The Old Time Drover's Lament - Slim Dusty

Well you asked me if I’d ever been a-drovin'

Oh lad, you wouldn’t know the meaning of that word

With the gravel road beside you and the fence along to guide you

And a brand new caravan behind the herd

Oh, a truck and caravan behind the herd

I’d like to have seen you young’uns in the old days

With a wagonette and horses for your plant

Where the desert land commences and there isn’t any fences

And the barren country wouldn’t feed an ant

Oh, the barren country wouldn’t feed an ant

Did you ever take your turn at riding nightwatch

'Round the cattle on a dark and rainy camp?

Did you ride around them singin' with your moleskins wet and clingin'?

And your body ached all over with the cramp

Oh, your body ached all over with the cramp.

hey!

Did you ever see a thousand head of cattle

Rush at night time just like a mighty flood?

Did you hear the timber crashin', did you feel the branches lashin'?

And your horse and you were soaked in sweat and blood?

Oh, your horse and you were soaked in sweat and blood

Did you ever plod along behind the tailers

And you couldn’t see your horses head for dust?

And the cattle that you followed, they were very weak and hollow?

And you wondered if you’d get’em there or bust?

You were doubtful if you’d get’em there or bust?

Did you ever take your turn at tailin' horses

When there wasn’t any grass within your sight?

Did you ever use the pliers, did you cut the squatters wires?

And you fed them on the squatters grass all night?

Yes and moved them out before the east was bright?

hey!

Did you ever have to shoe a mob of cattle

With horse shoes cut in halves to make them fit?

Did you shoe them by the hour with your temper getting sour?

From break of dawn until the lamps were lit?

Yes you worked all day until the lamps were lit

So you asked me if I’d ever been a-drovin'

Oh lad, you wouldn’t know the meaning of that word

With the gravel road beside you and the fence along to guide you

And a brand new caravan behind the herd

Yes a truck and caravan behind the herd

Not like the old days now, behind the herd

Oh, things have really changed in behind the herd

Road trains roaring now behind the herd

Hey!