Great White South (June 67)
Midwinter 1967 saw a rather special event at Halley due to the fact that
the office block had only just been erected and remained an empty shell.
The chippies erected a splendid proscenium arch and created a highly
commendable theatre which just asked for a show. A couple of the songs are
unprintable in a respectable collection but others are reproduced.
Oh ho, here we go
Drink to the land of the ice and snow
Where a scorching day is ten below
Here's to the great white south
One day as I was strolling by the sea
An old explorer said these words to me
Young man you look so keen and true
Antarctica's the place for you
Sign here and a polar hero you shall be
Oh no, don't you shun
The glorious land of the midnight sun
Where the beer and whisky freely run
Here's to the great white south
His offer to me fair took my breath away
He seemed so honest and kind what could I say
One of the elite, one of the few
Rugged adventure in full view
So I joined the Biscoe crew without delay
Oh ho, drink a tot
Here's to Shackleton and to Scott
In whose great footprints we might trot
Here's to the great white south
Now all that seems a very long time ago
All around - uncharted lands I know
This desert of ice I came to see
Am I an explorer? No not me
For I spend my time building huts and shovelling snow
Oh no, we'll not go
To hell with the land of the ice and snow
It's too bloody cold at ten below
You can keep your great white south!
No girls, no sex, no pubs, no beer
Where pin-ups are the only cheer
And I don't want to be buried here
Down in the great white south!