SHEARING AT CASTLEREAGH
(Banjo Paterson)

The bell is set a ringing and the engine gives a toot
There's five and thirty shearers here are shearing for the loot
So stir yourself, you penners up, and shove the sheep along
The musterers are fetching them a hundred thousand strong

And make your collie dog speak up - what would the buyers say
In London if the wool was late this year at Castlereagh
The man that rung the Tubbo shed is not the ringer here
The stripling from the Cooma side can teach him how to shear.

They trim away the ragged locks, and rip the cutter goes.
And leaves a track of snowy fleece from brisket to the nose
It's lovely how they peel it off with never stop nor stay
They're racing for the ringers' place this year at Castlereagh

The man that keeps the cutter sharp is growling in his cage
He's always in a hurry, and he's always in a rage
'You clumsy-fisted mutton-heads, you'd make a fellow sick
You pass yourself as shearers, you were born to swing a pick

Another broken cutter here, that's two you've broke today
It's awful how such crawlers come to shear at Castlereagh'
The youngsters picking up the fleece enjoy the merry din
They throw the classer up the fleece, he throws it to the bin

The pressers standing by the rack are waiting for the wool.
There's room just for a couple more, the press is nearly full
Now jump upon the lever, lads, and heave and heave away
Another bale of golden fleece is branded Castlereagh

Another one from Paterson. I prefer the tune put to it by Gerry Hallom on his 'Travelling down the Castlereagh' album, but it is not available on the Net. Chloe and Jason use a faster traditional tune. Check it out at about the 16 min mark of this clip:

Youtube clip

--Stewie.