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The Stockman's Last Bed

from Drovers, Stockmen and Bullockies by The Queensland Tiger

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about

Written in 1846 by two of the daughters of Colonel Gray, Elizabeth and Maria, the words closely resemble the song on which it was modelled : “ The Last Whistle”. This song became popular in the colony and was reprinted many times. Both women later married : Elizabeth settled in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, and Maria in Ipswich, Queensland.

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lyrics

The Stockman’s Last Bed
by Elizabeth and Maria Gray
--------------------------------------------
[V.1]
Whither stockman or no, for a moment give ear
Poor Jack’s breathed his last, no more shall we hear
The crack of his whip or his steed’s lively trot,
His clear “Go ahead” and his jingling quart pot

[CHORUS]
For he rests where the wattles their sweet fragrance shed,
And the tall gum trees shadow the stockman’s last bed.
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[V.2]
When drafting one day, he was horned by a cow,
“Alas”, cried for poor Jack, “It’s all up with me now ;
I’ll no more return to my saddle again,
Or bound like a wallaby over the plain.

[CHORUS]
I’ll rest where the wattles their sweet fragrance shed
And the tall gum trees shadow the stockman’s last bed. “
------------------------------------------------
[V.3]
His whip must be silent, his dogs they will mourn,
His horse look in vain for his master’s return,
Unknown and forgotten, unheeded he’ll die,
Save Australia’s Koori none will know where he lies.

[CHORUS]
For he’ll rest where the wattles their sweet fragrance shed
And the tall gum trees shadow the stockman’s last bed.
----------------------------------------------------
[V.4]
Oh ! Stranger if ever on some future day,
When after a herd, you may happen to stray,
Where lone and forgotten poor Jack's bones are laid
Far, far from the place where in childhood he played.

[CHORUS]
Tread lightly where wattles, their sweet fragrance spread,
And the tall gum trees shadow the stockman's last bed.

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credits

from Drovers, Stockmen and Bullockies, track released November 7, 2023
Flute by Lillian Penner
Cello by Natasha Jaffe natashajaffe.com
For more Australian Folk : thequeenslandtiger.com
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The Queensland Tiger

The Queensland Tiger covers traditional Australian ballads mainly from 19C.: e.g. Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson, Breaker Morant, Charles Thatcher, etc…. true to the original works.
website : www.thequeenslandtiger.com or Youtube channel : The Queensland Tiger ... more

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