The Maranoa Drovers
By Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton)
(Air: Little Sally Waters.)
The night is dark and stormy, and the sky is clouded oer;
Our horses we will mount and ride away,
To watch the squatters cattle through the darkness of the night,
And well keep them on the camp till break of day.
Chorus
For were going, going, going to Gunnedah so far,
And well soon be into sunny New South Wales;
We shall bid farewell to Queensland, with its swampy coolibah
Happy drovers from the sandy Maranoa.
When the fires are burning bright through the darkness of the night,
And the cattle camping quiet, well, Im sure
That I wish for two oclock when I call the other watch
This is droving from the sandy Maranoa.
Our beds made on the ground, we are sleeping all so sound
When were wakened by the distant thunders roar,
And the lightnings vivid flash, followed by an awful crash-
Its rough on drovers from the sandy Maranoa.
We are up at break of day, and were all soon on the way,
For we always have to go ten miles or more;
It dont do to loaf about, or the squatter will come out
Hes strict on drovers from the sandy Maranoa.
We shall soon be on the Moonie, and well cross the Barwon, too;
Then well be out upon the rolling plains once more;
Well shout Hurrah! for old Queensland, with its swampy coolibah,
And the cattle that come off the Maranoa.