The Rooster Tree by Mal Webb

This is a song I wrote about a tree not far north of Melbourne that looks like a rooster. I first noticed it about 10 years ago... the song tells the rest of the story. It's all played, recorded and videoed by me. Still photos are from the Hume Highway Rooster Tree Appreciation Society on Facebook. For more about me, go to http://malwebb.com

When wending north of Melbourne town along the great M31
Avail your eyes horizonwise to see some freerange freeway fun
At almost of Four K's short of Broadford, sort of Forbesish latitude
A growing crowing slowly showing swells your heart with gratitude, when...

Chorus:
Heading up the Hume, at signs for Clonbinane
My eyes behold a sight that quite delights me once again
High on yonder hill, it cheers me up no end
To see the Rooster Tree, my friend around the bend

For yonks I thought this fine faux fowl affair was mine and mine alone
But then a flock of fans in Wang informed me how this love has grown
My private roadside scene, "Road Island Red in Green", has flown the coop
Hume Highway Hilltop He Hen Tree Huggers now have a Facebook group
[Chorus]

Initially I called it Chicken Tree but gender reassigned
And utter nutters see a Squirrel Tree, but we don't like their kind
When from afar it's singular but closer view shows more than two
It's like a grand arboreal syzygy that lines up right on cue, when...
[Chorus]

It seems that even heathens like myself can't stop the dropping jaw
Indeed the least religious still prodigiously have sacred awe for it
But plant poultry idolitry may sway you from your path
Distracting leghorn leafed belief can leave a tragic aftermath, when...
Hurtling... [Chorus]

Though threat of bushfire and imprudent pruning fuel my brooding fears
This plucky hilltop topiary's stayed clucky, luckily for years
May its herbaceous gallinaceous grace embrace these times of doubt
So future generations get the chance to say "Hey, check that out", when...
Hooning... [Chorus]

©Mal Webb 2009

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Mal
• Webb
• Sideways
• Yodel
• Rooster
• Tree

[Warratah]

haha win! you should upload the song about the plaque you read in melborune. the one that goes "6 years 6 years 6 years 6 years 6 years 6years" that one is awesome!

[malwebb1]

@Warratah Ah, you'd be referring to my song Councillor Ed. It's "6 times..." 6 times, by the way.... hence the joke! That song's on my 2nd solo CD "3 Cheers for Peace and Quiet"... plug plug plug! Bewdy, love, Mal

[paulieandkaty]

loved it....lol

when you coming to England again Mal?

[malwebb1]

@paulieandkaty Not this year, I'm afraid

[hrhliblib]

Clonbinane is such a satisfying word.

[dieselheart001]

This is just so KEWL!!

[ancxjo]

Splendida!

:-)

[manmanisgod]

haha awesome, we have a chook tree just out of rutherglen on the murray valley highway.

[tubebabyliam]

very nice mal...always cheerful and profound...keep it up

[dropbear79]

Ha ha nice observation Mal. You must be good at spotto. well done!

[frannytren]

You are so fun....delightful.

[jimmy3284]

haha, excellent as usual! Even used my favourite word in the english langauge - Syzygy.

Is that a nod to the 'chicken dance' in there I hear?

-Mbira fan from Port Fairy Folkie.