THE SWAG AND THE SHINER
(Author unknown to me)

When I was a lad sure I made up me mind
That I didn't belong to the laboring kind
Me hands were too good and me body too fine
and, me brain, sure it was even finer,
To spoil them by working it seemed such a shame
So, I learned all I could of this wayfarin' game
By way of Australia to New Zealand came
And, hurrah for the swag and the shiner.
And it's many an infamous trick I've conceived
And many a barman that's gladly believed them
Of many free drinks I have often relieved them
Hurrah for the swag and the shiner.

One day as I tramped with my mate, Gypsie Lee
he looked down at the road, "Huh, a sparrow," says he
"That's a skylark," says I, "And, a free drink on me,
If you'll follow the scam of the Shiner,
At the next pub we come to," I says, "You wait outside
But, stand by the door with your ears open wide,
And, at the right moment you comes right inside
But, you don't know the swag or the shiner."

Well, at the next shanty I swear it's a lark
"That's a sparrow" the barman was heard to remark
Says I "I'm so sharp I can tell in the dark
The difference 'tween Magpies and Minahs"
"Well, I'll wager a drink or a round then" says he,
"That the next man comes in here a sparrow will see"
Then, in comes old Gyp, "Hey, a skylark" says he;
Free drinks for the swag and the shiner.

Now houses and mansions I let them all be
For it's certain that working each day ain't for me
Every day with me swag on the road I am free
And I pity the natty and miner
Now, some folks don't like me they think I'm a nut
And, some say I'm lazy 'cause I like the shortcut
But, a regular job keeps a man in a rut, so
Hurrah for the swag and the shiner.

km