The Goanna Drover
(Ted Egan)

I was drinkin' in the bar of the Birdsville pub when this long skinny fella comes in.
Crazy old moleskins, concertina leggins – on his face was a devilish grin.
Well he pressed the bar, gave a little "Yee-hah!", said I'm sorry that I've got no dough,
But I'll spin you a yarn if you'll buy me a drink – it's a story that you all should know.

Chorus:
Yes, he said he was a drover, the finest in the land.
He was travelling around Australia, ten thousand goannas in hand.

He said, I'm drovin' ten thousand goannas. I've been five years on the track.
Started at Cairns where we dipped the mob, and then we headed for the Great Outback.
We went due West to the 'curry, across them black soil plains.
We got bogged down at the Isa, and had to fit the goannas with chains.

(Chorus)

Well walkin' 'em down the Murranji track the goannas started climbin' trees.
But a drover's got to improvise, so I solved that problem with ease.
The monsoon rains was due to start, we had no time to lose.
We got forty thousand sardine tins, and we fitted the goannas with shoes.

(Chorus)

Well we clanked across them Gibber plains, it be hard on shoes out there.
But the move paid off in the channel country 'cause the rivers had filled Lake Eyre.
I got an old bull camel, and I showed him who was boss.
I hit the camel with the old brick trick, and he water-skied the goannas across.

(Chorus)

So here I am at the Birdsville pub, and if you buy me another drink
I'll tell you about me future plans. That's fair enough wouldn't you think?
He said, I'll have a rum this time, a double. Good luck, yeah, cheers!
Well I'm off now mates, so long, hooroo, I'll be in Hobart within two years.

(NO chorus)

We called, hang on a minute, we can see you're a bit of a star,
But drovin' goannas to Tassie, that's takin' things a bit too far!
How do you get them goannas right across Bass Strait?
He flashed us all his devilish grin, and said, I'm not goin' that way, mate!

(Chorus x2)

Ted Egan sings it here.