A spring night's dream has resulted in a Melbourne fan penning an uplifting anthem for those desperate for success. The song, 'Give 'Em Hell', is a call to arms for Demons supporters. Marc Oswin, a web designer and developer, has been so caught up in Melbourne's season, its ascension infiltrated his slumber.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I seriously dreamt it. I could hear the music," Mr Oswin said.
"The lyrics stuck with me. It became one of those lucid dreams where you can control what's happening. All of the lyrics were coming together. When I eventually woke up, I went into the toilet, turned the light on, and jotted down the lyrics. For the next few days, I couldn't sleep. I had to finish writing it and record it, otherwise I was not going to get any sleep!"
Initially, Mr Oswin, 42, sat down with an acoustic guitar and worked through his composition.
"It had a very Neil Young-feel to it," he said. "That was not what I was after. It didn't capture the power of the message. Then I started really getting into it."
The Creswick-born fanatic turned to his recording studio at home. Mr Oswin hopes the parochial track will unify people at a time during which millions are separated. The lyrics contain references to the traditional Melbourne theme ('grand flag'); history ('It's been a long time coming'); and optimism ('It's time to move through our hell and collect what's overdue').
"I wanted a song which encapsulates the feeling of what we're going through," Mr Oswin said. "I hope people can enjoy it for years to come."
IN THE NEWS
Red-and-blue blood has run through the Oswin family's veins for generations. Mr Oswin's father and grandfather followed the famous club, although some uncles jumped off along the way.
"We've stuck thick with it," Mr Oswin said. "The AFLW team was unlucky not to get over the line this year. It's really good times for the club."
Come the age of five, old woollen Demons jumpers were a common fashion item for Mr Oswin. He still has a beanie, with the memorable royal blue, minus the pom-pom. Mr Oswin was obsessed as a youngster.
"I've got early memories and one of those was the (1980s coach) John Northey," Mr Oswin said. "He lived in Creswick. I'd ride to my grandparents (with my father) on the weekends and would actually ride down John Northey's street just on the off chance we might see him."
Listen to the song here.
The powerhouse club of the mid-twentieth century has had its hard times, an attempted merger, a tanking scandal, and years of mediocrity to name but a few. Mr Oswin manages to put a positive spin on challenges.
"One of the worst points was the first game I took (my son) Micah to," he said. "We had open air seats and it absolutely poured. We lost by around 100 points. Losses like that build up a resilience. I can see it in the way Micah has developed. You get to the point where losing doesn't always mean that much, a great thing when you see other kids who have been brought up barracking for Hawthorn then, all of a sudden, they get hit with the losses. They don't know how to handle it."
Ms Oswin and Micah have shared immense enjoyment of the 2021 season.
"We were really lucky to be able to get down to a few games," Mr Oswin said. "That gives you a little bit of solace. It's been amazing to see everything click. It's been great to see people at the club, who were under a lot of pressure, actually see the rewards for all the hard work."
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
