The Drover's Dog lyricsOn Anything's Legal, Anything Goes (1985), The Very Best of Redgum (1987), The Essential Redgum (2011) and as a single (1987)
The title refers to Bill Hayden's statement that even "a drover's dog" could lead the Labor Party to victory in 1983, so Bob Hawke definitely could. The Drover's Dog (Michael Atkinson and John Schumann) When I was born at a very young age The bible opened at a crucial page I saw my future like a vision from God Two bushie brows and a drover’s dog And everyone said poor bugger me He’ll become the ruler of the whole country I went to school and I got full marks So I toddled off to Oxford with the ruling class I wore clean flannels and a lecherous leer I studied economics and I drank bulk beer I drank so much I could hardly stand So they made me the leader of this big broad land I played some cricket and I arged the toss So they made me an aide to a union boss I stood as a workers advocate I could shout down opponents in a mass debate I could shout so loud they rewarded me By making me the leader of the ALP I grew so popular that I was sent By the safe seat of Wills into parliament I always voted at Bill Hayden’s call And I never thought of thinking of myself at all I thought so little of little old me That they let me be the leader of the whole country (He stabbed Bill Hayden so gleefully that they let him become Prime Minister in ‘83) I flew around the world to improve my stature I met Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher The Pentagon rang so I sank in the boot ‘Cause I don’t need Anzus or kiwi fruit I serve as Regan’s deputy That’s why I am governing this whole country So party faithful where every you may be If you want to bark from the top of the tree There’s only room for one dog here I’ll piddle on your head if you get too near So mind your busines in respect of me Or I’ll cancel your bi-centerary (So mind your business in respect of he while He carries on governing the whole country) |
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