The Diamantina Drover lyricsOn Cut To The Quick (1982), Caught In The Act (1983), Anything's Legal, Anything Goes (1985), If You Don't Fight You Lose (1985), The Very Best of Redgum (1987), Where's the Party? (2002) Against The Grain (2004) and The Essential Redgum (2011)
According to Hugh McDonald's introduction on 1983's Caught In The Act this song is based on a man he met on a train ride to Brisbane a few years earlier. The Diamantina Drover (Hugh McDonald) The faces in the photograph are faded And I can't believe he looks so much like me For it's been ten long years today Since I left for Old Cork Station Saying "I won't be back 'till the droving's done" For the rain never falls on the dusty Diamantina The drover finds it hard to change his mind For the years have surely gone Like the drays from Old Cork Station And I won't be back 'till the droving's done It seems like the sun comes up each morning Sets me up and then takes it all away For the dreaming by the light Of the campfire at night Ends with the burning light of day For the rain never falls on the dusty Diamantina The drover finds it hard to change his mind For the years have surely gone Like the drays from Old Cork Station And I won't be back 'till the droving's done For the rain never falls on the dusty Diamantina The drover finds it hard to change his mind For the years have surely gone Like the drays from Old Cork Station And I won't be back 'till the droving's done I sometimes think I'll settle back in Sydney But it's been so long and it's hard to change your mind For the cattle trail goes on and on And fences roll forever And I won't be back when the droving's done. For the rain never falls on the dusty Diamantina The drover finds it hard to change his mind For the years have surely gone Like the drays from Old Cork Station And I won't be back 'till the droving's done |
1988 Redgum performance at Expo 88 Brisbane
2010 Vagabond Crew performance
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