Grandpa Pencil's
Australian colonial verse and song

The Shearer's
Song


From an anonymous source: Found in a book, ('Old Bush Songs' by A. B. Patterson), at the Mitchell Library, Sydney

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Hurrah for the Lachlan,
come join my cheer,
For that's the place to make a cheque
At the end of the year;
When you reach a shady bend,
Your trouble's at an end,
Campin' for the shearin'
In a cosy little bend.

With me four little Johnny cakes
All nicely cooked,
A nice little cod fish
Fresh off the 'ook,
Little round flour bag
Sittin on a stump,
Little tea and sugar bag
Lookin' nice and plump.

I've a nice little gunyah,
And any amount of wood,
My nap is rather thin,
But my rug is very good.
I stand at the door
And gaze round with pride,
At the tall and lofty trees
Down by the river side.

With me four little Johnny cakes
All nicely cooked,
A nice little cod fish
Fresh off the 'ook,
Little round flour bag
Sittin on a stump,
Little tea and sugar bag
Lookin' nice and plump.
I've a nice piece of beef
And some murphies that I shook,
Half a loaf of brownie
That I snavelled from the cook,
A pound in my pocket
That I borrowed from a friend,
Which comes in very handy
When you're campin' on the bend.

With me four little Johnny cakes
All nicely cooked,
A nice little cod fish
Fresh off the 'ook,
Little round flour bag
Sittin on a stump,
Little tea and sugar bag
Lookin' nice and plump.

I've some books and some songs.
And some papers to read,
A spare pipe and matches,
And a good supply of weed,
I envy not those squatters,
As by the fire I sit,
With me paper in me hand
And me old pipe lit.

With me four little Johny cakes
All nicely cooked,
A nice little cod fish
Fresh off the 'ook,
Little round flour bag
Sittin on a stump,
Little tea and sugar bag
Lookin' nice and plump.
I stroll down the rive
And take a nice smoke,
And if I feel inclined,
I saddle up me moke,
Take a canter thro' the Brigalow
Or gallop o'er the plain,
Stick a pig or shoot a turkey,
And back to camp again.

With me four little Johny cakes
All nicely cooked,
A nice little cod fish
Fresh off the 'ook,
Little round flour bag
Sittin on a stump,
Little tea and sugar bag
Lookin' nice and plump.

When the shearing time commences
I'm in my glory then,
Pick a shed and see the boss
And then secure a pen.
And when the roll is called,
And the time is drawing nigh,
Roll me drun, rake me cheque,
And quickly bid goodby.

With me four little Johny cakes
All nicely cooked,
A nice little cod fish
Fresh off the 'ook,
Little round flour bag
Sittin on a stump,
Little tea and sugar bag
Lookin' nice and plump.

unknown to Grandpa

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