[Intro]
[Verse]
Come, Stumpy, old man, we must shift while we can
All your mates in the paddock are dead
We must say our farewells to Glen Eva s sweet dells
And the hills where your master was bred
[Verse]
Together to roam from our drought-stricken home
Seems hard that such things have to be
And it s hard on a horse, when he s naught for a boss
But a broken-down squatter like me
[Chorus]
For the banks are all broken, they say
And the merchants are all up a tree
When the bigwigs are brought to the bankruptcy court
What chance for a squatter like me?
[Verse]
No more shall we muster the river for strays
Or hunt on the fifteen-mile plain
Or dash through the scrub by the light of the moon
Or see the old homestead again
[Verse]
Leave the slip-railings down, they don t matter much now
For there s none but the crow left to see
Perching gaunt on the pine, as though longing to dine
On a broken-down squatter like me
[Chorus]
For the banks are all broken, they say
And the merchants are all up a tree
When the bigwigs are brought to the bankruptcy court
What chance for a squatter like me?
[Verse]
When the country was cursed with the drought at its worst
And the cattle were dying in scores
Though down on me luck, I kept up me pluck
Thinking justice might soften the laws
[Verse]
But the farce had been played, and the government aid
Ain t extended to squatters, old son
When me money was spent, they doubled the rent
And resumed the best part of the run
[Chorus]
For the banks are all broken, they say
And the merchants are all up a tree
When the bigwigs are brought to the bankruptcy court
What chance for a squatter like me?
