They were heavily involved in Broome's musical and theatrical exports - forming the original backing band for Jimmy Chi's Bran Nue Dae in 1990 – a musical that received international acclaim.
The Pigram Brothers had a large music influence from an early age, and grew up in the rich musical culture of Broome. Alan, Steven and Phillip were members of Scrap Metal from 1983 until its separation in 1995.
In 2006 Steven and Alan were inducted into the Western Australian Music Hall of Fame.
Moonlight
Pigram Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like teardrops rolling in the waves
Rumba, ukulele play
Songs of yesterday
Calypso can you limbo
Cubba cubba old time disco
Hula hula wobly moolah
Moonlight, glitter on the bay
Like teardrops rolling in the waves
Rumba, ukulele play
Songs of yester day
Six guitars a thousand stars
A long long way from the smoky bars
Pearly shells boaty eyes
Rattle with the spoons late into the night
Matchstick breaking on a fishing line string
Play the melody just to make them sing
Under the mango tree with those
Pretty girls and fran - gi – pan - is
Moonlight, glitter on the bay
Like teardrops rolling in the waves
Rumba, ukulele play
Songs of yesterday
Calypso can you limbo
Cubba cubba old time disco
Hula hula wobly moolah
Pretty girls and fran - gi – pan - is
Moonlight, glitter on the bay
Like teardrops rolling in the waves
Rumba, ukulele play
Songs of yesterday
Moonlight
Moonlight
Moonlight
The Pigram Brothers' song "Moonlight" has a very relaxing, feel-good vibe as it describes a night full of music, dancing, and fun. The first verse talks about the beauty of the moonlight reflecting on the bay, comparing it to teardrops rolling in the waves. The second line hints at the main theme of the song, which is the music of yesterday. The rumba beat and the ukulele playing while singing old songs are the perfect combination for dancing the night away.
The chorus repeats the first verse, emphasizing the moonlight and the music that accompanies the happy night. The song lyrics even include a few popular dance styles of yesterday, including calypso, limbo, and "cubba cubba old time disco," along with the traditional hula dance from Hawaii. Additionally, the song talks about pretty girls and "fran-gi-pan-is," which is most likely a reference to some exotic Caribbean island. The third verse describes a group of people playing music by the beach, with six guitars and singing old hits to the sound of spoons and clapping. The song wraps up by repeating the chorus one last time.
Line by Line Meaning
Moonlight, glitter on the bay
The beautiful moonlight shining on the water creates a glittering effect on the bay.
Like teardrops rolling in the waves
The reflection of moonlight on the water looks like teardrops that roll with the waves.
Rumba, ukulele play
The sound of rumba mixed with the sweet melody of ukulele creates a beautiful music sensation.
Songs of yesterday
The playing of old songs on the musical instruments brings back memories of the past.
Calypso can you limbo
The singer is asking if the listeners can do a limbo dance to the tune of Calypso music.
Cubba cubba old time disco
The song has a catchy beat similar to the old time disco music.
Hula hula wobly moolah
The mention of Hula Hula dance and Wobly Moolah sound suggests a party-like atmosphere with plenty of entertainment.
Pret - ty girls and fran - gi – pan - is
The singer is describing the beautiful women and the joyful atmosphere with the use of the Fran - gi – pan - is percussion instrument.
Six guitars a thousand stars
With six guitars playing together, the music event is as bright and beautiful as the thousands of stars in the sky.
A long long way from the smoky bars
The singer is reminiscing about being far away from the smoky, crowded bars where the music was not as enjoyable.
Pearly shells boaty eyes
The mention of pearly shells and boaty eyes creates the image of a bright and vibrant party scene.
Rattle with the spoons late into the night
The partygoers, including the singer, are keeping up the energy of the night by playing music late into the night with the use of spoons as percussion instruments.
Matchstick breaking on a fishing line string
The singer is describing how simple and fun it is to play music, even with just a matchstick breaking on a fishing line string.
Play the melody just to make them sing
The singer is playing the melody to encourage others to sing along and enjoy the music together.
Under the mango tree with those
The singer is creating the image of being under a mango tree, enjoying the music with a group of people.
Pretty girls and fran - gi – pan - is
The singer once again describes the beautiful women and the joyful atmosphere with the use of the Fran - gi – pan - is percussion instrument.
Moonlight
Repeating the word 'Moonlight' emphasizes the beauty of the moonlight and how it sets the tone for the party atmosphere described in the song.
Contributed by Max T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.