The Old Time Drover’s Lament

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!