Song Lyrics

by John Williamson


Real country people in their prime,

Livin' in New South on Queensland time

He's a stockman, likes raisin' sheep,

Likes raisin' children, don't get much sleep

On the shady big verandah, with his hardworking wife,

Three young sidekicks,

It's a way of life.


Some years they make it, some years they don't

Sometimes the creek flows, sometimes it won't

Sometimes he's mean, he's got a gun

When the ewes are lambing he's got pigs on the run

Out in the lignum, on the water course

You could lose a pig dog, you could lose a horse.


Think you oughta know the channel's coming through

Wipin' out the bushland and the kangaroo

Greedy men with water rights to neutralise the land

When's it gonna stop I just don't understand.

With cotton in their ears and dollars in their eyes

Their banker grins and our country dies.


They love the bush, they grow the wool

They respect the land and it's beautiful

Blue Bonnets, Leatherheads and Red-Back Wrens

Bower Birds, Ring Necks and Water Hens

Red Wings and Red Tailed Black Cockatoos Think of all the rainbows we could lose


Real country people in their prime

Livin' in New South on Queensland time

He's a stockman likes raisin' sheep,

Likes raisin' children, don't get much sleep

On the shady big verandah with his hard workin' wife

Three young side kicks,

It's a way of life.

John Robert Williamson