ADD: The Dying Stockman

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: THE DYING STOCKMAN
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Dec 99 - 04:52 PM

THE DYING STOCKMAN
(traditional Australian)
^^
A strapping young stockman lay dying,
A saddle supporting his head;
And his comrades around him were crying
As he leant on his elbow and said:

CHORUS:
Wrap me up in my stockwhip and blanket
And bury me deep down below,
Where the dingoes and crows will not find me,
In the shade where the coolibahs grow.

Cut down a couple of saplings,
place one on my head and my toe;
Carve on them a stockwhip and saddle
To show there's a stockman below.

There's some tea in that battered old billy,
Place the pannikins all in a row,
And we'll drink to the next merry meeting,
In the place where all good stockmen go.

I hear the wail of a dingo,
In the gloom of the scrubs down below,
And he rings the knell of a stockman,
Farewell, dear old pals, I must go.

If I had the wings of a pigeon,
Far over the plains I would fly;
I'd fly to the arms of my loved ones,
And there I would lay down and die.

Notes:
This is a strange rag-bag of a song, with echoes of far older songs in it. In broad outline, of course, it is a parody of "Tarpaulin Jacket" or "Old Stable Jacket," which were sung to one of the many versions of the fiddle-tune "Rosin the Bow." I see no reason to perpetuate the old mistake (made by Whyte-Melville, I imagine) of confusing 'bow' - fiddlebow - with 'beau' - dandy. Another version of the same tune is used for the funny but unprintable ballad "Lady Monroe."
The verses and tune given here are from Singabout, Volume 3, No. 1, taken down from the singing of Mrs. Laver, Mosman, daughter of Lance Skuthorpe. (The Penguin Australian Song Book, 1976, J.S. Manifold)

JRO

I was very pleased to have my Penguin Australian Song Book, until I found out LaMarca has a Volume 2 of this book . Gotta keep up with the LaMarcas of the world, ya know….

-Joe Offer-

MIDI file: DYINGS1.MID

Timebase: 192

Name: The Dying Stockman
Copyright: From the Penguin Australian Song Book
Text: Generated by NoteWorthy Composer
Key: D
TimeSig: 3/4 24 8
Start
0384 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 71 110 0384 0 71 000 0000 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 74 110 0336 0 74 000 0048 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0336 0 64 000 0048 1 62 110 0094 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 71 110 0384 0 71 000 0000 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 74 110 0336 0 74 000 0048 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 62 110 0336 0 62 000 0048 1 62 110 0094 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 71 110 0384 0 71 000 0000 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 74 110 0336 0 74 000 0048 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0336 0 64 000 0048 1 62 110 0094 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 71 110 0192 0 71 000 0000 1 69 110 0336 0 69 000 0048 1 74 110 0336 0 74 000 0048 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0336 0 69 000 0048 1 62 110 0094 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 62 110 0336 0 62 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:The Dying Stockman
M:3/4
Q:1/4=120
K:D
D6|F2F2F2|F2E2D2|B4A2|d4B2|A2F3F|F2E2D2|E4DE|
F2F2F2|F3ED2|B4A2|d4dB|A2D2E2|F2F2E2|D4DE|
F2F2F2|F2E2D2|B4A2|d4B2|A2F3F|F2E2D2|E4DE|
F2F3F|F2E2D2|B2A4|d4dB|A4DE|F2F2E2|D7/2||

MIDI file: DYINGS~2.MID

Timebase: 192

Name: The Dying Stockman (alternate)
Text: By Australian Traditional
Copyright: from The Penguin Australian Song Book
TimeSig: 3/4 24 8
Start
0384 1 67 110 0096 0 67 000 0000 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 67 110 0720 0 67 000 0048 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 60 110 0160 0 60 000 0032 1 62 110 0912 0 62 000 0048 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 67 110 0720 0 67 000 0048 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 60 110 0912 0 60 000 0048 1 67 110 0096 0 67 000 0000 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 67 110 0720 0 67 000 0048 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 60 110 0160 0 60 000 0032 1 62 110 0912 0 62 000 0048 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 67 110 0720 0 67 000 0048 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 60 110 0528 0 60 000 0048 1 60 110 0336 0 60 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:The Dying Stockman (alternate)
M:3/4
Q:1/4=120
K:C
G5F|E2E2E2|F2G2F2|E2G4|-G4G2|A2A2A2|G2E2C2|
D6|-D4GF|E2E2E2|F2G2F2|E2G4|-G4GG|A2B2c2|
E2F2D2|C6|-C4GF|E2E2E2|F2G2F2|E2G4|-G4G2|
A2A2A2|G2E2C2|D6|-D4GF|E2E2E2|F2G2F2|E2G4|
-G4GG|A2B2c2|E2F2D2|C6|C7/2||

Subject: Dying Stockman / Tarpaulin Jacket
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Dec 99 - 05:22 PM

The lazy and/or dissolute among us may click here to hear MIDIs of the two versions of "Dying Stockman." Look under "dying." Doesn't sound very much like "Rosin the Beau" to me.

Note that the landlubber version of Tarpaulin Jacket is in the database. It's just a bit different from the Burl Ives seafaring version posted above, and it's almost the same as the lyrics Frank Maher transcribed above from Frank Crumit.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tarpaulin Jacket
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 03:49 PM

Lyr. Add: THE DYING STOCKMAN Mick Dolan

A strapping young stockman lay dying,
With his saddle supporting his head,
His two mates around him were crying,
As he rose on his elbow and said:

Chorus-
Wrap me up with my stockwhip and blanket,
And bury me deep down below,
Where the dingoes and crows won't molest me,
In the shade where the coolibahs grow.

Oh had I the flight of a bronzewing,
Far over the plains I would fly,
Straight back to the land of my childhood,
And there would I lay down and die.

And cut down a couple of saplings,
Place one at my head and my toe,
Carve on them crossed stockwhip and saddle,
To show there's a stockman down below.

There's tea in the battered old billy,
Place pannikins out in a row,
We'll drink to the next merry meeting,
In the land where all good fellows go.

Hark, there is the wail of a dingo,
Watchful and weird I must go,
For it tolls the death of the stockman,
from the gloom of the scrub down below.

And oft in the shade of the twilight,
When the soft winds are whispering low,
And the darkening shadows are falling,
Sometimes think of the stockman down below.

Mick Dolan commented "I learnt that in the bush amongst all the ringers." Recorded 1969.

The note says that although this is one of the most popular of Australian folk songs, it is rare, in my experience, for a singer to remember a version as complete as this one.
There are several titles to the song, including Down Where the Coolibahs Grow," "Dying Bagman," "Dying Fettler," "Dying Harlot," "Dying Aviator," "Dying Bargehand," "Dying Digger," Dying Sleeper Cutter," "Can't Hook," "Wedges," "Dying Treasurer."

In several versions, the two mates are Blacks.

Possible composer- Horace Alfred Flower, Qld 1892 (various letters from Flower's son). "The song was published in the Portland Mirror, July 8, 1885," but 1892 was also given.
In "Colonial Ballads," 1962, p. 157, the date was given as 1882. Bill Scott in "Complete Book of Australian Folklore, 1976, p. 138, the date is 1892.
Phil Butterss found it in the Queenslander 18 Aug 1894.

Australian Folklore Society Journal, Issues 1-20 (Aug. 1991). Found on line.

Subject: ADD Version: Dying Stockman
From: GUEST,Mozatron
Date: 17 May 22 - 03:12 AM

The Dying Stockman
Burl Ives
A strapping young stockman lay dying
His saddle supporting his head
His two mates around him were crying
As he rose on his pillow and said

CHORUS
Wrap me up with my stockwhip and blanket
And bury me deep down below
Where the dingoes and crows can't molest me
In the shade where the coolibahs grow

Oh had I the flight of the bronzewing
Far over the plains would I fly
Straight to the land of my childhood
And there I would lay down and die

Then cut down a couple of saplings
Place one at my head and my toe
Carve on them cross stockwhip and saddle
To show there's a stockman below

Hark there's the wail of a dingo
Watchful and weird--I must go
For it tolls the death-knell of the stockman
From the gloom of the scrub down below

There's tea in the battered old billy
Place the pannikins out in a row
And we'll drink to the next merry meeting
In the place where all good fellows go

And oft in the shades of the twilight
When the soft winds are whispering low
And the darkening shadows are falling
Sometimes think of the stockman below

Subject: RE: ADD: The Dying Stockman
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 May 22 - 08:44 PM

From the Archives - Burl Ives & the popularisation of Australian folk song includes a link to a pdf download of the Burl Ives' Folio of Australian Folk Songs where this song was published.