Traditional Australian; Collected by A. L. Lloyd; arr: Stan Kelly
© 1961 Heathside Music
O hark, the dogs are barking, love, I can no longer stay,
The men are all gone mustering and it is nearly day.
And I must be off by the morning light before the sun doth shine
To meet the Sydney shearers on the Banks of the Condamine.
Oh Willie, dearest Willie, I'll go along with you,
I'll cut off all my auburn fringe and be a shearer too.
I'll cook and count your tally, love, while ringeroo you shine
And I'll wash your greasy moleskins on the Banks of the
Condamine.
Oh Nancy, dearest Nancy, with me you cannot go,
The squatters have given their orders, love, no woman should do so,
Your delicate constitution is not equal onto mine,
To stand the constant tigerin' on the banks of the Condamine.
Oh Willie, dearest Willie, then stay back home with me,
We'll take up a selection and a farmer's wife I'll be,
I'll help you husk the corn, love, and cook you meals so fine,
You'll forget your ramstag mutton on the banks of the Condamine.
Oh Nancy, dearest Nancy, please do not hold me back,
Down there the boys are waiting and I must be on the track,
So here's a goodbye kiss, me love, back home here I'll incline,
When we've shorn the last of them jumbucks on the banks of the
Condamine.
Notes
I remember hearing this song in the Australian musical
play Reedy River -- the tune reminded me
of The Quality of Mersey,
which has much of the same melody -- though it's sung in more of a
march time.
In one of the early folk clubs - Folksong Unlimited - I used to sing
The Banks of the Condamine as a duet with Shirley Collins.
(Shirley: If you see this, please write!)
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