Clancy Of The Overflow

[00:05.54] I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better
[00:10.31] Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago
[00:16.17] He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him
[00:21.12] Just 'on spec', addressed as follows, Clancy, of the overflow
[00:27.02] And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected
[00:32.24] And I think the same was written with a thumbnail dipped in tar
[00:38.26] 'Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it
[00:43.07] Clancy's gone to Queensland droving, and we don't know where he are
[00:49.39] In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy
[00:54.28] Gone a-droving 'down the Cooper' where the Western drovers go
[01:00.12] As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing
[01:05.42] For the drover's life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know
[01:11.28] And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him
[01:16.38] In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars
[01:22.20] And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended
[01:27.30] And at night the wondrous glory of the everlasting stars
[01:33.36] And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle
[01:38.23] Of the tramways and the 'buses making hurry down the street
[01:44.36] And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting
[01:49.32] Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet
[01:55.25] And the hurrying people daunt me, and their pallid faces haunt me
[02:00.25] As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste
[02:06.18] With their eager eyes and greedy, and their stunted forms and weedy
[02:11.27] For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste
[02:17.46] And I somehow rather fancy that I'd like to change with Clancy
[02:22.37] Like to take a turn at droving where the seasons come and go
[02:28.36] While he faced the round eternal of the cash-book and the journal
[02:33.32] But I doubt he'd suit the office, Clancy, of the overflow
[02:39.21] In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy
[02:44.35] Gone a-droving 'down the Cooper' where the Western drovers go
[02:50.34] As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing
[02:55.38] For the drover's life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know
[03:02.41]