Notes on a Haunting Line

Abstract

Back in the late 80s, under the enthusiastic new leadership of Bill Roberts, but with the full support of its founders and long-term stalwarts on the staff of the English Department at James Cook University, ELLA, the organisation which produces this magazine, made a brave bid for greater involvement from JCU students. Of several well-attended functions organised at that time, one in particular came to my mind again just recently. It was an evening on which anyone interested was invited to bring and play recordings of recent pop songs the texts of which were deemed to possess literary merit. People spoke freely in defence of their offerings and to comment on works submitted by others; but the emphasis was on enjoyment rather than criticism. It was a mellow experience. The songs came mostly from what one might call the better end of the 60s and 70s' pop music spectrum and were easy on the ears. They revealed us as a sensitive, tasteful and rather conservative lot. Atno point did anybody get up and rage.