Redgum was an Australian folk and political music group formed in Adelaide in 1975 by singer-songwriter John Schumann, Michael Atkinson on guitars/vocals and Verity Truman on flute/vocals; they were soon joined by Chris Timms on violin. All four had been students at Flinders University and together developed an intensely passionate and outspoken outlook. They are best known for their protest song exploring the impact of war in 1983's "I Was Only Nineteen (A Walk in the Light Green)", which peaked at #1 on the National singles charts. The song is in the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) list of Top 30 of All Time Best Australian Songs created in 2001.
Redgum also covered Australian consumer influences on surrounding nations in 1984's "I've Been To Bali Too", both hit singles were written by Schumann. "The Diamantina Drover", written by Timms' replacement, violinist/vocalist Hugh McDonald and "Poor Ned", written by Trevor Lucas of Fairport Convention, are examples of their bush songs. Lucas produced their best performed album, the June 1983 live LP Caught in the Act, which peaked at #3 on the National albums chart. Schumann left the band and pursued a solo career from 1986, Atkinson left in 1987 and Redgum finally disbanded in 1990.
Buy a litre of Fabulon
Dare we spray down
In the scorched trail
of a Sunbream iron
Paint your face with Revlon
To hide your frown
In the blue gloam glare
Of your Rank Television
Carry it away from Myers now
Requiring of us a lon
How can we live without these things
in Templestowe
Buy an electric toothbrush for your mouth
Roche medication for your heart
You'll be comfortable locked uptight
In your sauna
Let the third world rabble on
If dishwasher breaks down
An eyeful of Visine
A floral tissue to cry on
In the valley of Silicon
Where we may drown
And there we leapt
Into blind oblivion
Carry it away from Tandy now
A computer of your own
How can we live without a VDU
And a life programme
A bottle of Listerine for your mouth
A pair of Adidas for your heard
You'll be comfortable locked uptight
In your wardrobe
Buy a litre of Fabulon
Dare we spray down
In the scorched trail