Somewhere Up In Queensland
By Henry Lawson
He's somewhere up in Queensland,
The old folks used to say;
Hes somewhere up in Queensland,
The people say to-day.
But Somewhere (up in Queensland)
That uncle used to know,
That filled our hearts with wonder,
Seems vanished long ago.
Hes gone to Queensland, droving,
The old folks used to say;
Hes gone to Queensland, droving,
The people say to-day.
But gone to Queensland, droving,
Might mean, in language plain,
He follows stock in buggies,
And gets supplies by train.
Hes knocking round in Queensland,
The old folks used to say;
Hes gone to Queensland, roving,
His sweetheart says to-day.
But gone to Queensland, roving
By mighty plain and scrub,
Might mean he drives a motor-car
For Missus Moneygrub.
Hes looking for new country,
The old folks used to say;
Our boy has gone exploring,
Fond parents say to-day.
Exploring out in Queensland
Might only mean to some
Hes salesman in the drapery
Of a bush emporium.
To somewhere up in Queensland
Went Tom and Ted and Jack;
From somewhere up in Queensland
The dusty cheques come back:
From somewhere up in Queensland
Brown drovers used to come,
And someone up in Queensland
Kept many a southern home.
Somewhere up in Queensland,
How many black sheep roam,
Who never write a letter,
And never think of home.
For someone up in Queensland
How many a mother spoke;
For someone up in Queensland
How many a girls heart broke.