Slim Dusty - Mitchell Grass lyrics
rate meThey used to say Australia rode upon a jumbucks back
And there used to be not long ago Drovers on the track
The country was a bushland, wildlife everywhere
But what used to be is not anymore, not many left to care.
On Gunbar Station years ago but not so long it seems
It took all hands 3 days to muster just one paddock clean
Gun shearers from all over came to take a pen
And still the shed ran seven weeks until they moved on again
I saw country out there we won’t see again
Out there where now it’s dusty plains
Out where, bush breezes blew
Out where, the Mitchell grass once grew
Some time ago somewhere out west I saw the paddocks bare
But the stock routes in between had Mitchell fodder everywhere
But no sign of a beast or sheep none travelled there for years
The old ringer sittin’ next to me was very close to tears
He remembered droughts of old by nature never caused by man
And how they’ve let the outback go he’d never understand
Lignum, gidgee coolabah so few and far between
Seems Australia failed yesteryear just to dream
They saw country out there we won’t see again
Out there where now it’s dusty plains
Out where, bush breezes blew
Out where, the Mitchell grass once grew
In days gone by drought time came we’d take our axe in hand
And we’d lop the scrub at shoulder height not decimate the land
Stock fodder from the tree tops grew back in just a year
But when we saw the chainsaw cut the timber disappeared
I saw country out there we won’t see again
Out there where now it’s dusty plains
Out where, bush breezes blew
Out where, the Mitchell grass once grew
I saw country out there we won’t see again
Out there where now it’s dusty plains
Out where, bush breezes blew
Out where, the Mitchell grass once grew
From the CD “Ramblin' Shoes 1980 – 2000†June 2000
Barcoo Bill
