Our Andy’s Gone with Cattle Now is yet another one of Henry Lawson’s poems put to music. I have known this one for many years and over this time my memory will not reveal who wrote the tune and put it to music for all of our benefits. Both Danni and I have been hit by the damned coronavirus but are now pushing our way out of it and we thank you all for your kind wishes. I know that my text varies from Lawson’s original but that is the “ Folk Process “.
Andy’s Gone
Andy’s Gone With Cattle (Henry Lawson)
Our Andy’s gone with cattle now
Our hearts are out of order
With drought he’s gone to battle now
Across the Queensland border
He’s left us in dejection now
Our thoughts with him are roving
It’s dull on this selection, now
Since Andy’s went to droving
Who now shall wear the cheerful face
In times when things are blackest?
And who shall whistle round the place
When fortune frowns her blackest?
And who shall cheat the squatter now
When he comes round us snarling?
His tongue is growing hotter now
Since Andy crossed the Darling
Oh may the rain in torrents flow
And all the tanks run over
And may the grass grow green and tall
In the pathways of the drover
And may good angels send the rain
In desert pastures sandy
And when the summer comes again
God grant it brings us Andy.
Written by Henry Lawson
Sung by Martyn Wyndham-Read