My son, Callum, and a few other kids in the neighbourhood, starting building a BMX pump track in 2019.
They built it in one of the shared green spaces that runs through our suburb. They made a very rough track but, fortunately for them, a Pro BMX rider lived right next door and helped the kids by building jumps, shaping berms and installing drainage.
The track became a BMX and mountain-bike hotspot during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.
When bored, homeschool kids would ride the pumptrack all day. The track was so well-made and so well-used that when a local government official inspected the track (after a complaint) they declared that it could stay.
I am now good friends with Russell, the fella who helped build the BMX pump track. When I interviewed Russell’s son, Banjo, in 2020 he asked me to write a song about BMX bikes. Which I did.
Banjo
I am 5. I like bubble baths, playing outside with toy skateboards and watching TV. I don’t like going to school, mushrooms or Jalapenos.
I liked lockdown because we got to play video games all day. The bad thing about lockdown was that I couldn’t play with my friends.
My favourite music is Heavy Metal.
My favourite colour is green.
My favourite foods are: cucumber, broccoli, tomato, rice, dumplings, baked beans and capsicum
Credits
Written by Lucky Jim, Annie Sharrock and Callum Sharrock
Arranged by Lucky Jim and His Imaginary Friends
Lucky Jim – Acoustic guitar, cowbell, lead vocals
Imaginary Friends
Dan Kempers – Drums
Simon Milman – Electric Bass
Matthew Lustri – Electric guitar
Ben Foster – Keys
Special guests
Matthew Nightingale, Jacqui Bradley – Backing vocals
BMX BIKES
It’s got two wheels and one front brake
It shakes the ground just like an earth-quake
It can take off fast and roll over bumps
It can get a lot of air when it flies over jumps
There’s one thing that I really, really like
Riding around on my BMX bike
(skids. Jumps.)
BMX BIKES
(skids. Jumps.)
BMX BIKES
I ride all day and I ride all night
When you see me riding it’s a frightening sight
I’m not scared and can ride in the dark
Then I take my bike down to Belconnen skate park
Cause there’s one thing I really, really like
Riding around on my BMX bike
(skids. Jumps.)
BMX BIKES
(skids. Jumps.)
BMX BIKES
I spray up dirt when I skid to a stop
And I freak out my Nan and I freak out my pop
My Mum and Dad say I gotta slow down
But I like racing my bike around
There’s one thing that I really, really like
Riding around on my BMX bike. Look out.
(skids. Jumps.)
BMX BIKES
(skids. Jumps.)
BMX BIKES
Etc.
