THE DYING BAGMAN
(Unknown/Tune: 'The dying stockman')

A strapping young bagman lay dying
His swag was supporting his head
Around him his mates sat a-crying
For a handout of corned beef and bread

Chorus
Wrap him up in his nosebag and blanket
And bury him deep down below
Where the demons and wallopers won't worry him
For he's gone where all good bagmen go

He'd jumped every freight in Australia
He'd batted handouts by the score
He'd learned all the rorts as a whaler
But, alas, he will battle no more

There was Diver, the wild kid from Brunswick
And Timetable Tommy as well
Philadelphia and old Boxcar Harry
To bid him a bagman's farewell

Those coppers that wait at Rockhampton
Those demons that wait at Yarell
The blighters can wait there forever
For he's catching a fast train to hell!

I got this one from a little compilation by the Folk Lore Council of Australia: 'Australian Folksongs of the Land and its People' published 1974.

Meredith & Anderson gave a shorter and less interesting version at page 118 of their 'Folk Song of Australia'. Meredith collected it in Sydney from Bill Foster who learned it while on the track during the depression. Here it is:

THE DYING BAGMAN

A strapping young bagman lay dying
His nosebag supporting his head
All around him his cobbers were crying
As he rose on his elbow and said

Chorus
Wrap me up in my old police blanket
And bury me deep down below
Where the coppers and squatters can't touch me
In the shade where the old rattler blows

There's tea in the battered old billy
The pannikins lie in a row
So we'll drink to the last merry meetin'
Of bagmen before I go

--Stewie.