Mama, Mama, come and listen now and I'll tell you what I saw
I was down by the railway gates, I was feeling bored
Well then a goods train rolled up clickety-clack
You say there ain't no special in that
But it was crowded down, it was loaded down
With men all wearing rags and frowns
And if you want to listen what I've been told
They say, "Tonight it's on for young and old in our town, tonight in our town."
So won't you spare a smile, can't you shed a tear
In these sad times, in these bad times in these hungry years?
Some say they are pickers, they are up for honest work
Some they are just hard time men, a little bit down on their luck
So why is it you are frowning dad, when I say they're not that bad?
Oh they are tired men, they're unhired men
They ain't slept warm since who knows when
And if you want to listen, if you want to know,
It's caution to the wind they'll throw in our town, oh tonight in our town
So won't you spare a smile, can't you shed a tear
In these sad times, in these bad times in these hungry years?
"We are very many, and you are very few
And if we want to steal your girls well that's just what we will do
Because you drove us from your cities, and you drove us from your trains
And we are down and out in Ouyen town, and you know we are Mildura-bound
And if you want to listen, use your brains,
You'd better let us board your train to leave this town Christ! I hate your town."
So won't you spare a smile, can't you shed a tear
In these sad times, in these bad times in these hungry years?
Won't you spare a smile, can't you shed a tear
In these sad times, in these bad times in these hungry years?
They are hungry years
Oh such hungry years.
I was down by the railway gates, I was feeling bored
Well then a goods train rolled up clickety-clack
You say there ain't no special in that
But it was crowded down, it was loaded down
With men all wearing rags and frowns
And if you want to listen what I've been told
They say, "Tonight it's on for young and old in our town, tonight in our town."
So won't you spare a smile, can't you shed a tear
In these sad times, in these bad times in these hungry years?
Some say they are pickers, they are up for honest work
Some they are just hard time men, a little bit down on their luck
So why is it you are frowning dad, when I say they're not that bad?
Oh they are tired men, they're unhired men
They ain't slept warm since who knows when
And if you want to listen, if you want to know,
It's caution to the wind they'll throw in our town, oh tonight in our town
So won't you spare a smile, can't you shed a tear
In these sad times, in these bad times in these hungry years?
"We are very many, and you are very few
And if we want to steal your girls well that's just what we will do
Because you drove us from your cities, and you drove us from your trains
And we are down and out in Ouyen town, and you know we are Mildura-bound
And if you want to listen, use your brains,
You'd better let us board your train to leave this town Christ! I hate your town."
So won't you spare a smile, can't you shed a tear
In these sad times, in these bad times in these hungry years?
Won't you spare a smile, can't you shed a tear
In these sad times, in these bad times in these hungry years?
They are hungry years
Oh such hungry years.