Over the course of his career, he collected more gold and platinum albums than any other Australian artist.
Dusty not only recorded songs written by himself and other fellow Australian performers, but also recorded classic Australian poems by Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson with new tunes, to call attention to the old 'Bush Ballads.' An example is The Man from Snowy River by Paterson.
In 1970, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to music. In 1971 he won Best Single at the Australian Country Music Awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival (Slim's wife Joy McKean won Song of the Year as writer of the song for which he won best single). In all, he won a record 35 "Golden Guitars" over the years.
He died at home in St Ives, New South Wales on 19 September 2003 after a protracted battle with cancer, at age 76.
The Slim Dusty Story started back in the 1940s on a remote dairy farm in the hills behind Kempsey, NSW, when a 10-year-old boy dreamed of being a country music singer. His name was David Gordon Kirkpatrick... he called himself "Slim Dusty" and began to live that dream.
But even the most optimistic farm boy would never have imagined the life that was to unfold... a life that would establish Slim as the voice of the nation, the chronicler of Australian history in song.
Slim managed to hold on to those early visions of writing and singing about the bush because during his lengthy career, he always stayed in touch with his audience. And he did this in a very real and meaningful way, so much so that his fans would feel that Slim was one of their mates and his songs "just a good yarn you might hear from a mate at the pub, around a campfire in the bush or at a back yard barbie".
He described his music as "songs about real Australians... "I have to be fair dinkum with my audience. I can't see any other way of doing it," he said. "You have to believe in what you are singing about."
Slim Dusty was the first Australian to have a number one hit record and the only Australian to ever receive a 78rpm Gold Record (for A Pub With No Beer in 1958)...
He was the first Australian to have an international record hit and the first singer in the world to have his voice beamed to earth from space (astronauts Bob Crippen and John Young played Slim's recording of Waltzing Matilda from the space shuttle "Columbia" as it passed over Australia back in 1983).
During an amazingly successful career spanning over six decades, Slims' continued popularity saw him rewarded with more Gold and Platinum Awards for sales of his singles, eight-tracks, cassettes, CD's, videos and DVDs... more than any other Australian artist!
He received an unequaled 37 Golden Guitar Awards, two ARIA's (Australian Recording Industry Association awards), inductions into the ARIA Hall of Fame and the Australian Country Music Roll of Renown.
Slim was recognized for his long time services to Australian entertainment with an MBE and an Order of Australia. In 1999, Prime Minister John Howard named Slim Dusty Australia's Father of the Year and Senior Australian of the Year. There were many other awards and honors... too many to name here!
Dusty died at his home in St Ives, New South Wales on 19 September 2003 at the age of 76, after a protracted battle with cancer.
A Friend Indeed
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reach out your hand with a smile you′ll be playing the part
Of a true friend indeed you'll be remembered
With love all the while.
(With love all the while)
A trouble shared can often be a trouble set apart
A helping hand can mean so much to a heaven laden heart
If you will open your heart to a friend who is in need
(A dear friend indeed)
A trouble shared can often be a trouble set aside
A helping hand can mean so much when you're on the downward ride
If you will open your heart to a friend who is in need
You'll be remembered as a dear friend indeed.
(A friend indeed)
The lyrics of Slim Dusty's song "A Friend Indeed" highlight the importance of being a true friend to someone in need. The song encourages listeners to be there for their friends and lend them a helping hand when they're going through a rough patch. The lyrics suggest that reaching out with kindness and empathy can make a big difference to someone who is struggling.
The song also emphasizes the idea that sharing our troubles with others can help us overcome them more easily. It encourages listeners to be open and honest with their friends, and to let them offer support and comfort during difficult times. By doing so, one could become a true friend indeed, someone who is loved and remembered for their kindness and compassion.
Overall, the lyrics of "A Friend Indeed" promote the values of empathy, kindness, and support, and encourage listeners to be there for their friends in times of need.
Line by Line Meaning
If you will open your heart to a friend who is in need
By being open and available to a friend who needs help, you show that you care and are willing to support them.
Reach out your hand with a smile you'll be playing the part
By reaching out and being kind to someone in need, you are showing them that you are present and supportive.
Of a true friend indeed you'll be remembered
When you prove yourself to be a true friend by being there for someone in their time of need, they will remember your kindness and love.
With love all the while. (With love all the while)
By offering support and love to a friend in need, you provide them with a source of comfort and care throughout their situation.
A trouble shared can often be a trouble set apart
Simply sharing a problem or concern with a trusted friend can help to relieve some of the burden and make it easier to deal with.
A helping hand can mean so much to a heaven laden heart
By offering help and support to someone who is struggling, you can make a world of difference in their life and bring them relief from their difficulties.
You'll be remembered as a dear friend indeed. (A dear friend indeed)
When you show yourself to be a true friend by helping someone in need, they will remember your kindness and support, and appreciate you for being there for them.
A trouble shared can often be a trouble set aside
Sharing a problem or concern with a friend can help us to put it into perspective or let it go, making it easier to deal with.
A helping hand can mean so much when you're on the downward ride
When we are struggling, a simple gesture of kindness and support from a friend can mean the world and help us feel less alone in our struggles.
You'll be remembered as a dear friend indeed. (A friend indeed)
By being there for a friend in their time of need, you will show yourself to be a true friend and be remembered as such.
Writer(s): Peter Hiscock
Contributed by Aaron R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sandra
on One Truckie's Epitaph
My brother Terry Radke was the man Slim wrote the song for after he received a letter from Terry's youngest son, Lync. Thank you
Charley Boyter
on Axe Mark On a Gidgee
With horsebells to keep me company
Jake
on Your Country's Been Sold
You say you belong to Australia my friend
And rightly you’d die for this land to defend
But let us be honest, it’s sad but it’s true
Australia my friend doesn’t belong to you
Our country’s been sold by the powers that be
To big wealthy nations way over the sea
We couldn’t be taken by bayonets or lead
And so they decided to buy us instead
And talking of wars and the blood that was spilled
The widows, the crippled, the ones that were killed
And I often wonder if their ghosts can see
What’s happening now to their native country
I wonder if ghosts of the fallen can see
The crime and corruption and vast poverty
With a lost generation of youth on the dole
Who drift on life’s ocean without any goal
I once had a dream of our country so grand
The rivers outback irrigated the land
With towns and canals in that wasteland out there
And big inland cities with work everywhere
With profit from farming and factory and mine
Was used to develop a nation so fine
Then I woke from my dream into reality
That the wealth of our nation goes over the sea
Yeah you say you belong to Australia my friend
And rightly you’d die for this land to defend
But let us be honest, it’s sad but it’s true
Australia my friend doesn’t belong to you