JIMMY BLACKTOWN

Words & Music: Phyl Lobl

Views on the dole have changed since the Thirties Depression. During the seventies there was less shame attached but some people took unfair advantage in claiming it and led many people to judge too harshly the kids who were at great disadvantage. It could have been Jimmy Newcastle or Jenny Wollongong or names from a host of places.

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Lyrics

Me name is Jimmy Blacktown,
fifteen winters I have seen.
I'm just an average kind of kid,
a jet age might have been.
Me Dad's a process worker,
there's five of us to feed.
But there isn't any job for me,
A job is what I need.

Dole time for Jimmy,
There's nothin' left in learnin'.
Dole time for Jimmy,
Time that I was earnin' my own keep,
I'm goin' cheap.

Its goin' on the dole I’ll be,
and hangin' round the street.
The only transport that I've got,
is these two bloody feet.
So I won't be out at Bondi,
just floatin' in the sea.
The Public Transport costs too much,
for a dole time kid like me.

Dole time for Jimmy,
There's nothin' left in learnin'.
Dole time for Jimmy,
Time that I was earnin' my own keep,
I'm goin' cheap.

There's dole time kids from Manly,
whose folks are doin' well.
For them the dole is pocket money,
keeps them livin' swell.
For me its family income,
we all pitch in you see.
They're not getting' much assistance,
from a dole time kid like me.

Dole time for Jimmy,
There's nothin' left in learnin'.
Dole time for Jimmy,
Time that I was earnin' my own keep,
I'm goin' cheap.

So when you look at me with eyes,
that say I'm human sludge.
I wish you’d think on further,
before you try to judge.
Think of school time overcrowding,
teacher changes every week.
Latch key four o'clocks and angry quarrels,
every time they speak.

Dole time for Jimmy,
There's nothin' left in learnin'.
Dole time for Jimmy,
Time that I was earnin' my own keep,
I'm goin' cheap.

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Jimmy Blacktown

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