As I gaze out through my window I see hungry cattle stand
Chewing sprigs of old man saltbush partly buried in the sand
No trees to form a shelter from the blazing sun ahead
And dingoes eat the bones and hide of cattle long since dead
Across the barren hopeless plain the shimmering mirage leaps
Like phantom lakes that beckon on and claim your soul for keeps
The heatwaves dance across the land zigzagging as it goes
And b*** bush flies a million miles as a big red dust storm blows
The waterholes along the creeks and earthen tanks are dry
The windmills workin' overtime and the hungry crows stand by
Sandblasting winds like tongues of flame burn off remaining feed
And the men who battle old man drought are a tough and hardy breed
[Instrumental]
The sight of rollin' rainclouds are strangers' way out there
And the savage twisted whirlwinds have left the country bare
There's miles of station fencing covered up by shifting sand
Makes you wonder why the weather gods don't lend a helping hand
But every day that passes brings us nearer to the time
When stormclouds raise their thunderheads ready to unwind
And when the rain comes pouring down cascading down our necks
We'll dream the dream all bushmen dream fat bullocks and silver cheques
[Instrumental]
There's nothing like the soaking rain to lift a bushmans chest
And to see the dams all bywashed and the country fully dressed
I one time heard a bushman say while drovin' on the track
It takes one hell of an old man drought to bring this country back
Yes there's nothing like the soaking rain to lift a bushmans chest
And to see the dams all bywashed and the country fully dressed
I one time heard a bushman say while drovin' on the track
It takes one hell of an old man drought to bring this country back
-----------------------------------------------
From his album: "Who's riding old Harlequin Now?"
Chewing sprigs of old man saltbush partly buried in the sand
No trees to form a shelter from the blazing sun ahead
And dingoes eat the bones and hide of cattle long since dead
Across the barren hopeless plain the shimmering mirage leaps
Like phantom lakes that beckon on and claim your soul for keeps
The heatwaves dance across the land zigzagging as it goes
And b*** bush flies a million miles as a big red dust storm blows
The waterholes along the creeks and earthen tanks are dry
The windmills workin' overtime and the hungry crows stand by
Sandblasting winds like tongues of flame burn off remaining feed
And the men who battle old man drought are a tough and hardy breed
[Instrumental]
The sight of rollin' rainclouds are strangers' way out there
And the savage twisted whirlwinds have left the country bare
There's miles of station fencing covered up by shifting sand
Makes you wonder why the weather gods don't lend a helping hand
But every day that passes brings us nearer to the time
When stormclouds raise their thunderheads ready to unwind
And when the rain comes pouring down cascading down our necks
We'll dream the dream all bushmen dream fat bullocks and silver cheques
[Instrumental]
There's nothing like the soaking rain to lift a bushmans chest
And to see the dams all bywashed and the country fully dressed
I one time heard a bushman say while drovin' on the track
It takes one hell of an old man drought to bring this country back
Yes there's nothing like the soaking rain to lift a bushmans chest
And to see the dams all bywashed and the country fully dressed
I one time heard a bushman say while drovin' on the track
It takes one hell of an old man drought to bring this country back
-----------------------------------------------
From his album: "Who's riding old Harlequin Now?"