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about

The Lachlan River runs through the middle of an excellent sheep raising areas in western NSW. The "tigers" of the shearing trade, the big gun shearers, plied their trade here. This song pays tribute to their skill. The tune is from the Scottish song 'Musselburgh Fair', continuing the great Australian tradition of applying traditional English, Irish and Scottish tunes to a new experience.

Shearers called the "tar boy" when they had cut the sheep and it was bleeding - something you didn't want to do too often. We have changed the words to "tar girl" in the name of equality and in deference to Heather singing the lead of our arrangement.

lyrics

Well at each gate each shearer stood as the whistle loudly blew,
With eyebrows fixed and lips compressed the tigers all bent to
You can hear the clicking of the shears as through the wool they glide
See the gun already turned he's on the whipping side

A lot of Lachlan tigers it's plain to see we are
Hark to our burly ringer as he loudly calls for tar
Tar here calls one and quick the tar girl flies
Sweep those locks away another loudly cries

The shed it is a lively scene and ought to be admired
There hasn't been a better one since Jacky Howe expired
Along the board the gaffer walks his face all in a frown
And passing by the gun he says watch out me lads keep down

For I must have those bellies clean and topknots too likewise
My eyes are quick so watch your tricks or you'll go down like flies
Oh curses on the gaffer he's never on our side
To shear a decent tally here in vain I've often tried

A lot of Lachlan tigers it's plain to see we are
Hark to our burly ringer as he loudly calls for tar
Tar here calls one and quick the tar girl flies
Sweep those locks away another loudly cries

For I've a pair of Ward and Payne's that are both bright and new
I'll rig them up and let you see what I can really do
For I've shore on the Riverine where they shear 'em by the score
But such a mob as this to clip I've never saw before

A lot of Lachlan tigers it's plain to see we are
Hark to our burly ringer as he loudly calls for tar
Tar here calls one and quick the tar girl flies
Sweep those locks away another loudly cries

Sweep those locks away another loudly cries

credits

from Nor'n Iron, released April 6, 2014
Performed by Heather Jordan, Tom Jordan and Lyndal Thorburn

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all rights reserved

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Hither and Yon Music Queanbeyan, Australia

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