THE GUNDAROO BULLOCK
(A.B. Paterson/Trad)

Oh, there's some that breeds the Devon that's as solid as a stone
And there's some that breeds the brindle which they call the Goulburn roan
But amongst the breeds of cattle there are very, very few
Like the hairy-whiskered bullock that they breed at Gundaroo

Far away by Grabben Gullen where the Murrumbidgee flows
There's a block of broken countryside where no one ever goes
For the banks have gripped the squatters and the free selectors too
And their stock are always stolen by the men of Gundaroo

There came a low informer to the Grabben Gullen side
And he said to Smith the squatter, ‘You must saddle up and ride
For your bullock's in the harness-cask of Morgan Donahoo
He's the greatest cattle-stealer in the whole of Gundaroo’

‘Oh, ho!’ said Smith, the owner of the Grabben Gullen run
‘I’ll go and get the troopers by the sinking of the sun
And down into his homestead tonight we'll take a ride,
With warrants to identify the carcase and the hide’

That night rode down the troopers, the squatter at their head
They rode into the homestead and pulled Morgan out of bed.
‘Now, show to us the carcase of the bullock that you slew
The hairy-whiskered bullock that you killed in Gundaroo’

They peered into the harness-cask, and found it wasn't full
But down among the brine, they saw some flesh and bits of wool
‘What's this?’, exclaimed the trooper, ‘an infant, I declare’
Said Morgan, ’Tis the carcase of an old man native bear
I heard that ye were coming, so an old man bear I slew,
Just to give you kindly welcome to my home in Gundaroo’

‘The times are something awful, as you can plainly see,
The banks have broke the squatters, and they've broke the likes of me
We can't afford a bullock -- such expense would never do
So an old man bear for breakfast is a treat in Gundaroo’

And along by Grabben Gullen where the rushing river flows,
In the block of broken country where there's no one ever goes,
On the upper Murrumbidgee, they're a hospitable crew
But you mustn't ask for bullock when you go to Gundaroo

Youtube clip

--Stewie.