| "True Blue" | |
|---|---|
| Single by John Williamson | |
| B-side | "Alice Springs" |
| Released | 1986 |
| Genre | Country music |
| Label | Gum Leaf Recordings |
| Writer(s) | John Williamson |
True Blue is an Australian folk song written in 1981 by singer-songwriter John Williamson. The lyrical content[1] in the song utilises Australian slang heavily, with the title being an example of this, meaning totally Australian. (The phrase itself may have originated in England where it was used to describe the blue shown by members of the Order of the Garter,[2] but only survived in common usage in Australia.)
True Blue is often performed at sporting events and was performed by Williamson twice on acoustic guitar at Australia Zoo during Steve Irwin's public memorial service (it was Steve's favourite song); once shortly after the beginning ceremony, and again at the end as Irwin's truck was driven out of the Crocoseum for the final time.[3]
The song had notable success in particular in more rural areas of Australia. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in 1982, the song took out Tamworth Country Music Festival's Golden Guitar for Best Songwriter and Composer.
In March 2009, John Williamson sung in a 30-minute musical called The Story of True Blue, a story of an Australian cattle dog which loses its family in a bushfire. It was narrated by Shannon Noll, and combined stockmen, livestock, motorbikes and circus performers.[4]