Michael Waugh He Taught Me

'He Taught Me' evocatively pays tribute to the life lessons learned from our fathers. Marking the emotional epicentre of Michael Waugh's twice Golden Guitar nominated album The Cast, crafted by extraordinarily gifted producer Shane Nicholson, 'He Taught Me' is the 4^th single from Waugh's uniquely Australian fourth album.

Sparkling with Waugh's signature wit and pathos, and hypnotically mesmerising with Nicholson's lush alt-country floating guitar and string arrangements, 'He Taught Me' paints a vivid picture of Australian country life. The father-son relationship in Gippsland's farming community lives large in this big-hearted little song. Like some of the best of Waugh's multi award winning writing which has garnered two Golden Guitar nominations this year alone for Alt Country Album of the Year + Heritage Song of the Year ('Dirty River'), 'He Taught Me' spans vast emotional terrain. It's at once intimate and immediately relatable, laugh out loud funny and heartbreakingly real.

Waugh reminisces "My dad had a wicked sense of humour – I learned so many rude limericks and jokes from him, and you knew never to pull his finger. He taught me how to drive a car, how to ride a bike, how to climb through fences on the farm. He taught me how to be a good man – the values of integrity and fairness – and always with his characteristic sense of humour. Even when he was dying, he was still teaching me about dignity and respect."

Despite recent personal losses, Waugh keeps a positive spirit in his music and stories of his family glimmer with warmth and everyday relatable humour "I love that people get to know a little bit about my beautiful dad through this song. I think that this song keeps alive a little bit of his memory."  

'He Taught Me' was one of the few tracks from The Cast featured in Waugh's shows prior to the album release, and before the incessant lockdowns and music venue closures that derailed Waugh's release tour in the latter part of 2021. The song immediately became a crowd favourite.  "I loved watching the audience laugh and smile at the beginning of the song, perhaps some recognising their own dads in the lyrics; there are usually collective tears at the end, too - from them and me. But, what an honour to get to tell this amazing man's story!"

Though Waugh released The Cast to critical acclaim in August 2021, there has been limited opportunity to share the new material with a live audience. The release of 'He Taught Me' celebrates Waugh's return to the stage with new shows sprouting up over the country, including the long anticipated (rescheduled) album launch at the Memo Music Hall Sunday 27^th February.

TOUR DATES:

Thursday 3rd February - Live At The Bundy - Bundalaguah - VIC
Sunday 6th February - Trinity Sessions - Adelaide - SA
Saturday 12th February - Heritage Hotel - Bulli - NSW
Sunday 13th February - The Brass Monkey - Cronulla - NSW
Saturday 19th February - Junk Bar - Brisbane – QLDSunday 27th February- Memo Music Hall - St Kilda - VIC
Friday 11th March - Windsor RSL - Windsor - NSW
Saturday 12th March - South Sydney Juniors Club - Randwick - NSW
Friday 18th March - Music On The Hill - Red Hill - VIC
Thursday 14th April - Oodies Cafe - Bundaberg - QLD
Friday 22nd April - Wests Diggers - Tamworth - NSW
Saturday 23rd April - Wauchope Arts Factory - Wauchope - NSW
Saturday 7th May - The Wedge - Sale - VIC
Saturday 20th August - Sydney Folk Festival - Sydney - NSW
Sunday 21st August - Sydney Folk Festival - Sydney - NSW
Saturday 27th August - Gympie Music Muster - Gympie - QLD
Sunday 28th August - Gympie Music Muster - Gympie - QLD