The Swagman
By Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton)
Kind friends, pray give attention
To this, my little song.
Some rum things I will mention,
And Ill not detain you long.
Up and down this country
I travel, dont you see,
Im a swagman on the wallaby,
Oh! dont you pity me.
Im a swagman on the wallaby,
Oh! dont you pity me.
At first I started shearing,
And I bought a pair of shears.
On my first sheep appearing,
Why, I cut off both its ears.
Then I nearly skinned the brute,
As clean as clean could he.
So I was kicked out of the shed,
Oh! dont you pity me, &c.
I started station loafing,
Short stages and took my ease;
So all day long till sundown
Id camp beneath the trees.
Then Id walk up to the station,
The manager to see.
Boss, Im hard up and I want a job,
Oh! dont you pity me, &c.
Says the overseer: Go to the hut.
In the morning Ill tell you
If Ive any work about
I can find for you to do.
But at breakfast I cuts off enough
For dinner, dont you see.
And then my name is Walker.
Oh! dont you pity me.
Im a swagman, &c.
And now, my friends, Ill say good-bye,
For I must go and camp.
For if the Sergeant sees me
He may take me for a tramp;
But if theres any covey here
Whats got a cheque, dye see,
Ill stop and help him smash it.
Oh! dont you pity me.
Im a swagman on the wallaby,
Oh! dont you pity me.