raymondcrooke Says:

Oct 6, 2008 - 2163villawood, sorry I had to delete your comment because of the obscene language. Reply: This is just one of nearly 600 videos I have posted, dealing with a wide range of topics. This one happens to deal with racism, which is a sensitive issue but an important one. It is ABOUT a racist character who is made to sound pretty stupid in his ignorant attitudes. The writer, Eric Bogle, and I, the singer, are not this character and do not in any way agree with him. Try to understand this.

raymondcrooke Says:

Oct 6, 2008 - VIDEO TO BE REMOVEDI am planning to remove this video. Too many people do not understand that this is an ANTI-RACIST song and direct their abuse and threats at me rather than at the target of the song. Unless I hear some good reasons why it should stay here, it will be removed from public view in the next few days. I am very reluctant to do this as I think it is a great song which exposes racism for the nonsense that it is, but I can see why Eric Bogle no longer performs it. Enough is enough!

spasticcheescake Says:

Oct 7, 2008 - wat is there 2 understand about the song? its just stupid doing this, your just provoking wogs, there is no excuse 4 this watsoever i dont know wat u were thinking of....??

raymondcrooke Says:

Oct 7, 2008 - The thing to understand is that this song is making fun of "skips" with stupid racist attitudes. It is a SATIRE against such people - not against "wogs" (though I don't like to use that word myself). There really is no intention of provoking anyone except racists! But thank you for your feedback. I expect to remove the video by the end of the week as I really don't want to offend those people who have helped build Australia into such a great country.

raymondcrooke Says:

Oct 7, 2008 - Not sure what you mean by "insincere". The title is IRONIC and is a good indication of the type of character that the song is about. But I'm sure you're right. People just take the first impression and don't look deeper.

bulbheadmyass Says:

Nov 23, 2008 - I love this satirical gem. Too bad you can't leave it up.

raymondcrooke Says:

Nov 23, 2008 - It is a pity, but there are just too many people who don't understand its message.

ChripDog Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - Hello Raymondcrooke/Eric. It's time we had constructive feedback here instead of mis-informed/offended people. I can see the irony in this video, you're explaining that some Australians out there, or anyone out there are very racist, not yourself however. One tip to avoid people from flaming (insulting) the video is to change the footage in the video into something more accurate in delivering to your irony, instead of you standing there, as they think of the first thing that hits them.

Draconical Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - LOL, okay when i was watching i was like ... wtf dude .. but now after reading comments i can see what you were going for. you yourself are not a racist you are showing what racism is like and how stupid it is? .. well i can understand the confusion by not really explaining this, and also the use of "I" in the song, meaning yourself .."For those who have come across the seas, we've found a place to share" - australian national anthemenough said! =]

raymondcrooke Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - I take your point, but the 640 other videos I've made are all pretty much just me singing with (or without) the guitar). I play the roles of all kinds of people in these songs. Very few of them directly represent my own point of view. But some day, when I have more time, I may try something along the lines of what you are suggesting. Thanks for your comments.

raymondcrooke Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - I have tried to explain it in the information box, but a lot of people don't read it and just take the song at face value. The idea of an "unreliable narrator" is quite common in literature, so to me it seems strange when people confuse the character with the writer or the performer. I did think of doing the song again with a spoken introduction explaining the song, but that's something I've never done before in any of my videos.

raymondcrooke Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - So far, since putting this back on public view, I've had only intelligent comments from people who have at least made an effort to understand what the song is really about. So I'll leave it up for a while longer. But as soon as I start getting the kind of nasty comments I was getting earlier it will be gone again. I hope you will understand if I have to do this.

BlondeSurfieChick Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - Is this satire?

estynw Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - I think most people in the UK in 2008 would say that this is a taboo word even if used in a satirical context. It's a pity because the verses are hilarious. Could you perhaps retitle it 'Bluey Scmidt' or similar and change the chorus in some way to omit the offending word? After all most folk music changes over time.

raymondcrooke Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - I wouldn't like to make changes to someone else's song. And it would lose a lot of impact if I left out the key word. Bluey would be a different character. But thanks for your suggestions.

raymondcrooke Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - Is that a serious question, or are you being ironic?

BlondeSurfieChick Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - I may be....and then I may not be....Remember the days when dear old Joh Bjelke said that "all New Zealanders should go back where they came from?"btw my ancestors were boat people, Scousers, sent out here for nicking stuff, and went on to run the first pubs on the north shore....you have to laugh...

marcelriddell Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - I kinda agree with you in this video, Wogs can be a pain in the arse when they come into a white country and settle down, cause they start fights and gangs & muggings etc. But i dont think its wise to make a song about them and post it on here, u will get alot of negative feed back.

raymondcrooke Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - You are not agreeing with me. You are agreeing with Bluey Schmidt. I don't agree with you or him. I am all in favour of a multicultural Australia, and I think we are a much richer country because of our generous immigration policies.

marcelriddell Says:

Nov 26, 2008 - Your right im not agreeing with you, i think ure song is very racist and offensive to wogs, why post a video which will inspire hate?

jasminecoby18 Says:

Nov 26, 2008 - Congratualtions. U have just offended every single "WOG" out there. :)

raymondcrooke Says:

Nov 26, 2008 - That is not the intention of the song. The only people who should be offended are the racists like Bluey Schmidt. Anyway, you may be right, so it's time to remove the song again.

raymondcrooke Says:

Nov 26, 2008 - It's not meant to inspire hate. The song is a atire against racism. But, because so many seem to misunderstand it, it am removing it from public view again.

Sopez1 Says:

Nov 30, 2008 - I SITLL LIKE IT

raymondcrooke Says:

Nov 30, 2008 - That's good, as you're the only one who can see it!