Cartoon

This cartoon by Tom Glover depicts prisoners at Pentridge Prison as a satirical musical ensemble. Glover was a well-known political cartoonist and caricaturist who worked for The Bulletin (1922–1928) and later for The Sun News-Pictorial until his death in 1938.

The scene shows a “Pentridge male quartette” singing a parody of the popular song “If I Had the Wings of a Dove,” reworked as “Oh, if I had the wings of a hangel… far from these prison walls I would fly.” Below them, prisoners form a chaotic brass band, playing exaggerated, improvised instruments, while another figure breaks rocks in rhythm, calling out, “Play that loud bit again, boys!” The reference to the opera “Wriggleouto” reinforces the central theme of escape.

The cartoon was published in The Sun (Sydney), on 19 June 1935 on page 13 under the title They Take Their Time from the Judge. The drawing appears to have been inspired by reports about Beechworth Gaol prisoners receiving musical instruments, prompting Chief Warder J. Bowen to boast that Pentridge had the finest prison music programme and brass band in the state.

The cartoon uses humour and exaggeration to contrast the idea of music and performance with the realities of prison life—discipline, labour, and the desire for freedom.

Held by the descendants of Tom Glover.

A brass band was active at Pentridge Prison by 1923, providing an important reference point for dating this cartoon, which must have been created after that time.

Pentridge has also been described as having one of the earliest prison bands in the world—reportedly the fourth—highlighting the significance of organised music within the institution.

Read more on the Pentridge brass band here: A pastime with a purpose: band music in our institutions and the fourth prison band in the world.