The Candlestick Maker's boy He gave me so much joy All my fears he did allay When we first lay down that day

His candlestick did the trick At his art he is real slick He was neither slow nor quick Thank the lord for his candlestick.

etc... 😈

This is so "Banjo Patterson" for the 21st C. Are you "...from the land down under...?

Sad tale indeed...

As I was looking through your song titles, I saw The Baker’s Boy and knew this would be just the kind of song I think you absolutely excel at - and was I ever right. Soft, sweet, so tinged with sadness, and delivered in your gentle voice and beautiful playing. Thank you for this, Mike. I haven’t had much time to listen yet this month, but will be back soon to enjoy all of those other creations you’ve come up with.

Gosh this is just a gorgeous thing. Your voice is made for this style of folk balladeering. Apparently that’s not a word. How about troubadouring? Nope, doesn’t like that either

Oh this is heartbreakingly beautiful. I love how it is like an old folk song but set in Australia, a new country. Your vocals and guitar are spot on. Absolutely lovely.

This is.....fabulous. No one appears to have made that joke yet, but also I really do mean it. Love the bastardisation of the 'give/take' proverb. In fact the whole lyric is really great storytelling. Such a gorgeous, calming piece of folk.

Gorgeous and heartbreaking tale. Your voice and wise minimalist instrumentation amazes my ears every time.

This is a beautiful piece. Your voice is wonderful - so gentle and soothing. What a lovely sad story. I liked the understated humming interludes too.

I have no idea about folk music but you lulled me into this bed of soft guitars and it is so pleasant to listen to this story.

a strikingly Australian folk tune. if you'd told me this precise song had been sung for 200 years and never grows old, i'd believe you.

The gentle melancholy in the vocals and guitar are a balm. The language and narrative voice feel authentic - this is a subject which could very easily feel like a cheap facade if approached without care.

You describe death by snakebite in such a lyrical way - and a way that allows the future echo for the girl with no name. Two scenes which are unpleasant, viscerally so, but carry such a tender, poetic air.

I had to listen a second time after checking with Suzy Dent that 'span' was a valid past tense of 'spin' (it is, you're off the hook) so I could drink it in without distraction. This is not a you problem.

This is lovely. And sad. And perfectly wrought.

I took a class "The Ballads and the Blues" a couple of years ago and I swear this story should have been on the listening list.

Tour de Force, Monsieur Troubadour! As one who lives and breathes in this style, you have amazingly hit it right on the head. The pacing, the lyrics, the guitar accompaniment, the singing. Wow. What a story with such a twist. The line "some men can be gentle but most have no shame" completely got me. Tremendous.

Oh this is just magical! A simply gorgeous chord progression, beautiful sweet compelling vocals, and such fantastic storytelling. It's really timeless. I'll be coming back to listen again.

Marvelous. I'm a big fan of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem version of The Butcher Boy, and this is up there with that.

Your vocal is wonderful and sets the stage for an intriguing story. Thanks!

Truly enthralling writing, playing and singing. I love the 19th-century ballad throwback style of the repeated "old melbourne town" line mixed with slightly magical storytelling.

Quite stunning how this sounds like an old folk story-song. But with modern touches in the chord voicings. Especially liked some of the poetic phrases like 'smile up his sleeve' and 'buried... in the dust and dreams' and the 'do-do-do' descending phrase harmonising with the guitar line. Does leave me wondering how the poor lass who can't do honest work will fare in old Melbourne Town, though.

A moving and sad story - could have been at some places. It caught me

The storytelling here is purely masterful! I couldn’t decide if I liked the guitar work, the vocalization or the lyrics the most? They all work together so well.

this is so good Mike! the story is so sad and so real. I love how you just tell it as it is! I am sure it works worldwide but as an Aussie it feels so close to home.

Another lovely thing. A sad and beautiful new thing that sounds oh, so old. It makes me glad that it makes me sad.

Can you tell me what a bendigo is?

The melody of the 'come away, my girl' (and later equivalent lines) is just so lovely. Just beautiful. It's a simple presentation of the song, but in your hands (and mouth), it's so effective. An understated delight!

The "lay myself down" verse is probably the most heartbreaking. "A smile up his sleeve" is a great turn of phrase.

just you and your voice and your nylon string guitar and your storytelling… that’s all i really need.

i tried not to snort at “stepped on a snake” but it’s just so very australian and delivered so matter-of-factly that i’ll admit i failed.

the way “laid … down” changes throughout the song? brilliant. the line “and he'll be forgotten as i one day will”? brilliant. what’s not to love here? a perfectly-done folk ballad that feels so ancient, executed in the way only you can. what a gift!!!

This is a gorgeous love song, and stoic reminder of the brevity and uncaring nature of the world, yet the love we create endures. Simply wonderful storytelling.

I'd wager this one almost felt too easy for you, right in your wheelhouse. But oh, what a wheelhouse.

Not that you tend to miss, but the tone and balance of the recording is just right, intimate and delicate, your voice and guitar wrapped in each other's arms.

And the humming is perfect, like the narrator self-soothing while counting the coins til the day.

Very 19thC in the pathos of the lyric and the feel and melody of the backing, for all that quite early-mid 20thC in outlook. One doesn't need the backstory of Bendigo to empathise. Lovely stuff.

Beautiful storytelling. The Lord giveth line is so powerful and the delivery is gorgeous as always

Oh what a heartbreaking tale. Your guitar and vocals are gorgeous.

There it is. That's the fix I needed.

Premium Debenham, that is.

So what I like about it, apart from the way you always express, is the melody in "and he'll be forgotten ... that I found". And the hummy bit.

Thanks for that. It's actually lovely as is, legit, it has a feel of the era of Parsley Sage from Simon and Garfunkle - this sounds nothing like it, but it wouldn't be out of place on that playlist.

But I could stand hearing the bits that are in your head, post FAWM. In the meantime, ONWARDS.

Well ain’t this a quaint story! And nice to hear our very own old Melbourne town getting a guernsey. Definitely paints the picture of old gold rush days. And I love the callbacks to that ‘laid (themselves, etc) down’, very clever. Beaut chordal movements throughout, and the do do do’s are a nice touch.

Such a calming atmosphere with a pulsing feeling really gets me into the story

Really great storytelling and melody! I really like the picking pattern with your soft expressive voice. Well done!