Skip to main content

JOK (Johnny O’Keefe) I’m a wanderer too

 JOK (Johnny O’Keefe)

I’m a wanderer too

 

 

JOK (Johnny O’Keefe)

I’m a wanderer too.

 

“If you’re a performer,

That’s the level you’ve gotta give”

-Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil Drummer-Vocalist) on Johnny O’Keefe.

 

I never saw JOK perform, but I’ve felt him tap me on the shoulder, when on stage, surrounded, as an 18 year old, by old man hecklers & rough boy c87nts.

Me, who as a boy soprano soloist from a 1000 boy Boys’ Grammar School with compulsory Military Training and udder thuggery had the fortune (mis? Fortune!!!!!) to be born with a 12 year old’s boy-angel’s voice and walked with a target on my back til I faked an injury & became a French Horn player (still pitch perfect bitch!).

 

Anyway, my adult singing voice was never as good as my child’s voice.

Lacked the strength and integrity.

But you know us Australians can’t reconcile the masculine with beauty.

 

Ah well,

What’s done is done.

 

Anyway,

Later I sung.

18.

& then onwards Engerland when I was 35.

 

I felt Johnny O’Keefe tap me on the shoulder

In the Murder Capital –

The Kindest place in the Country.

 

They say he embarrassed every overseas act (as ‘soft’).

 

Roy Orbison.

Little Richard.

Cliff Richard.

 

And THAT’s the real reason

Elvis never flew.

 

They say

 

Those I’ve known who saw him twice

That HE was THE MAN!

 

A performer.

 

A REAL PERFORMER.

 

You have to be a Colonial to perform.

Else you’re Apollonian.

 

Nietzsche’s ONE GOOD book.

(‘Birth of Tragedy’)

 

WE’RE the bastards.

 

The boys for the job.

 

Insults —

 

We learned

In our mother’s womb —

 

A kick to the guts.

 

Maybe a Rwanadan child

Born of soldier rape


Can relate

 

But no one will give them the tape.

 

So,


Until then


I’m your albino Bredren.

 

That’s how HARD

WE ROCK!


(After Hopkins)

Praise Him.


 

©Malachi Doyle 2023.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Apology for an evil word (draft)

  Apology for an evil word   by Malachi Doyle   I wrote/drew/painted this art book in Respekt for the child soldiers in Australia the British Empire AmiKKKa & of course Momma Afrika The French German Italian Dutch Spanish Empires Jesus Asia The Middle East South America Central America The Carribbean The Pacific Islands The former USSR countries The former Yugoslavian countries… My Nation’s & the world’s Asylum Seekers Child Detention Centres & the World’s poor country city neglected homeless  abused persecuted ignored ridiculed dismissed forgotten the murdered & raped mutilated totured  the beaten those who suffer the effects of Authoritarian & ‘soft’ Tyrannies skooling shitstems & other corrupt institutions Corporations in short the Vampires who suck “Earth Mother’s Women’s Child”rens’ blood,   I can’t express how I don’t wanna eat I have lost my appetite I wish ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Win ugly

  Win ugly I win ugly for some bloody reason I win ugly Life’s like footy Playin into the wind Some days you act like you wish it was over Some days you get the word from the coach & you take it in your stride Though you know ur only D grade Who thought you could play ruck rover & play a ruddy blinder Who thought you had it in ya? Not even ur mother Where did that come from? For you to walk like a king who knew you could sing? About pawning ur weddin ring When ur alone You ain’t nothin but alone Just don’t scam yourself Though u can’t get any help Yes I win ugly I like it in the wet Like a 10 year old boy Drawing with a stick in the dirt Go in hard & you don’t get hurt But a wise man once scribbled The hard is overcome by the soft Like stone in water Like watching a child’s first steps One day in the sun Feelin so privileged to have been there How’d you get so lucky? Ya win ugly Ya win ugly Ya win ugly Worth the price of admission To this valley of tears Coz every now ...
Post a Comment
Read more

In short, sharing versus selfishness

  In short, sharing versus selfishness   I have heard about The Yolngu people & gasped & sighed & dreamed & with my kite Tacked with & against the wind; Here in Dja Dja Wurrung country, Returning, Solitude for the Yolngu people Is prohibited It’s reason of ‘sorcery’ Offered Pride & closed heartedness Stunting & ending wisdom Without love, So much the better is Living communally on Country, The sounds of Nature: Birds animals water frogs Wind trees & bushes Yarnin & laughter: Relaxed, Part OF country, Not straining adrift to Examine & stand apart, & so, I write here Amongst friends, The sounds of The sitting room Food prepared, The birds the frogs A rabbit to be Air rifle shot & eaten People walkin & talkin & A sneeze The click tick Of finished oyster shells In the fireplace Chewing noises Pottery, Life in good Company Cooperation ...
Post a Comment
Read more