The Long Drought

The Long Drought A raging drought is running, causing pain Beneath the scorching sun, the barren plain The river’s gone, she’s ceased her mighty flow And bushland trees no longer thrive nor grow The dams are low and dry, it pains my heart Our town will slowly die and friends depart No bales of straw or hay for starving stock As more succumb each day, my dying flock Beside a spread of bright and golden grain A link was forged anew in our strong chain Where ‘roos abound among the fields of corn On this fair land, it’s here that I was born. From hills of broom and land of dark”ning strife He came to find a better way of life The call of peaceful bush like magnet drew In this sweet place my father’s dream came true Work started for me at only fourteen Became a sheep drover, still wiry lean The days long an’ hard, the burden was light The soil rich and dark, the future so bright The farm became mine when my father died Then came the dry clime, lost all of my pride Long years of hard graft while still holding trust Til lack of good rain turned soil into dust The bank took our farm, I wished I were dead Dark thoughts of self harm flood into my head But senses prevail, I see them so clear My darling wife, my young son very dear I give you my hand, long time cobber mine Take care of this land, it’s your dreaming time Adieu my friends, for my time here is done I'll pray for you all as the drought rages on.