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.