G'day yet again,

Since Bill (no relation ... but we have crossed paths around Sydney and the bush music scene) raised the matter, there are a number of dubious points about the DT version of Click go the Shears. Here is my view (one extra verse, an extra line and some corrections and clarfications):

Click go the Shears

chorus:
Click go the shears, boys, click, click, click,
Wide is his blow and his hands move quick,
The ringer looks around as he's beaten by a blow
And curses the old swagger with the bare-bellied yoe. (yoe is n. English dialect = ewe)

Out on the board the old shearer stands,
(The 'board' is the name of the shearing area) Grasping his shears in his thin bony hands,
Fixed is his gaze on a bare-bellied yoe
Glory, if he gets her; won't he make the ringer go!

In the middle of the floor in his cane-bottomed chair,
Sits the boss of the board with his eyes everywhere
Notes well each fleece as it comes to the screen
Paying strict attention that it's taken off clean.

The Colonial Experience Man, he is there of course
With his shiny leggings like he's just off his horse
Gazes all around him like a real connoisseur,
Whistling the old time tune, "I'm the perfect lure."
[Also:] Scented soap and brilliantine … and smelling like a (who .. - said that!).

The tar boy is there, and he is in demand
With his blackened tar-pot, in his tarry hand:
He sees one old sheep with a cut upon its back
This is what he's waiting for, it's "Tar here, Jack!"

Now the shearing is over, we've all got our cheques
So roll up your swags, boys, we're off on the tracks
The first pub we come to, it's there we'll have a spree
And everyone that comes along, it's 'Have a drink with me!'.

Down by the bar, the old shearer stands,
Grasping a glass in his thin bony hands.
Fixed is has gaze on a green-painted keg;
Glory, he'll be down on it, afore they stir the peg!

There we leave him standing, shouting for all hands,
Whilst all around him, every shearer stands, (not 'shouter' …he is the one who is 'shouting' [buying drinks])
His eye is on the keg, which now is lowering fast,
He works hard; he drinks hard; and goes to Hell at last.

Notes:
ringer: fastest shearer on the team
snagger: Poor shearer, prone to cutting the sheep
bare-bellied yoe: young ewe with lightly-fleeced belly region, not needing shearing
tar: antiseptic treatment applied to cuts; originally (Stockholm?) tar. (/b>
Colonial Experience Man: A 'remittance man' with a job description … and an option on a return ticket

@work @animal @Australia
filename[ CLKSHEAR
Tune file : CLKSHEAR

Regards,

Bob Bolton