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Tiger Davis Queensland Ringer

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There was a Ringer in the Basalt, Tiger Davis was his name
As an acrobatic stockman, he was gifted with some fame
On the station quite a hero, but a maniac in town
He didn't win too many, but a fighter of renown

In the Pub he'd get a skinful, then look around the bar
While anyone would do him, preferred bigger ones by far
Come up with some great wisdom, like, what yer looking at
If you said, aint got no label on, then he'd take off his hat

I remember seeing him one day, Picnic Races at Oak Park
Wouldn't say that he was full, but sure did have a spark
He was drinking in the canvas booth, when a sideshow bloke came in
Tiger looked straight at him, with a crooked wicked grin

What yer looking at, the standard greeting that he gave
At this point you could fight or run, very few did cave
They got to scrapping on the floor, neither could stand well
Fights like a Ringer, Showman said, can someone ring the bell

The Barman brought a water jug, to douse and cool them down
What he forgot and made it fun, was the lip around the crown
The water flew up to the lip, flew backwards from the rim
The scrappers they died laughing , the soaked Barman looking grim

They stopped the fight, went to the bar, imbibed some more cold beer
They were the best of friends by now, that was very clear
That's how it was in days gone by, a grudge was surely quelled
When the blue was over, animosity expelled


'Ringer', is the Australian name for a Cowboy in Queensland. True story I was there, I also was a Ringer, in my younger days. 'Picnic Races' are a gathering on a Station or Outback town. 'Oak Park' was the name of a cattle property, in the isolated north of Australia. The races would be held over one day, but the celebrations and gathering would last a week or more. The 'Booth' was a canvas tent, used as the bar.

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