Red-back on the Toilet Seat is a classic Australian country song written by Ralph Ernest ‘Slim’ Newton. The song encompasses four tracks and all the tracks were first written, sung, and performed by Slim Newton. It was originally released in June 1972 and on the Go-Set National Top 40 Singles Chart, it was peaked at number three. The song made the Slim Newton to receive the most prestigious award, Golden Guitar Award. In addition, the song received the special appraisal for standing as the top selling record in the first Country Music Awards of Australia in 1973. You can use this link attached to hear the tune @ this link. The song was first recorded at Hadley Records Audio Studios (catalogue number HEP 537) located in Tamsworth, New South Wales. Also it was the first record made by the Slim Newton.
The story of the song tells about a poor man who visits an outside toilet (Dunny) during the night, whereas the backyard loos (toilets) are the haven (a place which is comfortable to stay safe) for the red-back spiders. The man unexpectedly is bitten by the female red back spider. The interesting fact is that the male red back spiders does not bite.
What is a red back spider, which is often mentioned in our story? It is an Australian one of the most venomous spiders, scientifically known as Latrodectus hasseltii. It is often seen in and around Australia as well as Tasmania. The most convenient places for the red back spiders to stay are letter boxes, toilets, rocks, under logs, and the dark areas. But they are not active during daylight as they are most active at dusk and throughout the night. The power of the poison released when the red back spider bites is very impactful, rather than what you actually thinks! Yes, a small amount of venom is good more than enough to attack the nervous system of a person, which eventually causes serious illness. Sometimes, the bite of a female red back spider can be fatal, especially when they bite the young and elderly. Do not neglect if any red back spider bites you, seek the doctor’s consultation immediately after the bite. Immediate medical help may reduce the potential risk of ending the life. An effective anti-venom has been developed in 1956. It would be helpful on time. So my dear folks, please be careful whenever you wish to use outside dunny’s, letter boxes, etc.
The story goes on and the man’s wife offers immediate help and gives first-aid with a cut-throat razor blade, giggles from nurses and revenge.
What are the credits of this classic song, Red Back on the Toilet Seat?
Here are the list of a few credits that made the song earn all those most prestigious awards:
1) Newton – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
2) Ken Grills – drums
3) Gary Brown – bass guitar
4) Ian Fenton – cover illustration
Cover Versions
As the song, Red-Back on the Toilet Seat has gained a lot of appraisals and been the most popular Australian Classic country song, many artists including The Wolverines and John Williamson have given their own cover version songs based on the original song in Occasional Course Language in 2008, which were also became the famous cover versions on Red-Back on the Toilet Seat.
There was a red-back on the toilet seat
When I was there last night,
I didn’t see him in the dark,
But boy! I felt his bite!
I jumped high up into the air,
And when I hit the ground,
That crafty red-back spider
Wasn’t nowhere to be found.
There was a red-back on the toilet seat
When I was there last night,
I didn’t see him in the dark,
But boy! I felt his bite!
And now I’m ere in hospital,
A sad and sorry plight,
And I curse the red-back spider
On the toilet seat last night.
Rushed in to the missus,
Told her just where I’d been bit,
She grabbed the cut-throat razor blade,
And I nearly took a fit.
I said “Just forget what’s on your mind,
And call a doctor please,
‘Cause I’ve got a feeling that your cure
Is worse than the disease.”
There was a red-back on the toilet seat
When I was there last night,
I didn’t see him in the dark,
But boy! I felt his bite!
And now I’m ere in hospital,
A sad and sorry plight,
And I curse the red-back spider
On the toilet seat last night.
I can’t lay down, I can’t sit up,
And I don’t know what to do,
And all the nurses think it’s funny,
But that’s not my point of view.
I tell you it’s embarrassing,
(And that’s to say the least)
That I’m too sick to eat a bite,
While that spider had a feast!
There was a red-back on the toilet seat
When I was there last night,
I didn’t see him in the dark,
But boy! I felt his bite!
And now I’m ere in hospital,
A sad and sorry plight,
And I curse the red-back spider
On the toilet seat last night.
And when I get back home again,
I tell you what I’ll do,
I’ll make that red-back suffer
For the pain I’m going through.
I’ve had so many needles
That I’m looking like a sieve,
And I promise you that spider
Hasn’t very long to live!
There was a red-back on the toilet seat
When I was there last night,
I didn’t see him in the dark,
But boy! I felt his bite!
And now I’m ere in hospital,
A sad and sorry plight,
And I curse the red-back spider
On the toilet seat last night.
You can hear the original song on YouTube: Click Here
To our surprise, the lyrics of the most popular Australian Country Music song has been become even more popular when it actually experienced in reality. The news says, “A New South Wales-hailing truckie stopped off at the Tom Cat Rest Area beside the Pacific Highway and saw a giant redback spider in the men’s toilet.” This is the popular rest area situated 87km south of Kempsey and 33km north of Taree and just off the highway near the bush.
