When I was ten years old I saw Philippe Mora's incredible film Mad Dog Morgan, a film based on the life of Daniel Morgan the bushranger (or outlaw for all of you who are unfamiliar with Australian vernacular). Being a violent and horrific account of a man's brutalization by police, prison and society in general and his own rebellion by becoming as violent in return, it probably wasn't something that a 10 year old should have been viewing. It haunted me for years. I was fascinated at how such a great movie had ever been made. It is perhaps THE great Australian film of the 1970s, no mean feat given the competition. It has recently been saddled with the unfortunate commercial label of "Ozploitation" but it deserves better than that. It is a fine film. It was, along with Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, one of the two most important influences in my development as an artist. Anyway, this song is not about the bushranger nor the film. It is rather about a man who identifies strongly with Morgan. Enough said on that.
A while back I sent this song to Philippe Mora and got this reply - "Hi Konrad: Thanks for sending me your Morgan song which I liked very much. Thanks also for your kind words about the film. Cheers and keep it coming! Philippe Mora LA" I don't know if he was just being kind or if he meant it. Either way is fine by me. It was really nice getting the reply.
credits
from Sugar Skulls & Marigolds,
released July 25, 2013
Written by Konrad Lenz
Konrad Lenz: vocals, guitars
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