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 Girl From The Land
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My neighbour Dave wanders in,
Sheepishly looking for company,
'cause his misses has bounced him again,
He drinks with the boys from his single days
And life takes on a much brighter tone,
And Dave can't believe, when it's time to leave,
That his wife comes to take him back home.
The better half of a man,
Workin' the land as a family,
Raisin' the kids in Gippsland.
She's been the wife, through trouble and strife
Ever ready to lean a hand.
The backbone of the farmer,
A girl from the land.
Dave's wife is Sue, and she's local too
For they've been in the district for years,
They work side by side, it's been no easy ride,
But they've made it with love, sweat and tears
Their kids are all grown with homes of their own
So each Friday Sue gets in Dave's ear
It seems like a fluke, but I'm tellin' you
It's just so he can have a few beers.
Yes the Mrs of a farmer,
Is the better half of a man,
Workin' the land as a family,
Raisin' the kids in Gippsland.
She's been the wife, through trouble and strife
Ever ready to lean a hand.
The backbone of the farmer,
A girl from the land.
Instrumental
And meanwhile at home, Sue's been on the phone,
Her girl friends will be droppin' in,
an' they laugh as they can about Susie's old man,
As he thinks he's in trouble again,
The womenfolk know their men like to go
For a beer with the boys now and then,
And the girls think it's fine having tea cake and wine
Till it's time to collect them again.
Yes the Mrs of a farmer
Is the better half of a man,
Workin' the land as a family,
Raisin' the kids in Gippsland.
She's been the wife, through trouble and strife
Ever ready to lean a hand.
The backbone of the farmer,
A girl from the land.
A girl from the land.
The song "A Girl from the Land" by Slim Dusty talks about the daily struggles and hardships that farmers and their families face. The song depicts a Friday night routine of a farmer named Dave who comes to a local bar to drink with his old single friends after his wife, Sue, has bounced him again. Dave's wife is a farmer's wife who has been through thick and thin with her husband, raising their family and working on the land side by side. The song praises the resiliency, strength and unwavering support of wives in farming families.
The lyrics of the song also show how rural communities often come together to support each other. The womenfolk at home are shown to be understanding and supportive of their men's need to have a drink with their friends. They even joke about their men getting into trouble again, illustrating the deep bonds of friendship and solidarity that exists amongst rural communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Down at the local on Friday nights
On Fridays, the local pub is a popular spot for Dave and his friends.
My neighbour Dave wanders in,
Dave, who lives nearby, joins the group at the pub.
Sheepishly looking for company,
Dave feels awkward and embarrassed since his wife has left him once again.
'cause his misses has bounced him again,
Dave's wife has left him again, causing him to seek solace with his friends.
He drinks with the boys from his single days
Dave enjoys a drink with his old group of friends, with whom he used to socialize before getting married.
And life takes on a much brighter tone,
Drinking with friends lightens Dave's mood and makes him feel better about his circumstances.
And Dave can't believe, when it's time to leave,
Dave is surprised when his wife shows up to take him back home.
That his wife comes to take him back home.
Dave's wife comes to collect him from the pub so they can return home together.
She's the Mrs of a farmer,
Dave's wife is married to a farmer.
The better half of a man,
She is an important and valuable partner to her husband.
Workin' the land as a family,
The family works together to farm their land.
Raisin' the kids in Gippsland.
The family lives in Gippsland and raises their children there.
She's been the wife, through trouble and strife
Dave's wife has been supportive and dedicated to him through both good times and bad.
Ever ready to lean a hand.
She is always willing to help and offer support.
The backbone of the farmer,
Dave's wife is the foundation and support structure for their family's farming operations.
A girl from the land.
Dave's wife is a woman who was raised and has lived her whole life on the land.
Dave's wife is Sue, and she's local too
Dave's wife's name is Sue and she is also part of the local community.
For they've been in the district for years,
Dave and his wife have lived in the area for a long time.
They work side by side, it's been no easy ride,
Dave and his wife have worked together closely to run their farm, and it hasn't always been easy.
But they've made it with love, sweat and tears
Despite the challenges, their love and hard work have helped them succeed.
Their kids are all grown with homes of their own
Dave and his wife's children are now adults and have their own homes.
So each Friday Sue gets in Dave's ear
Each Friday, Sue reminds Dave it's time to head home from the pub.
It seems like a fluke, but I'm tellin' you
Dave thinks it's a coincidence that Sue always knows when to come to the pub, but it's not.
It's just so he can have a few beers.
Sue knows Dave enjoys a drink with his friends and allows him to do so before bringing him home.
And meanwhile at home, Sue's been on the phone,
While Dave is at the pub, Sue is at home talking on the phone with her friends.
Her girl friends will be droppin' in,
Sue's female friends will be stopping by to visit her.
an' they laugh as they can about Susie's old man,
Sue's friends joke and tease her about Dave's habits and behavior.
As he thinks he's in trouble again,
Dave is worried that he is in trouble with Sue once again.
The womenfolk know their men like to go
Sue's friends understand that men, including Dave, like to go out and socialize with their friends.
For a beer with the boys now and then,
It's understandable that Dave wants to enjoy a drink with his friends once in a while.
And the girls think it's fine having tea cake and wine
Meanwhile, Sue's friends are content to catch up with each other over tea, cake, and wine.
Till it's time to collect them again.
When it's time to bring their husbands home from the pub, Sue and the other women are ready to do so.
A girl from the land.
The song ends by repeating the phrase 'a girl from the land,' referring to the importance of Dave's wife's background and the central role she plays in their family's farming operations.
Contributed by David N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Blaze Darkfang
Slim is the King of Country no one can surpass him may you rest in peace Slim
Bill Sanders
I'll give you that Dusty is the king of country down under, the in Texas Bob Wills is still the King, Hoss
1935rmb
The soul personified of authentic Australia. Greetings from Las Vegas
Leo Smith
Well said Mate.
Frank Philpott
Love Slim. The fiddle playing in this is awesome.
Justine Kenny
I'd like to hear this with a sitar solo
David Sloan
Love the Slim Dusty music, can't get enough of him . He wrote and sung great songs .
Mark Peters
Every time I hear Slim, it takes me back to better and simpler times, always to the memory of my Grandmother, nursing us kids and singing to Slim 🇦🇺❤️
Larry Kling
Some of the best written songs I’ve ever heard.❤❤
patricia handy
Heart n Soul of Australia!! Love this song The Indian Pacific!! Slim Dusty Legend!!