The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #15656   Message #784025
Posted By: Susanne (skw)
14-Sep-02 - 05:21 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The Drover's Dream
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DROVER'S DREAM
These are the lyrics of the Rossavielle version I mentioned above:

THE DROVER'S DREAM
(Trad)

One night when travelling sheep, my companions lay asleep
There was not a star illuminate the sky
I was dreaming I suppose, for my eyes were partly closed
When a very strange procession passed me by
First there came a kangaroo with a swag of blankets blue
And the dingo ran beside him as his mate
They were travelling mighty fast but they shouted as they passed
We'll have to jog along, it's getting late

The pelican and the crane they came in from off the plain
To amuse the company with a Highland fling
The dear old bandicoot played a tune upon his flute
And the native bears sat round him in the ring
The drongo and the crow sang us songs of long ago
And a frill-necked lizard listened with a smile
The emu standing near with his claw up to his ear
Said, Funniest thing I've heard for quite a while

The frogs from out the swamp where the atmosphere is damp
Came bounding in and sat upon the stones
They each unrolled their swags and produced from little bags
The violin, the banjo and the bones
The goanna and the snake and the adder wide awake
With an alligator danced The Soldier's Joy
In the spreading silky oak the jackass cracked a joke
And the magpie sang The Wild Colonial Boy

Some brolgas darted out from the tea(?) tree all about
And performed a set of lancers very well
The parrot green and blue gave the orchestra its cue
To strike up The Old Log Cabin in the Dell
I was dreaming I suppose, for these entertaining shows
But it never crossed my mind I was asleep
Till the boss beneath the cart woke me up with such a start
Yelling, Prithee me, where the hell are all the sheep

The only term I'm not sure about is the tea(?) tree in the last verse. However, if anyone would like to explain what a brolga or a goanna is, you're very welcome!