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The Resignators - Bluebird Tattoo

from The Resignators - Bluebird Tattoo by The Resignators

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about

“Bluebird Tattoo” is the newest single from The Resignators, Australia’s hardest working ska punk band, based in Melbourne and Regional Victoria.

This song tells the story of Melbourne’s most unique music and fashion movement of the 1970’s, the Sharpies. Sharpies were a multicultural group of “pre-punks” (localised to Australia and primarily Melbourne) that embraced a very specific style of fashion, haircut and dancing.

Sharpies heralded the beginning of Aussie Pub Rock, and despite negative press due to their tendency to rumble between rival Sharpie gangs, they lasted over a decade and contributed to the rise of careers of AC/DC, Lobby Loyde and the Coloured Balls, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, etc.

Their devotion to music and dancing spawned the great outdoor concerts at venues like Sunbury and Sidney Myer Music Bowl where they would gather en masse and do the distinctive Sharpie dance.

They travelled the Melbourne public transit system in large groups searching for fun in the form of live music (and the occasional punch-up) dressed in their best Conti jumpers, platform shoes and high waisted bell bottom jeans. One of the most common icons for the Sharpies was a bluebird tattoo, so this song tells the story of how many years later, two Sharpie lovers remember each other fondly every time the see their bluebird tattoos. When they danced they could make it fly!

lyrics

Bluebird Tattoo
Shelley was a sharpie with a walkman in her pocket
Listening to Lobby Loyde
Her boyfriend Skeeter was a Richmond panel beater
Rumbled with the Broadie Boys

Spent my money on a haircut
Like Bowie in Aladdin Sane
Short in the front - long in the back
Never be the same

Bluebird tattoo, I’ll remember you
Till the day I die —————-
When you danced you could make it fly

She kept her Connie clean and her Staggers jeans
And her pleated mini skirt
But her platform shoes were dusty, from dancing in the dirt
Caught the red rattler up to Sunbury
Skeeter got in a rage
Danced all day to the Coloured Balls
Booed Queen off the stage.

Spent my money on a haircut
Like David on Diamond Dogs
Dyed the tail red - to match my treads
Kick it with the two tone clogs

Bluebird tattoo I’ll remember you
Till the day I die —————-
When you danced you could make it fly
Bluebird tattoo I still think of you —
When I’m high
Dance and make it fly….

credits

from The Resignators - Bluebird Tattoo, released October 27, 2020
“Bluebird Tattoo” was written by Steve Douglas/Stacy Kilpatrick
“True Love” was written by B. Perry/J.Volume/S/ Monroe
Mixed and Produced by Steve Douglas at Raku Recording, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Mastered by Ronan Chris Murphy, Veneto West, Los Angeles, USA
Cover art by Elise O’Conal

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Care Factor Records Barongarook West, Australia

Care Factor Records was formed in 1996 to promote Punk, ska and rock music.

Based in Australia Care Factor has 50 releases...

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