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The Shearing at Cuppacumbalong

from The Man Bench by Tom Jordan, Lyndal Thorburn

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about

Anonymous poem published in Queanbeyan Age, 9 January 1873, about Monaro region shearers.

lyrics

Before I tells my story, if you asks me who I are,
I'm the shearer from the Billybong who never called for tar:
And on this first occasion I came out very strong,
Stripping off the fleeces at Cuppacumbalong.

Good shearing there, you bet; no man might tomahawk;
For if he did, he got the sack, and from the shed might walk;
Indeed a few poor fellows, their hearts it well nigh broke,
When they found they could not slash along the Murrumbidgee stroke.

Chorus: And it’s high, high on the high Monaro Plan
Along the Murrumbidgee Valley, to Cuppacumbalong

Now I'm a steady hand, and do not try to go too fast,
And proved that careful shearing pays better at the last;
For when well nigh a month is lost, by reason of the rain,
It surely must be worth the while our rations free to gain.

You know the price we got this year; 't was three and six the score;
The same they got at Tuggranong : and though we tried for more,
The boss held out, and in a tone that seemed by half too knowing,
He said that shearers might be scarce but rather guessed it blowing.

Chorus: And it’s high, high on the high Monaro Plan
Along the Murrumbidgee Valley, to Cuppacumbalong

Well now we've done; on Christmas-eve we finished the last cobblers,
And galloped off to Queanbeyan, to take some social nobblers;
I stay at Land's: so join me, mate, I'm scarcely ever out;
The shearer from the Billybong is always free to shout.

Chorus: And it’s high, high on the high Monaro Plan
Along the Murrumbidgee Valley, to Cuppacumbalong
 

credits

from The Man Bench, released October 14, 2018

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