TEA AND SUGAR

Helen Henderson

Out here, there’s nothing for miles
No trees, no water, just an endless sky
Out where the only sound of people
Is the news on the radio at suppertime.

Red sun rising and the river bed’s dry
Light up a cigarette, watch the world roll by
I got one cold beer and my throat is burning
Gonna wash away all this trouble and strife.

I left my soul on ”The Tea and Sugar”
Somewhere out on the Nullarbor Plain
I said me a prayer for my only daughter
I bought me a ticket on the gravy train.

I got some dreams and my grandfather’s bible
A picture of you, an old paper sack
A bottle of whiskey and some tea and sugar
I’m bound for nowhere down this railroad track.

Once upon a time this desert was an ocean
Of fishes in the water, swimming for their lives
Now there’s nothing but this blue horizon
A trail of tears in an indigo sky.

I left my soul on ”The Tea and Sugar” ………….

I’m weary of the world and everything in it
I’m tired of living; I’m chilled to the bone
I’ll buy me a ticket on the “Tea & Sugar”
I’ll ride that train to the end of the line.

I’ll take me away from the people and places
I’ll take me away from the worry and pain
Bleach my bones clean and white
In the sun, in the sand, of the Nullarbor Plain

I left my soul on ”The Tea and Sugar”
Somewhere out on the Nullarbor Plain
Said me a prayer for my only daughter
I bought her a ticket on the gravy train.

I left my soul on ”The Tea and Sugar”……………..
……. Said me a prayer; bought me a ticket .....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlL0SrcXxts   Helen Henderson (NZ) and band
BIO - https://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/3794/helen-henderson    and   https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/82430540/kiwi-singer-helen-henderson-comes-full-circle


Here are a couple of the mini docos on YT on this famous train, the “Tea & Sugar”, that ran weekly from 1917 to 1996 between Port Augusta in South Australia to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia (some 1051 miles),
to service the remote settlements of fettlers (rail workers) and others :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vAh-p0-cPA    This CFU doco from 1954
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOlNnLN8i08   This Yank doco from 1986

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyu9g8k7RwY
This FAC doco from 1925 : Shows construction of the line (including hand ploughing using a Camel Team!) The digging/ploughing of the numerous covered dams for the engine, which used 280 tons of water per trip.
(however, the dam water ended up being mostly too brackish for steam engine use!) The telegraph line all the way alongside the track. 2+ 1/2 Million sleepers used for the rail (now that’s a lotta old growth forest …..) and More.
But all-in-all, a bloody hard slog! (and no one wears gloves! Bet all their backs were Fkd!)


R-J