Aquarius Magik Caravan-1973

Aquarius Magik Caravan... Nimbin, 1973

Remembering the Aquarius Magik Caravan
by Maireid Sullivan
2023

Tears of joy!
The Aquarius Magik Caravan, a "Musical Happening", featuring a great range of talents - singers, musicians, actors, puppeteers - performed in the town halls around Nimbin, from Casino to Byron Bay, during the lead-up to the festival.
Led by the legendary "Aquarian Songman" Paul Joseph, rehearsals began in late March of 1973, with our first concert on 13 April.

Founding members (single-event performers joined in over the season):

Paul Joseph, stayed on at Nimbin.
Rob and Jane Andrews, puppeteers, moved to Tasmania.
Banjo Neil & Jaimie (autoharp), of Chickens#!t Bluegrass Band, returned to Brisbane after the festival.
Margaret "Maireid" Sullivan and daughter Brigette travelled o/s for two years (1975/6), returned for one year, 1976/7 and, in 1977, moved to Melbourne to continue Brigette's education at the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School.

Paul Joseph introduced what became our anthem and closing chorus: an excerpt from A Very Cellular Song, by Mike Heron, Tk 4, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, 1968, The Incredible String Band.

May the longtime sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on/home

The program began with the full group singing songs 'everyone' knew.
When audiences were seated, we entered halls from each side - girls on one side and boys on the other, lined up according to height, marching down the isle and on to the stage singing -

"Whose the leader of the band that's made for you and me."
Call and response across the hall:
- Girls calling out "Micky Mouse"
- Boys calling out "Donald Duck"

Forever let us hold our banner
High! High! High! High! (back and forth across the hall)
Come along and sing the song
And join the jamboree!
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E
Yeah Mickey!

On stage, we launched into a choreographed medley of old 'standards' - gospel songs, Tin Pan Alley jazz songs and Soft-shoe dance numbers, encouraging everyone in the audience to sing along, followed with our own individual 'acts'.
Audience were falling over themselves with laughter.
No wonder the spirit of Nimbin lives on!

Opening with a verse or two of choreographed songs:
Side By Side, Moonlight Bay, Daisy Daisy, Honeysuckle Rose

1.
Side By Side (Kay Starr, 1952)

Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money,
maybe we're ragged and funny,
but we travel along singing our song, side by side,
... through all kinds of weather, maybe the sky will fall
Just as long as we're together,
it doesn't really, really doesn't matter at all. ...

2.
On Moonlight Bay (Percy Wenrich & Edward Madden, 1912)

We were sailing along on Moonlight Bay
We could hear the voices ringing
They seemed to say
"You have stolen her heart"
"Now don't go 'way"
As we sang love's old sweet song on Moonlight Bay ...

3.
Baby Face (Benny Davis, 1926)

Baby Face! You've got the cutest little baby face
There ain't another who can take your place
My baby face
My poor heart is jumpin'
You sure have started somethin'
Baby face
I'm up in heaven
When i'm in your warm embrace
I didn't need a shove.
I just fell in love with your pretty baby face ...

4.
Honeysuckle Rose (Fats Waller & Andy Razaf, 1929)

Every honey bee fills with jealousy,
when they see you out with me.
I don't blame them, goodness knows, Honeysuckle Rose.

When you're passing by,
flowers droop and sigh,
and I know the reason why.

I don't use sugar,
You only have to touch my cup.
You're my sugar.
It's sweeter when you stir it up.

When I'm taking sips from your tasty lips
goodness, how the honey drips.
You're confection, goodness knows, Honeysuckle Rose.