Out on the board the old shearer stands,
Grasping his shears in his long, bony hands,
Fixed is his gaze on a bare-bellied 'joe'
Glory if he gets her, won't he make the ringer go.
Chorus:
Click go the shears, boys, click, click, click,
Wide is his blow and his hands move quick,
The ringer looks around and is beaten by a blow,
And curses the old snagger with the blue-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.
The colonial-experience man, he is there, of course,
With his shiny leggin's, just got off his horse,
Casting round his eye like a real connoisseur,
Whistling the old tune, 'I'm the perfect lure'.
Now Mister Newchum for to begin,
In number seven paddock bring all the sheep in;
Don't leave none behind, whatever you may do,
And then you'll be fit for a jackaroo.
The tarboy 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!'
Shearing is all over and we've all got our cheques,
Roll up your swags 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!'
Down by the bar the old shearer stands,
Grasping his glass in his thin bony hands;
Fixed is his gaze on a green-painted keg,
Glory, he'll get down on it, ere he stirs a peg.
There we leave him standing, shouting for all hands,
Whilst all around him every shouter stands;
His eyes are on the cask, which is now lowering fast,
He works hard, he drinks hard, and goes to hell at last!
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Comments
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I have heard this song sung by the likes of Martin Wyndham Read and have enjoyed it as a musical piece. As Charley has said it works well to the "Strike the Bell" tune but it is even better with a slightly slower and more reflective beat.
Now I have seen ALL the words I can appreciate even more the skills of the unknown wordsmith that created this fine descriptive piece. To me it paints a picture of a Jackeroo describing the new life he is living in a message to his parents.
It summons up many images of a bygone era. -
Click Go the Shears?
According to Stan Hugill this traditional Australian song is based on an old Scottish song called "Ring the Bell, Watchman" which in turn was modified by sailors as the pumping shanty known as "Strike the Bell." Perhaps via sailors is how the song made its way to Australia.
Cheerily,
Charley Noble -
It's impossible to 'read' this without hearing the popular tune going through my mind - emanating through my mouth and into the song. I love this - it's old, it's popular and it's Australian.
Von
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