SAM GRIFFITH
(Anon)

One night while lying on my bunk
In my humble six by eight
I dreamt I saw Sam Griffith
With a darkie for a mate
I thought I met them travelling
On a dreary Queensland track
And Sam was decorated with
A collar-fashioned pack

I thought that it was summertime
And Sam had o’er his eyes
A little piece of muslim
To protect him from the flies
Through his boots his toes were shining
And his feet looked very sore
I knew his heels were blistered
From the Alberts that he wore

When Sam saw me coming towards them
He sat down upon his swag
Said he, ‘Look here, stranger
Got much water in your bag?
We are victimised by squatters
For we are two union men’
And Sam had on as usual
His same old polished grin

Said I, ‘Look here, Sammie Griffith
You have a flamin’ cheek
If you want a drink of water
You can get it from the creek
As for the South Sea Islander
I do not wish him ill
For well I know, poor devil
He’s here against his will’

‘You said, with wife and family
One time you’d emigrate
If they did not stop kanakas
That was in eighty-eight
You spoke against black labour then
And talked of workers’ rights
You spoke from lips but not from heart
Australia for the whites’

‘You should loaf to those you crawl to
The sugar-growing push
For you’re hated and detested
By the workers in the bush
They might give you some easy billets
Such as boots and shoes to clean
Or driving the kanakas as
They work amongst the cane’

I thought Sam jumped up
Froth around his mouth like spray
Said he, ‘My agitator
Just let me have a say
I remember you at Longreach
How you did hoot and groan
I believe you would have mobbed me
But for Constable Malone’

I thought Sam tried to rush me
A shape before my face
But I got home the LaBlanche swing
And gave him coup-de-grace
The darkie raised his tomahawk
And gave a savage scream
Then all at once I wakened up
And found it all a dream

John Meredith recorded this in 1953 from then 81-year-old Jack Luscombe who had picked up his songs from various shearing sheds.

Audio of Meredith recording

Sir Samuel Griffith was Premier of Queensland and first Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. He won his election largely on his policy of preventing the importation of kanaka labour. His policy was inoperative but the practice was brought under some control.

Sir Samuel Griffith

Some trivia:

LaBlanche swing, also known as the "pivot blow" or "La Blanche pivot" was named after middleweight George LaBlanche, who reportedly used it to knock out Nonpareil Jack Dempsey (John Edward Kelly) in their 1889 bout. The 'Tacoma News Tribune', a Washington newspaper, described the punch in 1919: 'This blow is delivered by closing the eyes, turning rapidly on one heel and letting the right go at random'.

I couldn't find any reference to 'Alberts' on the Net. The term could relate to the Balmoral boot which was a favourite of Prince Albert. A shearer would perhaps surmise that it was the type of boot that Sam Griffith would wear. I found this on a site relating to the history of boots:

The Balmoral boot (or Bal) was originally designed for Prince Albert and consisted of a close fitting lace up boot, similar to those worn by today's wrestlers. They could be front or side lacing and acted as a galosh to protect the feet from the wet gorse. The upper section of the toe box was treated with water proofing. Queen Victoria must have approved because she had several pairs made and wore them regularly. Possibly because Prince Albert expressed a liking for the style because it had a slendering effect. Balmoral boots became popular with both men and women.

--Stewie.