Springtime it Brings on the Shearing      Traditional

One of the many fine old shearing songs from Australia and one of the earliest ones that I learned when out there. I believe that I first heard this from David Lumsden of the Lumsden family, such an important family in the revival of Australian songs. They collected so many songs from traditional singers that would otherwise have been lost in the fogs of time, thank you Kath, Arthur and David.        

Martyn

THE SPRINGTIME IT BRINGS ON THE SHEARING        Trad

Oh the springtime it bring on the shearing 

And it’s then you will find them in droves 

To the west country stations all steering 

To find them a job off the coves. 

CHORUS 

With a ragged old swag on me shoulder and a billy quart pot in me hand 

Oh I tell you we’ll astonish the new chums to see how we travel the land. 

From the Bilabone Murray or Loden

To the far Tatiara and back 

Oh the mountains and plains are well trodden

 By the men on the wallaby track.

CHORUS

There are many who stick during shearing 

Then shoulder their swag on their back 

For the rest of the year you will find them 

Out there on the wallaby track

CHORUS

And after the shearing is over 

And the wool seasons all at an end 

It is there you will find those flash shearers 

Making Johnny cakes round on the bend. 

CHORUS