Nobel Prize Winner Wants Adelaide Tonight

Alert! SA press reports are saying that the South African novelist and Nobel Prize winner, JM Coetzee, is appearing in full-page advertisements in Australian newspapers. The ads tout the charms of living Down Under to immigrants there who haven’t yet become citizens.

I haven’t seen the ads (Aussie readers – please email one to ben at southafricablog dot com if and when any of you get the chance), but can confirm that Coetzee has been gone from SA’s shores – in favor of Adelaide, S. Aus. – for some time. He’s now an Australian citizen.

• Follow the story: Witness | M&G
• South African literature blog: Boswestblog.com.

References to Coetzee’s move always put me in mind of John Cale’s famous song, “Adelaide” (from his brilliant album Vintage Violence), the lyrics of which SA Logue here reproduces for your pleasure and edification:

Adelaide
by John Cale

I want to go home, I want to go home
I want to go back to Adelaide
It’ s time for a change, don’t want to be late
It’s probably night in Adelaide

In a day or two, I’ll be there asking for you
To come back to Adelaide with me
Where the weather is so good

So pass me the phone, I’ll go it alone
I’ll whistle my way to adelaide
There’s no time to cry, I’ll be there tonight
The trains and the boats and planes are on time.

But before I go, I’m knock-knocking on your door
Be sure to say good-bye to your friends
And to all my friends back home.

But before I go, I’m knock-knocking on your front door
Be sure to say good-bye to your friends
And to all my friends back home.

Oh, Adelaide, Adelaide, I want you tonight
Adelaide, Adelaide, I want you tonight

Aaa-del-AAAIDE! Aaa-del-AAAIDE!