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West by North Again OR Stirrup Song

from Drovers, Stockmen and Bullockies by The Queensland Tiger

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This poem, usually called “Stirrup Song” is often quoted in articles about Morant. It tells the story of the huge distances undertaken by drovers with stock beginning perhaps outside Brisbane, heading west through the rabbit proof fence on the Darling Downs, and the Mulga, crossing the Paroo River and the Eulo Common, all the way to the arid “sand and spinifex country” of The Outback. The Diamantina is also mentioned. And then the return journey is made. The round trip could be as far as 3000 km.
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In one article from The Bulletin in 1947 (Ref.#1)it says of Morant : “Many of his jingles he composed as he rode along with a draft of cattle, chanting them to some droving mate. Ribald these often were and meant but to speed the hours “
Morant made many friends as he moved around. Explaining this , it quotes someone called Fox saying : “His supreme daring, his wonderful horsemanship, his buoyant good humor, his hardy drunkenness all tended to make Morant a very king in the Australian Bush … “ In another article, in The Townsville Daily Bulletin in 1954, (Ref.#2) which quotes this poem, we learn Morant had plans to return to England, after South Africa.
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Ref.#1 : nla.gov.au/nla.obj-547340620/view?sectionId=nla.obj-551698036&partId=nla.obj-547353914#page/n1/mode/1up
Ref.#2 : trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/62543248
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lyrics

West By North Again OR “ Stirrup Song ” (1895)
by Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant (1864 – 1902)

First published in The Bulletin, 5 January 1895.
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We've drunk our wine, we've kissed our girls, the funds are sinking low,
The horses must be thinking it's a fair thing now to go;
So sling the swags on Condamine and strap the billies fast,
And stuff a bottle in the bags and let's be off at last.

What matter if the creeks are up - the cash, alas, runs down !
A very sure and certain sign we're long enough in town-
Old Bobby rides the boko, and you'd better take the bay,
Quart Pot will do to carry me the stage we go today.

No grass this side the Border fence! and all the mulga's dead !
The horses for a day or two will have to spiel ahead;
Man never yet from Queensland brought a bullock or a hack
But lost condition on that God-abandoned Border track.

When once we're through the rabbit-proof - it's certain since the rain -
There's whips o' grass and water, so, it's West by North again!
There's feed on Tyson's country - we can 'spell' the mokes a week
Where last year Billy Stevens trapped his brumbies on Bough Creek.

The Paroo may be quicldy crossed - the Eulo Common's bare.
And, anyhow, it isn't wise, old man to dally there !
Alack-a-day! Far wiser men than you and I succumb
To woman's wiles, and potency of Queensland wayside rum.

Then over sand and spinifex and on, o'er ridge and plain !
The nags are fresh - besides, they know they're westward-bound again.
The brand upon old Darkie's thigh is that upon the hide
Of bullocks we must muster on the Diamantina side.

We'll light our camp-fires where we may, and yarn beside the blaze;
The jingling hobble-chains shall make a music through the days.
And while the tucker-bags are right, and we've a stick of weed,
A swagman shall be welcome to a pipe-full and a feed.

So, fill your pipe ! And, 'ere we mount, we'll drink another nip -
Here's how that West by North again may prove a lucky trip;
Then back again - I trust you'll find your best girl's merry face,
Or, if she jilts you, may you get a better in her place.

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credits

from Drovers, Stockmen and Bullockies, track released November 7, 2023
Tune by Graham Jenkin
Cello, violin and flute by Lillian Penner

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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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