Traveling tales of misadventure are a common theme in traditional music. It seems that one writer is always trying to one-up another. One of my favorites is an Australian song: 5 Miles From Gundagai 1.
While crossing The Outback,2 not only does the driver have problems with his team of oxen;3 his dog doesn't help the situation much.4
Like all good songs there are lots of variations.
5 Miles From Gundagai
also known as 9 Miles From Gundagai
I'm used to punchin' bullock teams across the hills and plains.
I've teamed outback for forty years through bleedin' hail and rain.
I've lived a lot of troubles down, without a bloomin' lie,
But I can't forget what happened just five miles from Gundagai.
'Twas getting dark, the team got bored, the axle snapped in two.
I lost me matches and me pipe, so what was I to do?
The rain it was coming on, and hungry too was I,
And me dog shat in me tucker-box five miles from Gundagai.
Some blokes I know have stacks of luck, no matter where they fall,
But there was I, Lord love a duck, no bloody luck at all.
I couldn't heat a pot of tea or keep me trousers dry,
And me dog shat in me tucker-box five miles from Gundagai.
Now, I can forgive the bleedin' team, I can forgive the rain.
I can forgive the damp and cold and go through it again.
I can forgive the rotten luck, but 'ang me till I die,
I can't forgive that bloody dog, five miles from Gundagai.
also known as 9 Miles From Gundagai
I'm used to punchin' bullock teams across the hills and plains.
I've teamed outback for forty years through bleedin' hail and rain.
I've lived a lot of troubles down, without a bloomin' lie,
But I can't forget what happened just five miles from Gundagai.
'Twas getting dark, the team got bored, the axle snapped in two.
I lost me matches and me pipe, so what was I to do?
The rain it was coming on, and hungry too was I,
And me dog shat in me tucker-box five miles from Gundagai.
Some blokes I know have stacks of luck, no matter where they fall,
But there was I, Lord love a duck, no bloody luck at all.
I couldn't heat a pot of tea or keep me trousers dry,
And me dog shat in me tucker-box five miles from Gundagai.
Now, I can forgive the bleedin' team, I can forgive the rain.
I can forgive the damp and cold and go through it again.
I can forgive the rotten luck, but 'ang me till I die,
I can't forgive that bloody dog, five miles from Gundagai.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundagai
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outback
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox-wagon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullocky - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_on_the_Tuckerbox
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| Maxwelton wool transported by Bullock Team pre 1908 Maxwelton Queensland Australia |
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