The Whitlams “Ballad of Bertie Kidd”, from the forthcoming album due for release 2022
Buy/Download/Stream: ffm.to/balladofbertiekidd
Video Directed by Johnny Barker
Performed by The Whitlams - Tim Freedman, Jak Housden, Warwick Hornby and Terepai Richmond
Backing Vocals - Dustyesky
Written by T. Freedman, A. Farrow-Pryke, C. Waterstreet (Sony Music Publishing/Control)
Recorded September/October 2020 by Nicholas Wilson at Rockinghorse Studio, Byron Bay and Daniel Denholm at Point Blank, Sydney
Produced by Daniel Denholm and Tim Freedman
Mixed by Daniel Denholm at Point Blank
Mastered by Steve Smart at Studios 301
Ⓟ & © 2020 E.G. Records. All rights reserved.
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Ballad of Bertie Kidd - Lyrics
“They don’t write songs ‘bout guys like me
Here, I got one you can have for free”
He was with his old mum
He’d brought her up the pub to watch the Rabbits run around
She liked to see him swear at televisions
Sledging men on football fields
And lashing out on counter meals
Reminds her of the old man
How Souths and life will set you up to fall
I was at home with mum in ’88
Friday night I wish I’d had a date
The phone rings at nine
It’s Bert the Baby Blue-Eyed Killer on the line
He says, “meet us out the back in 10”
Mum says “put a jumper on
Although you won’t be gone for long
Not when it goes to plan
And Bert will have a plan he does alright”
With my balaclava curled up like a turban on my head
“Get in”, he said
“All we need is a fourth to be a cockatoo
If you don’t come I’m beltin’ you
I’m Australia’s Greatest Robber
It’s an honour for ya son, now come along”
A stolen Sigma in the lane
Bert says, “get in the back and I’ll explain
It’s an easy grab
But there’s two hours ’til the coast is clear, we’ll get a slab
And then we’ll get an art collection
My man has left the key outside
We’ll cut the canvas with these knives
Be in and out in twenty
Pro Hart and Norman Lindsay and Ken Done"
With my balaclava curled up like a kitten on my head
“Get in”, he said
Some men when they’re drinking, mistake their thoughts for thinking
Australia’s Greatest Robber with somehow 30 years inside, and he says
“Now we’re four blocks away boys, pull your headgear down”
I wish it had been me deciding, you’d be mad to put a bet behind him
Bert, the blue eyes hurt
Four sittin’ ducks in a stolen car
We all need the Brassco but we’ve come too far
And if we get done
I hope that I get Malabar, the old girl would come
Three buses, stay with Aunty Val
Norman Lindsay and Pro Hart
I’m about to give my youth to art
These blocks are really long, and there’s not much going on behind those eyes
With my balaclava rolled down really tight below my chin
They let me in
Some men when they’re drinking, mistake their thoughts for thinking
Here we are two blocks away
Fully hooded, on our way and
Sure enough some cops are passing, scratch their chinny chins
They see eight wide eyes, with cans of Reschs
Call it in, and then they met us there, foot of the stair
Bert looks the judge right in the eye
Says “it was unseasonably cold that night”
They read mine out, but I don’t hear the verdict
Mum was crying out
At least I got the ocean view
Australia’s Greatest Robber got me 13 months of bother
Ah, it’s who you hang around boy
Who says, “you come along now for a ride”
© 2020 (Sony ATV / Control)