The Darling Downs

Words and Music; Pat Drummond. (3.30)

For Marshall, Gary, Dan, and Prue

Dateline: The Darling Downs near Millmerran. S.E Queensland, 26/9/96

In the all too frequent times of drought and hardship on Australia's rural properties, farming families have often been forced onto the travelling stock routes in search of feed for their stock. A song for a group of hardy travellers that I shared a campfire with on a balmy Queensland night near Millmerran.

I have just travelled up from Wilcannia

through the dust of the mining towns;

making my way home to South-Eastern Queensland

Over The Darling Downs

 

With a few hoops of wire on the roadway

slowing the truckers down.

Making my way home to South -eastern Queensland

Over The Darling Downs.

 

Chorus; "Way Up! Way Back!"

The brown and the black

go wheeling the leaders around.

"Way Up! Way Up!"

We're rolling the mob into town.

 

And I'll lay down tonight on my blanket;

stretched out on the balmy ground.

And I'll wake with my eyes full of sunshine,

here on The Darling Downs.

 

Chorus: "Way Up! Way Back!"

The brown and the black

go wheeling the leaders around.

"Way Up! Way Up!"

We're rolling the mob into town.

 

I'm the son of South-eastern farmer;

born and bred on this golden ground

Coming back home to the land of my father,

here on The Darling Downs.

Here on The Darling Downs.

 

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