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Ballad of 1891

from Beyond The Pale by Bush Gothic

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lyrics

The price of wool was falling in 1891
The men who owned the acres said something must be done
"We will break the Shearers' Union, and show we're masters still
And they'll take the terms we give them, or we'll find the ones who will"

From Claremont to Barcaldine, the shearers' camps were full
Ten thousand blades were ready to strip the greasy wool
When through the west like thunder, rang out the Union's call
"The sheds'll be shorn Union or they won't be shorn at all"

Oh Billy Lane was with them, his words were like a flame
The flag of blue above them, they spoke Eureka's name
"Tomorrow" said the squatters, "you'll find it does not pay
We're sending up free labourers to get the clip away"

"Tomorrow" said the shearers, "you may not be so keen
We can mount three thousand horsemen, to show them what we mean"
"Then we'll pack the west with troopers from Bourke to Charters Towers
You can have your fill of speeches but the final strength is ours"

The final strength is ours

Be damned to your six-shooters, your troopers and police
The sheep are growing heavy, the burr is in the fleece
Then if Nordenfeldt and Gatling won't bring you to your knees
“We'll find a law," the squatters said, "that's made for times like these"

To trial at Rockhampton the fourteen men were brought
The judge had got his orders, the squatters on the court
But for every one that's sentenced, ten thousand won't forget
When they jail a man for striking, it's a rich man's country yet

credits

from Beyond The Pale, released April 25, 2019
Lyrics by Helen Palmer
Music by Doreen Bridges arranged by Dan Witton

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Bush Gothic Melbourne, Australia

BBC Music Magazine - 5 STARS, World Music Albums of the year 2016,
fRoots Album of the Year 2016: Runner Up. Adelaide Fringe Festival Best Music Weekly Award 2017 & 2018. Defiantly modern, achingly old, Bush Gothic re-imagine songs of heartbreak and tragedy amongst convicts, desperate miners and criminal women. ... more

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