Lyrics
(Australian folk song)
Out on the board the old shearer stands
Grasping his shears in his long bony hands
Fixes his gaze on a bare-bellied “Joe,”
Saying, “If I get you, gal, I’ll make the ringer go.”
Refrain
Click go the shears, boys, click, click, click
Wide is his blow and his hands move quick,
The ringer looks around and he’s beaten by a blow
And curses that old snagger with the bare-bellied “Joe.”
In the middle of the floor in his cane-bottomed chair
Is the boss of the board with eyes everywhere;
Notes well each fleece as it comes to the screen
Paying strict attention if it’s taken off clean. Refrain
The colonial experience man, he is there, of course,
With his shiny leggins, just got off his horse,
Casting round his eye like a real connoisseur,
Whistling the old tune, “I’m the Perfect Lure.” Refrain
The tar-boy is there, awaiting in demand,
With his blackened tar-pot, and his tarry hand,
Sees one old sheep with a cut upon its back,
Hears what he’s waiting for, “Tar here, Jack!” Refrain
Shearing is all over and we’ve all got our cheques,
Roll up your swag for we’re off on the tracks;
The first pub we come to, it’s there we’ll have a spree,
And everyone that comes along it’s, “Come and drink with me!” Refrain
See also
- Country: Australia
- Subjects: ballads / sheep / work
- Form: AB
- Harmony: chords I, II, IV, V
- Melody: descending major scale
- Meter: 4
- Rhythm:
- Source: The International Book of Folk Songs, Norman Luboff, Win Stracke, Walton Music Corp, 1965
- Scale: major
YouTube
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody