Sheet Music: The Overlander

TitleThe Overlander
Alternate titlesThe Queensland Drover
ComposerTraditional Australian
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyD major
RangeD4–D5
Time signature2/2
Tempo90 BPM
Performance time0:25
Difficulty leveleasy
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (44 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (188 kB)
Date added2024-01-19
Last updated2024-01-19
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.8 (average)
Categories
Ballads, Traditional/Folk

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Friday 19 January 2024

Tune of the Day: The Overlander

Traditional Australian song

This venerable ballad dates back at least to the 1840s. It was first published in 1865 in the Queenslanders' New Colonial Fire Song Book, where the tune given is “Dearest Mae”, attributed to a Phillip Somer (‛Remos’). It has since been in circulation in a number of versions, and is still to this day one of the most popular traditional Australian songs.

There's a trade you all know well,
It's bringing cattle over.
On ev'ry track, to the Gulf and back,
Men know the Queensland drover.

Pass the billy 'round boys!
Don't let the pint-pot stand there!
For tonight we drink the health
Of every overlander.