The Old Bush Songs Part 17

I saw him but a moment as he was walking by With two black eyes and broken nose and a tear-drop in his eye.

THE OVERLANDER

There's a trade you all know well- It's bringing cattle over- I'll tell you all about the time When I became a drover.

I made up my mind to try the spec, To the Clarence I did wander, And bought a mob of duffers there To begin as an overlander.

Chorus

Pa.s.s the wine cup round, my boys; Don't let the bottle stand there, For to-night we'll drink the health Of every overlander.

Next morning counted the cattle Saw the outfit ready to start, Saw all the lads well mounted, And their swags put in a cart.

All kinds of men I had From France, Germany, and Flanders; Lawyers, doctors, good and bad, In the mob of overlanders.

Next morning I set out When the gra.s.s was green and young; And they swore they'd break my snout If I did not move along.

I said, "You're very hard; Take care, don't raise my dander, For I'm a regular knowing card, The Queensland overlander."

'Tis true we pay no license, And our run is rather large; 'Tis not often they can catch us, So they cannot make a charge.

They think we live on store beef, But no, I'm not a gander; When a good fat stranger joins the mob, "He'll do," says the overlander.

One day a squatter rode up.

Says he, "You're on my run; I've got two boys as witnesses.

Consider your stock in pound."

I tried to coax, then bounce him, But my tin I had to squander, For he put threepence a head On the mob of the overlander.

The pretty girls in Brisbane Were hanging out their duds.

I wished to have a chat with them, So steered straight for the tubs.

Some dirty urchins saw me, And soon they raised my dander, Crying, "Mother, quick! take in the clothes, Here comes an overlander!"

In town we drain the wine cup, And go to see the play, And never think to be hard up For how to pa.s.s the day.

Each has a sweetheart there, Dressed out in all her grandeur- Dark eyes and jet black flowing hair.

"She's a plum," says the overlander.

A THOUSAND MILES AWAY

(Air: "Ten Thousand Miles Away.")

Hurrah for the Roma railway! Hurrah for Cobb and Co., And oh! for a good fat horse or two to carry me Westward Ho- To carry me Westward Ho! my boys, that's where the cattle stray On the far Barcoo, where they eat nardoo, a thousand miles away.

Chorus

Then give your horses rein across the open plain, We'll ship our meat both sound and sweet, nor care what some folks say; And frozen we'll send home the cattle that now roam On the far Barcoo and the Flinders too, a thousand miles away.

Knee-deep in gra.s.s we've got to pa.s.s-for the truth I'm bound to tell- Where in three weeks the cattle get as fat as they can swell-

As fat as they can swell, my boys; a thousand pounds they weigh, On the far Barcoo, where they eat nardoo, a thousand miles away.

Chorus: Then give your horses rein, &c.

No Yankee hide e'er grew outside such beef as we can freeze; No Yankee pastures make such steers as we send o'er the seas- As we send o'er the seas, my boys, a thousand pounds they weigh- From the far Barcoo, where they eat nardoo, a thousand miles away.

Chorus: Then give your horses rein, &c.

THE FREEHOLD ON THE PLAIN

(Air: "The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane.")

I'm a broken-down old squatter, my cash it is all gone, Of troubles and bad seasons I complain; My cattle are all mortgaged, of horses I have none, And I've lost that little freehold on the plain.

Chorus

The stockyard's broken down, and the woolshed's tumbling in; I've written to the mortgagees in vain; My wool it is all damaged and it is not worth a pin, And I've lost that little freehold on the plain.

I commenced life as a squatter some twenty years ago, When fortune followed in my train; But I speculated heavy and I'd have you all to know That I've lost that little freehold on the plain.

Chorus: The stockyard's broken down, &c.

I built myself a mansion, and chose myself a wife; Of her I have no reason to complain; For I thought I had sufficient to last me all my life, But I've lost that little freehold on the plain.

Chorus: The stockyard's broken down, &c.

And now I am compelled to take a drover's life, To drive cattle through the sunshine and the rain, And to leave her behind me, my own dear loving wife- We were happy on that freehold on the plain.

Chorus: The stockyard's broken down, &c.

THE WALLABY BRIGADE

You often have been told of regiments brave and bold, But we are the bravest in the land; We're called the Tag-rag Band, and we rally in Queensland, We are members of the Wallaby Brigade.

Chorus

Tramp, tramp, tramp across the borders, The swagmen are rolling up, I see.

When the shearing's at an end we'll go fishing in a bend.

Then hurrah! for the Wallaby Brigade.