songs about different topics. Other artists have performed his songs too.

Two of his most well-known songs are "No Man's Land" (also called "The Green Fields of France") and "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda". In 2001, "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" was named one of the APRA Top 30 Australian songs. This was part of the 75th anniversary celebration for the Australasian Performing Right Association.

Early Life and Moving to Australia

Eric Bogle was born in Peebles, Scotland. His father worked on the railway and played the bagpipes. Eric started writing poems when he was just eight years old. After finishing school at sixteen, he worked in different jobs like a laborer, a clerk, and a barman.

In 1969, Eric moved to Australia. He first lived in Canberra and worked as an accountant. He was interested in politics. By 1980, he had moved to Queensland before making Adelaide his home.

Eric Bogle's Music Career

Eric Bogle performing at the 1994 Tamar Valley Folk Festival in George Town, Australia.

Eric Bogle taught himself to play the guitar. In Scotland, he led a band called Eric and the Informers. Early on, he was inspired by musicians like Lonnie Donegan and Ewan MacColl. Before moving to Australia, he started focusing on folk music. His first songs were about his parents. One song, "Leaving Nancy," was about the day he left home for Australia, which was the last time he saw his mother, Nancy. This song was performed by many groups, including the Dubliners. When he lived in Canberra, he joined the local folk music scene and performed sometimes.

Songs About War and Peace

Many of Eric Bogle's most famous songs talk about the sadness and waste of war. One of these is "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda", which he wrote in 1971. Famous singers like Joan Baez and bands like The Pogues have performed this song. The lyrics tell the story of an Australian soldier during the Battle of Gallipoli in World War I. Some people also see it as a song about the Vietnam War.

Another very well-known song is "No Man's Land". This song is also about World War I. It is often called "The Green Fields of France." The song mentions a traditional Scottish tune, "Flowers of the Forest," being played for a World War I soldier. Eric Bogle purposely gave the soldier an Irish name, Willie McBride. He did this to help with anti-Irish feelings in Britain during the 1970s. Many artists have covered this song in different languages. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair once said the lyrics were his favorite anti-war poem.

"As if he Knows" (written in 2001) is another song about the sadness of war. It describes Australian soldiers in Palestine in 1918 who had to shoot their horses before leaving. The song shows how sad it was to say goodbye to animals that had helped them so much.

"My Youngest Son Came Home Today" is a song about a young man killed during fighting in Northern Ireland. This song does not pick sides in the conflict. It doesn't say if the character is a nationalist or a loyalist.

Other Song Themes

Eric Bogle's songs cover many different topics. He has written funny songs like "The Aussie Bar-B-Q". He also writes songs about real emotions, such as "Daniel Smiling," "The Enigma," "One Small Star," and "Now I'm Easy." He even wrote a touching song called "Rosie" about a friend's daughter who had Cerebral Palsy.

His song "Safe in the Harbour" is a tribute to another folk singer, Stan Rogers. "Katie and the Dreamtime Land" honors American folk singer Kate Wolf, who passed away in 1986. He also wrote songs about his pets, "Little Gomez" and "Nobody's Moggy Now." He even has a song for his fans called "Do You Sing Any Dylan?".

In 2000, a collection of five CDs called Singing The Spirit Home was released. His first live performance DVD came out in May 2009.

Concert Tours

Eric Bogle (left) with John Munro in Watford during their 2009 farewell tour.

Since 1985, Eric Bogle has toured the UK and sometimes Europe every three years. He often brought other Australian singers and musicians with him, like John Munro and Brent Miller. Eric Bogle said that his 2009 tour with John Munro would be his last overseas tour.

More recently, his tours in Australia have included musicians from Adelaide, Emma Luker (who plays the fiddle) and Pete Titchener (who plays guitar and bass).

Eric Bogle has been a popular artist at the National Folk Festival in Canberra and the Port Fairy Folk Festival in Victoria.

Many artists have performed Eric Bogle's songs. These include Joan Baez, Donovan, the Dubliners, The Pogues, Billy Bragg, and Slim Dusty. In May 2001, his song "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" was named one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association.

Awards and Recognition

Eric Bogle has received several awards for his music and songwriting.

Order of Australia

On January 25, 1987, Eric Bogle was given the title of Member of the Order of Australia. This award recognized his great service to the performing arts as a songwriter and singer.

Mo Awards

The Mo Awards were Australian awards for live entertainment. Eric Bogle won one of these awards.

National Folk Festival

Eric Bogle received a special award from the National Folk Festival.

Tamworth Songwriters Association

The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) holds a songwriting contest each year. Eric Bogle has won three awards from them.