Now, I know this might not be quite “PC” these days, but as a good Aussie babyboomer sheila, I’ve always had a sneaky fondness for this song (reckon it having a good chune to sing and harmonise with, helps heaps!!)

Written by Cairns cane farmer and local troubadour (and pig hunter), Jack Crossland, c.1953? and set to the US trad tune of “On Top of Old Smokey” (which song I have always hated – go figure ……)


THE PIG-CATCHER’S LOVE SONG
(aka CAIRNS BITTER BEER)

Oh marry me, darling, I love you sincere,
I love you the way I love Cairns Bitter Beer.

Chorus:
Oh Cairns Bitter Beer, love. Oh Cairns Bitter Beer,
I love you the way I love Cairns Bitter Beer.

I have an old humpy, a camp oven or two,
A rifle and pig-dogs; now I only want you.

You’ll never go hungry as long as you live,
With sweet-bucks and mangoes and slabs of wild pig.

I’ll always be faithful, and reasonably true,
I may love other women but I’ll mostly love you.

I’ll often get drunken, and sometimes tell lies,
But I often will tell you how blue are your eyes.

Oh, marry me, darling, I never will fail,
There are worse blokes than me, love, but they’re mostly in gaol.


I recall my late Beloved going pig hunting with a local catcher and his 2 big dogs in the littoral rainforest next to our home in Darwin. Unlike my bloke, the hunter and his dogs were barefoot, but they soon left him behind!
So much for Paul’s regular training runs with the Hash House Harriers (or perhaps the ever-flowing after-run beer must share the blame?? :)

Here is a clip of Jason & Chloe Roweth live at Humph Hall in Sydney : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nP_nL-PBuw



R-J